Is it fair to let people in who don’t meet the grades?

[teakwood]

DD is at Oxford and worked hard at a deprived state school to get the entry requirements. She’s first in the family to get to university.

Another boy got an offer for her course but missed the grades by one grade. He had a remark and it didn’t go up. He went to a very big name famous boarding school.

There were several others she met at interview that had a similar experience and were then rejected. They went to state schools.

The boy had his school and himself pester the college for them to reconsider. His father also went to Oxford. They decided to accept him anyway.

What sort of message does this send to state school kids? That, priviliged rich people can get in when they can’t, with the same missed grades.

This could definitely have happened in my day at Oxford (20 years ago). I applied to a college which routinely took a boy from Sherborne and a boy from Ampleforth every year for my particular subject - because the tutor had close links with those schools (and a couple of others I can’t remember). These students may have got in anyway, of course, but it was obvious that there were ‘special links’. The tutor confirmed this once during one of his infamous wine parties!

But OP, from what you describe, you and your DD can’t possibly know the full circumstances of this case.

Oh and well done to your DD on getting her place!

I'.m surprised that she stayed in touch with so many people that she met when visiting for interviews, and that so many people who secured offers did not make their predicted grades.

In Claire Balding's autobiography she says her dad donated thousands and pestered repeatedly until she got into Cambridge. You are naive if you don't believe that privilege plays a huge part.

You are naive if you don't believe that privilege plays a huge part

Clare Balding isn't exactly a recent graduate..... times have changed massively. Privilege plays a part in that it buys small class sizes, private tutors etc. But the days of daddy rocking up in the Bentley with a cheque book are long gone.

Urban myth

Academic potential is more than just brilliant grades though (which many seem to forget). Successful Oxbridge entrants tend to have that something extra.

Dear FIL always says that in his time getting into Oxbridge was about: breeding, brains or brawn (with not necessarily any overlap!).

Is your dd's friend's name Toby, by any chance?

As others have said, things have changed.

Forget it...... Hes in. Shes in. Now they have to actually earn their degree. Being there on day one is no guarantee to getting one. Thats where her energies should be going.

Other way round though is more likely. Bristol contextual offers let those in the 40% worst schools in with a grade or two lower. Is that fair? Is it fiar if it means those let in can't cope with the work? Is it fair on single mothers like I am who work full time to pay school fees?