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.

Aurea if that is the choice then I think it comes down to which Uni / City your DS thinks he would fit better in. There is actually a fair amount of cross fertilisation between the 2 as well as more than a bit of friendly rivalry.

They don't give contextual offers. They try to put the applicant's achievements so far into context, which is surely admirable. The school could give some of that information in their reference, which would also provide context.

Contextual offers at Oxford and Cambridge? I think this is an urban myth. They don't happen. Candidates from Grotsville schools will get the same offers as candidates from Eton. And with far less (or no) preparation for interviews and tests. I speak as the mother of a Grotsville candidate who was given the same offer as everyone else (although leapt far higher hooray).

I’m sure Eton candidates leap pretty high when they receive an offer!

Contextual data is accounted for I'm sure, if no contextual offers are given. The admissions stats that stranger kindly linked for Oxford split the data down even to the extent of the percentage of students with low Polar/Acorn scores for each college.

I might be wrong, I'm not an expert in these matters.

Coleoptera your DC have attended a school you describe as a highly academic independent. There is no educational context there other than a highly privileged one. It's not about how the fees are paid but about the education provided by the particular institution/s attended. The fact of being a DC of a single parent is something shared by a huge number of other Oxbridge applicants right across the educational spectrum, and completely irrelevant. Arguably the DC trying to learn and revise for exams in a two parent household where arguments are a daily occurrence is at a far greater disadvantage. Where would the measurements of domestic solidity stop? It just can't be a thing.

Mateysmum , thank you for the interesting reading about contextual offers . Sounds all like common sense to me :-).
I also understands that people who have sacrificed a lot to let their child go to private school worry about this , but I don’t think that’s necessary- still have a higher chance of getting there .I read somewhere how they try to help students who have no homes to go to in the holidays too . Can you immagine being in that situation :-(....

Rianna The collegiate system allows for much better pastoral care and responding to individual needs. Much harder for someone to slip under the radar in a community of only 5-600 students in a small group of buildings than in a uni of 30000 students spread randomly across a campus and city.
Some colleges are better than others of course. St Anne's for instance prides itself on its pastoral care.

Thanks to the person who let me know it was safe to come back after the troll....

In terms of contextual offers, are there any stats on disabled students at all (ASD etc)? We had to move dc to a private school due to bullying so the stats may be against us, but that would seem a little unfair in the circumstances

I missed all the troll drama. Is the exceptional athlete-daughter real?!

Interesting chart (not Oxbridge-specific).

A troll ? Where ???
Won’t the references from the school speak of circumstances ? Hat off to all single mums btw !

Btw I would not worry too much about all that contextual stuff . I don’t believe one second a child from a private school it with educated parents is hugely disadvantaged.I’m sorry your daughter was bullied watchandwait . Horrendous behaviour .

Aurea : nothing from Edinburgh so far .

7% of students attend fee paying schools.

42% of Oxbridge places are taken by students from fee paying schools.

That is no disadvantage.

Riannna

Which subject for Edinburgh ? Sorry can't remember.

We are Scottish so offers may come at different times.

Is Edinburgh at the top of your DC's list after Oxbridge? I think it will be for him due to the fee status.

Maths . No , he would like to go to Warwick I think ( were south east )I love Edinburgh, such a beautiful city . I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you .

Glad you've come back watch. I had no idea tbh that the poster was a troll.

Honestly, DD has had a pile of staff changes last year, it happens at state schools too. Biology has been badly affected, she almost self taught last year. That said, and in her opinion, the Y12 syllabus was much easier than her Y13 work, so maybe it wasn't as bad as it might have been for this particular subject. But bad enough for a number of her friends to leave school and repeat the year at sixth form college for this and other subject.

It genuinely is what it is and as TheFrendo's post shows, the stats speak for themselves.

Pant - assuming not, she really grated on my nerves tbh, although I felt dreadful thinking that - I'd hate it if DD had said any academic was 'lapping it up', or whatever the exact phrase was with regard to the interview. Probably designed to get a response - more fool me.

Gosh...can’t believe there was a troll...I don’t get it..!! Why?!! What a strange person!!

DD’s school has a massive staff turn over...good as the school is I think the head is very difficult and very demanding and some teachers find that too difficult to work with! DS has said that the A level yr 12 chemistry groups are being mixed together as a teacher is leaving...28 in one class at A level. DD is in an A level biology class of 32. It is what it is and fortunately the teachers are dedicated and work exceptionally hard to help all the students.

Dd just got an Edinburgh offer at end of last week, after them eventually deciding she was a UK national resident in England and liable for fees after all. One of the lowest of her 4 to date. Offer holder days are pretty late though and she really needs to visit.

Kiss what do you mean by ‘lowest ‘? Are there higher and lower offers or are you talking about choice ?
I’ve missed all the excitement with the troll ... I’m a bit childish so imagine a real life troll behind their computer .. But if I think about a real person , they must not be well to behave like that :-(.

I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and has been able to put applications out of mind. I am now mulling again and we have another 2 weeks + to go!