Oxbridge ‘criteria’

[ZandathePanda]

Is there anyone on here applying to Oxbridge this year from a more northern (say North of Leicester), non-selective, state/academy school?

Particularly those who are the first ones in their family to go (no siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts).

Asking for someone whose Dd is not sure it’s for them. She thinks she’ll be the only one not fulfilling any of those 4 ‘criteria’.

All that is being proved is that some DC exclude themselves based on vowel sounds. Yes. Vowel sounds. It really is that ridiculous! This is exactly why some areas of the uk are under represented. What does it matter if you sound a bit different? Just imagine if you came from Uganda or Gabon? Black and sounding different! Everyone will fit in. If they want to!

No Bubbles it was the other way round. She was dismissed.

We all agree it’s ridiculous then!

My DS probably fits your criteria.

Scottish, non selective rural state school 11-18 with no separate sixth form or head of year role to help with UCAS admissions. Poor success with Oxbridge admissions.

First to go to Oxbridge in family.

Started studying law at Oxford this year.

What do you mean, 'she was dismissed'?

Ok, I'll bite. Ds1 is in year 12 and is on the Cambridge HE+ program where Cambridge help you understand their criteria for making a "competitive" application. So mock interviews, help with your personal statement plus a residential stay and lectures before hand to develop your thinking. Info is on their website about it.

We are decidedly Northern, residing above the Peak District. Cambridge chose the school they wanted to work with and the pupils within that school, who they want based purely on grades and effort.

What they are trying to tell the students from year 12 is that unlike other universities they want you to have attended a masterclass, a summer school program and show your supracurriculars. Cambridge YouTube channel features a woman from a council estate and how she got in.

The snobbery works both ways, people assume it is snobby so do not apply. This was exactly my son's feelings, until he was approached to say he was a likely candidate for Cambridge HE+ he didn't consider it at all. And to be fair, neither did we although Dh and I both attended university ourselves. We therefore don't fit your bet criteria but Ds was chosen without having that information. Luckily the POLAR address thing works in our favour as it encircles a huge deprived area near to us.

Who pays for the master class and the summer school? If you are just above the Sutton Trust criteria, you pay. That’s hard for anyone on a lowish income.

We are Southerners, but My DD was the first on both sides of our family to go to Uni, and she went to Cambridge from our totally non selective comprehensive. She was worried that the fact we hadn’t been would make her a “more likely to drop out” reject!

Masterclass at Cambridge costs £20. Yes I know that may be a lot to some people
Not only that, but there is hardly an infinite number of places (thinking of the university saying that they 'want you to have attended' a masterclass and a summer school programme).

Well DD also took part in the HE+ scheme last year and she wasn't told that they had to attend a masterclass, but she found out through the scheme that they existed. They were keen to emphasise that everything was available free of charge and online. They had a (very long) day trip to Cambridge to experience lectures - this would undoubtedly count as a master class. Ideas for supra curricular activities were all available on the HE+ website.