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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Any oxford tutors around for an urgent question?

46 replies

Carriemac · 09/10/2017 21:21

Help-any advice for DD who feels she has picked the wrong course (law) st oxford and wants to change to English? Is that ever possible, what to,do? She's sobbing in her room when. I FaceTimed her earlier, loves her college and oxford but feels she has made the wrong choice? I'm really worried about her.

OP posts:

Original poster

Carriemac · 10/10/2017 07:23

Thanks everyone. She has started criminal, she loved all her law work experience but just says she doesn't care about the subject. I know it's early days. It's just so unlike her. She has always loved English , now I feel we steered her towards a vocational subject .
Her twin brother is 4 hours away and it's the first time they've been separated so that does not help her emotional state.
We'll work through this with a the lovely advice you have all given. Welfare, then tutors.
She has already emailed her sixth form English tutor who was an oxford fellow until recently and I hope he'll be helpful too.

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sendsummer · 10/10/2017 07:25

As PPs say, lack of sleep plus the reality of lectures and work on subject matter which inevitably is not going to be all interesting (to make the effort worthwhile ) is making her lose perspective. A couple of nights good sleep and conversations with older law students should be able to help as well as Welfare etc.

Original poster

Carriemac · 16/10/2017 09:27

I have an update if anyones interested. Went to see DD play football for college yesterday, and to deliver her english notes (!).
She has seen the welfare tutor, and is now going to see the one in charge of tutorials. Then she has to ask the law tutor to release her and then ask engish to take her on. Daunting..
On a positive note, there is a space on english as they have only 7 and have 8 spaces ( one did not make the grades/ or did not take up the place )
She looks pale and washed out, but lots of people greeted her as we walked around and two of her old schoolmates came to see us (and the dog) while we were there and they are all pretty close and supporting each other.

She has promised to stick out the term whether she is allowed change subject or not.

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Bekabeech · 16/10/2017 18:49

Thanks for the update. It sounds pretty positive.

sendsummer · 16/10/2017 21:13

Fingers crossed that this works out for her.
The selection system is not infallible for to guarantee a student's interest in a subject. Has she had a chance to catch up with her twin?

Original poster

Carriemac · 17/10/2017 08:04

They have facetimed and are all planning to come home for my birthday early November. I feel better having seen her, but if they say no to the change I know she will really struggle to although I'm away quite a lot this month I m also mentally preparing for a supportive visit.

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Stopyourhavering · 17/10/2017 11:31

I hope your dd manages to change her course. No point being unhappy in her choice and agree studying Law is completely different from the day to day work of a lawyer
There is still the option to do a post grad diploma in Law after her undergraduate degree if she still wants to do law then
She will have advantage of having a good all round degree in English and maturity .
My dh returned to uni as a mature student to do post grad dip Law at Chester (1yr course) -you then have options to become solicitor/barrister following further 1 yr study

Slightlydizzydaily · 17/10/2017 17:19

Very pleased to hear she may well have the chance to switch. I hope it all works out and she can breathe a sigh of relief

sendsummer · 17/10/2017 21:02

If they say no she will indeed have a tough decision to make. Let's hope that is not necessary. She could always take a gap year and reapply if she is decided after a bit longer not to stick with law. .

goodbyestranger · 17/10/2017 22:10

She couldn't reapply to Oxbridge now though sendsummer, unless she took a double gap year.

If there's a space at the college for English, surely they're almost bound to say yes. There doesn't seem to be a good reason to say no. The law tutors won't be especially invested in persuading someone who's not keen to carry on - it would be unlikely to end well.

sendsummer · 17/10/2017 22:29

Yes, goodbyestranger I was thinking for other universities. If she is a strong candidate for Oxford English (and it seems likely that she is) I would expect them to allow her to switch internally. However if that does not happen it does not sound as though she should stick with law just for the sake of staying at Oxford.

Original poster

Carriemac · 17/10/2017 23:40

I think the back up plan is English in a lovely university in my home country, she is more than qualified to get in starting next September. Will her love of oxford outweigh her love for English ? It's a tough decision for an 18 year old who is clever but young for her years.

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ricecakeseverywhere · 17/10/2017 23:55

There are other options though aren't there even if this year turns into a no?

She can:

Ask if they will have her next year instead of this year
Apply to Cambridge for English

I think it's good she has worked this out now.

Original poster

Carriemac · 18/10/2017 07:47

It's too late now to apply to Oxbridge for next year. It's either switch or go elsewhere next year, which is fine if that's what she wants .DH and I feel she should stick it out but her mental health is more important than an oxford degree

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goodbyestranger · 18/10/2017 08:08

What has she been doing about lectures and tutorials?

A friend of one of my DSs wasn't allowed to change to History despite 12A at GCSE and 4A at A2 (incl History) so it does happen. A friend of a different DS wasn't allowed to stay on to read English single honours having messed up on the Classics part of the joint degree in first year, so there can be seemingly perverse decisions (but which probably aren't). But with a spare place in English and so incredibly early on .... Here's hoping anyway!

ClaireWilliams3 · 18/10/2017 08:13

When I was there we had two swap from chemistry to theology. They did do it but not in freshers week. The first week is hard and if law is anything like theology you've already had a test and a first essay so it can be a bit of a baptism of fire. Try and help her remember why she wanted to do law in the first place. I doubt they will be keen to swap her so soon. X

Leeds2 · 18/10/2017 09:44

When I was there, one girl swapped from Law to Theology but she did it at the end of the first year, and then started again as it were. It was a condition of the swap that she did "well" in her first year law exam/studies.

Original poster

Carriemac · 18/10/2017 10:23

she is working very hard at her law set work, doing a roman law essay as we speak! She does realise that she needs to show a good work ethic to be considered for a swap, and also not to alienate the law tutors if she stays.

OP posts:

fucksakefay · 18/10/2017 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Carriemac · 18/10/2017 15:48

I meant to late to apply through UCAS for english next year, they are being a little opaque about the process - or else she is not communicating it well to us. We are trying to let her work her way through this without interfering but its hard .

OP posts:

Lily2007 · 20/10/2017 20:07

When I was there a few people did swap subjects normally at the end of part 1. They normally want to make sure you have made a rational not emotional decision though which is sensible as a lot of students go through an emotional rollercoaster.

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