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Original poster

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

947 replies

DadDadDad · 11/08/2020 22:12

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
rainyinscotland · 22/08/2020 10:34

Oxford doesn't over-offer to the same extent. Can't Cambridge do what Oxford is doing?

IrmaFayLear · 22/08/2020 10:36

I expect they will now. They can’t risk this happening again!

Ironoaks · 22/08/2020 10:43

As Cambridge begin to collect data for degree class outcomes from cohorts who took pre-interview assessments, they may gain confidence in those assessments as a selection tool, and be able to give out fewer offers.

Revengeofthepangolins · 24/08/2020 10:09

May ask a equation (one of the 2022 aspirant crowd)?

In your experience do certain subjects tend to fall into the same date windows within the interview period? Am curious if history tends to sit early or late.

Clearly, everything might change this year, but any observations would be gratefully received.

goodbyestranger · 24/08/2020 10:11

History has always been in the first week of interviews, for years, Tuesday to Friday.

goodbyestranger · 24/08/2020 10:13

That's Oxford.

Revengeofthepangolins · 24/08/2020 14:52

@goodbyestranger

History has always been in the first week of interviews, for years, Tuesday to Friday.
Many thanks. Yes, sorry, Oxford was what I was after.
IrmaFayLear · 24/08/2020 15:13

I wonder how they will do pooling this year. Ds, when he went for interview, was there from Tuesday to Friday afternoon and was interviewed at three colleges. He was a human wreck by the end! I think they were really trying to give him a chance but he kept blowing it! (Or else they were incredulous at how bad he was and were parading him round as a laughing stock...)

JulesJules · 24/08/2020 16:04

Last year my D1 had to be there Tuesday 10 Dec - Saturday 14th (Although they let her go earlier on Friday in the end) - this was for History joint schools

Oxfordsnotbrogues · 25/08/2020 11:19

Sorry to jump into this thread (and much kudos to the parents who have supported their kids through an Oxbridge application over the last year!) May I seek some advice about HSPS at Cambridge? DS is interested, and about to start A levels in Biology, History, Politics and Economics. I have no idea whether his trajectory (ugh I hate that word but there we are) will allow a competitive application, but are these subjects appropriate? Any thoughts from someone who has been there much appreciated - I know a bit about Oxford but nothing about Cambridge.

JulesJules · 25/08/2020 11:37

@Oxfordsnotbrogues A friend of D1's is going to do HSPS - he did History, Geography and RE A levels, was offered a place conditional on A* AA. I think your DS's subjects will be fine

sandybayley · 25/08/2020 11:47

@Oxfordsnotbrogues - i think those A levels are fine. The only one I'd question is politics. It has previously had the reputation for not being as robust as some other A Levels. That might just be me being a dinosaur though.

Maths would be good if your DS is game for it. How were his GCSEs?

ofteninaspin · 25/08/2020 12:26

DS did A level Politics (alongside Maths, Physics and Economics) and it wasn't a problem achieving a Cambridge offer.

sandybayley · 25/08/2020 12:36

That's good @ofteninaspin - told you I was a dinosaur! My DPIL said the same about Economics when DD was considering it. Funny how these ideas take hold.

Hoghgyni · 25/08/2020 13:36

DD was told by Cambridge that she would be fine applying for HSPS with maths history & English Language, which.is treated with scorn by many. She ended up going down the PPE route instead. I liked the look of HSPS, but I'm too old for another degree!

Oxfordsnotbrogues · 25/08/2020 13:50

Thank you all so much - good to hear. His GCSE's were strong but not all 9s by any stretch. I think though that he might just be getting going; before lockdown he was making huge strides, and actually just really surprised us. I think he might be developing into a bit a risk-taker academically, which is scary as a bystander ( and a bit of a worry for A levels!) but if he gets it right he might do really well at somewhere like Cambridge. He needs to decide for himself though if he wants to give it a go obvs, but he's mentioned it a couple of times, along with LSE. He's reading a lot off his own bat too. In any event, he absolutely resists management of any kind, so we'll see where we end up in year or so. Stubborn, and knows what he likes, and I can't talk him into maths! Thank you all for your advice, and for anyone who's offspring are heading to Durham, DD loved it, was exceptionally well-taught.

sandybayley · 25/08/2020 14:08

Plenty of time @Oxfordsnotbrogues but good to be thinking about this stuff early.

My DD is just starting Sixth Form and is considering Medicine (maybe at Oxford). The time goes so quickly, strange to think she'll be submitting her UCAS form in 12 months. Can you believe there is a Medicine 2022 thread on TSR already 😲

HSPS at Cambridge looks like a great course. I applied myself many years ago but ended up elsewhere studying Political Science.

hobbema · 25/08/2020 14:39

Update on DT2; she has now firmed place for Nursing, not a million miles from her sister. Hurrah but mainly Phew.

I’m enjoying a sense of this phase being done after such a long period of uncertainty.

JulesJules · 25/08/2020 15:42

That's great news @hobbema

PantTwizzler · 25/08/2020 15:53

I got in to Oxford 30 years ago with A-levels including Politics... but that was in the glory days of the EE offer.

PantTwizzler · 25/08/2020 15:54

hobbema lovely news.

PantTwizzler · 25/08/2020 15:58

That is a scary thought re 12 months to the new year 12’s UCAS applications @sandybayley. My DD is just starting too and I’m very happy to be having a year off this rollercoaster, having done it two years in a row. (One-quarter of @goodbyestranger ‘s tally!)

Thecazelets · 25/08/2020 16:38

That's very good news hobbema.

DS has Econ and Politics as 2 of his 3 A-levels and is in to Cambridge, so I don't think it matters.

The one they tended to discount was 'General Studies' back in the day - I don't think it's a thing any more, but lots of people I went to university with 30 years ago had GS as a 4th A-level. My school didn't offer it and I'd never heard of it.

HuaShan · 25/08/2020 17:22

@hobbema great news for dd. Nursing is a fine profession, I have been one for many more years that I want to write as it will give away how old I am! I fell into it by accident and have never regretted it.

sandybayley · 25/08/2020 17:40

@hobbema - great news about your DT. My MIL has a weird combination of an Oxford English degree followed by training as a nurse. She went on to be an editor of various medical journals. She is very good person to be around when you need medical advice or want to write a letter of complaint.

I have the honour of a 4th A Level in GS. Bunch of nonsense it was but I like to mention it to DH occasionally 😉

I will have a year off from A Levels next year but will have DS2 GCSEs. I'm not sure he'll get a huge amount of attention, he is a very self sufficient third child.