What made you think your DC is Oxbridge material?

[Shimy]

After reading the Oxbridge 2021 thread, it got me thinking the above. Was it their GCSE results or A’Level predictions or both? Is it their personality/extra Curriculars? or Does one just give it a shot?

I really don’t know what Oxbridge look for but have assumed these places must be for those who are the best of the very best of all the things mentioned above, but now not so sure.

[ISeeTheLight]

My partner did chemistry about 15 years ago. He got offers from Cambridge, Manchester, and Newcastle. Newcastle told him he could skip the first year as "he'd be bored". He decided he didn't want Cambridge; he found them "stuck up snobs" (his words) and he didn't like the labs. So he went to Manchester, flew through it, got a master's and was offered a fully funded PhD to continue the research he'd started during his masters. Then decided he didn't actually like chemistry so converted to law and studied to be a barrister instead .
What I'm trying to say is getting in is one thing, another thing is deciding whether it's the right fit.

[ErrolTheDragon]

We took the attitude of "if you don't try, you'll never know" so she gave it her best shot and is now in her 4th year of an integrated masters course at Cambridge. She has been doing ambassador outreach work for both her college and course as she recognised the value of it in her own application.

Snap.
The flip side of this is how many kids are put off even having a shot because they assume or are explicitly told it's not for the likes of them. If they apply and they're not up to it, they won't pass the first hurdle of aptitude tests which exist for most subjects, and at least they'll probably have sorted their PS early and done some revision so there's not really much of a downside is there?

[Malbecfan]

DD1 was like @Fifthtimelucky's DC. Although summer-born, she always worked with the year above at primary school, did lots of music and dance too. She did really well in her GCSEs and was initially considering studying in the USA but a conversation at a work experience placement convinced her to look at Oxbridge. She managed to get on a summer programme at Cambridge for 3 days with 2 others from school and that convinced her to give it a go.

We took the attitude of "if you don't try, you'll never know" so she gave it her best shot and is now in her 4th year of an integrated masters course at Cambridge. She has been doing ambassador outreach work for both her college and course as she recognised the value of it in her own application.

[Newgirls]

So true dues - it’s harder to get in for English, history and maths than say languages

[DuesToTheDirt]

Something that doesn't often get mentioned is that your chances are far higher for some subjects than others - you can find the stats online. DD got in, but her friend who is almost certainly more clever, did not get through the interview for a more highly subscribed subject.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I think drive and thirst for knowledge and passion are being a bit over-hyped here.

You need good grades, to be able to show that your interest for your subject has taken you beyond the school curriculum (in my dd's case, not very far! Ds's were pretty impressive though), and to show in the interview that you have a good understanding and are actually thinking.

And then you have to be lucky because there will doubtless be more people like that than they have places for.

[JunoTurner]

This is a very interesting thread despite the awks title.

My lovely DN is at Cambridge and her going there has changed my thoughts somewhat about the type of student Oxbridge takes and suit.

DN has always been bright but was never top of the class or obviously an A-grade student until A Level when she specialised. She loved her A levels and is doing almost exactly the same subjects at degree level. She has a passion for her area. A proper geek about it. It’s not something that lends itself to extra curricular activities and she wasn’t interested in any extra curricular when younger.

She can be painfully shy and has had some mental health issues but at the same time is strong-willed.

She loves the cosseted and old-fashioned nature of Cambridge, both the town and university. The small and intimate college system suits her so well. She’s an old-fashioned child really, quite naive in many ways and incredibly enthusiastic about her course. Often away with the fairies. A dreamer who’s not always a self-starter but who has a hidden determination and a quiet brilliance at what she’s studying. Also a very nice girl with a huge respect for her tutors and lecturers.

[RainingBatsAndFrogs]

but extra curriculars unrelated to the subject, like DofE are generally reckoned to be irrelevant and barely worth the word count to mention on the PD

I attended 3 faculty and college talks on admissions at Cambridge with Dc and they all emphasised that extra-curricular in the personal statement is irrelevant in the evaluating of applications. They are interested in grades, grades, grades, interest in the subject beyond the syllabus and experience in the subject.

They are not at all interested in anything extra-curricular, but said it is just handy as a conversation starter.

[Crummles]

My dd1 has just started a Humanities degree at Oxford.

It never occurred to us, or her, to consider applying until she got her A level results (one of which was higher than predicted)

Achievement wise, she always in the top whatever at her bog standard primary/secondary/ 6th form but so are lots of young people.

Looking back, dd1 has always been interested in learning about a variety of things, not just the subject she is studying now (although it could be argued they are actually related, as is most, if not all learning).

As a pp said, being organised, methodical etc are also important skills

[Devlesko]

I think it's having something else thats as strong as the academics.
None of mine could have gone but strangely lot's of people told dd to apply.
She was 14 at the time, they thought she was upper 6th.
What they didn't know was she wasn't very academic and would never be oxbridge potential.
She has a talent/ gift whatever you call it and was earmarked for Cambridge from being about 8.
Sadly lacking in the GCSE's and A levels though

[yearinyearout]

It was my DS's school that said he should apply, as he was a very high achiever. It wasn't something he had thought about previously but he got an interview and didn't get in. I think the reason he didn't get in was his lack of confidence, he's never been one for singing his own praises! He got all A stars at A level so it wasn't lack of ability.

When he got the letter he said he felt relieved, I think he had felt pressured by the school (they'd never had anyone at Oxbridge before) and I know at the time he felt he was letting them down. He's been very happy at another uni so he has no regrets.

[Terrace58]

Playing the admissions game is one thing. There is always going to be an element of randomness in who gets in.

The real question is, if admitted, will the student thrive. Truthfully anyone with at least average intelligence and high motivation could do well. I don’t think a student needs to be the best to go the Oxbridge route, they just have to want it (and then of course get lucky in admissions, because even being the best and brightest is not a guarantee)

[doadeer]

Yes I meant that they don't count for anything that it's just expected as a norm that applicants have these things it's not impressive.

[ErrolTheDragon]

He is determined and has a real "thirst for knowledge". On the statements I think they expect that the applicant does extra corricular activities like Duke of Edinburgh... What they are looking for is that person who is capable of individual thought, someone who pursues knowledge and has that drive for learning.

Yes to the first and last bits - but extra curriculars unrelated to the subject, like DofE are generally reckoned to be irrelevant and barely worth the word count to mention on the PD.

[ANoTail]

I went to Oxford in the early 90s, the first one in my family to go to university. My parents were supportive, my dad especially, but didn't know anything about the application process.
I'd wanted to go since I was about 12, for the rather simplistic reason that it was the best and I wanted to be able to say that I could achieve the best. Didn't really have much in the way of extra curricular activities but had 4 As at A Level and the interview went very well.

[BluebellsGreenbells]

Representatives visited the school and gave a talk to 5/6 students about different coarses and the campus etc

They were asked to consider applying.

I assumed they did this at most schools

[doadeer]

My brother just started this year. I would say it's his drive. Yes he is clever but that's not enough. He is determined and has a real "thirst for knowledge". On the statements I think they expect that the applicant does extra corricular activities like Duke of Edinburgh... What they are looking for is that person who is capable of individual thought, someone who pursues knowledge and has that drive for learning.

[TheRonettes]

Not my child, as he's only eight, but I went to Oxford. Nobody suggested it, or thought I could -- I was the first one in my family to have stayed at school past the age of thirteen (university definitely wasn't 'for the likes of us'), and I was at a school that sent very few pupils to any form of higher education, far less Oxbridge (the 'careers' guidance consisted of some leaflets in a room off the assembly hall, and the relevant teacher tried to get me to sign up for a hairdressing apprenticeship!). I got the idea myself, made the application, got myself to the interview. Not sure what they saw in me. I was terrified and bolshie, no coaching, no preparation, no extracurriculars, and I'd never even talked to anyone (other than my teachers) who had a degree. Genuinely, someone was being generous. I had a great time there, despite it being like another world to anything that had gone on in my life till then.

[cologne4711]

I never thought I had what it took (and it turned out I didn't!) but I applied because my school suggested I should. I got an offer but failed one of the entrance tests.

[DuesToTheDirt]

Oh, DD did do some subject-specific activities the summer before applying, that may have helped, I don't know.

[DuesToTheDirt]

DD went to Cambridge. She is strong in academics, personality and extracurriculars, but honestly I don't think they care about the last two, just about grades and how well they do in the interview.

[Abetes]

My dd is in her second year at Oxford. She is as sharp as a tack, has a tremendous work ethic and has enormous intellectual curiosity. My ds is still at school. I would say he is just as clever with a super quick mind, a confidence in himself that his sister doesn’t have and will probably get the same grades in exams as his sister, but he’s not interested in extension reading or pushing himself intellectually. If you are having a discussion with them and something comes up that they don’t know, dd will go off and investigate, find the answer and come and talk to you about it whereas ds will just shrug and go back to catching up with his mates. He will do very well in life but I don’t think he would thrive at Oxbridge and he has no interest in learning that way.

[ErrolTheDragon]

It certainly helps to be interested in your subject and fairly diligent... without that it’s a bit of a struggle once you’re there

Yes, definitely. Some ability at time management to balance the intense work and outside interests helps too. And realism.

[PantTwizzler]

My eldest two DC both had very good grades at GCSE and were predicted all A* at A level. They were both initially keen on Oxford as DH and I both went there and loved it. DD applied and got in to Oxford; DS went to open days at both and much preferred Cambridge for his course.

They are very different in interests and temperament. I don’t think there’s an Oxbridge “type” as such. It certainly helps to be interested in your subject and fairly diligent... without that it’s a bit of a struggle once you’re there (even if you get through your interview).

DD2 is also clever and probably more interested and hardworking than her older siblings (and is desperate to go to Oxford); but I’ll tell her as I told them, that there is a big element of luck in who is chosen and who isn’t.

[Tootletum]

@huashan ah yes I forgot about that. I spent the whole time at interview meeting all these people who came out of their interviews and told me they'd aced it. I was sure I had failed, because I spent a lot of time asking for clarification and making sure I had understood the purpose of the question. All these other kids were like "I knew way more than he did, I never had to ask". Never saw them again 😁