Oxbridge Aspirants 2021 - New Thread (2)

[Baaaahhhhh]

Sorry posted last message on the last thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3757768-Oxbridge-Aspirants-Sep-2021

Here is the new one......

Is there also a significant increase in medicine places, that may be affecting this? Or maybe similar numbers apply, but have a slightly better chance

@quest1on, I didn’t realise Durham was already offering places. DS not expecting to hear from them soon 🤨

@Jano69

The increase in number of pre-15th October applications doesn't surprise me in the least. The widening access coverage in the press and social media will mean more students will give it a go this year which is exactly what Oxbridge want. That's a good thing. DD is not worried at all about the increase in applications. Independently educated since 11 with nine 9s and an 8 gcses, she's accepted her chances of an Oxford offer are slim and pinning her hopes on a Durham offer instead. In the meantime, she's thrilled to have bagged an Exeter offer and now feels more optimistic she will actually be at uni this time next year!

Does this mean you believe she will be discriminated against because of being in private schools?

@FingernailNibbler I feel that if there's a decision to be made between two strong candidates, she is probably less likely to get the offer. I've got my head round it, genuinely it's fine, Oxbridge is not the coveted prize anymore within our family.

[quote Jano69]@FingernailNibbler I feel that if there's a decision to be made between two strong candidates, she is probably less likely to get the offer. I've got my head round it, genuinely it's fine, Oxbridge is not the coveted prize anymore within our family.[/quote]
Interesting. So is Durham the new black?

This article about Worcester College's approach to outreach is interesting:

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/19/how-oxford-university-made-admissions-fairer

Does this mean you believe she will be discriminated against because of being in private schools?

I don't think it's something that can be considered as discrimination tbh.

AFAIK the issue is that Oxbridge has changed the way they weight GCSE results as part of the application process.

Instead of "just" looking at the results, they now put them in context.

So by way of example where previously they would have "scored" the kids with 10 x grade 9 the highest regardless of which school they attended now they assess the results in the context of average grades of a specific school.

As such if a child is from a school where 10 X grade 9 is of course a fantastic result but not necessarily out of the ordinary for a top flight selective independent school, it won't necessarily rate as highly in the application process as a child's results from a poorly performing state school who got 8 x grade 7's - which was a truly exceptional result for that school.

Also bear in mind that GCSE result are also just one part of the application. They're also looking a predicted grades for A Level and the personal statement.

Interesting discussion regarding discrimination. I think you will find that Oxford see it as levelling the playing field. My DC is at Oxford having clearly met their offer in the summer, but with what many of you would consider to be shoddy GCSEs and A level results. However, in their welcome talk, the tutors made it clear that each and every one of them was selected because of their potential to achieve a first.

I remember watching these threads last year and seeing how vile they got in November and January when those deemed less worthy than others received offers of interviews and places. Oxford in particular gives achievable standard offers for each subject for good reason. They decide who they would like to be trapped in a Zoom session or F2F tute with for 3 or 4 years. It's not based on the luck of the draw as to whether or not a child was born into a wealthy household and had the good fortune to access a privileged education or even get it through a bursary.

I don’t think anyone is being vile . It’s just a discussion. Of course it’s more of an achievement to get 10x9s from a low-performing school where you would be considered an outlier. It’s not that hard to look at things in context. In the context of DS’ school, 10x9s would count as something like “a bit better than average” so that’s how it should be interpreted. Having said that, it’s very competitive (1 in 15) to get into the school in the first place, fees or no fees (and 25% at DS’ school do not pay fees).

They made it very clear at DS’ school that their grades would not be regarded as stand-out, so they’d better do something extra like get an essay published or win an essay competition or whatever. Otherwise don’t bother

I’ve heard they are also now shifting to a distinction between “selective” (ie selective independents and grammars) versus “non-selectives” (independents and grammars) as this is a more relevant comparison. Obviously the POLAR / ACORN criteria would still apply for contextual offers.

However, in their welcome talk, the tutors made it clear that each and every one of them was selected because of their potential to achieve a first.

Exactly and part of identifying that is to look for students who have excelled within the context of their educational opportunities rather than solely being the beneficiaries of a top flight education.

The argument being that students who "self perform" as opposed to those "hot housed" have the greater potential to achieve at university level.

To be clear though it's not an anti public school stance.

In exactly the same way, my DS who attends a very good none selective state school would "score" lower than someone from a poor performing state school with exactly the same or even lesser grades.

Do we think exams will happen next summer?

I don’t think so, but it probably won’t be announced by GW until about March.

@quest1on I don't think A Levels will happen. DD will not be disappointed.

From tonight's Gov guidance:

The Prime Minister and Education Secretary have been clear that exams will go ahead next summer, as they are the fairest and most accurate way to measure a pupil’s attainment. We therefore need to keep schools and colleges open so that children are able to keep progressing towards exams and the next stage of education or employment. Students now have more time to prepare for their exams next year, as most AS, A levels and GCSEs will be held 3 weeks later to help address the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Hogh - yes, but they insist on all sorts of things in the face of mounting evidence, Then, at the last second, they make an announcement.

If your son does freeze they aren't going to leave him hanging, they want the interview to go well

I'm not at all convinced that this is correct. Some interviewers will definitely not help out.

synoptica was right. Everyone was wonderfully supportive last year until they realised that their DC had missed out on a place in the l6cknof the draw.

I was told by one poster that other parents would hate me when DD received an offer. I didn't have the heart to say that my DD didn't go to the sort of school where parents actually knew each other, let alone cared if anyone had applied to Oxford!

@quest1on

Hogh - yes, but they insist on all sorts of things in the face of mounting evidence, Then, at the last second, they make an announcement.

But only after Boris has had chance to watch the end of the Six Nations first!

Did it really get vile on MN last year? I don't recall anyone being vile about my own DD getting a place

Ditto in rl. People only said that's great and seemed to mean it.

Some people here move in odd circles.

I hope not synoptica
Dc is probably one of those students who would not have thought Oxbridge could be for them a few years back. Widening participation stem weekend made them think “ why NOT me?”

To be fair @goodbyestranger I think you are misremembering. I'm not sure I'd describe it as 'vile' but it did get a bit tetchy and there were a fair few digs made.

@sandybayley

To be fair *@goodbyestranger* I think you are misremembering. I'm not sure I'd describe it as 'vile' but it did get a bit tetchy and there were a fair few digs made.

That's a shame.

Let's hope it doesn't go that way this year.

I'm proud of DS whenever he ends up and that's not going to change because someone else's child gets a place at Oxbridge.

In his year at school they've got a record number of children applying (10) including 2 of his close friends.

In theory all of them have the potential to get the grades but the reality is all of them won't get an offer, some won't even get an interview.

I see no reason to be churlish to those who do even if DS isn't successful. Doesn't achieve anything....doesn't change anything....

As for exams - given last years fiasco I think the govt will be very keen for them to go ahead.

My bet is that they'll happen this year.

Maybe I am sandybayley - last Nov/ Jan seems much much more than 11/ 10 months ago!

The increase in number of pre-15th October applications doesn't surprise me in the least. The widening access coverage in the press and social media will mean more students will give it a go this year

Also there will be some gap year students (perhaps more than usual?), and people who were disappointed with CAGs and took the October exams, all reapplying.