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.

Agree Purplepooch.

May I join - v junior grad researcher at Oxford but we’ve been told to expect a decision tomorrow about how this summer’s assessments might proceed. There is huge anxiety especially around how best to look after undergrad finalists and graduates on taught one-year masters so that they can graduate with the results they deserve. Lots of options being mooted eg open-book online exams, but given that all the libraries are shut and the online scan and deliver service understandably suspended to protect the Bod staff that won’t be easy. There is some student push-back, arguing that they should just be allowed to suspend and re-run Trinity Term in 2021, but that’s hugely problematic too, especially for those from overseas and lower income families. But at least I hope tomorrow will provide some clarity for everyone not least for Oxford offer holders and their families. They are trying to protect the interests of finalists without adversely impacting the cohort of incoming freshers but how that might be achieved in practice I’m not at all sure. It will surely have to mean somehow getting this year’s finalists and masters students out of Oxford by the summer, but they have worked so incredibly hard and are paying so much that it feels a little shabby to just try to usher them out the door. Glad it’s not my decision - none of the options feel great.

Hi Tooma. Good to hear your perspective. We do need to remember that the current undergraduates are in the exact same mess that our kids are in - having had the climax of several years' work suddenly pulled out from under their feet. I'm trying to remind myself that, even if DD doesn't get to Cambridge in October, she does at least hopefully still have a very fine maths degree ahead of her somewhere, at some point.

I'd hate to be a finalist right now and you are right that it would feel very shabby just to wave them off into the sunset.

DS is a finalist at Durham and is doing open book online finals and then being waved off. It's sad but I don't see that it's any different for Oxford finalists tbh. Not good at all for anyone though, I grant you that.

Thank you for your insights Tooma - most interesting. As you say a difficult decision and no ideal solution. All this was unthinkably until so recently.

If Durham are doing open book exams then I imagine Oxford will reason thus and come to the same conclusion. I think it’s actually the one-year taught masters students for whom I feel most sad. This is often their one year in Oxford and they’re trying to write dissertations remotely. Plus very often to be in Oxford is their long-cherished dream and they’re paying an absolute fortune. But there are no winners in any of this and everyone just needs to do what needs to be done so we can all get through this. I hope the gals and guys researching the vaccine just up the road are as smart as everyone tells me they are. And I’m also a bit emotional about the newly qualified medics in my college who have given up their electives to go and help at the John Radcliffe. Anyway, clarification tomorrow hopefully and all the very best to all your darling offer holders.

Yes I feel for the one year taught Masters students for sure. DS's gf is one of those and has just had a tricky time with a clash between a hand in date and being in the first group in the Oxford uni community to have to quarantine. Also very bad luck as you say for those medics on the brink of starting electives. I know just how much they look forward to them and how hard the planning is in terms of securing an interesting placement in an exciting place. The prospect of it helps keep them going through those final sixth year exams. I was talking to a DD this morning who said she would expect Oxford to go the same way as Durham, especially since the concept of take home 48 hr papers has already been trialled within the uni. We both tend to think that unis will try not to do something radically different from similar institutions. I'd be surprised if they didn't go for a similar model to Durham. DS4 in Durham isn't thrilled at the format at all but knows no-one has a choice, but I know that my DC who did nine finals for Law in their final year at Oxford would have found taking them at home next to impossible, and I don't think History finals would have been that much more successful either - the subjects examined wholly in the final year are bound to be the most affected. It's certainly very, very tough.

goodbyestranger
Yes, I am a lurker on here, but no, I haven't had an altercation with you concerning how many dc you have. I do believe you exist - you have confused me with another poster. Luckily ds1 has an offer for The Other Place (not maths thank goodness).

Apols in that case Clavinova.

Does anyone have an update on what's happening for current/new students at Oxford this academic year?

I don't envy the decision makers working with the dynamic and complicated situation.

*next not this

DD4 has had a reassuring email from her college but more about grade assessment than anything else Aurea. Nothing specific about the Michaelmas Term.

Did the law mods go ahead or were they caught by the advice to leave Oxford?

Thanks GBS.
No he missed his law mods. Informed two days before they were due to start.

They are planning on some open book assessment in 0 week instead, I understand. He is very frustrated as he'd been memorising all his cases.

Very frustrating - poor DS.

goodbyestranger
Apols accepted - and good luck to DD4.

And to your DS Clavinova.

Just to say here in Oxford we have still not received news about next term’s arrangements for assessments. It was supposed to arrive yesterday. I will update as soon as I know more, as getting your DC through the door in October obviously depends on this year’s cohort leaving at the end of June as planned.

So just heard - basically its online open book exams as anticipated, with more time allowed and a 24 hour window to accommodate international time differences. Finalists may apply to sit exams in summer ‘21 but only with the consent of their college and according to their individual circumstances; they will only be allowed back for the purpose of sitting exams. Or they can opt for an unclassified degree ‘declared to have deserved honours’ plus enhanced reference for employers and post grad applications. It seems that they are planning for everyone to graduate this summer and hoping for a return to normal by October. Much support promised for the current cohort which I know everyone will be most eager to offer, but they won’t be allowed to come back in October and re-run the year again. Least worst option I think, but everyone will be bending over backwards to help our poor masters students and finalists.

@GinWorksForMe and any other maths parents (sorry I've lost track of doing what) ... there is an update on the STEP web page. Looks like STEP papers 2 and 3 are going ahead, with more detailed arrangements to follow. Just going to wander upstairs and remind DD to keep working !

Thanks @AChickenCalledDaal. At least we know something! DS has been ill and had a full ten days off any work at all. He will have a good reason to get back to it now I guess.

Hope everyone is well. Get well soon @Coleoptera.

Where’s that from, @AChickenCalledDaal? DS was entered for STEP1 for his insurance place. He’s not Oxbridge, but it now means his firm is the same as his insurance. Bugger.

I had just seen this too. DS doesn't need to take STEP (he has an Oxford offer for maths) but I wonder if it would be good for him to have something to work towards. I'll have to pick my moment and ask him!

@MillicentMartha I saw it here twitter.com/Mathematical_A/status/1245433843932442627?s=09

www.admissionstesting.org/campaigns/coronavirus/

Here, too. Thanks pepermintea.