Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

[Baaaahhhhh]

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

New Thread !

Hass anyone else noticed that at other universities (not oxbridge) that the provision for contextual offers has reduced quite a bit - it seems to have become much more limited in some universities?

So there is some truth in the rumours about Durham @MatureStudent21?

bendmeoverbackwards DD moved from AMH to pure history. She does classics for ALevel, so seemed a good fit. However, the "modern" in most courses didn't seem to cover her areas of interest, so she dropped the Ancient. It is difficult whichever course you choose, DD1's stem courses were very varied too, and she ended up ditching her Imperial offer for Bristol offer as a second choice, as it matched her interests better (she ended up at Oxford though, which was, of course, perfect).

@Tenpastseven both of the offers I have received have been added to Track on Friday afternoons quite late! I wonder if there is a reason or if it’s just random?

@bendmeoverbackwards there have been a few articles in the Guardian over the past few weeks - I’ve linked to one of them but if you search them guardian Durham university’ quite a few articles will come up

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/19/students-from-northern-england-facing-toxic-attitude-at-durham-university

Thank you @Baaaahhhhh dd is doing Class Civ as one of her A Levels which she loves so it also seemed a good fit. I can only hope she's done her research pretty thoroughly. I wonder if you can change from AMH to History once you've started?

Here is the Cambridge look at the admissions process.

www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jan/10/how-cambridge-admissions-really-work

@FrauFreud what I meant was once they get into the interview stage then do all candidates have an equal chance based on their performance ?

After reading the guardian article I guess not

It really does seem not; not sure whom to feel for more in this process, our DC or the admissions tutors having to make these decisions!

@Lovecatsanddogs Yes I've seen that before and it's exactly that which helps me trust the process and believe that ultimately their decisions are likely to be the right ones. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't support DS if he chose to reapply if unsuccessful.

@bendmeoverbackwards, you could make yourself mad worrying about things like that. What if you had encouraged her to consider the alternative and then later worried that you'd been too influential? Who'd be a parent? Damned if we do do and damned if we don't.

Also I don't think it matters tooooo much if our DC aren't sure about 2 of our choices unless the first 3 are very ambitious options, as soon they'll be having to chose either just 1 choice to accompany Oxbridge as firm, or 2 others as firm and insurance. DS isn't too bothered about his 4th or 5th choice and I'm pretty confident he doesn't need to be.

@MatureStudent21 Interesting! It makes me think that they load everything on in the days leading up and press send at the end of the week? But truly I'm clueless.

@HuaShan that link isn't working for me. Might it be behind a paywall?

@Tenpastseven, the link itself doesn't work because there's no space at the end of it, but Google the article and you'll be able to read it no problem.

Thank you jellybean x

Music does look quite classics based at Oxford yet I hear about talented composers and performers coming out of there inc the two who wrote Six. My assumption (Possibly very wrong) is that music production etc would be better studied elsewhere but happy to be corrected.

Academic should be ok tho who knows what will happen with gcse grades next year

@bendmeoverbackwards

So there is some truth in the rumours about Durham *@MatureStudent21*?

I think I the main conclusion is that there are areses everywhere and not to assume one can avoid them by careful university choice? Rather like when parents say they don’t fancy a school because they have heard about it having a drug issue, as though by choosing just the right place one can guarantee no exposure.

Assuming of course a basic level of good governance

Sorry “arses”, obvs. My iPhone’s autocorrect is clearly less profane than I am.

@bendmeoverbackwards

Thank you *@Baaaahhhhh* dd is doing Class Civ as one of her A Levels which she loves so it also seemed a good fit. I can only hope she's done her research pretty thoroughly. I wonder if you can change from AMH to History once you've started?

Given that it generally has a lighter tariff, perhaps not?

@chopc. The Oxford history 2019 report makes it very clear that the slate isn’t wiped at interview - haven’t looked at the simile documents for other subjects but I imagine they are similar to history. All intended to increase fairness, avoiding everything hingeing on one element etc ?

That's an interesting article lovecatsanddogs - thanks for sharing.

@bendmeoverbackwards, you could make yourself mad worrying about things like that. What if you had encouraged her to consider the alternative and then later worried that you'd been too influential? Who'd be a parent? Damned if we do do and damned if we don't

So true! Thank you so much @Tenpastseven

I think I the main conclusion is that there are areses everywhere and not to assume one can avoid them by careful university choice?

I agree. I think if dd doesn't get a place at Oxford I will encourage her to reconsider Exeter and Durham (assuming she gets Durham).

This is a great thread, thank you for all the wise words and support. Good luck to all our dc over the coming months, I like to think this application process is like secondary school admission and they will end up at the university that's right for them.

@Tenpastseven try this, sorry, there was no space!
www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/alan-rusbridger-lifting-lid-oxford-admissions#survey-answer

@bendmeoverbackwards

I think I the main conclusion is that there are areses everywhere and not to assume one can avoid them by careful university choice?

I agree. I think if dd doesn't get a place at Oxford I will encourage her to reconsider Exeter and Durham (assuming she gets Durham).

Not heard from Durham here but DS has already said it's now his last choice if he doesn't get into Cambridge.

It's true there are nasty people everywhere, but he's read a lot of feedback (articles and posts on student forums) that makes him sure it's not for him.

To be fair it's not just about the allegations of bullying but also the wider student experience.

I did point out he might have researched that before applying .

I'm not saying this to disparage anyone else's choices. It's absolutely a great University but DS is (now he's got an offer from his 3rd choice) sure it's not for him.

@HuaShan & @DahliaMacNamara thanks for that. Such an interesting read.

Which are your DS's other choices @DeRigueurMortis (sorry if you've already said upthread).

DS has heard only from his 2nd choice so far, so no decisions yet as to which Uni he'll put as insurance if unsuccessful with Cambridge application. He's still to hear from Newcastle, Southampton and UCL.

PS I think it was so hard for the 2021 applicants to REALLY research and get a feel for these Unis given they couldn't visit. So they will be so much more influenced by things they read and rumour they hear. I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing, but I do think it means there will be lots of changed minds and indecision. I really really hope the Unis will be in a position to organise some offer holder days in Spring.

Applying to Warwick for History as a girl has also raised eyebrows and exclamations of alarm. Yes, Warwick History Soc had a really bad experience of male bullying, sexual harassment and general nastiness to female students. The Uni handled it badly to begin with, then sorted it out. We hope they have learned from the experience and now seem to offer lots of support, perhaps even better than Unis who haven't gone through a court case! DD is under no illusion that that sort of behaviour can be found in every university, sadly, whether you are female, or BAME, or just different, someone, somewhere, will be unpleasant to you. It's a sad reality unfortunately.