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.

@ShalomJackie are you able to give any examples of scenarios which might cause a grade to appear as Q?

No sorry - it was just mentioned as a possibility on the Managing Results and Appeals course I was on Friday morning (OCR/JCQ).

Possibly schools asked for evidence etc??? but that is speculation

IIRC Track updated earlier than 8am last year.

The embargo is normally lifted at 6am, but this year, it has been extended to 8am.

Ah thanks @MarchingFrogs

@offandaway I’ve never heard that about %s before and I think it’s unlikely to be true that they’re that rigid. DD missed one of her interviews (she’s a total klutz) but still got an offer, we assume because she lost just one mark in the whole admissions assessment (so that definitely has decent weighting) and has flawless grades, and potentially good additional essays submitted. She was told by the man at Brasenose who visited a UCAS market style event that usually they know they want some before interview, while others are more borderline it rests slightly more heavily on the interview. That is only from one man at Brasenose though. I think it’s impossible to dissect the admissions precisely - many brilliant pupils miss out.

There’s a lot of interesting data from Oxford about interview and aptitude test scoring that’s been requested by people through the Freedom of Information Act. Not sure about weighting but some subjects give the personal statement and reference a score out of 5. Contextualised GCSE grades feature too. Anyone is free to request admissions statistics based on any criteria you’re interested in yourself.

Here is History and Economics as an example:
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/history_and_economics_admissions_2#incoming-1523712

www.merton.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate/admissions-feedback

Merton helpfully set the % weighting at each stage for various subjects see above.

eg first stage for History is 50% gcses and 50% HAT.

I will try now to upload this document but may fail. It is under the History feedback if I can't upload from my phone.

As I suspected I can't attach the pdf here.

For History- click on History and then half way down there is a link which says Feedback etc. It takes you to a PDF .

As mentioned before the weighting and criteria used is subject specific

So if a DC doesn't get in, do they receive a rejection email on the day?

I'm sure all the Oxbridfe colleges have lovely manners & would tell you, but Track is key, as your insurance place would become unconditional.

as your insurance place would become unconditional.

Assuming, of course, that its conditions have been met...

Insurance would become unconditional at the same time as firm becomes unconditional. At least that’s what happened a couple of years ago with DC1 - both choices showed offer achieved.

I think there's a fair chance she won't make her insurance choice either. She's received a letter from her 3rd choice saying they expect to have spaces in Clearing. Please please let that be the case...
But I think that the first choice should deliver a clear no, this year of all years.

I think most universities (except perhaps Cambridge!) are going to be as flexible as they can this year. Any DC who need to go into Clearing this year should have a better chance than in any other “normal” year.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/10/russell-group-universities-prepare-lower-entry-grades-struggle/amp/

Ughhhh, have been diddling about on the Oxbridge aspirants page and TSR.
3 Sleeps, why is time being so weird and slow????

I know, @hobbema, the A-level results are like the running soldier in this clip. (Watch to end if you've not seen it before).

Funny @DadDadDad - I am fed up now. Just make it end someone please!

Shall we have another roll call on who is waiting for what? I know we did before after offers (and we got into trouble) but it would be good to recap on all the happy gang.

I'll start..,

DS1 - Oxford - Chemistry

DS - Oxford - Science subject

Thanks for that clip @DadDadDad. Let's hope the outcome is not quite the same.

I am totally fed up with this wait. On the plus side, we had a fabulous (extended) holiday in the sun. Now back home, which sadly is very far from the heatwave down south.

ooh yes.

DD who is DT1 Cam History.

and I know it’s not relevant but DT2 Anthropology Manchester AND DS has decided to try university again after a faltering first go 2 years ago closer to home this time, for Biology ( unbelievably stress free applying with results in hand !)

DS1 - Oxford - Humanities Subject

The heatwave is making all this waiting extra languid and drawn out.

DS1 - Oxford - a small Humanities subject (small enough that I've been cagey about naming it to reduce the chance of being identified).

D1 History joint at Oxford (tiny - 14 offers in total and they're nearly all on the WhatsApp group, which is adding to the pressure I think)

DD - Fine Art Oxford.

DD2 Humanities joint Oxford (only one at her college)