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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge 2020 (8th thread)

988 replies

DadDadDad · 25/01/2020 13:38

A thread to continue discussing entry to Oxbridge in October 2020 (less than nine months away Shock ). All welcome, although this obviously will be of most interest to those with DS or DD holding an offer, and wanting to find a bit of support.

All too soon, 13 August will come over the horizon. Until then, ask questions... share experiences... discuss news and stats... write a poem... (we did briefly have some poetry on a previous thread).

With huge thanks to @HugoSpritz and predecessors for previous threads.

OP posts:
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5
Pallando · 06/02/2020 12:04

For those with offers to do Maths at Cambridge - if your DC is at a state school then they should have received an email yesterday inviting them to a STEP offer holders day in March! If you think that an email has gone astray please let me know and I will chase it...

(These are separate to any college STEP days..)

somethingforyou · 06/02/2020 13:37

MarchingFrogs thanks for that.

So, she could accept the Cambridge place, and if she makes the offer but doesn't want to go at all/does want a gap year which they won't allow, she could negotiate with her insurance choice to take a gap year, and then decline Cambridge. Does that sound right?

She was adamant she didn't want to do a PQA, so this is where we are now...Hmm

gizmo · 06/02/2020 13:57

Just popping in to offer congratulations to @goodbyestranger's son. 4 more years!

Ironoaks · 06/02/2020 14:33

Congratulations to your DS4 goodbyestranger

DS is on exam leave between mock exams. Apparently his revision notes are up to date and he plans to do one practice exam paper a day. The rest of the time seems to be spent chatting to friends on Discord or laughing at memes on his phone.

I am resisting the temptation to comment on how he is using his time. Thankfully I'm at work all day tomorrow, which will make it easier.

Coleoptera · 06/02/2020 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PantTwizzler · 06/02/2020 16:49

That's fab news @goodbyestranger and will be lovely for your DD to have her big brother in town.

(DPhil, though, shurely?! )

sandybayley · 06/02/2020 17:55

Great news @goodbyestranger - you should be very proud. Oxford must be a great place to do a PhD given the access to reasonably priced accommodation and of, course academic excellence. I think DS1 will get put into a research group for his 4th year (MChem) so will mix with PhD students and maybe be inspired to do one himself.

But of course he needs to get the grades first....

AChickenCalledDaal · 06/02/2020 18:04

Excellent news from Goodbyestranger.

DD1 has a reduced offer from St Andrews (A* A B) which is very unexpected and exciting. Cambridge still definitely first choice, but she now needs to get her head around the fact that St A's is back in the running. We'd more or less assumed their offer would be too high to risk as insurance. And she really liked the beach Grin!

AChickenCalledDaal · 06/02/2020 18:05

Excellent news from Goodbyestranger.

DD1 has a reduced offer from St Andrews (A* A B) which is very unexpected and exciting. Cambridge still definitely first choice, but she now needs to get her head around the fact that St A's is back in the running. We'd more or less assumed their offer would be too high to risk as insurance. And she really liked the beach Grin!

sandybayley · 06/02/2020 18:24

@AChickenCalledDaal - ah yes the beach at St Andrews. I've mentioned my fond memories of student days in the sand dunes before. Happy times.

sandybayley · 06/02/2020 18:24

@AChickenCalledDaal - ah yes the beach at St Andrews. I've mentioned my fond memories of student days in the sand dunes before. Happy times.

goodbyestranger · 06/02/2020 18:49

Thanks all and you're absolutely right about the not PhD PantTwizzler :) Those two get on really well so it will be lovely yes.

If it happens. DS4 has a low offer and DS3's is unconditional but DD4's is by no means in the bag.

Very nice to have that St A offer AChickenCalledDaal.

goodbyestranger · 06/02/2020 18:52

I think I'm about to start worrying in exactly the same way PantTwizzler did last year for exactly the same amount of time and for exactly the same reason (and indeed for exactly the same offer and subject).

AChickenCalledDaal · 06/02/2020 22:36

Now I really want to know what young @sandybayley got up to in the sand dunes. Or maybe it's better that a prospective student's parent doesn't ask Grin.

MarchingFrogs · 07/02/2020 06:47

@somethingforyou, yes, I think that's right - but with the proviso that the insurance university doesn't have to agree to 'reopen'' the place.

sandybayley · 07/02/2020 07:07

@AChickenCalledDaal - I think you can imagine. Quite romantic really.

Ironoaks · 07/02/2020 07:25

I think you can imagine. Quite romantic really.
Until you get sand in places where sand should never end up. Then just uncomfortable.

PortusCale · 07/02/2020 07:51

Well done to your DS4 goodbyestranger - fingers crossed for your DD, how lovely it would be to have them both in the same place.

PantTwizzler · 07/02/2020 07:57

Let's tell ourselves everything is going to be ok @goodbyestranger Grin

goodbyestranger · 08/02/2020 18:53

I'll have a shot at that PantTwizzler, see how it feels Grin

JulesJules · 10/02/2020 17:01

D1 is now doing her mocks and is so stressed. She was in tears this morning. The pressure is really getting to her, goodness knows what she'll be like in May. Tried all the usual advice and reassurance, but nothing seems to help. Even getting her coursework element back with full marks hasn't helped. I'm just making brownies (revision food) now, maybe they'll cheer her up a bit 😬

Dearover · 10/02/2020 17:44

Any chance of sending some brownies this way please? I think mocks may be highlighting that you need to juggle lots of different balls successfully at once to get through the next few months.

GinWorksForMe · 10/02/2020 19:20

@somethingforyou I'm interested in your DD's dilemma as we have the same thing here. DS very keen on his other first choice and very unsure about preparing for STEP alone, which at the moment is making him lean towards declining his Cambridge offer in favour of Warwick or London.

@Pallando I'd heard nothing about a STEP offer holder day in March, so thank you, will check that with my son. But the truth is, although it seems Cambridge try hard to offer support, for him as the only one at his school needing to take STEP, and no teachers willing/able to get involved with preparation, it feels to him like a mountain that just might not be worth climbing, and too big a risk to firm an offer that requires STEP 2 and 3,which is a massive shame.

Hope mocks are going well for all those taking them at the moment Smile

Ironoaks · 10/02/2020 20:29

At DS's state school there is one boy who is preparing for STEP. He is planning to use the free online materials from maths.org and one of the maths teachers has offered to support him. He needs high grades in STEP I, II and III.

I'm thankful DS doesn't have to do it. The requirement of A* in F.Maths is enough pressure for him.

sandybayley · 10/02/2020 20:33

@GinWorksForMe - I know nothing about STEP so can't help but I do hope your DS gets the support he needs.

I do think the STEP requirements verge on unfair where the school just isn't set up to support the candidate.

Breaking news - DS1 has got his Durham college allocation. Not the one he applied for but he seems happy enough. He'll take a look at the offer holders day next week.