Oxford Cambridge 2021 Thread 6

[Chocomel]

Hopefully this is in the right place?

I vote we all stick together on one thread.

In 2019, a "redirected" group was set up and there were so few left with offers on the original thread that it faded away to nothing.

I have a vested interest in everyone's dc on this thread - those with offers and those without.

Right up to results day and when term starts in autumn.

But am happy to go with the group consensus...

@JulesJules

Re: deferred places *@WarmAndCo3y* - Oxford have published these, I put the link on a previous thread, will see if I can find it again. Deferred places account for 2% of the total.

Thank you for the link; I think the 2% refers to the 'extra deferrals' - ie not all deferrals, but the 70 extra which could be put down to the car crash that happened last summer with results.

[quote sammyjoanne]@DeRigueurMortis thats great your DS has Lancaster down. Is that his second choice after Cambridge? I hope your DS does get to Cambridge, but if not, Lancaster has gained a fine student if hes really good at Maths.
What degree has he applied for at Lancaster? I know the math lecturers that do the physics degree have been excellent. The lectures overall have been so so good. One chap at the end of the lecturer plays the ukelele to entertain the students on line, and another holds physics and maths quizzes on kahoot. Learning on line hasnt been easy, but they really have had the students engaged there, :)[/quote]

Thank you.

Yes Lancaster is his strong second choice after Cambridge for Maths.

He's not yet heard from Durham but has already decided for various factors that it's not for him and if he doesn't get a Cambridge offer Lancaster will be his first choice.

His "banker" isn't really relevant in that scenario given the offer from Lancaster is "easily" achievable for him so I think after that he'll put one of the other RG unis he's has offers from.

I'd be really pleased to see him at Lancaster and have heard nothing but great reports about it (not just the teaching but the facilities and general culture)

Really glad your DD is thriving there!

@Warmandcosy Oxford and Cambridge had already published that the number of 2020 deferrals to 2021 were in line with the number of deferrals in a "normal" year because they had gone above and beyond to accommodate extra undergrads this year (mainly by making postgrads live out). Thus this indicated similar number of places would be available.

However since it was then expressed that exams (other than international A levels and potentially PreUs/IB) would not be taking place they would not want to end up in the same position as last year so hence making fewer offers as there will not be the "natural thinning out" that occurs when exams are sat. I trust this clarifies the position.

My dd didn’t get an offer from Oxford. There were a lot of tears on Tuesday and she’s been very hard on herself. She doesn’t want to talk about it now. Looks like she’ll be choosing Imperial or UCL. I was really hoping she’d get an offer at Oxford as I’m not really keen on her moving to London.

Deferrals are 2% of the total not an extra 2%

@Majaso12 sorry about Oxford. However what amazing alternative choices!

@Majaso12 it's so hard isn't it - we just hate to see our kids hurt and bewildered , and it's such a gruelling process to end up with nothing in the bag.

I doubt my dd will re-apply (unless she gets no medical offers 🙄) but she is trying to focus on getting back on track, and thankfully has an interview on Monday to take her mind off things. Best wishes

Yes it’s very hard. She went on an offer holder day in year 11 and loved it so much and then back after for visits, although couldn’t go inside. She was aware it would be so difficult to get in but it still hurts. Trinity college said said she could get feedback and so she’s emailed back asking if she can but not heard anything since. She’s not sure she wants to know now though, worried what it will say. She’s never considered re-applying.

www.keble.ox.ac.uk/admissions/feedback/

In case this is of use to anyone

That makes interesting reading @chopc thank you. I wonder how similar the process is at Cambridge (for natural sciences v physics at Oxford).

@SeasonFinale

Deferrals are 2% of the total not an extra 2%

What I meant is that the statement about deferrals talks about the extra 70 deferrals as being about 2% of the entry, not total deferrals being 2% of the entry.

Thanks for that @chopc . As we suspected significantly fewer places being offered for history.

[quote mikeandike]@Millylovespuddles Hope your DD is doing okay! Anyone fancy making a redirected thread so that we can discuss how they’re all doing without taking away from the excitement of those with offers? I would make it but I’m not sure how .[/quote]
Really good idea @mikeandike shall I start a thread?

In 2019, a "redirected" group was set up and there were so few left with offers on the original thread that it faded away to nothing

That says it all really

I hope everyone is doing ok today.

My dd is still a bit up and down but glad to report mostly positive today. She's been looking up course details of her current offers (Exeter, Manchester and Liverpool) and, today at least, likes the sound of Exeter the most.

One big advantage of non Oxbridge universities is the option of a year or term abroad and that really appeals to dd.

She's still possibly considering a gap year but probably not. She would prefer to try university this September and if it doesn't work out, she can rethink.

One of my oldest dd's friends started at St Andrews last year and hated it. She left, reapplied and then started at UCL where she is very happy.

I've been in touch with an old uni pal of mine (I went to UCL which was full of Oxbridge rejects ). This guy is really super super clever but was turned down for Cambridge. He ended up at Oxford as a postgrad and then became a barrister. He was definitely Oxbridge material so it just goes to show there is a bit of randomness in the process.

Definitely. Ds’s friend went to Exeter and raved about it! He was quite a quiet boy so clearly the natives were friendly .

Also dd’s best friend has a place at Exeter for English, and she is a lovely girl.

@JulesJules

Re: deferred places *@WarmAndCo3y* - Oxford have published these, I put the link on a previous thread, will see if I can find it again. Deferred places account for 2% of the total.

@JulesJulesThank you for this, I hadn’t seen this before. Some courses more significant than others. I wonder if Cambridge has done something similar

@bendmeoverbackwards Thanks so much, I’d love a thread to share updates on our DC and how they’re getting on but if everyone else is opposed to that idea then that’s okay too. I just think as this thread goes on, it will get harder and more painful to post about our redirected DC on a thread full of celebrating parents. DD has had a few wobbles today but is mostly okay - her friends are being amazing which is really helping. Hope everyone else’s DCs are feeling better today! @dontdointernetbut how’s your DD holding up?

@mikeandike @bendmeoverbackwards why don’t you wait till some of us Cambridge crew join you? We can all stick together till the split happens for everyone? A fair chunk of us will need the benefit of your experience 2 weeks on?

Bit delayed sorry I wrote another message to say no pressure but it didn’t post. We can always find you if you move.

@Millylovespuddles

Irma - lol- no sour grapes from DD, but DH insists applications from our region of the UK will never be seen on a level footing! (New students last year made up 0.8% of the intake...)

Are you in NI by any chance @Millylovespuddles? It's very interesting that NI has one of the lowest rates of students going to Oxford but the highest rate of students achieving AAA or better at A level in the UK

We're having a rollercoaster few days here. DS got his place, and his offer is for results he already has. We were delighted. The school encouraged his application and it was the only university he applied for. However.... since his acceptance, we've had feedback from several school teachers saying they think the intensity of the short terms is maybe too much for him. I'm totally confused. And worried they're right. No idea what I want to achieve with this post. Just venting I guess.

Oh bloody hell. That’s ridiculous of the school in my opinion, to give such mixed messages. What does your DS think @Chocomel?

He thinks that while he hasn't been especially motivated to do all his work during this current lockdown, he's sure he'll do everything required at Uni because it'll be about the subject he actually wants to do. I haven't seen much evidence of him 'playing the game' when it doesn't interest/suit him, but he gives all his focus if he decides he's interested...