Oxbridge Aspirants: Sep 2021

[funkysatsuma]

Not sure if it's too early to start this thread in Nov 2019 :)

DS would like Cambridge Economics as the first choice. Would like to know where can we get some help to prepare for the ECAA test - appreciate any pointers/links. Thanks in advance

@goodbyestranger

Looking at the average intake at a college isn't a bad starting point. Not because the larger the intake the more likely you are to get an offer, simply because having a reasonable number of medics in your intake is a good thing socially, if you go up knowing no-one else.

Utterly and completely wrong advice.

It seems okay on the surface, but just isn't the reality at all.

ElephantandButterfly my comment has two parts:

1. That the number of medics admitted to a particular college each year will neither increase or decrease the chances of a particular applicant's success.

2. That having a larger rather than smaller number of peers when you go up to start your course is helpful rather than unhelpful socially.

I'm slightly baffled by your retort that either of those things are utterly and completely wrong Which or both, and in what way, exactly? All I can say is that following that advice (across a number of subjects, not just Medicine), has proved utterly and completely right for seven of my DC!

I think it’s helpful to look at the number of places for your subject, but also the number of applications for that subject.

So Brasenose might have 10 places for Medicine, but if 250 people chose that college, that is material information that could put you off. Of course the stellar shoe-in candidate might not care, but not many people are that confident!

Otoh these days it’s just as much of a mistake to apply to a “less desirable” college in order to improve chances. I had a look at one -ahem - ugly college’s statistics and they had rejected everyone who had applied there for a certain subject and imported all their interviewees from other colleges.

I suppose the only thing really is to choose a college one likes but make peace with - and be grateful for - getting a place anywhere!

Irma applications to particular colleges are volatile by nature, whereas the same sorts of numbers move much less (although sometimes colleges do expand a department quite markedly and also sometimes contract another, as is happening at one of my DS's colleges for two subjects this year - one subject admitting lots extra, the other reducing its intake, which has historically been very large).

So go for somewhere that ticks most of the boxes and hope for the best! It is a minefield for the average joe.... DD just doesn’t want to waste a valuable choice if she feels she hasn’t at least a reasonable chance.

Milly it really isn't a minefield. Just browse and choose and don't give it a huge amount of thought, given that you're choice is unlikely to alter the outcome of offer/ no offer - and that's particularly true of Medicine (at Oxford at least).

your choice I mean.

DD's application wasn't strategic at all. She applied to the college she liked best.

DD1 researched and visited a number of colleges. She applied for the one she liked best. She got offered her second randomly selected college that she wouldn't have applied for in a million years. She loved it .

DD2 will therefore also be applying to her preferred college, but will accept anything that is offered (who wouldn't?).

It really isn't a minefield. DS1 applied for one of the big and rich colleges. It was oversubscribed and he was randomly allocated to another smaller, less popular college and got an offer there. His subject (Chemistry) looks at candidates across the faculty and makes sure the strongest ones get offers and spreads them across the colleges.

Apply to one you like the look of but don't overthink it. You might end up there or you might end up somewhere else. You can't play the system and sneak in by strategically applying to a less popular college. My understanding from DS1 is that none of the offer holders for his subject applied to his college!

I do remember a poster saying her dc was considering turning down their Oxford offer because it was from an “ugly” college and going to Durham instead... I wonder what they did in the end...

That’s why it doesn’t do to get over invested in your first choice. I made dd look at the ugly ones and yes, if one is being brutally honest they don’t pack the same emotional punch, but the student will still be amongst the brightest minds and being taught by (presumably) the best.

Anyone else got an aspiring choral scholar? Mine is likely to be a strong candidate but is concerned by the video process both for auditions and academic interviews. Awaiting the list of folk songs they are going to be asked to choose from ... DD hasn't ever sung many, really only the one for her grade 8.

Hi there! I am a well known user of thestudentroom.co.uk. Both my kids have graduated from Oxford (one just recently got a first for Oxford Medicine). My username on TSR is Oxford Mum. I comment on both the Oxford and Cambridge official applicants 2021 threads. You may also be interested to know I have created a thread called the Oxford parents association for either potential or actual Oxford parents! We are particularly helpful in times of trouble when parents are anxiously awaiting A level results. Do join us and lurk or even better join in the conversation!

I also wrote a book to help people get in called Oxford Demystified. I wrote a chapter about how to get in for medicine and so did my son. Many Oxford medical offer holders said my chapters helped them get in. Also during lockdown I asked other offer holders to tell us in detail how they got in for their own subject (books they read, competitions they entered for etc) Here is the link

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6100480

If the link isn't working please go to google, type in Oxford Demystified. All the chapters appear. Go to "more results" and find the Oxford demystified thread. There are now more than 20 chapters available in varying subjects. Most telling, it gives you a rare glimpse into the mindset of some very bright and successful students. What is most surprising is that most of my chapter writers go to state school. Yes, there is everything to play for!!!!

There is also Cambridge Demystified as well:

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6467286

No open day and can't choose a college? Go to our "Choosing your college" thread. It features video tours of each undergrad college and advice/ other factors to consider.

TSR has a lot of help with personal statements . Click on the "applying to uni" tab and go to personal statements. There will be a personal statement builder and example real PS's from the past for each course and uni. there are even personal statement checkers (but do not post your ps on the open thread as you will have to start again)!

If you do not want to comment on the threads, but have a specific question, you can always send me a PM. Go to my avatar (the Radcliffe camera) from the Oxford/Cambridge threads, and click on my username, A send message icon will pop up and you can speak to me. I heard from a mum only yesterday. No problem too small. You will need to join TSR first, so think of a username!

See you soon on TSR

Oxford Radcliffe (Oxford Mum) xx

@goodbyestranger
Hi there! Mother of successful Oxford medical graduate here!
It really doesn't matter which college you apply for. when you apply for medicine you get two interviews at two different colleges anyway.

the best thing is to apply to a college you fancy. Here is the choosing your Oxford college chapter of my book, Oxford Demystified.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6468778&p=88379572#post88379572

It features youtube videos and websites of each college.

The most important thing is to get in in the first place.

Please find below a link to my chapter of how my son got in and the resources he used, followed by a chapter by my son about the applications process and his impressions of the Oxford medicine course

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6019726

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6044384

@Baaaahhhhh
That's right. Who wouldn't!!!

I have seen some students moaning because they got places but to an "ugly" college. Honestly, they need a reality check, as most kids would sell their grannies for a place, period.

@ElephantAndButterfly
Err, no. I am very sorry your DD feels that way. I am a single parent from the North of England, but both my sons came up to Oxford and I have yet to meet an arrogant student. Yes, many people feel the same, she is not alone. There is no Oxford type. They do not care where you come from and what you look like. All they care about is your DD's brain. The tutors are a bit like Simon Cowell - talent spotters. They are looking for natural talent and your daughter may have that and not even know it!

We were pleasantly surprised at how unpretentious Oxford was and let me tell you 64% of students at Oxford are from state school I heard that the Cambridge figure is even higher. I wonder if the students sounded "arrogant" because they had new-found confidence since starting at Cambridge. Anyway, here is the introduction to Oxford Demystified, to bust the widely held beliefs your daughter has (through no fault of her own)

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6029818

If she has the grades and a great deal of drive, why not apply? Cambridge does even care about her gcse grades (but will give out higher offers for Cambridge) so why not have a go? to find out how to apply, look at my link further up (Oxford demystified)

@IrmaFayLear
@Millylovespuddles
Never fear!!! Oxford Mum to the rescue!

Here is our Choosing your Oxford college chapter, with video tours and websites for each and every undergrad college!!

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6468778&p=88379572#post88379572

@IrmaFayLear
The reason why they do not give you the questions beforehand means you cannot prepare. The whole point of interviews is how you deal with unfamiliar material.

The tutors bend over backwards to give each student a fair interview. It won't take them too long to do each video interview anyway so they won't be tired. If your DC are doing interviews, just make sure they don't panic and cut mentally off half way through the process. Be in the moment and show your thought processes out loud. If you make a mistake you can (like elder son) ask to go back and do it again. Why think out loud? Because they want to see how you think as well as how you answer the question. There may actually be no right answer. My younger son (medic) said even a medic would probably struggle but hey, he got in and has just graduated from his first degree 7th in his year.

The other reason they don't give you questions is that the Oxbridge system is based on tutorials or supervisions and that means twice a week or so you are put on the spot and forced to justify your essays or work. The tutors want to see that you'll thrive in this environment. And there is a degree of 'Will I be able to work with this candidate?' Bc that relationship is an important one.

@Pythonesque

You may be needing this chapter, then

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6326982

@looluu

It is because of the virus scare. As ever, Oxford put the students first. I can remember in the second term of last academic year, one student got it. Very soon it was ramped up to 12 cases. Lots of young people crammed into one space = disaster waiting to happen.

Plus the interviewers themselves, who are in the older age range bracket may be quite vulnerable in some cases.

@JBX2013
Please shout this a bit louder so they can hear you at the back

OxfordRadcliffe the reason the virus spread quickly was because the first person to catch the virus had just returned from abroad and was a member of Queen's choir, and those who caught it quickly were all this student's fellow choir members - as we know, singing in close proximity to others is fertile ground for the spread of disease. Oxford acted incredibly fast to isolate other members of the choir and their contacts, and avoided large scale infection as a result. DS3's gf was one of the group sent into strict isolation as soon as the first case was known.

OxfordRadcliffe don't you tend to think TSR is best left to students?! I've very occasionally dipped in and out at interview time when my own DC are interviewing but think having adults in there - unless they're tutors, or official admissions guys - might well be a bit oppressive for young people.

@OxfordRadcliffe Welcome, although many of us are already know you from TSR.

Slightly amused by your advice to Goodbyestranger who already has 4 (or it 5?) dc at Oxbridge and has been encouraged to write her own book by fellow Mumsnetters!

Looking forward to hearing more from you!