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.

Cambridge could make them all complete 5 rounds of paper scissors stone by Weber or skype to allocate spaces? After all, both universities make them jump through so many hoops, what harm would it do?

Webex not Weber.

Surely it would have to be rock paper scissors lizard Spock...

How do you do a lizard?

Like this.

Fab. I shall upgrade my technique immediately.

Just pretend you are curling your fingers around the cardboard tube from the middle of a loo roll...

Have you got any?

You have an empty middle? I have a brand new Cushelle super-sized roll.or two. That will be a mighty lizard.

I did have an empty middle, but I ate some cake and now all is well.

GinWorksForMe
I get what you're saying but don't rule our Oxbridge. Your DC have 5 choices which is plenty. We weren't in your position financially but DC did attend a school where most were, including a couple of successful Oxbridge applicants. Their colleges were fantastic in directing them towards bursaries and top ups. And in fact they ended up better off financially than my DC. Which is fantastic. There are so many barriers to ordinary or low income kids from state schools accessing Oxbridge. But please give it a go. Those places need students like your DC!

So DS finally heard from Durham yesterday. 2 A stars and an A, as expected. But, completely not the college he preferred, they've offered Stevenson College, which is "new, a long way out, and looks like a comprehensive school" says DS His predicted grades post-mocks are AAA so I suspect he will bin Durham and firm York.
He's disappointed but pragmatic. This late in the game, it does feel like they've only offered a bit half-heartedly in the hopes he's already made his decision. Which I don't feel is in the right spirit. But...WTF do I know

Was that the expected offer for ppe Terfterf? I thought their standard offer for ppe was one A star and 2 As but maybe it's changed. IMHO asking for any A stars is setting the dstudents up for so much stress - two must be even more so, especially for insurance (what can the firm offer be?!). Anyway, York is a great place as well!

Oh Terf that is really tough. DD had the same issue with the college, except hers isn't even built yet. I've been singing the praises of York, because the course seems to be very different to both Oxford & Durham. Does your DS realise that York has the opportunity to take the second year in the US or Canada instead of in York, then return in year 3? I imagine the places are highly sought after, but it is another selling point which can be used in contrast to the other two.

He seemed to think so about the grades. York is AAA, Liverpool (insurance) ABB
Interesting about the year away, I hadn't heard about that, thank you.

We're still very much horizontal here

Ouch Terf. Two A* ?

Your boy sounds fab - loving the horizontal. Best of luck to him.

Terf I don't understand how Durham could have exceeded their standard offer of A*AA. Is it worth challenging, as I didn't think they could do that.

Terf, I would definitely want to query that offer. I can’t see what purpose it serves Durham.

Do UCAS say anything about when/whether about what the 'standard offer' stated on the university website 'means' - whether it can be exceeded, in what circs etc? (Obviously I realise lower offers are often made, just wondering about higher)

I know the page well:
A level offer – A*AAincluding an arts/humanities subject and Mathematics.
If you are taking Mathematics and Further Mathematics, a further two subjects must be taken at A2 level.

Unis are free to make whatever offers they like to an individual; higher or lower than the published “standard” offer.
Is Durham doing this to dissuade people from making Durham their insurance offer?

Now I feel guilty. DD is still dithering over whether to insure Durham (AAA=Oxford) or York (ABB but not remotely Hogwarts). Sorry Terf, it's all DD's fault.

DS is also holding onto a Durham PPE offer that he will either decline or insure. In his case, he is waiting on another uni that is slow sending out offers/rejections.