Oxbridge 2020 (thread 10) - the path to the first term (just one slight hurdle to clear first)

[DadDadDad]

For better or worse, there is a bit of a bond of mutual experience between parents whose DC go through the Oxbridge application process. Thank you for your companionship so far - and thank you to others who started the earlier threads in this series.

This thread should take us to the start of the first term (whatever form that takes). All welcome here, but for many of us hopefully this will be the place for practical support as we help prepare these peculiar* young adults to spread their wings.

But the first item on the agenda appears to be the small matter of judgement...

*or for those who chose Oxford, very peculiar.

Nothing yet from DS's Oxford college either! I would like some definite news, especially with the talk of too many being accepted now and some having to defer. Really hoping that doesn't happen!

To be fair, Coleoptera, Cambridge are in a far worse pickle than oxford in that their system of over-offering has left them in a mess. Even worse by jumping the gun and promising places to those retaking in the autumn they have made matters even more difficult for themselves. I noted at the time that they would regret this.

I would think your ds is ok as he was in “first” and, furthermore, I would expect that quite a few would be happy to defer until next year.

Ds didn’t have much contact prior to starting, but then it was all systems go!

I think Cambridge are getting the information from UCAS (new grades) today, and will be writing to people on Monday.

Dd had her welcome emails on Monday re: accommodation requests and choice of day to move in ( we chose 1st Oct). She's also received info from the senior tutor , reading recommendations and so on. Sounds like some colleges are more on the ball than others? Or perhaps some over offer more.

I know it's hard but we need to be especially patient. It's an incredible mess which has all been dumped on Universities, and twice in the space of a few days in August. ... And there's Covid-19 ... .

My daughter has been waiting for ever for her (second) and Masters degree college at Cambridge to say anything concrete about how it will all work from October. She accepts that it's all up in the air and that, as a Masters student, she may now be totally screwed. As it makes sense for colleges to prioritise new Undergrads for support and accommodation and so on. It may mean that most Postgrads cannot have the usual Postgrad rooms, library spaces, ... .

And I have just received some figures from Academic friends which I found startling. One is at a Cambridge college where they over-offered on high grades by about 60 places last year for October 2019 entry; it worked fine last summer with many missing their grades. Now, with no candidate officially missing their grades, they have more than 60 candidates too many; that's 60 in the context of a normal annual intake of around 105! So how do they accommodate and care for and teach all properly, with a sudden increase of 60%? ... And Covid-19 impact? .... My daughter is cutting Cambridge colleges some slack. Eventually, she may need to receive specialist books , at home, from a couple of Cambridge libraries, with some online support. That may be her lot for Masters degree. ( Harvard are purely online for some of their Masters programs.)

The other friend is an Admissions Director for a major Department at a well known Russell Group Uni. They always over offer by 30% and it tends to work out on A Level Results day. Now, though, they have around 275 rather than the 210 or so they planned for. Again, what to do ... and at zero notice, too?

Again, what to do ... and at zero notice, too?

That's why it doesn't surprise me that somewhere like Durham is trying to persuade people to defer, and with a financial inducement. Of course, not great for next year's applicants, but it spreads the load out for this year.

Interesting insight thank you @JBX2013. You're right, the universities have been put in an invidious position, some more than others. I feel kind of bad for thinking DS's college has been dragging its heels when in reality there is probably frantic scrambling going on behind the scenes.

That would be v sad for your DD if she doesn't get to be in C for her Masters. Did she go there as an undergrad? It would be easier to swallow if she'd already had three years of the oxbridge experience.

I should add something about the total numbers at Cambridge.

Based on 2019 Admissions and 2020 Offer numbers, Cambridge is looking at over 1200 as the extra total of students they now need to absorb!

1200!

JBX2013 DS3 is starting at Cambridge in October and has had full instructions/ communications etc. His room has also been allocated (taking into account none of his preferences! And put in a higher price band for the privilege!).

@SnapSnapDragon, Yes she was at a Cambridge college for her first degree.

Her cohort has had the Gove A Level changes, triggering Cambridge Admissions changes for October 2017 entry onwards. Lots of problems on Results day in 2017! .... Plus, of course, Covid-19 Finals - assessments without exams for her course!

Although that said, this was before results day and he's now away camping with friends so I haven't asked if there are any updates. I hope that there aren't.

Sorry - rather off topic but is anyone else's DC trying to book a driving test? DS tried most of the morning but no luck, keeps crashing!

Does anyone have a list of which Cambridge colleges have communicated re room allocation and/or moving in dates?
Thanks

My daughter is getting annoyed at my constant refrain "Any email from college yet?"

I do think that over-offering to the extent of 60% is over the top and unnecessarily cruel. I hope over-offering goes down in future.

DS1 is getting stuck into some prep work sent by his Oxford college. He did some work after his school shut (courses and a project) but I think he's relieved his brain is still working.

Are the colleges sending out prep work in the same way they would in a normal year or do we think they're also trying to bridge the COVID gap of nothingness for most?

sandy DD4 got a whole load of work set very early on, in May or so. Months ago, anyhow.

She's also had plenty of communication from the college, college reps, her college family etc.

DS has been invited to complete an online form indicating which courses he'd like to study this year. He had already given this some thought, so was ready to decide.

He has been sent some ideas for prep work and there will be also be an online prep course, which he can start once he gets a Raven login.

Invitation to a fresher's toga party here today. I've been showing DD pictures of ours many decades ago, to demonstrate the art of origami with a sheet.

D1 has had an email from college, asking if she would 'prefer to defer' as they are looking for volunteers. They do stress that her place for 2020 is completely secure.

I do feel for admissions, earlier on in the year they were being very clear that requests for deferral would probably not be successful unless there were really compelling personal circumstances; now they've had to do a 180° turn.

D1 also has two big essays to write. So she's embarked on a major knitting project

DS had a freshers pack by email late this afternoon. Arrival has been moved forward to 30 Sep or 1 Oct, as they've been divided into two groups. Detail will follow next week apparently.

'I do think that over-offering to the extent of 60% is over the top and unnecessarily cruel. I hope over-offering goes down in future.'

I agree with you, @coldcolder! But the core problem is Offers before A Level Results are known and the perfidy of predicted grades. Cambridge have found over the years that around half the predicted grades are wrong. At the same time, they cannot fairly separate many candidates without actual A Levels. These are often the only 'current', moderated, large cohort tests available. So they use them.

Historically, they have also found a strong correlation between A Level scores - not just grades - and First Year Exam Score and Finals Exam Score. It's horrible, I know, but it really is rational and the fairest they can do. In the past, they could track nearly all successful Cambridge Finalists forward from AS Scores (Year 12) and A2 Scores (Year 13) through to First Year Exam Score and then to Finals Exams Score. ... My daughter's college tends to award 92%-95% Upper Seconds or Firsts in Finals using this approach.

The biggest worry now remains Covid-19 Safety.

The biggest academic worry is that all leading faculties now will have admitted students they would have rejected on A Level Results day in previous years. These students will struggle, won't they?