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?

Have a look at this from Brasenose College, Oxford. It may answer your question.

All the best!

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5585596

And towards the bottom of page four on this thread.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5621428&page=4

Thanks Aurea. So looks like he’s out.
Sigh. I’ll show him that link.
I think he will get the A* anyway but he won’t be able to apply. What a shame for him.

I am a bit surprised at the tutor's comments on tsr. DS was told at a maths open day or master class that it was worth applying if you were predicted 3As or above. What are his predicted grades? If he is really keen, it might be worth applying, but make sure that some of the other uni's have lower requirements. It is only 1 of 5. But maybe don't apply to all of the highest ones

His predictions are A* A A
I think he needs AAA
But also there’s a requirement that he has an A* in a specific subject and he’s only got an A prediction. I think that’s what he’s said anyway. He’d hate me to be on here asking but l find l’m in a muddle about the whole thing. The tutor on tsr seems very convincing. The stats speak for themselves l think? I am surprised at how open and closed it is re predicted grades. Especially in the face of all the talk about their inaccuracy. If l knew l would have advised him better.

If his MAT results are ‘aced’ or at least very good then he should consider a post A level application with hopefully better results than his predictions.

Boys do sometimes display outer bravado which masks insecurity don’t they, so hope that he is ok with the reality of it all.

It's definitely a problem that predictions aren't consistent across all schools.
I may have got it wrong but I think I've read that overall there's a tendency to overpredict at the upper end and undepredict at the lower end.... this, and moreso the fact that the top courses are oversubscribed and will be rejecting applicants who do have the predicted grades means they probably have to be pretty tough to keep the numbers they interview at a level they can deal with.

I'm absolutely not saying I don't think he should bother doing the MAT and applying to Oxford and Imperial, so long as he's realistic that he may not get offers and that his other 3 slots have lower requirements - maybe 2 in line with his predicted grades and one lower.

Is it Maths or Computer Science he is interested in? If Maths, then I have been told that many uni's don't like a gap year. However, Warwick are more flexible on this and also make lower offers based on a good MAT score. It's very highly regarded too for both Maths and Computer science adn they have amazing links with research and industry and very impressive graduate employment rates.

If he really wants to I would say go for it. At least he will know then rather than always wondering what if and the MAT will give him an indication of how good he really is.

As others have said he has three other choices as well as the aspirational ones

Yes, l think l will advise him to risk one application where he is outside the predictions but no more than one. He is applying to Warwick also. Many thanks for the help and encouragement.

The predictive grades is a bit of a fiasco. Dds school were reluctant to predict A stars possibly due to the new syllabuses??. However, they relented for those wanting to apply to Oxbridge. As Dd didn’t want to go it didn’t make any difference but then a couple who did got unconditionals at other (good) unis due to their high predictions. Another school I know well is much more willing to give higher predictions than the pupils (I knew) achieved. If you follow the threads, another hurdle is the marking. The worst I have heard this year is 12 marks added on a remark that was 1 off. The teachers at Dds school have always been really good at looking at anomalies and examining the scripts and getting remarks done. Some schools sound appalling at this. You get your money back if the marking is shown to be wrong and the pupil goes up a grade as a result. The last tip I would give is to ask the colleges directly whether it is best to really concentrate on 3 A Levels (if they are stressed trying to get the highest grades with 4). AAA may get you in whilst AA BB may not. I do not want to start an argument against this - I say this because this situation has happened to someone we know this year (I don’t know the specifics of which college as I didn’t want to ask). Do your research. Grade boundaries can be high. For example, in OCR English Lit you had to get 94% for an A* this year. I won’t be back on this thread so good luck to everyone for 2020!

At dgds school when they go back in September the second week they have further tests to check their predicted grades are correct even though they already have their grades.

Good luck to you too Zanda

Hi can I join you, I’ve been reading the last week or so with interest.
DSs school base predictions on EOY exams, but they don’t give the actual predictions until September to give them time to take into account this year’s A level grade boundaries. So these could go up or down depending on actual grade boundaries.
To apply students must have 3A in EOY, 3A predictions and a certain level on MAT/STEP practice. They reckon to get an offer you need this plus all A* at GCSE. I’m bracing myself for an intense year!

Schools can advise, but surely it's up to the student whether they apply?
While advising that an offer may be unlikely unless your predicted grades are 3A*, they're completely wrong about the GCSEs.