Page 6 | Oxbridge applicants 2018 part 2

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 11:15

Number81, with respect to the sport, that will have zero bearing on the candidate's application. It's wonderful that they're good at rowing, but the colleges will give it no weight, much less the university.

anowl, having an interview at another college will not prejudice your DD's chances at her original choice. Wadham is a fantastic college, their Queer Bop is legendary, and their bar with its booths is very cool... I'm sorry she has liked it significantly better if she ends up with an offer from Christ Church! Well done her for getting the interview (and you for supporting her!) - with respect to background, it's not going to matter to the interviewers, and once she arrives (if she earns a place) there are bursaries and hardship funds available in each college that she can apply for.

Dancingdreamer · 07/12/2017 11:26

Goodbye - luckily my DD is at a different school to my friend's DD. My DD's school have given her brilliant support even though she is probably a more marginal candidate for Oxford.

NumberEightyOne · 07/12/2017 11:34

I thought as much re sport but perhaps shows a good attitude to discipline etc. He has lots of super curricular stuff too. I am under no illusions how competitive it is.

anowlmostfoul · 07/12/2017 11:39

Hi HingleMcCringleberry - thanks for your reply. I actually meant would the fact that she originally applied to Christ Church prejudice her chances of getting into Wadham, who interviewed her afterwards and which she now prefers? I don't quite understand how it works.

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 12:20

anowl, my apologies, I am with you now. I have no useful information for you there. My only observation would be that she has applied to Christ Church, so if she is able enough to get into Oxford, they're going to want first dibs.

Number81, I'd never thought of it like that before, with respect to character. It's a good point. From my experience though, they're not looking for rounded characters, with grit, discipline, and a diligent attitude. They're looking for academically capable individuals who are going to thrive in the tutorial system.

For extra-curricular activities, it's excellent that he has other things to focus on so he's not stressing out about exams, but has useful outlets to keep him emotionally (and mentally!) sound. But I should point out (apologies if you knew this already), that Oxbridge does not care at all about extracurricular activities. You're right, it is a very competitive environment, but only as far as you have to be bright to make it through. I've said this before, possibly in another thread, but my tutor laughed at the idea that they would care if a candidate has gold Duke of Edinburgh, or is grade 8 cello, or volunteers. It's important for your son as a person he has these things (life can't be all books and study!), but as a candidate it is not relevant.

I don't know if the above has eased your mind, or not!

NumberEightyOne · 07/12/2017 12:26

Thanks Hingle. I have heard it said a lot that they don't care about DoE and whether you are Head Boy and I get that. He does have a lot of super curricular things to talk about and we have now been told by three teachers he should seriously consider an Oxbridge application. My real question is, because he has some features that are quite perhaps different to other candidates (specific learning difficulty, has been a carer, he'll be applying from a Northern state sixth form) it's better to make an open application. I am thinking that perhaps if colleges want to boost their students with disabilities, from the north etc, he would stand more chance?

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 14:21

That I cannot answer intelligently 81. I know colleges are working on their access initiatives, but I think that is more about attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds, rather than positively discriminating at offer stage.

The Oxford website has a site for applicants with disabilities, which will be more useful than anything I could offer, save this: different colleges will have differing levels of provision, so best to enquire with the ones that offer the course he would like to study what their facilities and resources are like, as they will not be uniform across the university.

Actually on the page about applicants, pen or otherwise, it strikes a pretty consistent tone that there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing a particular college or keeping it open.

NumberEightyOne · 07/12/2017 14:30

Cheers Hingle. That is actually very helpful.

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 14:34

No longer on mobile, so here we are:

For college choice:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/choosing-a-college?wssl=1

For disabilities and specific learning difficulties:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/why-oxford/support-and-wellbeing/students-with-disabilities?wssl=1

Chaotica · 07/12/2017 15:29

I agree with Hingle -- where specific learning disabilities are involved, the provision is very very mixed. The centralised support system has absolutely no clout to make colleges do what they should for students with the result that official recommendations are sometimes met with 'well, it's sad but there's not much more to be done than offer some sympathy' from tutors. Even when this comes with a list of specific recommendations!

Whether this is a problem or not depends upon your DC. But if the disability is anything more than dyslexia, some colleges will not cope (even though they are legally required to do so). I am sorry I sound so bitter about this but I know of several disastrous cases which could have been avoided.

On the other hand, some colleges are absolutely great and have a lot of support mechanisms in place for students who need them.

Number81 Having been a carer might count and POLAR scores are taken into account, but that will be to get to interview; once there, there will not be a difference. I know of no college which positively discriminates, but I might be wrong about that. Sport makes no difference.

Chaotica · 07/12/2017 15:32

anowl - congratulations to your DD whatever happens. In answer to your question, if both colleges want her Christchurch will get her. If they know Wadham want her and she is a borderline case, they may reject her knowing that Wadham will take her.

NumberEightyOne · 07/12/2017 15:41

I wouldn't be looking for positive discrimination. I only wanted to know if with these factors, an open application could broaden the appeal?
Thanks for the links.

HesMyLobster · 07/12/2017 15:43

DD has just had interview number 4 (this one at a different college) It was an intense one, and the longest by far, but she seems to have enjoyed it.
She's just seen she's scheduled for another one tomorrow, this time at what was her 2nd choice college so she's excited to go have a look around there.

Chaotica · 07/12/2017 15:53

Number81 - that I couldn't tell you, sorry. I don't think so, but the selection and distribution at that stage is done centrally.

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 16:35

Lobster, only because I'm a nosey so-and-so, what's the college she's having an interview with tomorrow?

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 16:37

For that matter, where was interview 4 held?

Hubble25 · 07/12/2017 17:27

Hingle just read through posts and realised I gave impression DS was interviewed at Univ which is not the case. He really liked it there on open day but he was interviewed at another where the intake for his course is really small so won't mention by name.
Hope things went well for everybody today.

HesMyLobster · 07/12/2017 17:37

Hingle DD interviewed at St Benets today and is going to Exeter tomorrow.

(I have no idea if that is too outing, but I don't think she'd mind - she knows I talk about it on here and agrees with me that the good advice we've had from mnetters means the positives outweigh the negatives!)

HingleMcCringleberry · 07/12/2017 17:56

Exeter, centre of the action, very nice. And St Benet’s, how unusual! It’s a lovely place, and you’re into Jericho territory there, which is very cool. Added bonus, you can roll out of bed and into the Sackler library, which is the Classics library next to the Ashmolean.

Hubble25 · 07/12/2017 18:12

Anybody else finding it hard to slip straight back into A 2 work. Feel like we should all be getting some kind of therapy.

marmiteloversunite · 07/12/2017 20:08

Yes Hubble. I feel like I have jet lag. I was living in another dimension there for. A few days!

Hubble25 · 07/12/2017 20:23

Thought my DS was put through the mill Lobster but sounds like your DD is having to deal with alot.

goodbyestranger · 07/12/2017 22:42

Sorry Dancing I didn't read carefully enough. I see now you said a friend's DD.

anowl I know a student who interviewed for Biology yesterday at ChristChurch but didn't apply there, it was the second college. What didn't your DD like about the interview and how was it different from Wadham? Just curious so please don't feel you have to answer. Also curious about how Wadham adjusted and how ChristChuch didn't. In answer to your question the two interview scores are looked at together and ChristChurch will have first refusal with Wadham having the second if ChristChuch doesn't pick her up. The two interviews are of equal weight and the applicants are looked at in the round so no, no disadvantage.

goodbyestranger · 07/12/2017 22:46

Lobster a good mate of one of my sons was an incredibly strong candidate for Classics and was passed about the same sort of number of times and got an offer from his first choice college despite all the other interviews. Your DD might well be in the same boat by the sounds of it.

HesMyLobster · 07/12/2017 23:03

Ooh thankyou Goodbye, that sounds positive. DD was worried it was just because nobody wants her!

Although she was delighted to find out they wanted her to stay an extra day - she's absolutely loving it, being in the college and in Oxford itself.

She spent a free hour this afternoon just wandering around exploring.
She says if she doesn't get a place she'd like to live there at some point anyway.

I'm hoping to be able to drive down and pick her up tomorrow evening so she can have a comfortable journey home instead of the train.
That's if we don't get snowed in!
Any weather news for us Kitten?!