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?

Thank you ladies that is very helpful information. She is quite a modest girl and I think is only just beginning to believe she is quite smart. Wishing all the Dc every success in the forthcoming applications, think I will be regular visitor to this thread.😀

HugoSpritz
DS wants to apply to Cambridge rather than Oxford, but he chose a college based on his experience of attending an open day there in February.

He would prefer somewhere fairly central (the lectures are based in more than one department) and not tiny or huge.

He realises he could be pooled, but thinks he might as well express a preference to start with.

@HugoSpritz - DS1 has chosen his Oxford college on a bit of a whim. Big, central and lots of opps for sport. But the same could be said for many other colleges. He's not that bothered though and would be happy elsewhere if lucky enough to be offered a place.

He's equally blase about Durham colleges and I think he'll put Collingwood down without having a strong preference.

DD4 has chosen her preference on the grounds of old and very pretty, very central, a large intake for her subject overall, sporty.

She knows that it's not sensible to get too attached to the idea of any particular college though, so she isn't going to do that - she's just filled in the code and is now going to forget about it.

DS got his Maths result. A. So he can now start* his UCAS form...

@PantTwizzler - great news. Huge confidence boost!

Well done to young PT

Very impressive PantTwizzler. Obviously a good morning in the PantTwizzler household! Very well done to DD too - glad to hear it turned out fine.

Ah thanks all. Yes we are absolutely on cloud 9 here. And DD even managed to cope with the fact that she was outperformed by DS in Maths A level. Sibling rivalry possibly finally put to bed!

I'm sure you know coleopetra, just don't apply to same colleges. I'm sure the PS just have to be currently relevant so just a refresh and good plans for gap - nothing fancy.
Very good luck to them and huge congratulations. How exciting to have lots of options open now.

UCAS run the personal statement through similarity detection software, so I think it would be safest to rewrite it.

Coleoptera - My understanding is it has to be a completely new PS and would be wise to apply to different colleges to avoid the possibility of the same interviewers. Which colleges did they apply to previously? Are they tied to Oxford and Cambridge or would the prefer to switch. Do they know how they scored on pretesting last time round? Interviews are given at one cut off score but the reality is the average offers are made at a point 20% higher for history for example.

Yes, they will need to use gap year wisely preferably with a subject connection.

The next round of open days are in September so it might be worth booking onto some of those as if I remember correctly there was a rush to offer holder days for alternatives when they failed to get offers. Perhaps if that isn't an issue this time they will be more relaxed about missing offers should it happen again. As you know it is super competitive and the odds are still against getting an offer probability wise. For their own (and your) mental health you should prepare for this occurrence.

Most people I know who did apply with grades in hand were still first time applicants who had planned the year out anyway and because they were first time applicants still had the help/support of their schools. (Mixed results for these people despite top grades so it is vital to prepare for a similar outcome whilst hoping and working for a different one). Have you ascertained whether the school will help, will submit UCAS or whether you have to do so privately and where they will take any pre-tests such as HAT etc.

I don't wish to sound so negative and wish good luck to them both. I would be inclined to ask to defer current places so that you all have another month before declining them and reapplying.

Congratulations on the grades achieved which are certainly very impressive and must at least go some way to comforting them that they are high achieving boys whichever route they end up taking of which there are many.

Re hand shake or lack thereof. It was probably the interviewer asserting their authority and indicating we run how the interview goes not you. My DD would have just pulled her hand back and got on with it. Remember that part of the tutorial way of teaching is quite combatitive in a way for humanities subjects. They may have their essays/views torn apart in front of other students in order for the student to argue their viewpoint or come to the conclusion they may indeed be wrong. If something like this threw him do you think he would cope with this style of teaching? Does he realise this would be the style or can he be prepared for this?

I have to say none of the history tutors we met came across as lacking in social skills. Also at Oxford (but not Cambridge) they alao point out that it is very much a Department decision rather than a pure college one to ensure they get the best 220 (history) candidates from the 2000 plus that apply.

@Coleoptera - congratulations on an excellent set of grades for both DTs.

DS1 is a first time applicant so I don't have any insight but my best guess is that the PS' need complete rewrites to take into account the fact that it's a year on and both DTs have had lots more experience of their subjects (more books read for English applicant etc!) It's probably easier to start again than tinker with the existing statements.

From what you've said about their school I'm guessing it will be similar to DS1's in that a lot of support is provided to post A Level applicants. From what I remember the successful candidates at DS1's school have been those who've exceeded their predictions and got very strong results. How did the DT's achieved grades compare to their predicted grades?

Coleoptera
For what it is worth, I would be suggesting to DT2 to ask to defer for Durham and DT1 to reapply if he prefers Durham to Exeter. They may well be capable of success at Oxbridge second time but it does risk the focus of the year re-becoming that rather than what you would hope from it.
Whatever their decision, a reapplication needs a new PS.

I would suggest Cambridge rather than Oxford if they do go for it and not to be tactical about colleges but just go for the ones they prefer. As you clearly want for them, they should treat it as a long shot without over investing themselves in it. Cambridge is also less of a risk for he latter as the interview process is so short.
If Cambridge is local, I would have thought that Durham or UCL (at least for English) would be more interesting places to be.

You must be so proud of how well they have done despite their disappointment. Perhaps though it's time to spread their wings further than Exeter, Durham, Oxford & Cambridge. Encourage them to attend September open days at places they hadn't looked at before. Students who achieved multiple A*s who didn't want to attend Oxbridge or were rejected find they are better suited elsewhere once they open their mind to the opportunities available. This time they may be lucky and find their perfect Oxbridge fit, but sometimes a complete contrast may work just as well.

Those are fab results for both twins Coleoptera - very, very well done to them!

I would say apply to Cambridge. The GCSEs will still matter for Oxford and if they happened to bomb the aptitude tests then that would still be that, even with those top grades at A Level/ Pre-U. I can't remember if you asked for the HAT score? (too late now if you didn't). I assume DT2 must have done very well, given his GCSEs and the context in which they were taken, but you never quite know what the day might throw up a second time around, and I imagine the pressure will be even greater this time around. Oxford still sets more store by the tests - for Cambridge they're still bedding in.

From a common sense point of view, I can't see why what they wrote in a PS would become redundant after a year. I think the simple refresh advice is good.

I'd tend to go bold on colleges too - whichever takes their liking.

Also, the above is obviously very much just opinion and what I'd say to my own DC. If they prefer the idea of Oxford, then Oxford it should be. I think they've earned the right to choose! Well done to both again.

sandy you can't exceed predictions of full A*!

I think sandybayley is saying that if predicted grades lower than A* were a factor in not getting an offer the first time round, that factor has now been removed in this year's application. Some factors remain the same, and only the ones that are changing will make a difference to their chances this time round.