Oxbridge Aspirants 2021-New Thread 4

[Baaaahhhhh]

And we are off:

Thread 3 link: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4070531-Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

Yes, although she hasn't quite decided on her other choices yet.

Good luck for those waiting. That's the worst bit

Sorry to hear that @amadeus1 but I’m glad she has set her heart somewhere else so isn’t too disappointed .

*@onthebenchofdoom Thanks for your kind words, comp sci seems to be quite popular for DS's school. several have got interviews. He is very unfazed by it all. He has an offer from Manchester and because he already has an A in maths he should easily get offers from elsewhere. I think his first choice is the PWC apprenticeship from Birmingham (although I think that is more competitive than Cambridge!) but he still hasn't put his final 2 choices down. (probably a choice of Exeter, Southampton and Durham)

Sorry to hear that @amadeus1 but pleased she's not too disappointed - good luck for London fingers 🤞.

The thing to remember is even more students will be turned down after interviews than were rejected prior to that.

I see Mumsnet got a shout out on TSR! Good luck to all those still waiting to hear, I think this is the hardest part, perhaps worse than January - at least the date for that is set.

@derekthe1adyhamster Ds's offer from Durham was AAA or AAB. So they have dropped from their usual AAA. It seems to be the norm from Durham this year that there are 2 grade offers, both equal the same UCAS points.

He also had a contextual offer from Durham if he put it as his first choice as AAB! I don't know if that would help your son make his final choices or not.

I believe the apprenticeships are always competitive. Ds has offers from all 4 uni choices already including Manchester although Warwick want A AA which is the same as Cambridge.

Ds is on the HE+ outreach programme for Cambridge. The contextual offer is purely done on POLAR postcode as he doesn't meet any of the other criteria for Durham's offer.

amadeus1 I hope she gets London.

Jules was it a good thing or not for us to be mentioned?

@DeRigeurMortis

We were considering that statistic but without knowing how many applied/received a rejection/invited for interview it's not possible to do the maths. I wonder when that sort of data might be available.

We did ponder whether Oxford & Cambridge might interview less this year because of deferrals from last year/the consequence of last year's over offering (once CAGs meant that more students met the grade requirements for entry than in previous years). It stills seems uncertain that this cohort will get a proper crack the the full A Level examination usual experience due to patchy distance learning provision and students in some areas impacted more by Covid than others.

DD has worked out the average stats for her college/subject combination and it appeared to show that the ratio is 5 to 1, interviewed to accepted (whether there's an over offer factor to allow for not making grades, she doesn't know).

She just knows that she only has one shot at it and it needs to be good. No pressure there then !

@onthebenchofdoom ha! Someone wondered how many on the thread were actual students, or parents hopping over from Mumsnet. So nothing bad not like last year

Sorry to hear @amadeus1 which subject? London is great, which college?

Dd has just heard she has an interview.

That’s great news, MrPox!

DD has just received her interview invitation. Keeping my fingers crossed for @bendmeoverbackwards and others still waiting.

Well done Jano69 DD and MrPox DD

Great news @Jano69 are you happy with letting us know which college?

Dd has been looking at the spreadsheet on TSR. She says there have been History invites sent out as evidenced here, and Balliol invites out for other subjects but not History AT Balliol

@bendmeoverbackwards
Have you seen this? Balliol have not sent history offers yet.

www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/admissions-updates

Rejection here for economics 😔

Really sad to hear that @Knotanothername - most of our dc will be rejected in January but that's little consolation this evening. Economics is particularly competitive.

@bendmeoverbackwards just pm'd you.

[quote ChimneyPot]@bendmeoverbackwards
Have you seen this? Balliol have not sent history offers yet.

www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/admissions-updates[/quote]
Thank you @ChimneyPot

Sorry to hear that @Knotanothername

Sorry to hear your news, @Knotanothername and @amadeus1. This is a long and bumpy journey for our dc (and us).

Congratulations to the dc of @Flyonawalk, @Baaaahhhhh, @IrmaFayLear, @flyingsquid, @Jano69, @Jalfrezi, @ChimneyPot, @Majaso12, @321zyx, @Majaso12, @FrauFreud, @fabtasticmrpox

Dd got an interview email late this afternoon - this particular wait is over but another one begins, and she is mindful of the warning up-thread that many more of our dc will not be offered places post-interview

Sorry to hear that Knot.

As a pp said there will be many of us here dealing with the same in January.

I hope your child isn't too disappointed.

As I posted earlier in the thread, I was "re-directed" from Cambridge and ended up at my second choice.

I had a brilliant time and whilst I know my life would have been different if I'd gone to Cambridge I can't possibly conceive how it could have turned out any better (in terms of career and family life).

I absolutely don't look back on what happened with any sense of "what if" rather I feel I'm glad that this is where my life took me.

I'd like to echo the kind words of @DeRigueurMortis to @Knotanothername and @amadeus1 as a fellow Oxbridge reject - I swear I had a much better time at Durham though than I would have had at Oxford as it involved 9 weeks of partying at a time rather than just 8......

And chapeau to @NiamCinnOir on her eye for detail recording all the offer invites today. Good work!

If DS were one to lurk on the TSR (thankfully he isn't, but I'm ashamed to say his mother is), he'd be adding a green box to Dobbo's spreadsheet for History this evening. Now the odds are just 1 in 3 and a nervy Christmas period awaits.....

So I'm in need of a bit of advice.....

DS has asked me if he should back out of his application for Durham or rather he thinks he should but is asking mine and DH's opinion.

His rationale is that it's neither his second or third choice after Cambridge (both of which he's got good offers from) and he feels guilty that if he was offered a place he'd potentially be depriving it of someone who really wanted to go there.

I'm torn if I'm honest. I agree (even applaud) with his premise but part of me thinks he should keep his options open.

For clarity his decision isn't any reflection on Durham Uni. It's a great Uni and I understand why so many student want to go there.

The issue is that my PIL live less than 30 mins away. They are lovely people and doting grandparents, but that's actually the crux of the issue. DS is convinced that if he goes there he'll be expected for Sunday Lunch every week and have GM parked outside the collage on a regular basis to drop of "stuff" or collect laundry (ok the last isn't exactly stressing him out ).

It was something we discussed when he applied but then it didn't seem to be a concern. However, since knowing he's applied this has become PIL's "first choice" (though they are being encouraging about C) and have been dropping non too subtle hints about how it would be lovely to spend time with him if he went there.

Upshot that means DS has got (very) cold feet.

So thoughts? I could get DH to speak to PIL's and ask them to back off. Problem is I think the damage is done and DS can be stubborn as hell when he wants to be.

I'm also very happy with his second choice (Lancaster) and think it would be a great fit for him.

WWYD or rather what would you advise?