Oxbridge applications 2019 (part two).

[Justanothermile]

New thread, I hope it's okay to start one.

Good luck today for those still waiting for interview news, which includes us.

Congratulations to those already with dates.

Morning all x

Just about to buy ds's train ticket to Cambridge. It's an early start /yawn/

Hope good news comes through for everyone soon x

Justanothermile - thanks for starting the new thread, great work. My face fell slightly when I saw that the last post had been used up, usually someone (the OP, or a kind soul like yourself) will use it to link to the new thread.

I think everyone is savvy enough to find their way here, so it doesn't really matter - although one person DM'd me worrying that the thread had been locked from something they'd written. I've hopefully disabused them of this!

Oh gosh, I confess that was me using the last post - I didn't think to check in truth.

I hope folk find this one, apologies for the confusion.

Haha, no worries, you've definitely 'atoned' by setting up the new one!

Good luck while you wait for news! What a nerve-wracking time. Unfortunately, if you do get an invite to interview, the nerves just mount further!

Justanothermile yes the comparative admissions statistics are interesting, less for the individual subjects than for the fact that (having totted up/ divided/ done percentages etc) for lots of subjects Cambridge has a higher success rate - sometimes very significantly higher - than Oxford, with the exception of Engineering where it's far harder to get a place at Cambridge. I was genuinely surprised at the consistency of the pattern. The percentages minimize a little but if you know that there are 500 extra applicants you have to beat, all of whom are likely to be good - well, that's a lot. I've never seen attention drawn to that before and didn't realize it myself, apart from Medicine. So, good for this year's Cambridge applicants anyhow!

I hope there's good news for the Oxford historians today.

Goodbyestranger- Were your statistics looking at offers made by Cambridge or ultimate acceptances? The standard Cambridge offer can be a lot higher for many subjects than Oxford’s and I noticed from the statistics online that it looked like quite a few people apparently miss their Cambridge offer on A level results day.

Acceptances Helpuschoose.

For whoever was asking about Oxford Medicine, DS's invite came direct from the department on the Tues or Wed after BMAT results were released.

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/ug_admissions_statistics_2017_cycle_4.pdf

www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Oxford%202018%20Annual%20Admissions%20Report.pdf

Here are the two documents I used. The Oxford one is a new innovation, very easy to read and very interesting.

Thus for Cambridge Maths there were 1456 applications, 532 offers and 257 acceptances/ successes. Which computes at 17.7%, whereas the offer rate is 36% and not capable of direct comparison with Oxford.

DD has just told me that she’s got an interview at Oxford (Classics). I’ve got butterflies on her behalf already...

PantTwizzler can you remind me if DD has both Greek and Latin? Just curious! I’d also be interested what college they’re applying to, but appreciate if you would rather not disclose that.

Also, that’s awesome news! Well done DD!

Ah very good news PantTwizzler. Is she applying for the ab initio course or is she doing latin/ greek at school?

Congratulations PantTwizzler DD

I have read somewhere re Oxford Cambridge applications and acceptances that because, in general, the offer is one grade lower at Oxford, (eg AAA for Oxford History and AAA for Cambridge History) that it encourages more applications from those who may not be predicted As ..... ?

Thanks for the new thread @Justanothermile - I had in mind to check earlier but was busy first thing this morning.

D-day for DS for Oxford Maths will be tomorrow or early next week. He's not optimistic, but let's see...

Thanks, all. She is doing A level Latin but not Greek. I’d rather not mention the college.

Now to try to persuade her to agree to a mock interview...

I saw on TSR that one applicant, for History I think, had a mock interview at a Cambridge college (not the one she was applying to) I didn’t know that was possible. Has anybody heard of anything like this?

Wow! I’ve never heard of that. Think DD’s school does some sort of practice but we’d like to organise something ourselves as well.

When he applied, DH had a practice interview with a family friend and found it useful.

Mock interviews are a funny one. For some people they help, and for some people, they don’t. I’m a don’t person. I mock very, very poorly. That then sends me into a tail spin.

I think if you are in the ‘Don’t’ category, what is useful is to at least try out a few answers on parents or teachers, to articulate some gimme’s like ‘what about the course attracts you?’ so that you aren’t then saying the words out loud for the very first time in an interview. Equally, you don’t want the answers to such questions seem rote.

PantTwizzler great stuff about the Latin. Any inclination to take a module in Greek if she is accepted? Also, if she is applying at Univ, I hope she has a good experience! The undergrads who look after you (called Sea Daddies in Univ, not sure if other colleges have names for them) try hard to make it as comfortable as possible.

Actually, wherever she is applying, I hope she has a good experience!

I feel you Coleoptera.

Well, I have arrived home and there is nothing but Christmas catalogues on the mat....

goodbye those links are great thanks. I'm keen to delve in particular into the Oxford admissions statistics, which will be tomorrow now (panto tonight.... oh no we're aren't......oh yes we are....). It looks clear and easily understandable from my extremely brief flick.

coleoptera, it's a hard one indeed. Might it be worth extolling the virtues of the alternative choices for both? Hate to sound trite, but it's not always fair who gets the opportunity and there's little comfort to gain from this fact. It's normal and possible to be pleased for your sibling and feel disappointed for yourself, I'm sure your DT will be feeling that way. I don't know the process to comment on whether it's fair to assume there's an interview or not I am afraid.

DD had a mock interview on Monday and it was handled well, so I think she gained benefit from it overall.

I feel your agony Coleoptera. But it's not a done deal yet. I gather there are always trolls on TSR and this might well be one. Also, check Junk. Fingers firmly crossed for DT2.

coleoptera, last year some colleges (not all) posted on their individual college website pages which interviews had been sent out, so you could have a look and see if they’ve done the same this year. We heard exactly one week before the interview date last year (on Monday for interview the following Monday), the wait was agonising, I do feel for you!

I have read somewhere re Oxford Cambridge applications and acceptances that because, in general, the offer is one grade lower at Oxford, (eg AAA for Oxford History and AAA for Cambridge History) that it encourages more applications from those who may not be predicted As ..... ?

There may be some truth in that. In the case of maths, there’s the additional very significant factor of STEP - I’d guess that puts quite a few people off applying to Cambridge, and of course it’s also the main reason for the discrepancy between offers and final acceptances.

In the case of engineering, I believe there is a significant difference between the courses - Oxford’s is called ‘engineering science’. The numbers for the Oxford course are a lot smaller I believe (esp as for Cambridge there’s Gen Eng plus Chem Eng) ... I think it may be a bit niche.

Bad news here but she wasn't set on Cambridge and History is very competitive. I'm proud of her for giving it a go and some good has come out of the application because she now knows it is best for her to use a laptop for her A levels.

Hope those still waiting have good news to share.