Oxbridge Applications (Part Four)

[Aurea]

Link to previous thread -

Oxbridge Applications 2019 (Part Three) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3474232-Oxbridge-Applications-2019-Part-Three

I see the other thread is full and am unable to find the next instalment (correct me if I'm wrong), so here it is.....

To kick things off, my DS has just firmed Trinity College, Oxford for Law (conditional AAB) and has insured Edinburgh (unconditional). He is Scottish so his qualifications are Highers/Advanced Highers. He achieved AAA in his prelims (mocks) so he's on track (fingers and toes crossed).

He went down to an Offer Holders day last weekend and had an absolute ball and met lots of lovely people. Roll on the next few months.......a small hurdle of exams first, mind.

How are everyone else's DCs doing?

It probably doesn't help you, but my son has a sub fusc ( with two pairs of trousers) and a navy blazer which could be dressed up and down, a tie and some smart casual shirts and a pair of chinos. The rest of his clothes are jeans and hoodies, etc...He's starting at an old, traditional college.

I don't envy anyone with girls!

Well DS hasn't even started thinking about packing yet, but I'm going to be encouraging him to pack light. Not only are the terms short, but there's very little wardrobe space in college.

That said, I do think at least one suitable outfit for drinks parties / dinners would be a good idea. Does she have a dress or a nice skirt she could wear with different tops?

I suppose this first term will be a bit of trial and error as it'll depend what our DCs get into. If they sign up for loads of sports, they'll live in tracksuits. If they get involved in the Oxford Union or similar, they'll need black-tie and ballgowns!

DDs wardrobe was much like your DDs before she went to uni, PantTwizzler., skinny black jeans and jumpers. She got some slightly smarter trousers, some tops which were more blouse less lumberjack, and a couple of skirts and some dresses, simple skater-ish style (Debenhams, H&M, new look type of shops). Mind you, given she's small and the Cambridge one-size gowns aren't, I'm not sure anyone can see that much of what she's wearing under it at formals!

DD lives in jeans and jumpers at college but has a couple of dresses for formals to wear under her gown. Nothing very posh, as Errol said above, skater style from New Look or H&M. Smart trousers and a top are also absolutely fine.

Oxford undergrad gowns are very small and poxy so any outfit will be visible... but these are very useful suggestions. Thank you!

Seems we will be the last ones left after this weekend! How is everyone’s DC coming along with packing?

DD has one local friend left who is starting even later than she is. She seems to have chatted online with a few people from her college and has sussed out some info about the sport she’s been involved with at school and the excitement seems to be finally overtaking the nerves.
There are increasingly towering piles of things in her bedroom but nothing has actually been packed yet. We leave next Saturday so the final countdown isn’t far away.
How about you?

DD has a bridging course starting tomorrow (!) and then she’s coming home again on Saturday to pack (last minute here...) and returning on Monday 7th. She’s very nervous.

@Happydaughterhappymum
There had been some packing done but unfortunately we are not finished with al the shipping so she can’t really arrange the bags yet.

She is typically anxious about freshers week and making friends and doesn’t outwardly seem very excited but who knows what goes on in her head!

I wondered university her friend is going to, can’t imagine any going even later than this.

Hi PantTwizzler, DD went with a few cocktail dresses and bought gowns for balls over the Easter vac. TK Maxx is a great source for inexpensive gowns. Do not spend much on them as they get wrecked.

@strawberrieshortcake DD’s friend is off to Oxford - her move in date isn’t until mid-week, a few days after DD.
DD seems to have more fancy dress outfits sorted than actual clothes at the moment!

@Happydaughterhappymum Ah that makes sense! I guess they’d spread out moving days unless the city centre would be completely rammed.

DD insists she won’t be attending any fancy dress parties and hasn’t even got her college freshers timetable so isn’t aware of any. She has bought a few more dressers but thin more ‘London Night Out’ than ‘Evening Gowns’.

She is probably going to stand out in terms of outfits since everyone else seems to be going for more elegant styles but that’s just the way she is.

I am worried that she is going to find the change really hard in that she has lived in the same place her whole life and in a major city so hope Oxford will eventually feel like home to her.

DC just heard on good authority (college parent) that 25% of Oxford law offer holders missed their offers this year!! Unsure how many were accepted despite this. There were much fewer last year.

My DC knows at least 2 students at his college (out of 6/7) who haven been rejected due to this.

How awful to fall at the final hurdle.

Thanks for the further clothes thoughts. DD is now in Oxford on her bridging course so I guess she’ll have to work it out as she goes along!

That’s awful re the Law offer holders Aurea. Poor things.

That's double the average rate Aurea. Are you completely sure that the college parent meant university wide as opposed to just at your DS's college? (where 25% clearly did miss their grades).

This is what he was told. It was university wide His parent was in helping the law fac over the summer. I read the message myself and this is what it looks like....something to do with new spec A levels? We are not familiar with A levels as we are Scottish.

15% missed last year according to same source.

Yes it's generally 14% or so. It could be something to do with A levels but plenty of the standard subjects for Law have been in place for the previous couple of years so a massive hike is odd. Perhaps lots were taking Maths which is new for this year, and horrible by all accounts. Or it could reflect an increased emphasis on access, if most of those missing their grades were from generally poorer performing schools (I hope that isn't the case - that most of those affected were at the least good schools).

This is purely me speculating, but if true, this ties in with more state school offers.

I'm totally pro state schools as my DCs have only ever attended them (11-18. non selective). I do, however, have first hand experience on how they are struggling with resources, behaviour, teaching staff etc.

My DC did three Advanced Highers which are like A Levels done in one academic year. He studied one subject from scratch, hoping for decent support. In the end the teacher went off on maternity leave end Feb and no replacement was drafted in. He ended up teaching himself the rest of the course. He achieved the highest grade possible, but he had to work his socks off for this and do lots of research himself as there are no text books available for his course (R.E). Only 150 students take this exam in Scotland , so it's not financially viable to produce exam -orientated academic material for so few students.

This is just one example of the obstacles/educational disadvantage state schoolers face on a regular basis. Over-predications may also be an issue, but that's another story.

Well it’s definitely sad if DC missed offers and I also hope it doesn’t reflect lower teaching standards at state schools as my Dd attended state school and I am really happy with the Oxbridge access initiatives.

It’s a week to go now and DD is restless. I have some questions about the university.

DD has had a look at some of the societies and is wondering if it’s worth even signing up to some over the cost. Oxford Union seems to be about £250 which seems ridiculous regardless if it’s a lifetime membership. Freshers week seems to be very expensive, I hope her loan will be enough to cover it.

I’ll be encouraging DD to swerve the Union. I was suckered in to life membership as a student and barely went there.

DH offered to pay the subs for the Cambridge Union if DD wanted. But having looked at the upcoming talks, there didn't seem to be much she was that interested in - better things to do, including various good free lectures. So I'd be inclined to say best not to sign up to too much initially.

DD has also decided against the Cambridge Union, at least for the time being. She says that it’s around the same price as a ball ticket which seems to be the priority at the moment.
It feels as though we’re in limbo at the moment- not long until Saturday though!
She’s not managed to work out whether she’s allowed things like a toaster and kettle in her room (they’re definitely not allowed a fridge)- I suspect not. She’ll be getting very fit as according to the rooms database the gyp room is a few floors away from her room.

Finally!!!!!!
about to leave.
DDs college says they provide divers but DD would like to bring her own.
What's everyone else doing?

@ThisYearHasGotToBeBetter did you mean Duvet? We went yesterday and DS college provides them too. He took his own and stored theirs away.
Good luck!