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......

How is everyone doing? DS had a week of exams first week back for the “final” predicted grades. However, medicine and Oxbridge candidates had to hand the UCAS form in last week (school internal deadline) - cue a lot of worry that grades may have gone down following the exams. Anyway, today he was shown the grades that have gone on his UCAS so a huge sigh of relief. That’s that over with, at least.

Just when he thought all he had to do was finalise the bibliography for the EPQ... he’s been hit with a 4000 word NEA that needs to be in by Xmas and, I think, some other NEA for his MFL. In normal times, this would have been done last term. There was some talk of NEAs being cancelled or shortened, but no, it seems not.

I feel bad for the ones who are doing a combo of say History, English, a MFL or Geography because all have been hit with NEAs now, straight off the back of exams, while many are also preparing for Oxbridge assessments straight after half-term and still working on the EPQs. It’s a lot.

What is a NEA @quest1on?

DS is being remarkably resilient - an internal deadline yesterday for PS at school and a bazillion assessments this week. He also did some timed mock exams in June which I think in part will form the basis of his predicted grades. His school don't do EPQs so it seems like that is one less thing to worry about.

They really are having to juggle a lot of things at the moment aren't they? I'm not sure he's even thought about interview/assessment prep. What are the timelines for that? Do they get much notice of being called for interview/assessment?

DS1 was pushed to finish his EPQ before the end of last year. They did the presentation part on Teams. It was a hell of a push to get it done but I am glad now.

Hi an NEA stands for “non examined assessment,” though not sure why it’s called that as it’s worth a percentage of the A-level grade. The one DS is starting now is worth 20% and is research-based. The other one for MFL, I’m not sure, but it’s worth a percentage of the grade, I believe. Yes I’ll be glad when this EPQ goes in. I’m sure when I did dissertations, we didn’t have to analyse the credibility of sources in the footnotes?

I can see a lot if disruption this year and wondering if exams will even happen.

DD has History and English coursework ongoing (NEA's?). They have agreed arguments, and done outline plans, and are currently putting together presentations this week in order to outline their arguments. Not marked, just to set their ideas out verbally (which I think is a bit tough, but maybe there is a good reason to do it this way).

DD is pretty stressed this week, with the above, PS needs to be in tomorrow, she is getting loads of homework on top, lots of reading to do for potential interview, and she has LAMDA Gold Examination in Acting before half term.

Thank God she made excuses and got herself out of a part for the next school play...... she just couldn't deal with that too.

On the up side, she has started her driving lessons, her license finally having come through, and is really enjoying it. I now need to steel myself and let her practice in my car..... my lovely car...........

I've never heard of an NEA. Maybe different exam boards do it differently or maybe I'm just clueless about what DS is actually doing. He's doing 2 x MFL and Maths A Levels.

I've managed to swerve the driving lessons for now though they were promised on his 17th birthday. I'm not planning on reminding him if he doesn't bring it up.

Tenpast - I hadn’t heard of one either until last Friday!

DS2 passed his driving test a couple of weeks ago so I have now lost my car!!! Feel sad for him though, older DC went off and picked up friends for a drive out.

Pythonesque thank you for the reminder, DS2 emailed and explained.

I heard a nasty rumour (from a decent enough source) that Oxbridge applications would be up by three times this year. Three times !!
That would be the current yr 13s, increasingly encouraged to apply even if it is a massively long shot, plus last year’s who think it’s worth a try as they have very fine grades (some well deserved, some not so much) and the foreign students who didn’t want to come/couldn’t come this year.

@IrmaFayLear Three times! We're still working away on the personal statement. It's now back for the 3rd time but the advisor thinks we are nearly there. I read on one of the sites that you pay for, for Oxbridge admissions that some are reviewed 20 times! I couldn't cope with the stress of that. DS is keen to go but we're being very realistic about his chances and playing it down as much as we can. I really believe that for the majority, you love wherever you go in the end.

Three times would be around 120,000 applications surely Irma?!

So 60,000 for 3250 places at Oxford, with an extra 400 or so having been taken on this year....

Sounds less than credible.

DS is looking at a course where there is an admissions test. A good score may be even more critical this year. Particularly to differentiate candidates and partly if exams are disrupted.

We shall see, I suppose. I know that for dd’s subject her school usually has half a dozen applying, but this year it’s over 20. If this is replicated everywhere, it’s bad news

Well, bad news for dd, that is... she is a credible applicant but reading about personal statements being reviewed 20 times... oh dear. She wrote it, I looked at it (helpful suggestions rejected) and her tutor (unhelpful suggestions rejected) and that was it.

Was musing to DH last night that if I were a University VC I’d be considering sifting based on GCSEs/PS/teacher references, then interviewing and admissions-testing candidates before offering unconditional offers this year. At least then they know what to prep for.

Internal deadline for UCAS submission at DS’s school was Monday. Done and dusted, no more going over it.
I think getting it professionally done, might take a bit of the personal feel away. But anyway, he’s done his bit.
Now on to his numerous essays, tests etc

But Irma even if the numbers do increase dramatically, it's only the credible applicants who will get through to interview and Oxford will almost certainly not interview applicants more than usual. So in a sense, increased numbers won't have any serious effect on the really credible applicants - the weaker but more numerous applicants will be out of the running at an early stage. By the end of November they'll have notified all the interviewees and then everyone called up is in the same position as usual. So, only eight or nine weeks to go.

(No idea about Cambridge if there are runaway numbers, since Cambridge interviews so many more - they'll have to cut back).

@IrmaFayLear just clocked your comment. That’s a serious jump. Why do you think that’s happening?

I suggested a few - more encouragement, extras from last year and foreign students.

That’s true, goodbyestranger. I hope dd isn’t one of the ones culled at test stage! I agree that Cambridge surely must be changing their strategy this year. They can’t interview as many and certainly would be heading for potential disaster if they over-offer to their usual extent.

This may well have been said earlier on (in which case apols), but what were the figures for this year's intake at Cambridge, in terms of how many additional places it had to make available after the issue of CAGs?

I believe I read somewhere that Cambridge took on a bit more students this year ( not sure course specifics), and they don’t have anymore deferrals than usual.
I think the issue is going to be those with good grades in-hand and those doing the exams this autumn and will be applying.
I’m sure someone on here will have more specific information than mine. I’d love to know as well.
The ratio of oxford to Cambridge applicants in DS’s school seems to be just over 2:1

Sorry @IrmaFayLear, yeah I meant from your dd’s school. I wonder why teachers would encourage so many more. But perhaps they would have had to do that pre 2020 results anyway, as surely it’s too quick around time if only being suggested at start of this term.

Oh well. DS’s PS has been submitted to school for internal deadline so that’s that for now I guess. What is the timescale for hearing from Cambridge usually re interviews? Is it college/course specific or is there a date I should pop in my diary to loom at me menacingly?

Be careful what you wish for with regards to PS's. I can't tell you how horrible DD's experience has been. I would so much have preferred the send it for a quick look, couple of suggestions, amend, send.

I am actually going to write a letter of complaint about the feedback DD has had. Her tutor is a control freak. She wants them to provide the "perfect" PS in her own image, not theirs. All feedback has been rude, obnoxious, and badly considered. Not happy at all. Final straw this morning, day of deadline, was that she finally passed it as "acceptable" but just couldn't resist a final dig, and wanted her to take out some extra-curricular stuff which is really important to DD, and is just part of her final paragraph....... I told DD NOT to take it out under any circumstance. Poor DD. This whole process has been so much more difficult than it needed to be.

With regards to too many applicants. Same tutor as above has insisted several students who wanted to drop out of the application process, have gone too far, and therefore can no longer drop out. Talk about co-ercive control.