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?

hi Caravaggiolover,
If you PM me I may be able to help.

3 A levels is just fine as is museum work experience.

Thanks very much all, I really appreciate your input. I didn't go to Oxbridge myself, I went to a rather ordinary redbrick university on a full grant ( back in those days!) and it seemed as if there was a lot less pressure. My dd is so much clever and academic than I was at her age - I feel instinctively like she is a 'good fit' but then again I'm sure thousands of other parents feel the same!

ErrolTheDragon - yes, if only she could have done her AS in her 4th subject....sigh. I wish she had started out with three as she sees dropping it as a bit of a failure.

Sunndowne - is there any reason why you want me to PM you - how can you 'help'?

CaravaggioLover I have a DD who, while not in the 'geeky' camp at all, was certainly very reserved at the time of interview. She applied for History, was at a state grammar which gave no direct Oxbridge prep other than a single practice interview with the relevant teacher (though not in the Oxbridge format) and did three A levels in a year when most of her peers were required to do four. One of those was even Art . She is however ferociously bright and very interesting - once she's relaxed. The tutors were fantastic at getting her to talk without wasting a lot of interview time. They really do know what they're doing. They didn't seem to care two hoots about the fourth A level being dropped (she took French to AS), and even in the face of having her bag with all her belongings (including much needed cigarettes) pinched from her shoulder by the Radcliffe Camera, she was fine. I really don't think you should worry - rely on the tutors' experience and good sense of what type of applicant they're dealing with. She certainly shouldn't worry about the fourth subject - particularly not now with the new exams.

I say 'no direct Oxbridge prep' because my DC have benefited over the years from some extremely good teaching, which is probably far more important than anything else.

I wish she had started out with three as she sees dropping it as a bit of a failure.
*
That's a bit irrational, you know - she's presumably learned during that one year of study, and has now made an entirely sensible decision to focus on the 3 she needs and her extra/supra curricular activities.

My impression is that Cambridge are genuinely primarily interested in academic brilliance and teachability above all else. I don't get the impression that they are easily swayed by "polish". Hope so, anyway as DD is definitely the classic quiet, reserved geek. I was there 20+ years ago and knew a lot of people like her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that little has changed. After all, it's not known for being a place that changes much over the years!

Carravagiolover my DD is doing that course. Not to out her, I'd rather not share her experiences in open forum.

I remember some of you from the Oxbridge/Durham thread last year and I have to say it was all a very painful experience for my DD.
With 11A*s and a complete History nerd - lots of extra reading, supplementary lectures and talks, volunteering in 2 local museums and helping teach History in the local junior school - it still wasn't enough for a Cambridge or Durham offer. It was pretty devastating for her at the time as she really didn't know what else she could possibly have done - apart from perhaps been a little more confident at interview as she is quite quiet.
She did bounce back and has now exceeded the grades required to reapply but has decided instead to take up her place at Exeter as she really likes the course. She may review things at postgrad level.
I'm actually glad we don't have to go through it all again but do wish those of you that are the best of luck. It's a stressful process!

Thanks Sunndowne I have PMd you.

Cbear did dd get any feedback from Durham - did the school enquire about the reasons? Anyway, congrats to your dd on her grades which sound as though they must have been pretty stellar! - and Exeter sounds as though it will be great!

Sooner yes it was more of a 'tick box' which highlighted her personal statement - but her school felt this was purely an excuse as her PS was in their view very strong. They were very surprised she didn't get offers. We are in the SE so I don't know if that makes any difference ? We do have family connections in Durham (my DF's side all Geordies) but she didn't want to mention this in a separate PS.
Maybe she should have? Her school were keen for to reapply but we've left it up to her and she's decided against it even though she had good ideas for a gap year.

@CBear99 - your DD sounds great and I am sure she will do brilliantly at Exeter.

I can understand that Oxbridge success rates can be unpredictable given the number of factors involved (achieved grades, predicted grades, PS, assessment results and interview) but Durham criteria just sound opaque and weird.

That said DS1's school has said that St Andrews and Edinburgh can also be quite unpredictable so it makes sense to ensure the UCAS form includes some institutions which are a bit more predictable.

I'm not sure where Imperial fits in though. They interview and are highly competitive but seem easier to predict outcomes for.

Yes sandy I have also heard Durham and St Andrews are v unpredictable - even going back 25 years it was the case - cousin rejected from St Andrews but offered Oxford.

I am very interesetd in Imperial too - I know for maths they like MAT to be taken so the score is known before interview, or they ask for a STEP grade alongside A level offer. Not much was on offer from tutors and admissions at the open day in June - admissions person was mobbed by medics!

CaravaggioLover my DD was originally doing 4 A levels and dropped the 4th at the end of year 12 (she didn't bother taking the AS). She applied to Oxford, got an offer, and is taking up her place in October. So no worries on that front.

My only advice is to check how many students are studying French and History in each college. I originally applied for English and French. It turned out that at the college I applied to, the English tutors never admitted anyone for joint honours -- they basically disapproved of people watering down the degree. So it's worth seeing how many students are actually doing it even if on paper it's possible to apply to any college.

@Kilash - DS1 and DH are going to the Imperial Open Day on 14 September so I will see what happens Information they glean. I won't hold my breath though as DH gets over excited and engrossed with the demonstrations in the labs whenever he's visited a school or university with the DC. He's a frustrated scientist (did geography but is very down about it as a discipline these days) who probably should have done physics.

Thanks sandy

Very good advice PantTwizzler. DD has had a big jolt having discovered just what an incredibly tiny number are doing the ab intitio course for Classics. The statistics are all mashed together so it's only when you actually ask that you get the numbers. There are apparently only twelve students across the whole of Oxford admitted to do the Latin ab initio course in 2018. That's now from two separate reliable sources. DD is very rattled I have to say. Nowhere on the website is there any suggestion at all that the numbers are that low.

initio not intitio!

Does she have to specify Latin or can she keep her options open for Latin or Greek to nearly double her chances? At least they interview almost everyone. There are a similar number of places for Physics & Philosophy, but only 31% interviewed & 10% offered, so you need to be particularly zen for that one.

Do you know how many apply for the ab initio course goodbye? I can’t imagine it’s many. And it sounds as though your DD is eminently qualified.

The very idea of Physics and Philosophy from a distance makes me go fuzzy Hoghgyni so yes I think the more zen available the better. I think DD prefers the idea of Latin and has started to teach herself. We're quite prepared to be cheap in this family don't get me wrong :), but I think she's just much more drawn towards Latin.

PantTwizzler no I don't. But the Admission stats seems to say that plenty of state school applicants apply for 'Classics' and I just assume a good wodge must be for the ab initio couse rather than CAAH. She's got decent GCSEs but not sure she's especially qualified other than that. She thinks lots of state school applicants will have Classical Civ or Ancient History and her school offers neither at any level, as well as no Classical language. Oh well, she lost all her History and English coursework last week (memory stick died/ not backed up), so that's the current distraction.

Goodbyestranger what a nightmare for her coursework.
This link could shed some light on the offer statistics. Does n’t seem as bad as for some other degrees but as it is such a full on course not all applicants would enjoy the reality of it and the offer rate may reflect that.
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/494896/response/1252118/attach/2/Benham%20Data.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

That's awful about her coursework. Take a look in her recycle bin just in case any older versions are lurking.

DD was temporarily drawn to Classical Civ, because she liked the idea of a 2 week field trip to Greece this summer. I checked the course spec and made her read the first 3 pages of Iliad. She quickly went back to maths.