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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge 2020

999 replies

GinWorksForMe · 02/05/2019 14:15

Is it too early for an Oxbridge 2020 thread? I'm feeling in need of some hand holding through this process...

DS1 is going to apply to Cambridge for Maths. Doesn't know yet whether to name a college or put in an open application, so any tips gratefully received. We have visited two (very different) colleges and been to a Maths Open Day. It's unlikely we're going to have the opportunity to visit many more colleges as their open days seem to be on Saturdays and DS1 has a paid job Saturdays and Sundays.

Anyone else applying for Oxbridge for 2020 entry and want to share the journey?

OP posts:
whiteroseredrose · 07/05/2019 20:49

DS is currently at Oxford doing Physics. FWIW he did an open application and is in a lovely college.

The supra curricular stuff that he did wasn't with Oxbridge in mind. It was because he found physics amazing so it was what he wanted to do. He was watching online lectures in year 9 and 10 and reading books about it. In sixth form he and a friend self studied an extra maths A Level mechanics module because it was interesting. They set up a physics discussion group in sixth form where the group would take it in turns to pick an topic in physics to research and then present back to the group. No input from parents or school for any of this (other than letting them sit the extra module).

Oxbridge are looking for a passion about your subject and the ability to thrive with the very intense teaching methods that they have there.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/05/2019 21:03

Is one not allowed to say someone else is being less than open?

It could be seen as troll hunting, I guess.

No, you have to respect name changes, goodbyestranger

Unless it's 'sock puppetry' but I can't imagine why anyone would deliberately do that on this sort of thread.

Stickerrocks · 07/05/2019 21:07

Kilash but surely being chaotic in physics can only be a good thing!

goodbyestranger · 07/05/2019 21:09

Errol I was a bit perplexed too. Nowt so funny as folk, as they say hereabouts :)

Original poster
GinWorksForMe · 07/05/2019 21:13

Thanks guys for reassuring me that I should stick with you all even though I feel out of my depth. Google is our friend and Cambridge publishes lots of information but I agree with other posters that it all feels very daunting if you have no knowledge of the traditions, processes and language involved in all of this. It is generous of you all to share your knowledge and experience.

DS is clearly a natural academic and very, very keen on maths, but he is also approaching the end of Year 12 and as far as I know he has not done much of the super curricular stuff mentioned. I don't know if this will rule him out before/after interview but he might as well apply if he wants to. He has already picked two other places to apply to and is one of those super chilled out people so I think he will be happy, and feel very lucky, if he gets an offer from any of them.

I think these young people are truly amazing so I will be rooting for all of them. Smile

OP posts:
Kilash · 07/05/2019 21:19

Sticker Grin it probably is! Not being a mathmo or some such I have no idea. In my world being chaotic means a Mental Health Act Assessment might be pending....

Stickerrocks · 07/05/2019 21:22

Google is your friend: Chaos theory is a part of mathematics. It looks at certain systems that are very sensitive. A very small change may make the system behave completely differently. Very small changes in the starting position of a chaotic system make a big difference after a while.

OKBobble · 07/05/2019 21:25

Gin I suspect if a maths bod he will have done Maths Challenges etc and I understand from reading sumular threads there is online stuff he can do over the Summer. As someone said before interest can be demonstrated from their own sofa!

hobbema · 07/05/2019 21:26

@GinWorksForMe absolutely ditto to that! Rooting for our kids and supporting each other on here so we can be blithely calm and cool irl for them. Its been a busy bit of posting today which I have struggled to keep up with. Guessing there will be peaks and troughs of activity when deadlines etc appear. I really hope we do all manage to keep going in the spirit we want ; I need it. I haven't got anyone else I'd feel comfortable sharing with in the truly world.

whistl · 07/05/2019 21:26

I'm not sure whether DS will be making an Oxbridge application, but would you mind if I join anyway so I can pick up some tips?

TheFirstOHN · 07/05/2019 21:31

DS is clearly a natural academic and very, very keen on maths
That's ideal. He probably already pursues maths-related interests without realising that these are "supercurricular activities".

A couple of extra suggestions if he is interested:

  • Plus Maths magazine has some interesting articles, and they have a Twitter account he could look at.
  • The Further Maths Support Programme (Google it to find their website) has enrichment activities.
hobbema · 07/05/2019 21:37

@whistl . Hi! I don’t suppose your DS is a Geographer?! I am waiting in vain for one... are they lost?Grin

Original poster
GinWorksForMe · 07/05/2019 21:39

Hi whistl and welcome. hobbema, I'm the same, very grateful for the online conversation. But also unable to keep up
with any large volume of posts so please forgive me if I ever miss something or ask a question which has already been answered.

Yes my DS has definitely done Olympiads with school so he can use that on his statement. I'm sure he'll be able to write about maths stuff he likes, but it will mean nothing to me!

OP posts:
whistl · 07/05/2019 21:43

hobbema, unfortunately not. Do you need one to complete the set?
DS will do maths somewhere.

Kilash · 07/05/2019 21:44

Probably no help hobbema but my Ds is at least doing A level Geography and loving it!

goodbyestranger · 07/05/2019 21:52

Gin I remember that OYBBK wrote down what her DD had done for Maths which sounded interesting - it may have been earlier in the thread.

goodbyestranger · 07/05/2019 21:55

By which I don'tmean that anyone should do the same, just that I find that when a DC stops and thinks for a moment about what it is they've done in relation to the subject they intend to apply for, it's often far more than they realised.

hobbema · 07/05/2019 21:59

whistl; I do!!! Seriously ( not) .. they are nowhere to be found. Kilash; I’m putting you on standby, you may be my best hope.

OKBobble · 07/05/2019 22:04

Hobbema - my DSS is reading geography at an RG though rather than Oxbridge. Assume he already subscribes to National Geographic? Just reading that and commenting on articles is good practice for ps.

OKBobble · 07/05/2019 22:06

My yr 12 is doing History, Geography and Economics A levels but going for History.
It is worth looking at any info on topical things like climate change is useful tknread around

OKBobble · 07/05/2019 22:07
  • to read around
ErrolTheDragon · 07/05/2019 22:11

I don’t suppose your DS is a Geographer?! I am waiting in vain for one... are they lost?

Grina field trip too far?

My niece did geography at Cambridge a few years ago but I don't really know any specifics about their interviews or course.

hobbema · 07/05/2019 22:13

DT1 is intending to apply for History. Sorry for confusing people. I made an observation upstream that some subjects just dont appear on the thread. DT2 is going for Geography ( not Oxbridge) and is phenomenally laid back about the whole process/ normal for y12 so maybe there’s a connection ...

whistl · 07/05/2019 22:18

Gin I think both Cambridge and Oxford maths department have a list of resources that would be good for personal statements on their websites. I've just tried to find the links but I'm on my phone, so couldn't.
I'll put them up if I come across then later. They are there though - I have sheet looked at them. Just not today

ErrolTheDragon · 07/05/2019 22:27

Hobbema - well, looking at the Cambridge stats page (I happened to still have it open) at applicants per subject, some have way more (both because of applicants per place and also number of places on the course). So statistically I guess there should be e.g. more NatScis and mathmos than some other subjects. And then there's more esoteric courses where there might be more specific questions arising.