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.

As I got namechecked yesterday I thought I would present myself.

Congratulations to those of you who made it and commiserations to those who didn't. As most of you know DS failed to secure an AAA offer for history at Oxford but has managed to get his clean sweep of A*s so that is of some consolation to him. He has deferred
and has 2 jobs and plans to travel as and when the world reopens, for a month with his Dad and then with friends who are also deferring.

Lovely to see them all taking their next steps.

Oh my goodness AChickenCalledDahl, that's harsh - so sorry.

We are being pooled. But with 2 A* and an A I hope he will have a good chance. So tough this waiting.

So sad to read of disappointments, just so very hard for all DCs in this position- and their parents too.

Many congratulations to those who got the results they wanted, great news and a big relief.

Such an awful year in so many ways, here’s hoping for a better next year.

Very well done to sandy DS. Hopefully he'll be a bit more tolerant about all those ingredients of his now. Enjoy your holiday!

@AChickenCalledDaal so very sorry to hear this, have been rooting for your dd. What's her insurance?

Crossing fingers for your brother, doadeer.

I too haven't posted anything since results day - didn't want to risk jinxing it. It's now safe to write it down instead of speaking in hushed tones and touching wood all the time. My DD has a place at Cambridge.

There has been lots of whooping and tears of joy this morning. Neither me or her Dad even did A-levels.

Commiserations indeed to those who have been disappointed. Very tough.

And very well done Hugo DS as well!

@AChickenCalledDaal so sorry for your DD. Hopefully she will be happy where she ends up - I assume she’s secured her insurance spot?

@hobbema let us know how your DD2 does in clearing. I certainly don’t envy you...

We’ve been lucky - 3 As, each the only A in her subject so not sure if moderation hit the school hard. Once again proved that DD1 is the biggest worrier of all time for no reason.

So sorry @AChickenCalledDaal. STEP is so harsh. Hoping she will enjoy her insurance place.

@hobbema I can't imagine the stress! 💐

So sorry for those with bad news today, on top of all the stress of the last few months, its so hard.

D1 was moderated down to A in one subject, and from what she's managed to gather, some subjects have been moderated down to below last year's results - chemistry had half the A* this year than they had last year, for example.

Masses of downward moderation at DD's school too.

Just catching up - so many positive results, too many to list, but congratulations! My feeling is mainly one of relief.

Genuinely sad for those who have missed out - so painful after all the build up. Sending commiserations particularly to AChickenCalledDaal as STEP is such a tough one.

AChickenCalledDaal

Hope your dd is ok and has got her insurance

STEP was an absolute mess this year with the online format. My ds didn’t do as well as expected he suspects the online marking did not upload or some questions got missed by the markers as he has had his checked by his maths teacher

Unfortunately they wont let there be any appeals this year. A lot of students were shocked by their results last night

Condolences for those that didn't get awarded the grades they needed. There seems to be a huge amount of down grading - DD had one of hers down graded for no discernible reason. Your kids must be so frustrated because they could do nothing to influence the grades. It is a failure of an algorithm not a failure on their part.

Really awful stories of harsh moderation emerging. One of DS’s friends was predicted BCD and was awarded DDU.

We've had really quite a number of As go to Ds PantTwizzler. It's extraordinary.

Checking in to see how everyone got on. Delighted to read all the good news and really gutted for those who didn't get the results they wanted. It is even more difficult this year, as it is out with their control. They have all achieved so much and shown such resilience to get this far.

I have been following the thread but only posting on other higher education threads as my twins have been at Bristol. However I just wanted to say congratulations to those who got in.

My 5 children did not try Oxbridge and nor did I although my siblings both went to Oxbridge. For those who did not make it and do not want another go next year I would just say that I was not held up career wise (London lawyer) nor were my London lawyer daughters by not going - they got good A levels and went to Bristol and Nottingham so don't be too upset; it can all work out very well. My father and uncle went to Durham (medicine) (we are from the NE originally) and did fine too. Failure is also quite a useful bit of life and I suspect I have learned as much from my failures as successes.

I am sorry for those coping with the exam system this year. I would never have closed schools nor cancelled exams but we are where we are.

Wise words @Xenia. Thank you.

What a day so far. Just as well I wasn’t planning on doing much today – I’m still trying to get my head round it all. I feel very invested in the DC on this thread now and wanted to send my congratulations and commiserations.

Chicken, I am so sorry that you have had bad news on STEP. What a bitter blow that is. Your poor DD, I hope she will move on, take pride in her amazing A-level results and look forward to whatever she decides to do next. I’m really sorry for everyone who hasn’t managed to get in. And for your DT as well @hobbema. What a difficult parenting job you have today.

On the positive side:

Massive well dones to the DC of @DadDadDad @hobbema @LadyM0ndegreen @JulesJules @unescorted @Panttwizzler @ofteninaspin @Minijellybeans @somethingforyou @KaptainKaveman @wilma12 @defleury @Runzilla @muttonjeffmum @Thecazelets

Special shout out to those who got fistfuls of A stars. Wow! @Sandybayley @goodbyestranger @flyonawalk @ironoaks @gizmo @horsemadmom. Presumably @HuaShan as well, and I expect there are others I’ve missed.

And a special shout out to DC of @horsemadmom and @Roisecap who have had a tough year for one reason or another and have prevailed.

@Doadeer, I have everything crossed for your DB. I think you said before that he has really broken the mould for someone from his background and school so I’d have thought that Cambridge would be mad to say no to him, especially as there’s a good chance the system worked against him.

There are a few regulars we haven’t heard from (or I have missed). Hope all is well.

Thanks @SnapSnapDragon! That's my last of 3 done. 2nd DD through the Oxford admissions sausage grinder. I'm going to snag a bottle of champagne just for myself. Congratulations to all of our DCs, whether they got Oxbridge or not, they will be the most resilient of cohorts.

A bit of a fraught morning here, but DD will be going to Oxford in October.

There has been a lot of moderation at DD's school with only 3/11 in her friendship group meeting their firm offers today. Her BF has AAAA but Oxford wanted A*AA and will only budge if an appeal is successful. Another friend who is 18 today has missed her firm grades. It's hard to celebrate if a computer has decided your fate and your friends are scrabbling for places.

Congratulations, Hoghgyni! You are right there's a lot of odd things going on out there with individual results..