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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:
bpisok · 05/08/2019 18:13

Thanks goodbye.
I guess the PS makes a good starting point at the interview and for humanities it's really important to be able to discuss everything in it in detail and to have an opinion.
I am pretty sure that DD will have an opinion on everything in hers (she has an opinion on everything else hahaha). She loves a good debate 😁
A lot of subjects have a 'recommended' books list but if you only read books from the list it's not really going to demonstrate that you have a real interest.

bpisok · 05/08/2019 18:13

Thanks goodbye.
I guess the PS makes a good starting point at the interview and for humanities it's really important to be able to discuss everything in it in detail and to have an opinion.
I am pretty sure that DD will have an opinion on everything in hers (she has an opinion on everything else hahaha). She loves a good debate 😁
A lot of subjects have a 'recommended' books list but if you only read books from the list it's not really going to demonstrate that you have a real interest.

bpisok · 05/08/2019 18:13

Thanks goodbye.
I guess the PS makes a good starting point at the interview and for humanities it's really important to be able to discuss everything in it in detail and to have an opinion.
I am pretty sure that DD will have an opinion on everything in hers (she has an opinion on everything else hahaha). She loves a good debate 😁
A lot of subjects have a 'recommended' books list but if you only read books from the list it's not really going to demonstrate that you have a real interest.

bpisok · 05/08/2019 18:15

Wow don't know what happened there!!! It kept saying it had failed to post but it was clearly a lie

Indicative · 05/08/2019 18:55

She clearly has lots of opinions!

bpisok · 05/08/2019 18:58

Very funny 😁

sandybayley · 05/08/2019 19:02

@bpisok - you definitely made your point there 😉 (x3)

sandybayley · 05/08/2019 19:03

@bpisok - you definitely made your point there 😉 (x3)

goodbyestranger · 05/08/2019 19:23

Yes you absolutely have to have read the stuff you say you've read - I remember the feedback on the Keble website (for entry 2011 or so) where the English tutors said they simply stopped the interview then and there when an interviewee was asked a question about a book listed and said she hadn't been able to find time to read it. A critical rule for personal statements in relation to interviewing unis!

ErrolTheDragon · 05/08/2019 19:26

Don't put anything in you can't talk about!

PantTwizzler · 05/08/2019 22:17

My DS hasn’t started his PS yet and given his loathing of writing he will struggle to say enough...

My DD had the opposite problem. WRT extra versus supra she squeezed in one sentence at the end about her interests. She had four interviews at three different colleges and they were all very subject focused. AFAIK no one asked her specifically about her PS.

For anyone’s DC applying for Classics (inc goodbyestranger?) — my DD was asked to interpret a coin in two separate interviews. I’d warned her to prepare for that and she had not followed my sage advice... but it didn’t do her any harm.

goodbyestranger · 05/08/2019 22:25

Goodness thank you so much for that coin tip PantTwizzler! What a horror! Choices two, three, four or five here we come (hopefully) :)

Alittewornout · 07/08/2019 20:04

Hi all Dd received her exam results yesterday (Scottish highers) she obtained 5As so is considering an application to Oxford for maths. She has already been doing step and Mat questions to stretch herself and has been to the open day. We are well aware it’s a very long shot. For Advanced highers she is taking pure maths, mechanics of maths and physics. Between that and 8 dance classes a week that will keep her out of trouble!

Indicative · 07/08/2019 21:38

Welcome alittlewornout. I know there are some maths/stem people on here. Mine is an historian though!

sandybayley · 08/08/2019 09:09

Welcome @Alittewornout - DS is applying for Chemistry at Oxford so a fellow STEM applicant.

Has you DD chosen a college yet?

Alittewornout · 08/08/2019 10:06

Thank you so much for the warm welcome it is much appreciated. Dd still deciding on colleges there are a couple in the mix which she was able to visit at the open day. I think before fully committing she would like to know the bands of the As. She will get these when she returns to school. For 6th year she is taking Advanced highers in pure maths, mechanics of maths and physics.
If I am honest I feel a little worried about her applying as I don’t want it to be become a huge deal when the chances are so slim. At the minute she appears to have the sensible approach that is just one of 5 choices and she will be happy wherever she ends up. I just hope it stays that way!🙈

Alittewornout · 08/08/2019 10:17

Oops sorry about restating her 6 th year choices I had forgotten I had already posted them! Must be post results euphoria!

goodbyestranger · 08/08/2019 11:20

Alittlewornout AAAAA must put your DD in the very top percentage of students in Scotland and Oxford is very clear that it's on an active drive to recruit more Scottish students. Obviously it has to fight against the fee situation so I'd have thought that your DD was actually in a really strong position. It says that 12% of Maths applicants get offers (as a percentage, more get Cambridge offers - Oxford is a more popular choice and that's pretty true across the board of subjects I think). But her own statistics look incredibly good.

sincethereis · 08/08/2019 11:34

Does anyone have any thoughts on Christ Church, College ?

sergeantmajor · 08/08/2019 11:41

Can anyone tell me what the extra personal statement element is for Cambridge? First I've heard of it. DS's school doesn't seem very 'on it'.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/08/2019 12:44

Can anyone tell me what the extra personal statement element is for Cambridge?

It's a completely optional extra. One situation where it can be useful is if the Cambridge course is different to the others being applied for which might be the focus of the main PS e.g natural sciences versus a single science, general engineering versus a specific field - I posted on Sunday relating to this.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/08/2019 12:48

It says that 12% of Maths applicants get offers (as a percentage, more get Cambridge offers

But not all end up with places because of STEP.

Aurea · 08/08/2019 12:59

*Alittlewornout
*
My son is Scottish and attended a state, non-selective 11-18 Academy. He is starting Oxford in October to read law.

He has 5As and a B at Higher and his offer was AAB at Advanced Higher (RMPS, Mods and Music).

I think his school was flagged as they have had very little success of Oxbridge offers. I think all the above may have helped him achieve an offer, along with his admission test and interview, the latter of which he really enjoyed.

Good luck to your daughter. Anything is possible.....

Aurea · 08/08/2019 13:01

Oh, one more thing. Oxford didn't even ask for the bands of his Highers/Advanced Higherrs.

goodbyestranger · 08/08/2019 13:14

Errol of course. The figure I was using for Cambridge was the post STEP success rate - the pre-STEP one would be useless, given that Cambridge initially over offers by a huge %.

(That said, I'm too lazy to go back and get the exact Cambridge figure :)).