Languages Applicants for 2021 (and 2022) entry

[Tenpastseven]

For those interested and moving over from the St Andrews thread (that became not about St Andrews)

@Tenpastseven yes, it’s a 1-hour admissions test during the week after half term, 30 min in the A level language and 30 min language aptitude test for the ab initio language where they basically make up a language and you have to decide it and translate it to/from English. I guess it’s designed to see how good students are at working out word order, what’s a noun, verb etc, tenses and cases. I think the decision whether to invite to interview or not is based on a mixture of GCSE grasses, predicted grades, written work, admissions test and personal statement. As far as I know, Oxford weed out more applicants before interview stage than Cambridge. You’re right though, the turn around between test and interview is not long, about a month, but presumably they also need to give applicants more than a day or two’s notice if they have an interview.

Sorry, predictive text on phone!

• Decode the language
• GCSE grades

Bloody hell! A new language @NiamCinnOir!!!! That sounds really tough.

Yes I heard C interview more than O. But things might be different this year?!?

Anyone heard from Newcastle yet? DS’s friend has received an offer but for a different course.

Has anyone heard from Newcastle, Southampton or UCL yet for languages?

Dd didn’t apply to any of those @Tenpastseven. The waiting feels like it’s been going on for months! How is your ds doing? Has he finished his self isolation period?

Ah thanks @NiamCinnOir. Yes after that first offer, nada. It feels interminable.

He went back to school on Monday yes. It was amazing what a difference having remote/online learning made whilst he was off though. Can’t believe we spent the whole first lockdown with none.

Yes, DS has offer from Southampton, came a couple of days ago.

Ooooh thanks @Vargas. Was it a standard offer? The waiting is haaaaaard (for me. DS seems fine!).

Lots of universities don’t offer until they have all the applicants in. Save yourself the angst and get a grip! Your DS is right. The offers will come its really not that bad waiting! DDs last one arrived in March. It’s the same as the other offers! Just a bit later. Mostly offers are what they say in the course info. I think unconditional are on the way out.

I found that response a little condescending @PresentingPercy. I do realise that, just letting off a bit of steam in this safe and usually supportive space. Don’t know anyone in real life going through this process and it’s nice to chat about it here.

Ok. But you do seem over invested. Just relax a bit. There is nothing you can do. Thousands and thousands of parents are in this position. So waiting isn’t unusual or bad. These DC on this thread will be going to university. The final issue will be where but some of these universities take almost anyone - so relax. MFL courses are rarely greatly over subscribed so the angst isn’t necessary. You will be a lot more revved up waiting for A level results!

And presumably you are on MN to get advice. All I’m advising is to calm down.

I’m absolutely fine @PresentingPercy. Really. Whilst I’m interested and encouraging if my sons future plans, I’m not ‘over’ invested at all and I feel very able to relax. My post had hoped to show a touch of humour about the ‘agonies’ of waiting which I know I’m not alone with (judging from other threads).

I must say though, as much I I hope you were replying from a place of trying to help, if I was to be very anxious or overinvested, getting a condescending and shaming slap on the wrist would not have helped me.

Let’s leave it there and bicker no more? Knowing that there has possibly been some misunderstanding between the two of us and we take different approaches?

I'm not sure being told to 'get a grip' and 'calm down' is the most helpful response to a concerned parent. I would find it condescending as well.

Anyway, DS offer is ABB. I think the standard offer shown on website is AAB.

.

Thanks @Vargas. Congrats to DS on that offer .

Ok. Fair enough. But there seemed too much angst for me - it’s not even the end of November yet! I’ve never come across such concern at this stage. One of DDs friends had no offers by April. She was a 6th form scholar. That is cause for concern in my book. I’ll leave it there for now.

Hope everyone is ok and I agree, this place is a safe space for us to air our thoughts and feelings and get support. It saves us bothering our offspring!

So, rant and fret away if that’s what we need from each other (not that anyone needs my permission and all that!)

Never in the history of calming down has anyone ever calmed down by being told to calm down 🤣

Anyway - moving on.
DS has had a reduced offer from Exeter in the last week so that’s nice. Something to do with the location and demographic of his college we believe.
Exeter is 4th choice though but could well be his insurance with the new offer.

Here’s to another week in this ‘interesting’ process.

Hi @Crikeyblimey. Great news on the reduced Exeter offer. Was that revision of an earlier offer? Some Unis seem to be doing that.

Yes it was a revision so who knows why but very welcome.

Although short of leaving the county, Exeter couldn’t be further away from home!

DS got an offer through from Southampton today. He seems to think it is one grade lower than standard, so ABB rather than AAB. I'm keen to take him to visit the cities before he makes any firm or insurance choices. Newcastle and Southampton especially as we've never visited.

He has signed up to the one of the Bristol virtual offer holder days in January though.

Yes, I’d ideally like to take ds to various cities. He did visit Leeds earlier in the year cos his girlfriend’s sister is studying there so he got a bit of a feel for it. Having said that, it is his 5th choice right now.

He’s also signed up for one of the Bristol virtual offer holders’ days.