Oxbridge 2020

[GinWorksForMe]

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?

I suppose goodbyestranger I am talking about dc from certain sixth form colleges. I wouldn’t expect the boys from Eton to be subsidised.

My DS is only doing 4 because he’s taking maths and FM. My DD (who has an offer for this autumn) took 3. Very few people from their school take 4 unless including FM, and they always get double figures of Oxbridge offers.

DD was doing FM but not carrying on after AS. I think she could have opted too carry on but it was very difficult (not just an add on to Maths) and took up a lot of time so she wants to concentrate on other essay type subjects instead

The gap year thing is difficult . Ds is pretty sure he wants one both for himself and because we have close family experience of someone not coping with the transition to University leading to mental health issues and ultimately to dropping out. He feels that to get the best out of university and to have the very best experience of University and particularly for an arts subject a year of extra maturity and coming fresh rather than jaded after A levels would be an advantage. We are also lucky to have family overseas who he would like to visit and spend time with.

Advice is confused, I was surprised actually shocked that the advice at Durham ( & York) was to apply for 2020 wait for results and ask to defer. St. Andrews was firmly in the apply after A levels camp as were Oxford although the website for his subject does say that they will consider deferred applications.

Spirgeon - only 3 and EPQ here. Oxford talks stressed quality over quantity and 3 is fine.

DD is doing three and no EPQ.

DS has done a year of 4 (3 PreU and 1 A level) but has now dropped one.

DS1 is doing 4 but that's standard at his school. I did ask the school if he should drop the 4th (History) as the other 3 are the most relevant ones (Chemistry, Physics and Maths) for Chemistry. Their advice was to keep it going given his strong predictions. The school have a very strong record of getting candidates into Oxbridge (particularly Oxford) so I'm inclined to take their advice.

I know that the offer will be on 3 but having the 4th might be useful for somewhere like Durham who don't specify which subject the A star in their offer will be. So if, for instance, DS1 underperformed compared to his predictions in the sciences he might still meet his offer by acing history. This was the advice from an admissions tutor at Durham last weekend.

@Spirgeon - Ds did 3 ( essay based subjects ) Oxford - it was fine . Started Maths as a 4th but bless his cotton socks he is a competent mathematician not a talented one so in consultation with school he dropped that - also dyslexic so 3 essay based subjects was enough. A while ago and others ( e.g. @Goodbyestranger) will be better able to comment but Oxford used to offer 3 x A at A level - I have not experience of offers at cambridge & I speak only of one course ( History ) at one University ( Oxford.) - Not sure how helpful that is - but for what it is worth

You're right. The standard offer for humanities is AAA, so having jumped through dozens of hurdles to get to that stage, they do drop the pressure a little at the end. Students do actually get AAA as well.

sandybayley note of caution: are you sure that for Chemistry the Durham offer letter won't specify that the A* should be in Maths or Chemistry? The offer letters through UCAS can be a lot more specific for individual applicants.

Devondoggy the 2019 statistics I've already linked to show that 87.9% of students admitted to Oxford get at least one A with 42.3% getting three or more A. Only 12.1% get AAA or below, either to reflect their school's teaching or because some at good schools take their foot off the gas once the Oxford offer is in, understandably - teenage nature. But it's a small fraction in the scheme of things.

@goodbyestranger - for Durham Chemistry it's definitely right. Candidates must take Chemistry and if a candidate has two sciences the offer is A star A A - even with 4 A Levels taken. The A star can be any subject. I spoke directly to the Chemistry Admissions tutor about it.

Please don't bother responding to every post I make goodbye, because your need for constant need to belittle other posters with oneupmanship is tedious and unnecessary.

You have already made the point that your DD went to the open day by herself, so you could not have spoken to the students I met who did get in with AAA. It is blatantly obvious that some students exceed their offer, but some students meet it, as the statistics which you appear so fond of, but which I can't be bothered to read, prove.

I think what Devondoggy meant was that having gotten to the stage where predictions were Ax 2 or 3 the offer was AAA which meant there was some wiggle room rather than the students not achieving their predictions. Thus having gotten fab predictions and actually secured an offer the pressure was off a bit in that such high achievers could have an off day but still secure their place but usually because of their nature still went on to get the 3 xA etc

I'll respond to whichever posts I want Devondoggy, even gratuitously rude ones. I really have zero interest or need to belittle anyone - I'm amazed at the uncalled for aggression! Statistics are useful up to a point.

OKBobble the figures surprised me but it's what they imply for predictions which interested me. I've often said that my own DC were very pleased to have to pressure off - the Oxford offers are a gift; one very sound reason for choosing Oxford over Cambridge actually.

Terrible use of commas there.

Why do these threads always descend in this way?

I think because there always seems to be a poster who gets rude and aggressive without cause. I think I'll ask for my response to be deleted, not just because of badly placed commas! But yes, I'll add my voice to a request for no snitchiness or nastiness this year - wonder if that can happen....

Feelings running high, people reading things amiss. It’s a shame because I learnt so much in last year’s thread.

Well I have found @Goodbyestranger to be very helpful. Of course - the offer ( humanities at Oxford) tend to be AAA and of course many tend to get more than that. But they have had to ( typically ) do an aptitude test and interviews so I don't think AAA is a bad offer under those circumstances - they are probably just saying we want you. For other universities where all on PS etc - yes I can see where higher grades are asked for

I cannot talk about science subjects as my son did not do one but usually these threads are very helpful and nice so let's hope.

I will say @Goodbyestranger was very helpful when talking about the aptitude test ( HAT) - so - how about a and all round - my shout

In the case of some of the courses at Cambridge, if the applicant is doing 3 A levels then if they get an offer obviously its based on that eg 2Astars and an A - but if they're doing 4 then the offer may be 2Astars and 2As - and there may not be flexibility as to which subjects must have the stars.

The imponderable is whether the applicant with 4 a levels is much more likely to actually get an offer. And then of course, someone who has covered more ground at school may be at some advantage when they start ... sometimes when discussing A levels it can seem too much about grades as a means to an end rather than learning as an end in itself.

Sandy, DS kept up history even though it was more of a struggle than he expected. He had a keen interest but found the step up in terms of analysis and evidence did not come naturally. He was taking more than three so it did not matter.

Roll on three or so years, during which time he has barely written anything, and I think he is pleased he kept up the breadth. He almost certainly did better in the graduate admissions test GMAT than he would have done had he completely dropped humanities at 16. And now studying for a PhD in the US, he is discovering that Universities expect the broader skill set that comes from taking less specialised first degrees. Employers too can be expected to like a humanities A level in the mix.

Thanks @Needmoresleep - I think your DS was at the same school mine is at?

They certainly encourage pupils to keep up the 4th A Level if possible as it is the 'norm' for the school. I do think there is something very useful about a scientist who can write. I did very similar A Levels to DS1 and my mix of writing and maths skills is extremely useful and quite unusual in my field.

Employers too can be expected to like a humanities A level in the mix.

Well, for some roles in some domains.

I'm never entirely convinced about the relative benefits of 'analysis and evidence' from the humanities POV versus STEM where the fundamental foundation is evidence and analysis thereof ... and if you do research you will most certainly need to write and present. Maybe there's a difference in that you have to learn more before you're competent to engage?