Oxbridge applicants 2018 part 3

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Looks like we need a new thread.

The joys of study leave!!

We're two weeks into study leave and it seems to be suiting DD very well. She seems to be in a good place. Phew!

Here's hoping that is the case when exams start.

Study leave starts here today as DD left college. That's one week before A levels begin for her.
She seems calm though which is good . She constantly says that her yr13 self thanks her yr12 self for preparing revision notes as she went through the course. Just need to get through the next week now and then we're on.

Ummm.................. think Year 13 DS is blaming Year 12 self for lack of effort!!

alittlechampagne 😂 that's what most of my students say as well.

That's really good Voilets :)
Alittlechampagne

Things are just ticking along here. Not a lot to say really.

Maths people - are you allowed to take 2 calculators into exam?

yes you are :)

Please may I join you?

DS is currently doing my head in (and what's worse, probably doing his own head in) working to get the grades for NatSci. He's currently sitting Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry and working relentlessly. He's putting in 12-14 hour days every day and I keep trying to get him to go out and see his friends/long-suffering girlfriend.

His reserve offer is Physics at Manchester (ooh, Brian Cox!!!!) and for that he needs A*A out of the three as he did Maths last year.

Just reading back through the thread - which I should have done before posting - I think DS is doing a STEP thing. I don't think he did/is doing an EPQ.

Welcome Pearls :)

Sorry, one last thing, is anyone else gobsmacked by the number of maths papers? DS is only doing further maths plus the step thingy but still 8 maths papers ...

Yes, it's crackers!

12 - 14 hours a day! My DS is not doing any where near that. If other students are putting in that amount, maybe that's why the school think he's not got the necessary drive. But he is who he is, is doing things his own way and is not at all stressed.😀 I'm taking a back seat - what will be, will be.

dd isn't putting in nearly that amount :) her biggest enemy is making daft mistakes and putting in too many hours will just exacerbate that.

May I come in here and chat with you/distract you? I do have a year 13 but she’s not doing the Oxbridge thing (vet med so pretty dire all the same!). I’m now turning my gaze on my Y10 chick who is very interested in Oxbridge and has a good shot at it from where we stand at the minute. I know it’s early days, but have you any advice? I’m not determined one way or the other, it’s up to her, but what can I do to help her find out more about it? My older one completely refused to even consider it, seemed like reverse snobbery to me, but it does fit her personality. I think she doesn’t know what she might have missed.

AU79, it would help to start off by researching the university websites and other university related sites. Your dc’s school should also be able to guide you.

I agree with Bevlino, AU79, the websites have so many pages of useful information.

Hello Pearls, don't fret that your DS is doing so much work. Some do - My DS at uni puts in those hours before an exam as it settles his nerves never did that A level though, his ambition came a bit later.

My Strategy with DD is just to support whatever she chooses to do - they are under so much 'inner - pressure' I reckon just supporting is all we can do. My DD has been working steadily with social breaks for weeks but now is mainly head down stopping early evening so she sleeps well. Some do far less and still do very well. I just want to support whatever is.
Good luck to all.

Okay so half the 12 - 14 hours a day and then divide by 3 and you will have a generous over -estimate of what my DS is doing!

halve - sorry not doing English here!!

Haha I just looked at website and mentioned to dd2, she handed me a letter about a summer school she’s signed up to where they will visit Oxford, learn about courses etc, I gave permission ages ago but forgot all about it! Still lots to think about, she has varied interests and 11 GCSE subjects to get through to find which ones she want to pursue, if any.

I reckon the number of hours spent revising has a certain plateau beyond where you can do too much and it gets stale. Or maybe I’m just being too Pollyanna.

Why would you need 2 calculators?

" calculators for security - eg one fails. Also DS original one has been updated but wants to take in one he is used to whilst still having access to new features.

*Two

Sounds reasonable to me about the calculators. We have sort of been in denial in our house, in the sense that we don’t know if she will get in, or where she will go, really, or even the fees as one is in Scotland and she is regarded as EU by them (vet med not Oxbridge but similar hurdles to get over) so reading through this thread has made me go off and look at the practicalities for DD as well as all the revision and exams. So last night DH and she sorted out her application for finance, for the more expensive insurance choice , just before the deadline, and today I got her to get onto the accommodation- her firm guarantees it for first years, but I pointed out that as she requires self-catering and most of the places provide expensive meals included in the price which she mainly can’t eat, (strict vegan) it’s NOT a good idea to wait till the deadline! The insurance made them choose accommodation on application which seemed mad at the time but glad now.

So thanks for the heads up, Oxbridge hopeful parents! I think I still can’t believe dd1 has got this far, she was so bolshy at GCSE level, and teachers always underestimated her as she just won’t conform, but that stubborn streak is useful when you decide what you want and go for it, evidently. I’m still sad she wouldn’t even look at Cambridge vet med, the webpages look so enticing. Maybe DD2 will go for Oxbridge she is a different creature altogether, no vet or med inclinations there but high aspirations.