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

Sorry, I misread. They will consider postcodes & care leaver status if you've been educated in the UK system.

A bursary student in a good private school is not being put at a disadvantage by a student who has performed exceptionally well in a low attainment school being given the opportunity to be interviewed alongside them. Don't forget, the majority of state school offer holders don't meet any contextual criteria either. State school pupils still only receive 60-70% of offers and only a very low percentage of those meet any contextual criteria. Private school children are not being deprived of their rightful places because someone happens to live in the wrong area. Those students deserve their places in exactly the same way as every other offer holder.

@Ironoaks

Although nobody needs four A-levels for a competitive application, there is at least one course where four A-levels are better than three (if the school offers this option).

For Physical Natural Sciences: Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry are all either essential or highly recommended. There isn't an obvious one to drop out of the four.

Maths and Physics are essential. Applying without Chemistry is possible, but it would limit the modules available to the point where they might as well apply for Physics at Oxford instead. Further Maths is definitely preferred and is the only subject in DS's offer where an A* has been specified. (The university understands that not every applicant is able to study Further Maths A-level, and there is space on the supplementary questionnaire to explain if this is the case).

Thats correct. My daughter applied for physics and took the maths, further maths, and physics and chemistry 4 A'levels. It does say on the website that all you need is 3 alevels and maths and physics are compulsory with the further maths being desirable. But, on interview day, when she spoke to everyone in the JCR, all of them took maths, further maths, physics and the chemistry. There was just 1 person out of about 20 students that was there at the college that was only taking 3 a'levels.

Yes, I wouldn’t argue that the education isn’t an advantage at all, but take one of DS’ friends whose family came here as refugees and don’t even believe in girls’ education. She filled in the forms herself to sit the entrance exam at 11 and private school or not. I’d say she has faced more obstacles than the average child in a comprehensive.

I think what they should focus on is whether a child is the first in their family to go to uni. I have loads of friends with DC who are in state schools, but many of them went to Oxbridge themselves so it just seems like a perfectly normal path, rather than “something other people do.”

@bpisok

For all the prospective Oxbridge parents, as you can see there isn't a one size fits all.

DDs GCSES were 50/50 As and Astar, she had good references, a PS that demonstrated an interest in the subject, an EPQ in the subject plus she had attended Cambridge open days and summer school. She has no contextual flags and goes to an Inde
She did just enough to get an interview. She then did an at interview test and in my (and her) opinion wrote a very bizarre answer. She then argued with the interviewer when he disagreed with a line in her PS.
She was given a standard offer.

Others at school applied with all Astars and were rejected. Someone else she knows who has straight Astars AND contextual flags who applied for the same course (at a less well know college) was offered 2xAstarAA!

...on the basis of this you really can't predict it!!

Spot on. It really never is a one size fits all when it comes to Oxford. When my daughter had her interview at Jesus, her maths one she as prompted one time too many, where her physics was brilliant. And her one at St Hughs she loved. But yet she didn't get in. She had all the academics and UNIQ summer school and epq and extra curriculars and fab reference from school. We over analyzed it, even to the point where we drew up a chart from previous applicant v's acceptance figures to try and work out the best colleges which had the best chance for female physics students so she could apply to the one that had a 'good chance' lol (She ended up being pooled elsewhere.)

Best thing is to just go for it, and if it doesn't work out, make sure your other choices are just as good. And if your child is upset if they don't get in, get going back to those unis, even if its for a walk around the grounds; they will feel much better about it and more optimistic about the other options. We did that after she accepted her unconditional offer elsewhere (which was at a place she also loved) so she felt so much better afterwards and is now very excited about going to where she will be :)

Mumsnet is just ing toxic. It's home to some of the most abrasive, pushy parents in this country.

From what I read, that vipers' pit of MN is actually full of those identikit mums with the same black range rovers, same oversized sunglasses and same perfect blowdrys - all hideously cross due to not having actually had a full meal since 1997 lest their too rich, and rather too absent husbands might have their eye turned to buying a replacement model. But I digress...

the point is that MN exists for competition - even the briefest sallies through those forums show zero sincere posting designed to encourage each other. Instead, it's a display of sharp elbows and digging around for that 'nugget' of information which will allow My Child to be pushed to the front of the queue

This TSR stuff is riveting . And these are the parents who are literally posting tens of thousands of times in a couple of years on a student website!!!!!!!!

2 up 2 down , average car, 25k a year (and earn more than hubs) and size 20 here. I must be an exception ;) ..... lol

I think you are going to get people on any site that are like that, I've seen it on facebook ,let alone MN and TSR. TSR is not just for students, they have a forum called the parent room too. And there's been some students asking about accommodation was like on open day but they didn't get chance to see due to covid and thus posted a few pics here and there, asking what the city is like, or asking what interview day was like etc. So some good can come out of helping others, just as long as its not 'braggy'.

Re Universities and particular Oxbridge, It does not matter what you do.You could be in the best Maths Olympiad that could ever be, play the whole blinking orchestra, play the numbers game and try to work out which is the best college to apply to, have 15 grade 9's in your G.C.S.E's and predicted 5A* at A'level and still not get in. And your right, your child will not be pushed at the front of the queue. All it was for one prompt too many in her maths interview and that's it.... game over. All you can do is apply and hope for the best.

One thing ive seen on TSR was a post from a student. They was that hell bent on getting into oxford, their other choices they just picked for the sake of it and didn't really get excited about them and plus their pushy parents was all oxford this and oxford that. So when the dream crashed then that poor person had no options at all. They had offers, but was no enthusiasm what so ever over those unis as they was deemed not good enough. So please encourage that the dream is not just for Oxford, but for the other unis' they pick too :)

I drive an electric car, don't own a hairdryer and mostly eat cake.

I read that post on TSR and laughed out loud. I drive a bright red Ford, towel dry my hair and work as many hours as my husband. I am the first in my family to go to university. Stereotypes are seductive. Let's leave Oxford Mum and her cronies to their fantasies and move on.

Ford Fiesta here and realised the other day I haven’t been to the hairdresser for two years [stig of the dump emoji] .

When ds went to Oxford for interview they told the assembled 40 interviewees that they had 8 places. And those 8 places may not even go to those there. So it was well done for coming this far, but don’t get upset if you fail to get in. They were sobering odds but it is better to keep hammering home the truth.

Ds knew he had blown it as his interviews did not go well. He said he came across as boring. I think they kept giving him a chance as he was there till the bitter end and went to three colleges, but the more nervous he became the worse headache he had and turned even more boring!

Agree sammyjoanne. My advice on here over the years has consistently been for parents to be enthusiastic about choice #2. six of my eight DC had Durham as their second choice, so I found it remarkably easy - I genuinely prefer the city.

All it was for one prompt too many in her maths interview and that's it.... game over.

Sammyjoanne, though I agree with a lot of your post, and am telling dd it is in many ways down to luck, I thought the above was open to misinterpretation. From what we have seen of on-line open days, the interview is a sort of mini replica of the tutorial. They are looking for people they can teach, which means not being afraid to ask questions. They will be taking students to the edge of what they know, to see how they respond, and a good response is to ask.

When are my Range Rover and sunglasses arriving?

Durham looks lovely... but the train fare . We had a look and it was £175 one way off peak from here !!!

Actually goodbyestranger regarding Oxford... do you have any top tips re parking? I saw that the city centre is now car free. Previously we have done park & ride but if I don’t fancy braving the (corona-ridden) bus, are there any other options? Don’t mind a bit of a hike.

When I was young and went on trips to Oxford with my parents (I missed the subliminal encouragement!) my dad would just roll up and park in a dirt car park behind Magdalene.

@JustRichmal

All it was for one prompt too many in her maths interview and that's it.... game over.

Sammyjoanne, though I agree with a lot of your post, and am telling dd it is in many ways down to luck, I thought the above was open to misinterpretation. From what we have seen of on-line open days, the interview is a sort of mini replica of the tutorial. They are looking for people they can teach, which means not being afraid to ask questions. They will be taking students to the edge of what they know, to see how they respond, and a good response is to ask.

When are my Range Rover and sunglasses arriving?

Hi Justrichmal, what was worse was she went to UNIQ summer school at Oxford and actually had a tutorial at St Johns, so she knew what she was letting her self in for on the interview. The tutorial in UNIQ went really well too and the lecturer there chatted far too long than the session time allowed, so she was kicking herself when she came out of the Jesus college maths interview. She is determined to try for a phd at Oxford when she gets to her last year of her masters, so fingers crossed for that one :)

@goodbyestranger

Agree sammyjoanne. My advice on here over the years has consistently been for parents to be enthusiastic about choice #2. six of my eight DC had Durham as their second choice, so I found it remarkably easy - I genuinely prefer the city.

Wow 8 and they all got in to oxford? or applied and went elsewhere? And fair play to you, i have enough with just 2 lol

Six went sammyjoanne, one went to Durham (final results due in an hour....) and the eighth has an offer from both - needs AAA for both so Durham as insurance is a bit pointless, but she really likes it as a place (has visited her brother a lot) so stuck it down anyway.

I have Mulberry sunglasses which are not large and which I bought in 1989, still going strong.

I have a people carrier which looks as though it was bought in 1989 because it's very bashed (lots of Devon stone walls have bumped into it). But in fact it's relatively new: 2006.

@sandybayley

I read that post on TSR and laughed out loud. I drive a bright red Ford, towel dry my hair and work as many hours as my husband. I am the first in my family to go to university. Stereotypes are seductive. Let's leave Oxford Mum and her cronies to their fantasies and move on.

oh no im one of them as im on TSR too lol . Seriously though TSR parents there have been great and quite supportive especially when my eldest didnt get in to Oxford. However like with any social platform you can get braggy/pushy parents and just got to take them with a pinch of salt really.

Ok, well so had never been near TSR because I thought it was for teenagers. As a first foray, I find the format quite hard to follow on there, but that’s probably just me. But, there was a chat in which some students were saying they sent off their UCAS in October, but were already receiving conditional offers from places like Durham, LSE in the same month. Can this be right? I didn’t think they heard anything until at least February and I’m sure there was a thread on here about people not hearing from LSE or Durham until May! Can anyone confirm the timescales please?

I think Durham’s admissions workings are a mystery to most. Some get an offer immediately, whilst others are waiting till the last possible moment - even for the same course.

Ds applied with grades in hand (4 A*s, so he met the offer!) and still only got an offer in March, whereas St Andrews/UCL offered instantly.

I still wonder how places can make many early offers when they haven’t seen what the rest of the field looks like.

Well yes, this is what I was wondering - how can they be making offers before the closing date for applications?

I’m sure there was a thread on here where somebody’s DS was waiting to hear from LSE until May (with all A*s etc etc) - only to get a rejection.

I don’t know if DS will be applying to Durham tbh as he’s not keen for some reason (not that he’s ever set foot there). It would be much easier to get an Oxbridge rejection if he had a UCL or LSE offer beforehand though - or anything frankly!

@4catsonabed

Ok, well so had never been near TSR because I thought it was for teenagers. As a first foray, I find the format quite hard to follow on there, but that’s probably just me. But, there was a chat in which some students were saying they sent off their UCAS in October, but were already receiving conditional offers from places like Durham, LSE in the same month. Can this be right? I didn’t think they heard anything until at least February and I’m sure there was a thread on here about people not hearing from LSE or Durham until May! Can anyone confirm the timescales please?

I though that too at first. TSR its a mix really. They do have a forum called the parent room, and most of the parents there ive seen have helped with student especially on subject matter like loneliness and feeling worthy etc. The adults have given some great advice. Example was one girl was heading into an abusive relationship and was unsure whether to move in with the guy. So students and parents alike was giving advice on how to be strong and how she does not deserved to be treated in such a way. So its not just about academics and people just really want to help. Plus others have asked for opinions on unis too since open days are online at the moment, so thats a help too. And there are also blogs too. i have one thats one there. As for unis and offers and timescales it really depends on the uni and the course/interviews or not. Lancasters can be from October right up until end of June this year. I followed a thread that was to do with offers for the 2020 start and there were offers coming through from Durham early. There wasnt lots, but some :)

I often thought about this and the earliness of offers. i think some unis release some many at a specific time, where as other like to collate them all and offer later on in the process.

Durham offers - I think it depends on the course, applicant and when the application was made. DD added Durham to UCAS just before Xmas and got her offer the day before admissions closed (so less than 2 weeks). She knows someone who applied for the same course back in Oct and she had her decision at the same time as DD (so for her it was months whereas for DD it was days).

..so again, I am not sure you can read too much into the response times