Oxbridge Applications 2019 (Part Three)

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Today is a big day for many... time for a new thread too

Atia is there an offer-holders' group chat?

I've no idea! Hadn't even thought of that. Might suggest to ds he looks for both (where would you look? TSR? Facebook?) - might be helpful.

My DS had one which was college based and one which was subject based,

Atia - my DD deliberated quite a while before eventually accepting her Cambridge offer. In her case, she hadn't really thought she'd get a place but had loved Cambridge at the open day so thought she might as well have a shot. However, she'd also loved Southampton (both the dept and the watersports possibilities) and there was also the question of the difference in course - Gen eng vs EEE. Her college did do an offer holders event, with an overnight stay (I think as with your DD1s they take quite a lot from the pool) and she didn't firm till after that. So there's certain no hurry, it's not a foregone conclusion that everyone who gets an Oxbridge offer will decide its right for them after all.

I don't want to kick off another discussion here which may be unhelpful, but if anyone is interested, the Sunday Times has a piece with the backstories of some of the kids from those London sixth forms:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/two-gangland-schools-help-dozens-of-black-pupils-find-key-to-oxbridge-rx5766rsc?shareToken=bb13aadc205765f4733c0c6a1742f7ea

Maybe should be a separate thread, if anyone wants to start one you can c&p the link - I'm off out in a minute so don't want to initiate one and run.

Yes Errol this is such an interesting article in so many ways and perhaps a new thread would be a good idea so as not to distract from the intention of this one. I have a feeling that some of my views on these two schools could prove controversial to some.

PantTwizzler I'm with you in that DD4 in Y12 is intending to apply but she has only numbered GCSEs. Your DD is at a comp but presumably your DS is at an independent? Or is there another reason for the letter grades? I'm also confused as to why he doesn't have numbered grades at least for Maths and English too.

Without AS grades the unis are looking more at GCSE results and your DS has a slightly lower than average number of A*s or equivalent.. Don't forget though that there is context to be taken into account and some schools do not offer as many GCSEs. If this is the case then he should not be penalised.

PantTwizzler - from the Oxford website www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications?wssl=1#

GCSEs will be taken in to account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course. If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account.

Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of A and A* grades or 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context. Where possible, tutors will be made aware of the overall GCSE performance of the school or college where you studied. They will also have information on how you have performed compared with other Oxford applicants at similar schools. (See further information on how we use contextual data.) Tutors will also consider your achieved or predicted grades at A-level (or other equivalent qualifications), your personal statement, academic reference, and any written work or written tests required for your course. If your application is shortlisted, your performance at interview will also be taken in to account.

It doesn’t specify number of GCSEs taken, just that proportion of top grades be high, which for your DS appears to be the case. You’d want to check what it says for a specific course, but it doesn’t sound like cause for concern. 8 sounds like a great number to have taken - my school encouraged me to take some exams a year early, then the following year made me take bullshit exams so I wouldn’t have free periods (Drama GCSE, French E(xtended) Level, and Maths Pure 1.) What a waste of time.

Ah I see. That's incredibly unusual PantTwizzler so he'll be in a class of his own :) The grades just looked odd without explanation; I hope you don't mind my asking.

Thanks — useful info which I should have thought to look up myself...

Yes I think given what Hingle found, your DS's results should not be a barrier to success.

Oh no problem goodbye. Yes it does look strange out of context. New situation for me because DD went to school in year 10 and did 12 (!) GCSEs.

Here's the equivalent info from Cambridge (which I've attempted to edit asterisks as 'star' to alleviate the MN bolding curse but not sure if it's worked):

^ There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, but within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were achieved.
Applicants have generally achieved high grades in subjects relevant to their chosen course, and most students who apply have at least four or five As or Astars at GCSE (7 is considered equivalent to an A in the new grading structure; and 8 and 9 is considered equivalent to an Astar). However, there are always exceptions and we don’t require a minimum number of As/A*s at GCSE. One of the strengths of the Cambridge admissions system is its ability to assess all applicants individually.
Our research shows that post-16 examination performance is a much better predictor of degree success at Cambridge. While GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, this is within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were attained, and strong performance in Years 12 and 13 can make up for a less stellar performance at GCSE.^

Useful, thank you. Need to persuade him to go to some open days (his big sister went to precisely one).

Wiifitmama might be a good person to talk to too - her ds was HE up to 6th form as well, and applied to Cambridge. (Mine all went much earlier in secondary school, but I love hearing about other people's home ed kids :) )

As it says, and perhaps particularly the case for STEM (which I assume is what your DS is interested in), Cambridge seems mainly interested in excellence in the chosen field and allied subjects ,rather than 'breadth'.

Thanks Errol. Yes he is interested in engineering (probably). And thanks Atia.

Great- my specialist area of recent-ish knowledge. well, apart from the normal requirement to have passed English (IIRC a couple of courses might have stipulated a minimum of a B in old money) - presumably that's one of his 8? - I don't think any of the courses DD applied to cared much about the non STEM stuff.

Of course, Oxbridge will only be relevant if he's happy to do General Engineering (Cambridge) or 'Engineering Science' (Oxford). If he wants to go into one branch from the off rather than 'generalise then specialise' then he'll be looking elsewhere- lots of great options!

Errol It sounds like your DD’s college is the one my DD has applied to. Is your DD still there now? How is she finding it? My daughter loved the more ‘relaxed’ attitude with the gardens etc and felt it had a good range of political / social opportunities. She will be studying HSPS.
By the way somebody, maybe you, mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the HSPS students were seen as taking it a bit easy, coasting. That worried me a bit, although I can’t imagine my DD doing that. In fact doing a bit of that would probably do her good!!

Stumbled across this article which might be helpful. I'm really surprised at the differences between the colleges.

www.varsity.co.uk/news/15558

My DD is in her 2nd year (of 4) - very much enjoying it.
Her best mate does HSPS - although their 'contact hours' are very different (DD sometimes has more in a day than her pal has in a week), I don't get the impression of 'coasting' - I'd guess that's a function of individual working style, motivation etc.

Littlespace What a difference between colleges! It would be interesting to see the trend over a few years though.

Errol That’s good to hear. Thanks. There’s a possibility my DD will end up being hosted by your DD’s friend in that case!