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.

Thanks deFleury I too am anxious st heart whilst my head says it should all be ok, particularly as DS knows what he scored in his admissions test and he was in the top 100. Of course we dont know how he ranked at interview but knowing the admissions test score helps. He has decided to reject his insurance and opt for taking exams and re applying although this is risky for Maths as gap years are not usually allowed.
In better news though, he heard that UKMT are going to publish one of his solutions to an Olympiad problem so that has really cheered him up!

HuaShan if I had money to put on your DS, I would! :)

Likewise! Very encouraging news @HuaShan.

D1 has just told me that student accommodation is being arranged in subject bubbles - don't know what happens to those doing joints, perhaps she should take a tent! Also they think that the shared kitchens will be closed which is quite a big thing.

Also they think that the shared kitchens will be closed which is quite a big thing.

It doesn't seem high risk to share a kitchen with others in the same household. How/where will they prepare food?

I assume they will be expected to eat I the dining halls.

Meanwhile DD's college has been in touch with her head of 6th to check if there are any extenuating circumstances which may have had an impact on her over recent months.

I'm not sure where the info came from, D1 was on her offer holders chat and someone said it. I'm assuming they will have to buy all their meals in hall which will be expensive. We have a mini fridge she could take if that's allowed.

She may have one in her room Jules. They're included in some colleges.

That would certainly free up some space in the car!

Just a quick question. If they shut the communal kitchens, what would the students do about drinking water? Surely they have to have that? Unless they will be providing bottled water and allow the use of kettles in rooms? Concerned about DD who has medical dietary needs and has been allowed to choose a room for next year without any mention of this (she is going into 4th year).

The issue with communal kitchens, from my reading of the FE residential guidance, is that when there’s a Covid outbreak PHE will swoop and decide who needs to isolate for 14 days, based primarily on who is sharing washing and cooking facilities. So colleges with lots of self catering who can assign a kitchen to each bubble will be fine, but those with one kitchen for whole JCR are likely to pre-empt the issue by shutting it (or just assign it to one bubble who particularly need it).
They also need to be prepared to deliver food (and medicine) to every student in isolation, so they’ll need to be ramping up the numbers they can cook for/ buy food in for centrally within each college.

Thank you for the clarification @deFleury
That makes sense.

But surely eating in Hall means mixing with hundreds of people instead of, say, 12? Confusing!

@PantTwizzler - I suspect it would t be a free-for-all in halls. More likely carefully controlled groups sitting together in pre-agreed locations. If you read the Oxford latest guidance they highlight a new app to find your seat in libraries do I'm sure the same thinking will apply in colleges.

Waiting nearly over here.....Results Day in Scotland tomorrow - by text (!) at 8am 😬

Keeping everything crossed for you justaweebit.

Best of luck justaweebit

Best of luck @justaweebit - I envy you in that the waiting is almost over!

We're relying on you for proof that Track updates properly!

Like you all, I'm ready for it to be over....one way or another! I wonder if track will update before the 8am text???

Good luck justaweebit.

Details of social distancing are likely to be very college-specific. There was no mention of bubbles when DD chose her college accommodation options last month for third year.

Good luck to justaweebit DC - and fingers crossed for anyone else getting results today. Have been watching BBC breakfast news and they are bringing some results in at 8 I think🤞

All good here....offer achieved 🥳 results arrived by text at 8 (for DS doing Standard Grades too). Track updating at 9 apparently, and still showing unavailable. What a relief! Hope that anyone else getting results today has good news.