Oxbridge 2020 (8th thread)

[DadDadDad]

A thread to continue discussing entry to Oxbridge in October 2020 (less than nine months away ). 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.

Thanks @gizmo I agree that he's the sort of person anyone would want around! But I'm biased. @goodbye stranger I don't think it will be a massive waste if he doesn't get a Cambridge education. I'm sure it's amazing but I'm sure the education and experiences he will get elsewhere will set him up for a happy and fulfilling life, if not the highest academic type one that suits your DC and others.

I didn't go to university although I would have liked to because I became a full time carer at 18. I'm so proud that he, DD and DS2 want to go and are so interested in learning and in making our world better. Where they choose to start that journey isn't the be all and end all, and has to be their choice so i won't be 'getting him to think again' - I don't think I could if I tried - he is cleverer, more informed about himself and his choices than me, and extraordinarily self-aware about what he believes (based on evidence and experience rather than hearsay) will make him happy and give him the best chance of the career and work/life balance he wants.

Also if he declines a place maybe another v deserving candidate gets it which is a win win

You guys are the best to care so much about him and his outcomes, thank you.

Did I use 'tant pis' right, seriously?

Did Durham ask for less than AAA DadDadDad?

I'm not sure that my DC went to Oxford for the 'highest academic type life' GinWorksForme'! They just went, because they got an offer. They're pretty relaxed on the whole.

AAB from Durham, @goodbyestranger

Thanks. I was just wondering if it was a 'proper' insurance - which it wouldn't be for DD DadDadDad.

Don't know anything about the new college, other than geograhically it's in the thick of it. It could be quite fun and facilities will at least be shiny and clean.

DadDadDad your DS is in exactly the same position as DD. She has been offered South College and is fretting about it still being built. Hopefully Edinburgh will hurry up and offer less than AAA, as Durham insurance offer matched Oxford.

DadDadDad You may find the Durham Uni thread helpful reading.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3814066-Durham-University?pg=2

Hoghgyni there was some issue about new accommodation not being ready in an existing college this year, and all freshers were found rooms in blocks in other colleges (not sure if postgrads had to move out or how space was found). So not ideal but not hopeless either; the freshers simply had a slightly different set of new people to mix with than they would otherwise have done. I don't think Durham would let the building contract slip without making sure of a good alternative for the freshers.

That said, I completely get her concerns.

Dad,Hog; South College allocation seems an enviable position to be in for some of us; it’s feeling here like our most able child academically might be the only one of three not to get an offer from Durham; bizarre.
Gin; really moving couple of posts from you this evening. No need for any of them to be pressing the UCAS buttons just yet if there’s indecision. DD seems to be coming out of her combined Imposter Syndrome/Survivor Guilt . I suspect a lot of them have this despite all the vlogs, outreach, normalising.

I think they had a similar issue at Portsmouth in September with students discovering a few days before they were due to move in that their shiny new rooms were still being built. Her two best friends have been allocated the colleges of their choice so I think she is simply feeling a bit deflated.

@gizmo
I'm afraid I don't know anyone directly who has self taught STEP, but DS was pointed at Advanced Questions in Core Mathematics which seems like a very friendly online resource, even if the questions aren't. There seems to also be a fair amount of peer group support on The Student Room although YMMV depending on the year.

The "Advanced Questions" book mentioned here is an old version of Stephen's book which is a little out of date with the advice section (the questions are still good - though there were a couple of mistakes). The new version can be downloaded for free here: www.openbookpublishers.com/product/1050

@GinWorksForMe I can understand possibly feeling like an outsider, but my experience when I was here (and also more recently when talking to our students at open days etc) is that no-one really cares about that sort of thing! I found it strange that some friends had school mates at the same university (especially as some had also been to school in Cambridge).

However it is important to choose the right place where you will be happy for 3 years! I would suggest further visits to both Cambridge and Warwick and see which "feels more like home". I seem to remember that final decisions don't have to be made until May? That gives some consideration time!

Your DS will be very welcome at our March event even if he then decides against Cambridge! We also have travel bursaries available to apply for, and we can offer advice on accomodation (or the college might step up here!).

Wise words from @Pallando.

Gin I sent you a pm :)

Also, dd is very happy to chat to your lad about this and give him a behind the scenes tour if he goes back for a visit.

DD just got an offer from St Andrews, her favoured insurance place/ joint favourite . Phew.

@hobbema - congratulations on St Andrews. Lovely place and great university.

Thanks Sandy, Scottish DH over the moon too!

Good to hear of the St A offer hobbema. DD4 pressed firm and insure a couple of hours ago - not especially sensible to insure with the same grades as firm but there's a tiny weeny barely perceptible element of logic going on there, and it's what I would have done too, in the same position (Oxford firm, Durham insurance and St A, Glasgow and Birmingham withdrawn).

That sounds good @goodbyestranger - good to get it done. Part of me imagines DS1's college looking quizzically at his file and wondering 'what on earth does this teenager want'?

Way to go @goodbyestranger DD4. DD hanging on to hear from Durham one way or the other. I dont think she could cope with never quite knowing if they wanted her or not if she withdrew now and am a firm believer in making a fully informed decision so can understand even though itching for some certainty too. DT2 who has been decidedly lukewarm on higher ed front has been to and is massively positive about Manchester today so its a good day here all round.

Bit of 2020 admissions feedback here
www.merton.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate/admissions-feedback
It's from the Merton College page, but you can click through by subject which links to information from the departments and faculty reports where these are now available.

I had seen the PPE report before. The figures for E&M are painful at 18.1 applicants per place.

I see a few St Andrew's offers...am rather jealous. DS still waiting to hear for computer science, although I know others have had computer science (or joint honours) places offered already.

Does anyone know if they do all offers in one go or just dribble them out a bit at a time?

@JulesJules - thanks for the link, makes for interesting reading. Two take aways for me on Chemistry:

1. TSA results weren't used to shortlist the vast majority of candidates. Still described as a pilot.

2. Significant increase in the number of applications from last year - 20% up.

Durham college curveball here too and still waiting on St Andrew’s so no decision yet on insurance.

Can’t help but think that Durham needs to get its act together to reduce the number of random allocations to colleges that are polar opposite to stated preference.