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?

@goodbyestranger - obvs (as my teenagers would say) but my question was what their predictions were and my other point was about the candidates who applied post A Level results from DS1's school (typically who exceeded their predictions. The school doesn't recommend applying with less than two A stars predicted and these candidates went on to get 3 or 4 A stars.

I don't know what @Coleoptera 's DTs were predicted and TBH it's hard to see what they got with Mumsnet random bolding.

@Ironoaks - exactly! You are always far more eloquent than me!

My response was based on the fact that the DTs were predicted a full house of A*.

As in, Coleoptera had said that on previous threads.

Their GCSEs were far less good and were almost certainly what scuppered their application.

I get what you're saying in principle; it just doesn't apply to this situation.

OK. Being positive, an A in the hand must be worth more than an A in the prediction bush, so hopefully they will be in a stronger position this year anyway.

Also, I can't see a bolding issue in Coleoptera's post? I read it as DT1 getting two A and a D1 in the Pre-U and DT2 getting three A and an A. Fab results even if fractionally under predictions for DT2 (but then he took four A Levels not three). The tutors might well have been a bit dubious about a good, high achieving independent giving out tip top grades in the context of the GCSEs but the twins have proved the predictions were completely credible.

Ironoaks for Oxford (and I assume Cambridge) if you have a full set of A* at GCSE then it seems to me that at interview you have the wind behind you. If you have a mixed bag then you're fighting against the wind and the bar at interview will be higher.

That makes sense. I also wonder if they would put less weight on GCSE grades once they can see actual, achieved A-level grades.

@goodbyestranger - some of us don't follow every thread and don't keep track of every poster. I have no idea what everyone's predictions are or were. I know my own DS' and that's about it. Forgive me for asking questions that you already know the answers to. I'm obviously a bit simple.

sandy I think the idea that I keep a spreadsheet of MN DC predictions is a bit fanciful! The fact is that on the 2019 application round Coleoptera spoke about her DTs a fair bit and a lot of posters will be very familiar with them and their situation on account of that. There was a good deal of sympathy for the twins. Simply because I remeber the predictions of frequently mentioned grades/ twins on a single thread doesn't in any way carry with it the implication that I have a weird fascination with other DCs' predictions! I do however have a startlingly good memory as do a number of my DC - it's been commented on throughout my life as it can unseat some people when I remember a small and inconsequential detail about their life they might have mentioned only once a decade ago. I quite like the facility I have to say - it requires no effort on my part at all but can be deployed in real life quite usefully :)

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Coleoptera I imagine that you will be welcomed with open arms on both the Oxbridge and standard uni 2020 threads, as you have such recent, relevant experience of Oxford, Durham, Exeter & Cambridge application processes. The only bit missing seems to be any STEM experience. We will probably ask you questions which will make your eyes roll, as not everyone has followed your DT's story. Some of those 2019 threads appear to rival the long running Archers ones for drama & suspense and would take far too long to read!

Also, are they going to reapply for identical courses? There are some great combinations coming up under #GoingtoOxford. Someone was celebrating their success in getting a place for Philosophy & Physics, as philosophy can't be taken in isolation. I'm not sure which of your DR was applying for history and Which was English and at which uni, but maybe they could use the gap to expand their subject range if their hearts are still completely set on Oxbridge.

I appear to have switched them from DT's taking humanities to DR's, but presumably switching to medicine is a leap too far!

I'm not clear why reading a MN thread should make one over-invested. It's... er... just a MN thread!

Could somebody just enlighten me as to what the DTs predicted grades were?

I'm actually quite interested as DS1 showed me the Sutton Trust research yesterday that Jeremy Corbyn and. Angela Rayner misrepresented about affluence and accuracy of predictions.

I'd be interested to know if they achieved or exceeded their predictions. I have a work meeting with AR in a couple of weeks but probably won't point out her flawed analysis. Wouldn't get me the result I want

Thanks @HugoSpritz!

So @Coleoptera it looks like your DTs time between now and December will be best spent on interview practice and Oxford assessment prep (if needed).

Changing the subject, can someone enlighten me (I am a simple soul) as to how to convert practice TSA scores for DS1 into actual scores. They are out of 50 but I think there will be scaling? So (for instance) 40 won't translate to 80 (which would be an outstanding TSA score). DS1 has done a couple (improved between the two) and has a mock when he gets back to school.