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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Is Oxford only for rich families?

334 replies

Foslady · 13/11/2018 07:24

My dd is taking GCSe’s Next year and her school are having various universities in to talk to the pupils. When the Oxford representatives came they mentioned that due to circumstances for one of the colleges there was a very generous bursary you can apply for. This particular college has the course that dd wants to study and now she’s thinking ‘why not?’. I want to support her in all her choices, academically she is quite gifted, and yes, there is a huge time period before university application, but I don’t know if we are the ‘right’ kind of people for Oxford. Up until recently I was a lone parent on a low wage. I now am with my partner but money is still tight (and to be honest if she was awarded the bursary it would be amazing , a massive help). I don’t want to ruin her dreams but at the same time, in reality, are they feasible or am I just kidding myself?

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PollyEthel · 13/11/2018 18:14

I also think that GCSEs are less important than you might think. I was the stereotypical Jack of all trades, master of none, so the breadth of GCSEs really suited me. I got really good grades, and it was all slightly downhill from there - I definitely did not have an academically scintillating Oxford career! While a friend of mine who had a spread of GCSEs, top marks in his subject and subjects like it, and Bs and Cs in others (science and maths), is the one who went on to get a first and do amazing funded post-graduate work.

And academics are very aware of the above.

Peregrina · 13/11/2018 18:17

I can answer some - dinner is a meal at 12 or 1 ish, i.e. between late morning and afternoon, tea is the evening meal.

I can't help with the rest. Should that be a tenfoot?

goodbyestranger · 13/11/2018 18:25

How long ago did you graduate PollyEthel?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 13/11/2018 18:27

OP, see if your dd can get on a course here:
www.villierspark.org.uk/

It's aimed at 6th formers from poorer backgrounds, and students have to be referred by their teachers, but lots of teachers don't know about it. One of my friends daughters went on a course there and said it was amazing. She's just graduated with a First from a top uni.

BertrandRussell · 13/11/2018 18:29

Admission to all universities - but particularly Oxbridge-has changed a lot over the past 30 years or so....

Results, results, results.

bengalcat · 13/11/2018 18:31

Of course you have to get the grades however as any of the selection panel from Oxbridge will tell you the biggest barrier to is NOT APPLYING - go for it and good luck

PollyEthel · 13/11/2018 18:33

About a decade ago, so things may have changed, but the people I know of getting offers since then (friends at a mixture of schools, others lecturers there...) seem to fit my experience. I'm not saying GCSEs aren't important, just that if it isn't the subject you want to study (or one in a similar field) then it is less important.

Foslady · 13/11/2018 18:35

That certainly looks good Emma - we have 6th form open evening tomorrow, I’ll ask about it if they work with them

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Laniakea · 13/11/2018 18:36

she'll have five places to apply to so if they do a course she's interested in & thinks there's a chance that she'll enjoy it then there's nothing to lose by applying surely?

But no, I don't think anyone would get in with a pile of Bs.

whiteroseredrose · 13/11/2018 18:38

I'm getting a bit confused with some of these posts....

OP please encourage your daughter to apply. Don't let finances put you off. For the reasons other people have said, it's actually cheaper than other places. DS has just started there and it will end up costing us c. £1700 for accommodation and all food for the first term. My BFF has a daughter at Sheffield and paid £2200 for accommodation alone.

Plus Lincoln College is lovely. It's small and very friendly. We were worried about Boris Johnson types but I think they tend to go elsewhere. The library is light and very well stocked so no need to buy books.

mateysmum · 13/11/2018 18:47

Foslady both you and your DD seem to have the right attitude. Your DD sounds academically determined and up for a challenge. That attitude will see her go far and is a good start to an Oxbridge application. You want the best for her and are proactively supporting her ambition, even if it is all a big step into the unknown for you.
Hopefully as her school has a track record of Oxbridge admissions they too will support her.
Ignore the naysayers who think it's impossible for kids from different backgrounds to understand or get along. One of the nicest people I met at Oxford had connections to the royal family others were from very ordinary homes. All you need is an open mind.There are pleasant and unpleasant people in every sector of society regardless of whether they say tea or dinner!

hibeat · 13/11/2018 18:49

Go for it. All the people I know Who went there were from extremely poor back ground then, they made it, why can't she ?

mimibunz · 13/11/2018 19:00

My husband went to Oxford from a comprehensive in south Wales. He had no problem finding friends. Consider that they’re all away from home and many feeling imposter syndrome.

Decorhate · 13/11/2018 19:02

OP if it's not already been suggested, encourage your dd to apply for the UNIQ Oxford summer school. It is totally free, including train fares there, books, etc. She would do it at the end of Y12. Even if she changes her mind about Oxford, it's a great experience. You have to apply early in the spring term

Foslady · 13/11/2018 19:36

She’s mentioned the UNIQ course - again, must mention tomorrow!

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Fifthtimelucky · 13/11/2018 19:53

My daughter graduated from Lincoln this year. She loved it and had college accommodation all three years which was far cheaper than we are now paying for her sister at a different university. The position is brilliant as it is so central. My daughter lived less than 100 yards from the High St for all 3 years. The only disadvantage was that for the first 2 years she had to empty her room over Christmas and Easter, but of course that helped keep the cost down.

As someone else said, the library is well stocked. My daughter never bought a single book in 3 years.

Don't be put off!

riverbank23 · 13/11/2018 20:01

My DD is at Oxford. In year 10 we had a good idea she would probably end up going to uni but obviously no idea which one. I started putting money away for her uni fund 4 years before she left for uni and applied for a maintance loan. Start saving now!! Also my DD was from a large state school and classed as 'disadvantaged' Good luck in your daughters future application.

BubblesBuddy · 13/11/2018 20:48

I suggested that the best applicants are able to write something on their PS that supports their application. By that I meant the subject. I didn’t mean sports teams or tossing the caber! Sometimes even the brightest have not read around the subject, done any relevant volunteering or can really demonstrate why they want to study the subject in any meaningful way. Oxbridge isn’t purely results driven in that they are choosing applicants before A level results are known in many cases. They have GCSE results and pre test results. Everyone is bright. So how do you get the interview and then get the place? It is being able to show you have the aptitude via the pre test and the necessary interest in the subject which you can demonstrate on the ps. Interviewers can ask questions based on the PS. Certainly as a curtain raiser. It’s unlikely any other university will interview but having something to say on the PS is of value for every university application.

Foslady · 13/11/2018 21:13

Hi all- i’m Foslady’s daughter and I’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their posts and advice, I’ll definitely look into everything and look to apply, thanks again Fosdaughter

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hdh747 · 13/11/2018 21:21

We're very working class but our son went to Oxford and loved it. I will warn that some of the colleges are a bit 'snooty' but they vary a lot - he was in Corpus Christi with a great bunch and the Oxford dons that we met were all lovely.

Balootoyoutoo · 13/11/2018 23:13

Is this really a question about money...or about fitting in? If it's about money, I think that previous posters, with more recent knowledge than I should have set the OP's mind at rest. If it's about fitting in, perhaps I can add something.

I went to Oxford (admittedly quite a long time ago) from a very ordinary Northern family. I had the time of my life. I'd made up my mind that I was going to grab this experience with both hands, and wring every ounce of fun from it, and so I did. I went one of the posher colleges, and it's true, lots of my peers were from very privileged backgrounds. But you know, posh people can be quite nice too! I ended up being really good mates with a quiet, sweet, old Etonian, who would apparate from nowhere whenever I got my baking stuff out... There were some odd experiences; I remember one Summer evening lying reading on the grass in college when the Bullingdon Club appeared. I'd decided that they were probably a myth, as no one I knew had ever seen them in real life, but here they were, and there was really no mistaking what they were. They were almost tripping over me, but they completely ignored me. I felt entirely invisible. But this was such an isolated experience. On the whole, background just didn't matter at all.

There was a party, near the end of my time, which I went along to with a friend. At the far end of the room was the loudest, most eye-wateringly posh boy I'd ever encountered, spouting off about something, and wearing, if I remember correctly, red jeans. "Give him a wide berth" I thought.

Dear Reader, I married him. For as well as being very loud and very posh, he was also the kindest, funniest, most passionate person (about everything) that I'd ever met. Oh and had the sexiest hands... He likes my northern accent ;-)

So, please Fosgirl, go and have a look, and give it a try. It's not for everyone - I had friends there who had made the wrong choice and were not entirely happy, but I don't think lack of money was part of the issue for any of them.

Bekabeech · 14/11/2018 06:55

My one addition Fossgirl is don't set your heart on one college yet, if at all possible go and visit a few (Open days etc.). Lincoln is nice but so are lots of other colleges. My old College is seen as a bit grander (but not very grand - more academic) and it has 25% of students on Bursaries.
There are huge advantages to Oxford and Cambridge if the course is right for you. But other Universities can be great too.

goodbyestranger · 14/11/2018 07:52

Bekabeech I'd extend that advice to saying don't set your heart on Oxford either. Of course it's only one choice on the UCAS form out of several choices but not getting too hugely into the idea before an offer comes through is a good protective ruse. Going to visit the next choice down and deciding you really like that one too can be a very big help.

Foslady · 14/11/2018 08:26

At the moment she has a few in mind - I can see a few days out in a couple of years time! - I know she’s thinking of York as well. Getting into a uni that she feels she’ll Enjoy working at is her target at the moment, and OxBridge is now another one in the pot, it’s just great to hear that it can go in!

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SchnitzelVonKrumm · 14/11/2018 09:13

I went to Oxford 30 years ago, lone parent family, comprehensive school. Had a fantastic time. Do it fosdaughter!