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?

Thanks @HugoSpritz!

Gosh I didn't know an attack could be personal if you didn't name the person! I wonder who felt it should be deleted?

The tests are converted to approximate to degree level marking and that's why the cut off for interviews is approximately at safe 2.1 level but offers tend to go to those up towards or beyond first class level.

Sorry I realise that doesn't really help with the TSA sandy.

DS was on a train today and was reading a book related to his potential degree subject. Professor-type lady opposite engaged him in chat about the subject and they had a long discussion about one of the ideas he might talk about in his PS.

DS thinks she did introduce herself, but he didn’t quite hear.

Arrived at destination and looked through various university subject websites to see if he could spot her.

Well, he found her. She is a visiting professor at one of the Oxford Colleges he is interested in and...............

SHE WROTE THE BOOK HE WAS READING.

Worse still, her picture was on the back...

DS convinced she has gone home and circulated his description amongst all potential interviewing dons as a complete numb skull.

@Coleoptera, jolly well done your DTs! FWIW a friend’s DS successfully reapplied for Engineering at Cambridge this year. I think he did a whole new PS and different college obviously. He spent his gap year working at an engineering firm. ( Did IB not A levels and was applying for deferred entry the first time round which are ?both relevant factors in why he needed to reapply).
@goodbyestranger and @Hugospritz are your HAT comments universal or specific to Oxford? Do candidates get informed of their score?
Dawning on DD that term starts again in a couple of weeks and these deadlines are close...

HugoSpritz Philosophy. He is in comical despair at his own lack of observation...

@kingscotestaff. - I am sure your DS engaged well with the professor....what a wonderful opportunity in many ways to engage with the author.

This reminds me of a situation I was in not long ago. My DD was interested in Medicine and we had been to an open day at Imperial ...DD not very impressed - she wasn't keen on the Uni.

I visit a client a week later who I have known for many years we have a chat about my daughter and GCSE's etc I mention our visit to Imperial and thought it odd that he took a real interest.

Roll on 6 months later...visit client again, whilst I was there he is dealing with an insurance claim with his broker ...could not help but hear him state that his wife was a professor at Imperial ...I looked it up when I got home and she is one of the main professors at the Medical school... (thankfully I can't remember stating anything awful - but I'm also thankful that my daughter will not be studying at the Med School - that would have been embarrassing).

@HugoSpritz.. thank you, duh! Obviously not getting her brains from the distaff side!

Kingscote I think you should adopt Hugo's philosophy (!) and treat it as a great practice interview experience. That only leaves whichever subject he is linking it to to worry about. Has he been reading the OUP A Very Short Introduction To...series?

That is very cute Kingscote. I think he did extremely well to even engage.

Yes Hugo, post interview only. Otherwise I suppose knowledge of the score might well affect interview performance. DS2 and DS3 both asked for their scores, both were in excess of 70 and both got firsts. DD2 who read History didn't know you could ask (and probably wouldn't have done anyhow). The others were LNAT and BMAT and with those you get your scores automatically.

hobbema my comments are Oxford specific.

(Apologies, I often read threads backwards so most recent post first).

KingscoteStaff
Bless him. If I'd been in her position that would have made my day.

@HugoSpritz - DS1 only has to do part 1 of the TSA - so just the multiple choice and not the essay. I've just found the conversion table - see here.
https://www.admissionstesting.org/Images/531088-tsa-oxford-2018-section-1-score-conversion.pdf

Reading that it looks like DS1 is scoring ok. I also looked up an FOI on Chemistry application outcomes. A very high TSA score seems to lead to an offer but after that it is more of a mixed bag.

@KingscoteStaff - how funny, you just never can tell. We're on a sunshine break at the moment and DS1 has been reading his chemistry books by the pool between tennis and sailing. I would be seriously amazed if there is a Chemistry Professor here but I'll get him to check the photo just in case

DS1 has been reading his chemistry books by the pool between tennis and sailing. I would be seriously amazed if there is a Chemistry Professor here but I'll get him to check the photo just in case

The last sailing holiday I went on, there was a chemistry professor in our group. (Well, he said he was a prof but actually a Reader ... he probably didn't expect a couple of chemistry PhDs in his group either.)

@ErrolTheDragon - I'm going to have play 'spot the Chemistry Professor' on the beach today. It's changeover day so lots of newbies to check out.

sandy since Oxford only introduced the TSA a couple of years ago as an aptitude test for Chemistry, I don't think the info you're looking at will be especially helpful. It may well not transfer easily from PPE etc which has been using it for longer and there won't be any final degree results available yet for Chemistry specifically.