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

[whiteroseredrose]

That's fantastic news @Goodbyestranger.

DD isn't doing EPQ but is watching lots on YouTube and doing some reading.

Do you mind me asking how much geology knowledge was expected in the interview?

[goodbyestranger]

Gosh no idea but I can only ask.

[Hoghgyni]

Goodbye I suppose so, but D for dunce not distinction doesn't look good on any application!

[strawberrieshortcake]

@goodbyestranger and did this poster have any actual proof of this? Perhaps a picture of the email or letter with personal details blurred about? Because I won’t be taking their word for it as (shock horror!) people on MN tend to lie especially about matters surrounding their children’s educations.

[goodbyestranger]

No hard evidence was posted on MN but then the poster doesn't owe us hard evidence strawberrieshortcake. It's entirely possible the report of the written feedback got distorted in the telling I guess. On the other hand it would actually be entirely fair to contextualise aptitude test scores, to my mind at least.

[Bakedpotatoandgin]

For the MLAT, I don't know about any contextualisation (though I doubt it), but I do know that only the bottom quintile (so bottom 20%) of applicants are knocked out by the test, and even then they can be invited to interview if there is significant mitigating circumstances. Modern languages interviews about 96% of applicants (I always felt like a fraud when people told me it was such an achievement to get an interview!) but then 1/3 get in, so pretty good odds

[Bakedpotatoandgin]

Disclaimer that was last year, might have chanfed

[goodbyestranger]

Yes there's been a raft of changes this year Bakedpoatoandgin, hence the big uplift in state school numbers. So it's possible.

How did Eton do this year? An article popped up on my sidebar from the Times on Monday but It was behind a paywall. The first three lines suggested Eton might not be too happy. All of the Etonians in our village have left the school, so not likely to be in a position to dish any dirt even if I did beard one of them while walking the 🐕

[Jano69]

@goodbyestranger

"Eton to Oxbridge? If it's tougher, that's fair". According to Monday's article in The Times, 70 Oxbridge offers we're made, no change to previous years.

[goodbyestranger]

70 places sounds fine for Eton then Jano69. That was the article yes. The first few lines made it sound more exciting than that but thank you anyway!

[KevinBaconHoofDressing]

Can I join you all please? DS hoping to do Law at Cambridge.

[Hoghgyni]

The Head of Eton in the article sounded absolutely lovely. He essentially said that the Eton boys have so many privileges arising from their education and so many opportunities to do things like study in the US which the majority of others don't, that he thinks it is entirely fair that state school offers should be increased even if it does mean that some of his pupils will lose a place which would traditionally have been theirs. Lots of info about the outreach schemes they are involved in as well.

[goodbyestranger]

The current HT has an incredible reputation. I'll get a back copy - article sounds interesting, unlike the dreadful one about Ben.

[bananabrain2]

I agree with you Hoghgyni. I thought he came across very well. They do lots of outreach and he seemed very down to earth, and realistic about the fairness of potentially expecting more than others from his pupils at Oxbridge admissions. The fee paying parents may think otherwise of course, especially if they are Oxbridge alumni and see it as a fait accompli that their offspring will go there!. I do think the school has a bit of an unfair profile based on the antics of the current alumni in politics...... but I shan't be losing much sleep over it!

[DeRigueurMortis]

Joining in.

DS (state school) is hoping to do Maths at Cambridge.

[Pallando]

Hi - anyone in year 12 wanting to do Maths would benefit from having a look at the first few "foundation modules" at //maths.org/step. The STEP 2 and 3 modules are designed for year 13 aiming for maths at Cambridge. Might also be of interest to NatSci, Eng, etc!

[carrythecan]

Hi, just joining in. DS looking to do computer science at Oxford.

[JBX2013]

Pallando: 'Hi - anyone in year 12 wanting to do Maths would benefit from having a look at the first few "foundation modules" at maths.org/step. The STEP 2 and 3 modules are designed for year 13 aiming for maths at Cambridge. Might also be of interest to NatSci, Eng, etc!'

Pallando is absolutely right to highlight this.

In a former life, I read Maths, at another University, now and have a daughter at Cambridge reading an Arts-Humanities subject, approaching finals and probably then going on to an MPhil-PhD there. I also work with schools which send many candidates up to Oxbridge colleges each year.

My daughter has a number of close friends reading STEM subjects and Economics. Most, even those with A* at Further Maths A Level, find the Maths challenging and need to work hard at it from Term 1.

Some Cambridge colleges demand STEP papers for Engineering (e.g. Christ's College). So well worth checking the specific college's web page for a particular subject before applying.

Becoming 'comfortable' quickly with Further Maths is the minimum standard which will facilitate successful degree studies in these subjects.

[JBX2013]

KevinBaconHoofDressing, Wed 05-Feb-20 08:31:51:

'Can I join you all please? DS hoping to do Law at Cambridge.'

Hi KBHD! ... I would check the likely offer from each college. Not just the 'minimum' or 'typical',what it says on web sites, but what are actually offered.

Same applies to all subjects, really.

[peppersaunt]

Joining in with a DD hoping to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge

[123456abcd]

Hi, joining as DS would like to study History at Oxford.

[Ironoaks]

DS has an offer to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge. If anyone has any questions e.g. about NSAA prep then I'll answer what I can.

[thetideishigh]

Hi, just joining the thread as DC's school are pushing Oxbridge big time given DC's GCSE results.

DC (state educated at a comp) currently wants to do medicine, and I'm so nervous on their behalf that this is the biggest of asks in terms of University admittance requirements before adding the Oxbridge factor. I'm pretty sure interview situations are NOT amongst DC's strengths.

Currently school are running extra-curricular sessions for early entry type courses/Uni's. so hopefully this will help one way or the other (many students have dropped out of these sessions/are thinking of dropping out apparently).

[Cotonshaded]

Is anyone going to any of the open days some of the Cambridge colleges are running over Feb half term?

[jaguar67]

No DCs involved in 2021 process but very happy to share experience re Biochem and Geography (Cam), whether admissions or student life (DCs are current students) - please tag me as I don't drop by these boards often now.

Re Nat Sci - as a PP has said, do make sure it's the breadth they're after for this course. DC initially wanted to apply for this very reason - after attending a master class on genetics, realised Biochem at the Other Place was the one and is loving the course. However, she also knows people reading NS, equally happy. Horses for courses !

Good luck to everyone x