Oxbridge applicants 2018 part 2

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hopefully this is in time!

Thank you Tuo that’s good to hear. Dd and I are now thinking it may be the best thing that could have happened after all as Murray Edwards looks like a good fit for her and she’s now really excited about it all again.

Luckye. This time last year, my DS was pooled for engineering at Cambridge. We received a phone call from the pooled college asking him to do a second entrance exam plus interview. He had a real wobble about this but did go up and do both. He was offered a place and now can’t imagine being at any other college. The bad side was he only heard at the end of January that he had a place, so around 2 weeks after everyone else. I have also heard many times that everyone who goes to Cambridge ends up loving the college they end up in.

How fab Yippee, well done to your dd :)

That's tough from a teachers point of view GHGN. It just goes to show there's no such thing as a dead cert.

Lonicera computer science seems to be one where so many were rejected especially. It makes me wonder if they may need to grow those departments.

I don't think the computer science admissions statistics were particularly unexpected this year. As far as I know, there are no particular plans to expand any department based on inability to cope with required student numbers.

Remember that computer science offers are fairly definitive whereas subjects like Maths at Cambridge over offer i.e. almost half of offers won't be met.

Does Oxford over offer on most subjects?

I know medicine does.

Thanks Jeanne16- at least there isn’t another exam but not sure I can cope with not knowing until end of Jan!!
And Yikes! I hadn’t realized almost half offers not met! I think a few of us will be on Valium before the end of the year!!

Congratulations to all the DCs with Oxbridge offers and congratulations to all the DCs who will be continuing their educational journeys at other fantastic universities. And well done to all the DPs on here who have supported them. You are all amazing!

Oxford doesn't significantly over offer. Maths at Cambridge is really the anomaly for over offering and relying on STEP results to distinguish between candidates.

ah yes, that would skew the impression user.

Yes, for maths at Cambridge, there is still a long way to go. dd is waiting to hear the conditions, but I suspect it will be a 1,1 at STEP. It's a bit brutal that half of maths students will find themselves going to their insurance, especially given many universities don't offer guaranteed accommodation for insurance students. Hey ho, sometimes you have to take a risk.

OYBBK, we're in the same situation. Brutal is the word.

Celebrations are more muted when you know you only have a 50/50 chance of taking up the place.

As regards the insurance accommodation situation, we are considering putting a deposit on a room in private halls for DS's insurance choice (once he finally decides what that is) so that we won't have all that last-minute pressure if he doesn't make his Cambridge offer.

oh that's a good idea :) I'll look into it, do you mind if I pm you?

OYBBK, not at all.

Congratulations to those posters and their DC who received offers, and commiserations to those who did not. I was in your shoes last year and completely understand where you are coming from!

2 comments to make. Firstly Cambridge colleges: DD1 was really terrified about being pooled to either Girton (too far) or Murray Edwards (all girls). She was pooled elsewhere. We went last February to see the offer college and met up with a girl from school who was in her 3rd year at ME. She said what a wonderful place it was, how happy she was and how much she was enjoying it. One of DD's classmates was pooled to ME and was apprehensive so I passed this on to her, along with an invitation to contact the 3rd year. The classmate has had a very happy first term there. Secondly, yes, Girton is out of the city But as others have said, the centre is a nightmare! Cambridge is flat, there are loads of cyclists and nothing is very far away (apart from Devon!) One of DD's orchestra friends from home is at Girton and loving it. He actually relishes having the more tranquil surroundings. Their 2 colleges do share some activities so they have got together a few times last term, which I am pleased about.

For those whose youngsters are not going to be right in the middle of the city, I have to be honest and say that it makes dropping them off so much easier. There is some parking at DD's college; it took an hour to load the car for her visit home for Christmas and there was plenty of parking space.

Finally, the comment from the Head of Year was, at best, insensitive. However, as a teacher, you do develop a sense of who might get an offer, especially when you know the group well. Last year, I called all but one application correctly for DD's year on the way to school. She named all the kids and I said yes or no. I was only wrong on one of them - she was horrified when I said "no" about one of her good friends, but I was right. He re-applied this year and again did not get an offer, but is going to a wonderful course elsewhere, so we are all happy for him. This year's crop I know less well but again, one that everyone was saying would "get in no problem" didn't. I have known this child since year 7 and think that they flatter to deceive, so predicted a rejection. Maybe I should play the lottery again...!

Wow Malbec that is quite a niche superpower! I'd have employed you to give DD's cohort a once over!

There were 6 Oxbridge applicants from her school and as far as we know only 2 have places.
Fortunately the other successful girl is the dd of a family friend so we've been able to celebrate together.
Although she is Cambridge and DD is Oxford so we're wondering if we're allowed to be friends anymore?!

If anyone has offers which need STEP, then do have a search for the "STEP Support Programme" which may be useful. I know a fair bit about STEP, so please feel free to message me with any questions.

Lobster - you can absolutely remain friends, but I should advise that you are contractually obliged never to wear light blue again. Dark blue all the way!

Pallando, I'm going to take you up on your very kind offer :)

OYBBK no prob - I have replied :-)

Hey Lobster, same here!

DS of our family friends in HK got in Cambridge! We were so happy and toasted to celebrate together last night (without DS as he was back to UK) ! And we plan to have family trips to Europe/UK together before Oxbridge starts in Oct! Will be a memorable, joyful trip that I am already looking forward to!

Thank you Malbecfan, that’s great to know

We will all wear dark blue in this house Hingle.

Pallando that's very kind of you. I know so little about STEP at the moment that I don't think I even have any questions yet.

DS got an offer for Engineering. DD is at Bristol and loves it. His grades are demanding, A Physics, A Further Maths, A Maths.

Out of 11 Oxbridge applicants at DD's school 2 were successful. Her friend was a bit of a wild card because his GCSE grades were less than stellar, but he is doing really well in 6th form, and can bullshit about his subject until the cows come home.

Those of you with DC who will need STEP - are you anywhere near a university? Here the uni runs step preparation classes as part of its outreach. DS is planning on going as he loves the challenge of really hard maths, even though he is unlikely to have step in his offer.