Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

[Baaaahhhhh]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4016760-Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-2

New Thread !

@quest1on

Baaa - I realise that monk was for History at Oxford and DS not applying for either, but I am surprised that initial decisions are 50% GCSE and 50% admissions test.

So the predicted grades count for nothing then?

I thought it was the other way round as people say , “oh nobody cares about GCSEs.”

I think most applicants will have excellent predicted grades or they wouldn’t be applying.

ques1on I know what you mean about the importance of GCSE grades - when they were doing their exams lots of people were saying not to worry / they don't matter in the long run / nobody looks at them after you've done A Levels etc... When I found out about Oxford using them as a significant admissions factor I was surprised that more people didn't realise their possible importance.

DD final offer in from Sussex this evening so she now has the full four, and a wide range of Unis and grades to choose from.

That's great news Baaaahhhh - congratulations to your DD.

Can I join the thread? I’m not a parent - I’m a mature applicant (21) but am at college doing A-levels (illness). I have applied to Oxford and I have to say you’re all really well-informed and have such motived DC!

@MatureStudent21 Welcome to the gang. And in our household, you might be mistaking an over-focussed mother for a highly motivated candidate

Congrats to all the offerarama that’s been going on. V exciting. And hold on there, all the medics and Durham-ites etc

@newgirls Music at both Oxford and Cambridge is academic so School grades are important Music performance grades less so however most music students will have good music grades too! It's important to check the course content is of great interest. DD has been able to do a fair bit of compersition and there are lots of musical opportunities to be involved in.

Great news about all the new offers. Fingers crossed for those still waiting. Dc has 2 offers in .

@MatureStudent21 welcome

Good luck and fingers crossed for you!

Does anyone know if when you apply for a particular college, you are considered only against the applicants to that particular college or all the applicants to that subject in the university?

I believe it is against everyone applying to the University (for Oxford) as far as I am aware. It's to make sure no strong candidate is overlooked. So I think they check GSCE grades and entrance test and whatever else they use for the subject then shortlist from there. Where there are too many candidates for a college they reallocate to colleges who don't have many applicants. Therefore, there is no point trying to apply to a less popular college to increase your chances. Might be wrong on this and if so hopefully someone will correct me. Not sure if Cambridge works similarly.

Also at interview, whilst you will be seen against other candidates applying for that college, they will also second interview candidates from other colleges and potentially offer to them instead if the think they are stronger and their 1st choice doesn't pick them.

@IrmaFayLear I remember your 'nailed it' comment from a few years ago as DS had a similar experience. He spent two days with a VERY confident candidate....who either didn't get an Oxford offer or turned it down. Because he wasn't there in the first year.

I suppose that's one positive of the online interviews - no other candidates to knock your confidence!

And if you do make it to the interview stage do you then start with a clean slate again?

Woop Woop @Baaaahhhhh. I’m always curious when the offers come in at odd times. Friday evening? Or is that just when she checked her emails?

@Jalfrezi is right - candidates are pooled if too many viable candidates for first choice college (not sure to what extent this is done pre-interview). This is my first time and a late comer to the thread but I expect this table has been posted before, which gives a good idea of how it works: public.tableau.com/views/UniversityofOxford-CollegeSuccessRates2019/CollegeSuccessRates?:embed=y&:display_count=yes&:showTabs=y&:showVizHome=no

@chopc - not sure what you mean by a clean slate - all data (contextualised GCSEs/predicted a levels, test scores, written work and the interview itself) will be considered when looking at applicant A vs applicant B in the balance.

Sorry @chopc - that’s for Oxford of course, so no help for Cambridge

@Tenpastseven actually we were chatting over dinner last night and dd quite likes the sound of Liverpool.

I'm a bit worried about 2 of her choices - Exeter and Durham. She was really keen on both when she applied but seems to have gone off both as she has heard some negative things about them being overly white and having a 'toxic' atmosphere. I'm sure this is just gossip. But worried that she has used 2 of her choices on universities she isn't that keen on!

@goodbyestranger ". Anyhow, top of a top grammar school cohort - hard to go wrong."

Not sure I know what you mean, please could you explain?

@Baaaahhhhh well done to your dd, great news.

Welcome @MatureStudent21 sorry to hear about your illness and best of luck with your Oxford application.

I also overhead a conversation between dd and her older sister last night - dd is wondering whether she should have also looked at pure History rather than AMH which would have given her more choice. She's very single minded and independent and I didn't/couldn't give her much input. But I'm wondering now if I should have tried to guide her a bit more.....

www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/alan-rusbridger-lifting-lid-oxford-admissionsThis gives an absolutely brilliant insight into how decisions are made at Oxford. I read it as DS was applying - terrifying in one way, but the level of care and attention that goes into selection is awesome!

@bendmeoverbackwards - Thank you!

I’m having similar doubts about my application to Durham, especially the reports of the bullying that northern students have experience due to their accents by southern students; but I’m hoping that as it’s had so much exposure the university will be forced to deal with the issue properly :)