Change course at Oxford once received an offer?

[Segontium]

Hi all,

My child has an offer for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at LMH for next year. The more she's thinking about it, the more she wants to study Ancient and Modern History instead.

The problem is that although she's obviously passed the interview stage for Ancient History she didn't sit the HAT required for Modern History.

Has anyone else's child tried changing courses at Oxford? I would consider this personally to be less of a complete change as over half the course could be the same.

OP, you have nothing to lose by asking the university as there will be students who won’t make the grades to get in.

I would talk to a Tutor at LMH. It could be that she could do lectures from both courses for a bit to ensure that she really does want to change. And she might change her mind again over the summer.
I have known students at Oxford drastically change subject.

Yes you’re right, the most logical thing is to email her future tutor.
She’s worried about making a bad impression before she even starts and prejudicing them against her.

She thinks they may see her as trying to get in through the back door without sitting the HAT. (Although CAAH is 22% success vs 23% for AMH)

Possibly better to wait until she’s there and registered?

Just ask, and don't wait. They may not be able to let her change, but it isn't unusual for students to want to make changes, and especially across very similar degree courses like this. I can't personally see how it would make them think she's not serious, so long as she could explain her reasons.

Just had another chat to her. She feels she’d enjoy CAAH but probably prefer AMH.
Interestingly though she mentioned that she thinks employers may prefer AMH to CAAH. Is there any truth in this? Is she worried about nothing?

She needs to contact the university or a tutor personally if she wants to discuss changing course, not you.

Academic faculty will happily discuss classes and courses with a young adult, particularly if she has good questions about the concerns and her thought processes. She should be thinking critically if she is going to study for a degree and discussing with students is what faculty want to do.

Employers, yes, overthinking.

Definitely she should ask now so that she knows what to read over the summer. What can happen? Worst case is that they say no. My DC asked recently to change (not a dramatic change) and it was agreed. Also, term ends next week so better to get her request in soon... Good luck to her!

Definitely contact the LMH admissions tutor or subject tutor and see what they say. They are not suddenly going to withdraw her original offer, but it might be worth talking through with her how she wants to approach the conversation.
Ancient and Modern History has I think about 19 places in total per intake (DS applied unsuccessfully) and not all colleges offer it but I'm pretty sure LMH do.
As she has an offer, they clearly think she is up to the challenges of Oxford. The change is not that dramatic and as she will never have had the chance to study archaeology I think it's reasonable to have doubts. People do change courses. A friend of mine changed from History to English after the first term at my Oxford college.

Just checked. Both courses take around 20 per year total, so your DD has done incredibly well. Looks like they come under different faculties, but as admission is essentially college based that may not matter.

I don't think prospective employees will remotely care between those two degrees. Assuming that is by prospective employers you mean prospective employers in an entirely unrelated field - law/accountancy etc.

She should contact the university admissions office and ask. She may be able to change or she may not, but LMH is a great college so I'm sure she'll enjoy it and find it rewarding regardless.

Given the tiny numbers involved, it might have been better not to have mentioned the college! You could report your post if you're bothered about anonymity.

Also, term ends next week so better to get her request in soon

Totally irrelevant. Oddly enough, academics aren't students and don't finish work after the undergrads leave.

Agree with atia though. Though, if you did identify a student on MN via a thread like this, I can't imagine why you'd care.

Whoops. I think she should be ok. I mentioned LMH incase it made any difference.