Oxbridge 2020 (thread number 9)

[DadDadDad]

What a year! Just as we've all become experts (at least in our own minds ) about how to write Personal Statements, Oxford admission tests and Cambridge STEP, the complicated dance of the interview process, and how to simultaneously boost our DSs' and DDs' confidence while preparing them for the possibility of disappointment, we have a new topic to learn: statistical modelling of expected grades.

Of course, like all those previous topics, we're not in control of teacher projection and OfQual rejection, but we have this thread to support each other through the coming months.

All welcome. For the record, I have a DS with an Oxford offer for a humanities subject.

Have spoken to DS1. He sees the merit in a double duvet and is very pleased at the idea.

I know his college doesn't provide bedding unless you buy the bedding pack. Kettle allowed and battery operated fairy lights. But fairy lights not really DS1 thing 😉

@Hoghgyni - I do hope DS1 hides illicit visitors in his room. He's a shy at the moment and I'm hoping he'll find someone he likes at university. I found his father that way!

Might let him gave the cafetière though.

We got DD a V60 filter funnel (plus filters) and ground up a bagful of beans to take with her. This allows a variable number of cupfuls to be produced with minimum fuss (so more sociable than our other simple device, an Aeropress) and is easier to clean up than a cafetière - just lift out the filter paper and bin.

I reckon double duvet even if just for comfort @sandybayley! DD has a double bed at home so reckon she's going to really miss that.

If DD goes this year she's planning self-catering either way - her Oxford college has decent facilities and her accomodation at insurance, Hull, is self-catered. I suppose we'll have to look into getting some pots and pans but probably won't bother until A level results/a decision has been made.

I did just make the scary calculation that if DD1 does a gap year I'll have three at university at the same time for a year!

@RoiseCap - I will have three at the same time as well. DS1 starts In October 2020 and has a four year course. He'll still be there when DD starts in 2022 and DS2 is 2023.

DD might apply for Oxford. DS2 is unlikely to though.

This is the MN Student Essentials list www.mumsnet.com/teenagers/university-essentials-checklist

At D1's prospective college, the kitchens vary, some of them only have microwaves apparently. I'm hoping that she'll get a bit more information about accommodation after results. In the meantime, I have bought her a kettle and a duvet so far. I'd got mattress cover on my list, but hadn't considered a topper, good idea. Any recs?

DD got her mattress topper from Dunelm Mills - iirc the brand might have been Fogarty.
Pots and pans were mostly my cast-offs - pans kept when we redid the kitchen a few years before inc. induction hob. Crockery, knives, scissors etc quite cheap from Asda. Most of the supermarkets, wilko etc stock 'student essentials' from around A level results day.

Iirc one of the few things we didn't think of initially which DD found useful was a tray for the beverage making stuff, to avoid mess on the bedside table or desk or wherever she put it.

@sandybayley my DD2 is also considering Oxbridge (or worse - medicine...) and will be a 2022 starter. If DD3 does go to uni she'll start in 2024 but DD1's course is four years minimum I think. However DD3 is planning a career as a "professional athlete" and if that fails or injury takes over (highly likely as the child is taped from top to bottom for her training sessions) then coach/physiotherapist so we might escape university for her there. My savings would certainly thank her

@RoiseCap - how funny. DD is going for Medicine as well to start in 2022.

She's very driven and likes the idea of Oxford medicine but I dont think she's done enough research yet to know. She might be tempted by Edinburgh where her parents met. DS2 will most likely be making his first million in 2023 rather than pursuing an academic career but he's a tough one to predict.

@ErroltheDragon - it was a fairly off the cuff purchase , but a cheap tray to put tea / coffee making stuff on earned its place , as you say, to keep mess to a ( well I won't say minimum , but less ) Cheap as chips and binned after graduation. Would recommend - ha ha

@sandybayley - coincidence....DD1's parents met at Edinburgh uni aswell

DD1 is very taken with Edinburgh as an alternative to Oxford! What a fab city to be a student in. She loves the sound of uni in Scotland in general because of the variety of course options - she was told 3 subjects could be taken in the first few years before specialising.

DD2 isn't sure about medicine at Oxbridge because she's been told the Oxbridge courses aren't very hands on compared to others, but she's planning on taking art as a fourth A level if her school allows her, so is also tempted by architecture courses (in which case she'd look at Cambridge) and history of art (in which case Oxbridge would be on the cards).

@MiniJellyBeans - maybe our paths crossed? Drop me a clue.

Loved Edinburgh @RoiseCap - maybe we've talked it up too much and that's why she's interested. DD was due to perform at the Fringe this summer. Such a shame she can't as she was keen to take a look around. The courses are very flexible for most people - DH took a course in Scandinavian Studies as an 'outside' course. But I think it's pretty standard for the medics.

At least if DS1 makes his Oxford grades DD can go and have a proper look. DH and I will take DD to Edinburgh and maybe book into one of the hotels where I used to do silver service waitressing

@AChickenCalledDaal I'm thinking that STEP must be coming soon for your DD. Just wanted to say hope all goes well for her - & anyone else who's doing it too

@AChickenCalledDaal - yes best of luck for STEP. DS1 has a friend (Cambridge Maths
Offer) who is doing it and it sounds so difficult. His friend won't come out and do cricket nets until after it's over so DS1 also wants it to be over.

Good luck to the STEP candidates!

DS has regular zoom get-togethers with other offer holders; they vote on the time to suit
the most participants in various time zones.
Today the dress code is "What you'd wear to formal hall." (minus the gown) so he has put a suit on for the first time in three months. Makes a change from pyjamas and a hoody.

Good luck to all taking STEP - and their support team at home!

DS is waiting for results day before joining offer holder Zoom calls/social media chat.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes on STEP. I shall tell her Mumsnet is rooting for her (and she will no doubt roll her eyes).

First paper is on Monday and then the hardest one is on Friday. So this time next week it'll be done .

I can confirm it's just as hard as everyone says. My nightmare scenario is she just misses, ends up in summer pool and is in limbo while St Andrews allocates all the nice rooms to other people! Only three weeks between results day and start of term at St As!!

@AChickenCalledDaal DS has an Oxford maths offer, so not taking STEP, but he could well have picked Cambridge instead. Hope you have a stress free weekend!

Best of luck to dd @AChickenCalledDaal. Until ds settled on Oxford I had nightmares about STEP. I have everything firmly crossed for her.

Yes, good luck for the STEP examinations! I suppose at least not having to split focus with A levels has been something of a blessing?

DD also not sure about offer holder chats etc. People can seem so different online and our family friend has a nightmare story about ending up with an "offer holder chat stalker" as she calls it. It does sound like it's filling the time nicely for your DC though @Ironoaks.

Absolutely right RoiseCap. There have been quite a few times when DD's mind has boggled at how much harder things would have been if she'd also been sitting four A Levels alongside STEP. She'd have been on her knees by now. And she's definitely confirmed that studying maths all day every day is something she enjoys. Which is probably just as well!

Good luck from here too Chicken.

DD is spending Saturday evenings playing things like Scrabble & other board games with a few from her prospective college. I ought to give her a list of MN related Qs, starting with "Do you do cricket nets?" and "Have you got a mattress topper & mini tea tray yet?"

All the very best to all the STEP candidates and their parents.

It's started!

The bedroom door is closed, there is is an "exam in progress" sign on it and DD2 has been reminded a number of times that it will not be appropriate to practice on her drum kit between now and lunchtime.

At the moment I'm praying hard that DD1's four year old passport will get her past the ID check at the beginning of the exam. (The need for photo ID was not revealed until about a week ago and her photo is pre-puberty and makes her look about eight years old ...!)