Non Oxbridge early application - good, bad or neutral?

[GnomeDePlume]

DD has asked me to ask this of you wise folk.

DD is applying to Russell Group universities but not Oxford/Cambridge. If her application goes in early is that an advantage or is there a risk that her preferred unis will assume she is applying to Oxford/Cambridge and discount her application?

She is applying for physics/chemistry subjects and is predicted A*AAA.

Any advice please?

OhyoubadKitten I was referring to the 'perceived' top five ie those top five including Oxbridge that come up by subject grouping in the international league tables or CUG (with occasional differences such as St Andrews). These have an established reputation brand that consistently attract high quality students (including international), academics plus significant research funding. They are not always the best organised for students. Their courses can be pitched at a higher level than other universities due to their academic selectiveness. Self perpetuating scenario really.

Giant . but only if you can appreciate it is a wow moment.

Oddly both DS, and his very talented friend who went to Imperial have had some extra-ordinary access and opportunities. (The friend not getting Cambridge was a real surprise but like DS I suspect he has no regrets.) Some examples for DS include a group going to Cambridge to worship at the feet of have a seminar with a Nobel Laureate; being part of a first year group doing some voluntary "research" and having senior staff open their address books to provide contacts for very senior London based economic policy makers, almost getting an invitation to present at a conference in the US on the back of it; being allowed to attend a regular group for researchers critiquing each other's work whilst still an UG; some voluntary teaching of quantitative techniques; access to lots of lectures by visiting academics; writing a dissertation in his third year with good support and supervision; and now both paid research assistant work and the offer of paid teaching work.

He really has had a world class education.

London and Oxbridge appear to be very different, and will suit different personalities. But I think it is not easy to argue definitely that one is better than the other.

In the meantime I am having Bristol envy. DD has just started and it is gorgeous. A different fit for a different person.

The candidate did contact Leeds. They said they thought she would go elsewhere and use them as Insurance.

I think "rumours" persist about admissions because there are always peculiar decisions that people have heard about. The rejection from Leeds was not my DD but I followed it up on this thread because there seemed to be absolute certainty that it was a mistake. It was not. It was undoubtedly wrong but it makes people nervous about the system when odd decisions occur. The system has been well described by academics and obviously works very well in most instances. I don't feel they are bashed, but they are challenged. Nothing wrong with that.

Agree completely Bubbles. Admissions are far more complex than user645 suggests ie offers to the strongest applicants in descending order. And if admissions tutors persist in the line that everything is open and transparent then of course it's correct that they're challenged if one comes across situations which throw up questions. I remember, about six or seven years ago, that a particular top university's admissions committee meeting minutes appeared in error on the internet. Those suggested that things were most decidedly not as they seemed. Hence my comment about MN posters perhaps appreciating anecdote to build a picture as well as the repetition of website patter.

Late to this thread, but if the application is ready, send it in. Then get on wit you A-levels. The longer it hangs around, the more it distracts from your studies.

Although it's to the credit of one admissions tutor on this thread that the issue about insurance is acknowledged. That's what so much of this is all about, at the top end, below Oxford and Cambridge. I don't know what happened to the Exeter excess - did Exeter calm down last year and back off from the 2A offers? Durham at least acknowledged that it had to have a university wide rethink in the year after Cambridge introduced A offers, because so many of its firms had missed their offers. So some of the posts on this thread are puzzling, and not necessarily that credible, tbh., despite the froth.

I followed this thread with interest and just wanted to come back and add my anecdotal (very) recent experience with this.
DD submitted her UCAS application this week. She has already received 2 offers - one within a couple of hours of confirmation and the other 3 days later.
I know there’s no way of knowing whether they’d have been so fast had she applied later, but I do know how good she feels to have offers under her belt already at this stage, while most of her friends are planning to crack on with personal statements over half term. So I would advise anybody to apply as early as possible, just for the peace of mind.

DD applied to all RG universities and had offers back by the end of November from all five.