Bristol- how hard is it to get in?

[KittyMcKitty]

My dc is predicted AAA and has a good GCSE profile (9’s - 7’s so exceeds what they’re looking for but not all 9’s).

They are at a state selective school. Neither my husband or I went to Uni but we are not eligible for a contextual offer.

My dc is probably going to apply for two courses at Bristol- Philosophy and Politics (standard offer AAA) and Social Policy and Politics (standard offer AAB).

Obviously no one here knows him etc etc but is it possible he may receive an offer from Bristol? I read so much about how great Bristol is etc etc that I feel we’re not special enough for it - I know that sounds pathetic but I have no idea how uni offers work etc etc.

It’s the fact it’s London but with all the Halls together really (it’s also really close to Mile End skatepark- don’t ask 😀)

Will they be going September 2021 as if so, I think you are too late.

My dd has two friends who have already received their offers for the 2021 intake.

??? Applications don’t close until January 2021.

Cantlowes skate park in Camden might interest him! Close ish to UCL! Check it out.

@SunshineCake

Will they be going September 2021 as if so, I think you are too late.

My dd has two friends who have already received their offers for the 2021 intake.

Oxbridge applicants usually apply a bit earlier.

Apologies if I have worried anyone. My dd has put hers in a while ago, and one was to Oxford, so I thought it was too late.

The deadline for early applicants was yesterday rest of us have till Jan 😀

@Xenia

Everyone has their preferences but I would far ratehr live in Bristol than these 3 "Cardiff as a back-up? Are places like Leeds and Liverpool ". My twins found and the one still in Bristol finds it is the perfect form of town - has everything you need but not as big as where we are (London) so easier to get to things. (not everyone tries Oxbridge, Itisbetter. My 5 didn't (they said it was too much work and thought they wouldn't get in and I didn't))

Well Cardiff and Liverpool are considerably less expensive cities to live in, and I imagine Leeds is too, though I am not exactly sure how rents there compare with Bristol. I don't know Bristol that well, although I did apply there, but was rejected in the days when they used to reject all the Oxbridge applicants (happened to DH too). Everyone I know who has studied there loved it though (but the same applies for the other three cities too :) )

I can’t believe anyone with a genuine interest in Politics and the grades wouldn’t

Too much effort with the application process. DS took one look at what he'd have to do and said no. I don't blame him - history aptitude test and I looked at the German one, I could do it now, but I'd have struggled after one year of sixth form. And when I look back, I had four interviews at Cambridge and had to do the entrance tests (which was why I didn't go there as I exceeded my A level offer but failed one of the entrance tests but in the end I did a better course elsewhere)

And Oxford is really expensive to live in, not sure about Cambridge, but can't imagine it's too different.

Actually Liverpool halls of residence are surprisingly pricy!

MFL tests are a problem and lean heavily towards DC with native speaker parents doing well. Especially if DC have been coached from an early age and the parents are language teachers! That particular playing field is not very level!

@Guymere did you mean to post that about MFL on a different thread or am I missing something?

To reply anyway, I know a couple of students reading MFL at Oxbridge whose parents are British and native English speakers. Both students are the first in their families to speak the languages they’re studying.

No. Just somewhat obtuse thinking about a German aptitude test! Please ignore.

Alles klar

How is he going to cover the Social Policy aspect in his PS ...it seems a bit risky to me ? If he really wants to do Philosophy and politics he should concentrate on that.

col Oxford and Cambridge are the cheapest universities to go to actually as the terms are 8 weeks and I believe you often live in college all 3 years. I think so anyway. So I don't think anyone should be put off them by cost. However my lazy 5 did not want to bother with Oxbridge or may be they just knew the chance of getting in was slim so did not want the risk and hassle. However I would not put people off applying. My siblings went.

Bristol rents will be higher I assume that Cardiff as it is a more prosperous area but people who are less well off receive a loan which is higher (than those on minimum maintenance loan) so that should not put people off.

@cologne4711 honestly I think if the application processes are to onerous it probably isn’t a good fit. I don’t agree it’s more expensive though, I thought massively subsidised. My real point was the sheer number of historic and more recent political players would surely be a massive draw if politics is your thing?

(4711!!! There’s a blast from the past. I had some as a child)

@OrangeCinnamon1

How is he going to cover the Social Policy aspect in his PS ...it seems a bit risky to me ? If he really wants to do Philosophy and politics he should concentrate on that.

Social Policy isn’t an issue it’s covered by his reasons for wanting to study politics (to reduce social inequality), his reasons for joining the Labour Party etc. PS is not considered for offers except in tie breaker situations.

@Itisbetter yes there’s a lot of political players who do PPE but at the risk of generalisations they are all of a certain type - my dc doesn’t want to go into politics- more understand and address inequality which can only be done by understanding the political background (plus they just find it interesting). And they hate economics and aren’t doing A level maths!

Oxbridge isn’t the right fit for everyone and not everyone is the type they are after.

If he’s Labour leaning, look at Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle. Sheffield is very good for politics.

He’s VERY Labour leaning! Yes applying to Liverpool and Manchester. He won’t budge on Sheffield (despite my encouragement) and Newcastle he feels is too far.

Essentially they are a very left wing, non alpha male who is obsessed with skateboarding (hence importance of skate park locations)

Kitty, despite fears of having further accusations of being a sock puppet, for social policy he should look again at LSE. It is ranked No 1 in the world and has a massive international reach, as well as being close to the seat of UK Government. It is also, essentially, the core subject that the Fabians wanted to teach when they founded the school.

Then you have the South Bank which I assume is the spiritual home of skate boarders.

When we went to DS' Masters graduation they had scheduled the Econometricians (I know) along with Social Policy Post Graduates, and I was fascinated by the range of social policy PhD research carried out by people from all over the world. I wish each could have given a short presentation. (Not the Econometricians!)

Labour leaders
Keir Starmer Leeds and Oxford
Jeremy Corbyn didn’t graduate
Harriet Harma. York
Ed Miliband Oxford and LSE
Gordon Brown Edinburgh
Tony Blair Oxford

Conservative leaders
Boris Johnson Oxford
Teresa May Oxford
David Cameron Oxford
Michael Howard Cambridge
Iain Duncan Smith Didn’t graduate university
William Hague Oxford

What I was trying to point out was that IF your primary interest is in politics the universities that have produced political leaders must be a hive of the sort of activity that you would enjoy?

Lots of places are political! Student unions for a start! What does it matter where middle aged people went? You’ll be talking about Harold Wilson and Attlee next. Yes, it’s nearly always Oxford but there is much wider opportunities now. Get into local politics. Plenty going on in the big cities.

What’s wrong with Sheffield? It’s very Labour. Liverpool too. He’s closing his mind to a couple of very good universities based on Skateboarding?! They also have a low number of posh kids!

He’s not discounting anywhere due to skateboarding (all big cities have skateparks) but Tower Hamlets does have two of the most iconic.

Sheffield- long story not for public forum but yes it’s a shame.

Liverpool he really likes. LSE (Pol & Social Policy) would be great but he’s not keen - too small and he feels full of people who just missed Oxbridge. UCL only Pol & Int Rel and doesn’t want Int Rel. Kings exceeds his predictions.

I feel he would be great for LSE and is the type of person they would love but I’m biased and ultimately it’s his choice 😀