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

We know some History and Economics applicants who got Durham/LSE offers in October and some Oxford offer holders who were rejected by them!

It just shows the randomness of it all.

The Oxbridge dream can be very strong. A friend of DD applied to do languages at Oxford, with Durham as back-up. Didn't get an offer, so decided instead to take a year out and re-apply with results. So, the next year toddles off to Cambridge, for variety, with 4 As (GCSE's all A's, inc. 4 languages), and a year abroad, and doesn't get an offer. Goes to Durham instead and love's it.

In terms of numbers alone, LSE is much more competitive than Cambridge for the course DS is interested in. But you just send your form in and have no idea.
At least with Cambridge, you know if you were in the 80% who get an interview. Plus everyone finds out in the same day in mid-Jan. Thetex a lot to be said for that!

Whereas LSE, you could send off the form in Oct and be completely in the dark until May.

Plus loads of unis seem want the same grades as Cambridge anyway - UCL, Exeter, etc - so they don’t spring out as obvious alternatives.

Its always good to have a variety on the UCAS.

The way daughter did application last October was Oxford, Lancaster (2 similar courses), York and Leicester.
After open days she placed them in that order above, in order of preference.
Oxford was a happy place ambitious entry.
Lancaster was also her happy place but achievable entry.
York as also happy place achievable entry but accommodation was more pricier than Lancaster, so Lancaster trumped York on that one.
Leicester was going to be the option if she flumped her grades but still was happy to get in option.

If you can get 1 or 2 ambitious, 2-3 achievable, and 1 flump entry and be happy with all of those 5 choices, then they do have a nice but realistic combination.

DD had her first offer from Warwick within a week of submitting her form. York & Durham offered her places a few weeks later in mid to late October. Oxford made their decision in January, then Edinburgh (her preferred insurance place) turned her down in February. Durham & Oxford required the same grades, Warwick was higher, which only left York as insurance, as Durham confirmed that there would be no wriggle room if she madebitbher insurance chouce.

madebitbher = made it her

A warm welcome to MN Goupie.

No I most certainly don't consider myself an oracle. That would be absurd. I do however have a bit of experience stretching across quite a few years in the field of education, which helps.

I think it's probably less a matter of regurgitation and more a matter of what I post being consistent with official advice. And speaking of consistency, I consistently suggest that applicants go direct to the official advice, in the form of the university websites. That's not very oracley is it?

I think on mature reflection, since I appear to have ended up with more DC having attended Oxford than anyone else in the records, I'm nudging towards the stage where I might bite back, when asked wtf do I know. I must know something by now surely, or I'd be very dim, so you'd have to question where all the DC get their ability from. In that it's beginning to look as though genes might have played a part, given the numbers. That said, it's refreshing to hear someone say that my DC got offers on the basis of their own academic merit as opposed to my pushing (absolutely correct), so thank you for that.

I hope you enjoy MN.

I’m sure when people on here were at the start of the process with their DC, whether it was last year or whenever, they might have had a few specific questions.

Would it have been helpful if the thread had turned OTT like this one?

I mean, thanks very much to people who have answered my specific question about when you can hear back from other unis - and other well-meaning advice.

But as for the rest of it - I’m not sure where all the hostility is coming from?

I think sadly MN is becoming a bit toxic. I always try to answer questions truthfully and with what I always state as my own, or my DD's experience. Often, particularly recently, this has been rebutted as "generalisations" or "misinformation". On a forum such as MN, we can only ever give our own experience, whether you agree with it or not, is fine, but don't dismiss it out of hand.

On the other hand, I have had some amazing and helpful conversations with genuine people via messaging. So, I will stick with MN, and hope that in the main, people are genuinely interested in others experiences and ideas.

Last year's GCSE thread was great, supportive and non-judgemental. Many of the posters on there, have transferred here, and I recognise many other regular posters like Goodbyestranger from past Oxbridge threads, who always have great input. It would be lovely if we could maintain that here.

If you've lurked for years Goupie then you've shown the most remarkable forbearance, although that isn't immediately evidenced by either your first or your second post!

In fairness to goodbyestranger, she was simply clarifying how many of her children were/had been at Oxford in response to my post when I couldn't recall exact numbers. I actually thought she had 4 at Oxford so one could argue she has actually demonstrated humility when contributing to these Oxbridge threads over recent years.

Thanks Jano69. This poster has come over from TSR.

We've had a few reports about this thread, and just wanted to come on with our usual reminder that Mumsnet is all about making parents' lives easier. This started off as such a supportive thread, and we'd love for it to return to that!

Do people think it will be more difficult to gain Oxbridge offers next year as a result of mass deferrals this year?

Dd has a C offer and is adamant that she wants to go to Univ this year and not defer.

KaptainKaveman - my understanding is she can't defer if she meets her grades. However Cambridge will honour her offer if she meets the grades in Autumn sitting of exams? I am not sure Oxford have said yet what they are doing?

Just popping in to say hello there as need to come back later to rtft. Ds is looking at Oxford for physics.....

If people who meet their grades at their second crack of the whip in the autumn get a guaranteed 2021 place, that is going to be unfair on the next batch of applicants.

I think Oxbridge need to be upfront on what the numbers are. Eg on ds's course there were two places spare due to the offer holders not meeting their grades. The places were left vacant as per the policy. Were this to happen this year, the two people would presumably retake in the autumn and then take two of the 2021 slots. So instead of 8 places for, say, English, the college would have 6 places up for grabs. Additionally pre-A Level applicants would be competing against more people with grades in hand who might not fancy going this year.