Applying to Oxford with ‘bad’ a levels?

[claptrapwrap]

DS has his heart set on Oxford to study history, so much so he’s taken a gap year for the chance. He’s applied to Balliol.

He went to a bad local comprehensive where he was consistantly top of the class. For his GCSEs he got 7A* and 6As.

At A level he studied History, Geography and English Literature, gaining only AAA. We are immensely proud, but this doesn’t seem Oxford standard reading threads here and on student room.

Shall I prepare him for the big fat no?

[wurzelburga]

@goodbye - pretty sure that the standard history offer from Durham and UCL IS AAA. One of my DC -who would definitely not have been flagged - was offered that by both this year.

[FordPerfect]

I have just taken a quick look for Durham History and it is A*AA.

[FordPerfect]

UCL for History is AAA - standard offer

[goodbyestranger]

UCL has gone down to AAA? Oh well, I stand corrected!

[BubblesBuddy]

You may be at a disadvantage if 90% of the intake have an A* and you don’t. It would depend if that stat holds true for History. Also AAA is the minimum. It isn’t necessarily the A level grades the students actually possess.

[IrmaFayLear]

I was under the impression that your results had to exceed the standard offer if you were applying with A Levels in hand. Of course anyone can apply with any results, but to be in with a chance I would have thought you'd need to Simon Schama the HAT test.

[NellyBarney]

Which college did he apply to? Make him read the books published by the college tutors. Make him say he wants to study with x at the college because he is really interested in his thesis. Make him compliment the tutor who interviews him on his work.

[HingleMcCringleberry]

NellyBarney - I’m sure we’re all for independence of thought for our kids on these forums... there’s a lot of ‘make him’s’ in the short span of your advice! I’d probably contradict all of it - unless your tutor is a 60 year old undisputed leader in the field, whatever they’ve published is likely to be relatively niche, so to go in complimenting them on their publications is going to come over as really toadying, no?

I’d stick with the slightly more generic ‘this is what interests me about the subject, and look at how I can engage with your questions in a relatively intelligent manner’ technique, but I’m pretty vanilla like that!

[NellyBarney]

Blimey, Hingle, I hope OP has a better sense of humour. Of course I dont think any parent could or should force their dc to do anything. But gently suggesting that dc might engage with the research of their potential future tutors and choosing a college/university based on some understanding and genuine interest in their main areas of research is surely good advice, and I am someone who has done research both at Oxbridge and Ivy League universities. Having some knowledge of the admission (and his fellow) tutors research interests can only help. It's the same when you apply for a job. You would do some research on the companty/institution and would ideally be able to say why exactly you would like to work there or what you find expiring about the place. The OPs son has to set himself apart in a very competitive field. He will have to compete with kids who are drilled to perform perfectly at interview, coming across as assured, polite, educated and clever. If he comes across as having a genuine interest in the research that goes on in this particular place, not just liking the reputation, nice buildings etc, he would set himself apart positively. Also if he managed to have read some niche publications by his tutors and understood them and was able to talk about them, he would demonstrate that he is able of the work expected of him.

[HingleMcCringleberry]

Make him, make him, gently suggesting, make him... one of these things is not like the other...

[Ontopofthesunset]

I don't think DS would understand most of the books written by most college tutors yet. He's still only half way through his A-levels and the college tutors' books are mostly written on quite abstruse detailed areas of study that are way beyond what he is studying now. It was a long time ago, but when I applied, I found out what the areas of interest of the tutors were, but I certainly didn't read their books. They didn't ask me anything about their areas of study anyway - they were more interested in why I wanted to study the subject.

[fluffycatinahat]

*Shall I prepare him for the big fat no?
*
I wouldn't do this OP. Even though it's with the best intentions.

He needs to hear you believe in him 100%, if it doesn't work out you can take a firm "their loss" stance later and big up the next choice.

If he gets an interview you want him to go in believing he has plenty to offer & deserves a place so his enthusiasm can shine through

If he gets a place you want him to feel he belongs there not that he was in some way lucky to get in

Be his main cheerleader and tell him it's important to chase dreams. Maybe if there's stiff competition it won't always go our way but give it 100%.

[mateysmum]

OP any update?

Hingle, I'm with you. Reading and toadying the tutor's work is irrelevant unless it genuinely is you area of interest.
After my first year, I don't think I had any tutorials in my own college and only ever had one term with the tutor who interviewed me.
I have always believed that what got me a place (apart from my all round brilliance of course!) was that I had read a book about the English Civil War - Christopher Hill's "The world turned upside down". It was a subject that did and still fascinates me - the splintering of society and the role played by the gentry in the civil war.
This was in the days of the Oxford entry exam though, after which my A level offer was 2 Es.

[goodbyestranger]

NellyBarney to my mind all he'd demonstrate is a craven level of fanboyism.

[goodbyestranger]

In other words I'm with Hingle and mateysmum. Just read what interests you and be genuine.