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.

30 a year get in at my son’s school . But no idea how big his year group is 😂. I guess it’s between 1/3 and 1/4 of all boys .

It’s a lot but it’s a competitive school to get into in the first place .Excellent school to be fair .

Aurea - same with DD's school. 😁

Dd will be going to school on the 9th, I don't think she's even considered not doing so. I'm guessing it's a very individual decision.

It is. If my son would want to I would let him stay home too.

Rianna - yes, it is for Oxford for us, so 9th Jan is the date. I would imagine early in the morning hopefully means before 9am or at least I wish this is the case. Put us out of our misery, so we can get on with our days .

Rianna - my DD's school is the same, 1/4 go to Oxbridge each year. Very competitive environment. The stress is already mounting on their group chats, everyone is very nervous about the outcome.

Puzzle if you can take the day off it might be a good idea. Sleeping night before is tricky and it means you can be there in the morning whatever.

Hubble - yes, I think so too. I am definitely taking the day off. I will not be able to concentrate at work in anticipation, so might as well be at home.

Good Lord. Never occurred to me or to either of my sons to take the day off!

Well everyone is different .No need to be rude about other people’s choices .

Maybe GeorgeTheHippo meant it more like Great Scott! A day off? That’s a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that? Tone is hard to read on forums, I find.

Quite right Rianna. Everybody is different but the one thing we have in common is trying to do the right thing for our own DC. Those with the chance to take a day off should do so if that is what they want to do. I did it - my choice. It kept my DS calm and it meant he was never going to be crying in the school toilets like some others. That is not to say that DC should not go into school as normal if they choose. Parents I am sure will be conscious of the fact that it is not a normal day and that DC have the right to be very upset or elated and will need support either way.

Hingle you are as wise as ever!!

Hubble - you are the voice of reason! Love your comments! I do not get offended easily on forums, as it is difficult to judge the tone as Hingle said. However, I must again agree with you, Hubble - there is nothing worse than the phone call from the school toilets, with your DC trying to be quiet but very much in pouring their heart out, where you find yourself helpless to do anything to comfort them! This is why I prefer to take the day off and celebrate or commiserate with her in the privacy of our own home. She’ll miss one lesson - what is this in the grand scheme of things! I do not judge anyone - do whatever suits you and is best for your child! Next Monday we’ll all be too excited on here! Wish you all a Happy New Year! May all your and your DC’s dreams come true!!!

More Cambridge stats from last year.

There were 17,189 applications, resulting in 3497 acceptances.

97% of those who accepted a place at Cambridge last year got A, A, A or higher (includes A, A, B - the best three A levels counting). Modal best is 3 x A.

Of those applicants that were unsuccessful, 4962 also got A*, A, A or better.

These means that almost exactly half of applicants went on to get A level results below A*, A, A.

So, it is pretty unlikely that you will get in if with just As.

Also, other things being equal, if your child is predicted A*, A, A or better, they would be in the top half of applicants when ranked by results.

Greetings to all. I asked DD if she would let me know the news straight away when she gets it and she said no, not necessarily.

😱

In other news she got two of her mocks papers back before the end of term and they both went well. That almost made up for the stinking email from school about her missing coursework... (The point of this grumble is that I’m not sure she’ll get the grades even if she gets an offer — not because she’s not clever enough but because she can’t be asked [as my children insist on saying].)

So, it is pretty unlikely that you will get in if with just As.

Given that afaik typical offers for STEM subjects require 2A stars and an A minimum and other subjects seem to be Astar and 2A, that's unsurprising!

Indeed. Maybe the 8000 unsuccessful applicants, who got less than A*, A, A had very generous predicted grades?

So, it is pretty unlikely that you will get in if with just As.

This is true - but as pointed out above, one needs to take into account that A stars in maths and sciences are much more "predictable" and the offers for maths/physical sciences are two A stars (plus STEP, for subjects that require it). Candidates in these subjects usually have at least three A stars (double maths and physics).

So this statement

Also, other things being equal, if your child is predicted A star, A, A or better, they would be in the top half of applicants when ranked by results.

is a bit misleading. A star AA wouldn't place a student in the top half of applicants for many STEM subjects. Conversely, the mean for humanities and social sciences is lower than that quoted above e.g. students having three A stars would almost certainly be in the minority, unlike for maths/physical sciences.

Yes, you are right. Being better than half the applicants is not much good when those applicants have AAA or less and you need generally much better grades to get in.

Looks like only about 16% of students get in with A*, A, A or less - with less than 2% in sciences.

3 x A* or more is achieved by 60% of successful applicants.

But certainly all this matters only before the interview ? Once you’ve been accepted you just need to meet their requirements? Explained : you get predicted A star AA .
For your course that’s what needed . Now as it happens most others have three A stars predicted . But you got accepted at interview . In that case it doesn’t matter other people have more A stars , you just need to meet your predicted A star AA .
Or are you all worried about how likely it is your child will be accepted , even after the interview has been ? Sorry , just trying to figure it out .

Rianna, i have been trying to figure out exactly the same from this thread and got confused, but re predicted grades, you are absolutely right. The predicted grades only matter up to the interview stage (they are part of the evaluation whether you are given a chance to interview or not). Basically, you need them to tick the box that you satisfy the requirements for the offer. Post interview, these are not considered in the slightest. I think whether you get an offer or not depends entirely on your actual grades (GCSEs in this case), interview, pre-interview tests. Predicted grades are just this - a tick box exercise.

The decision to make you an offer is made at the interview stage. Predicted grades are one of the things taken into account but only because the University needs to know that the offer will be met at the end of the day. They are only a small part of the picture though and people predicted 4 or more As often get turned down. Puzzled* is right about actual grades being more important and thus the significance of GCSE results.They do take a holistic approach but performance at interview is ultimately the most crucial element. DC only need to meet their offer to take up their place.

I know how hard it is to stop overthinking the detail - I really do!! Just tell yourselves the decision has been made and there is nothing you can do now. Be kind to yourselves - it is stressful enough! Distraction, distraction, distraction!!!