Oxford Cambridge 2021 Thread 6

[Chocomel]

Hopefully this is in the right place?

Ah thank you all- I thought there was a diff bet Ox and Cam... just a case of constantly refreshing emails then😂

There is something about compulsory pooling on TSR- anyone with last years CAGS of three a stars has to have an interview and must be placed in the pool. Does anyone know more about this or whether it’s true? The reapplication are going to take precedence over the current year 13s, it seems to me...

@ClarasZoo

There is something about compulsory pooling on TSR- anyone with last years CAGS of three a stars has to have an interview and must be placed in the pool. Does anyone know more about this or whether it’s true? The reapplication are going to take precedence over the current year 13s, it seems to me...

Actually maybe this is always the same, but I guess with CAGS those pools are going to be larger. So if you reapply with 3 a stars you are going to get pooled for sure, if no offer...

Extra opens on February 25th and closes on July 4th.

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices

...if the applicant didn't use all 5 'slots' initially, adding new choices up to the maximum isn't the same as using Extra, but the deadline for equal consideration is still January 29th in that case, the same as for the initial submission.

Now that DS has his Oxford place, I'm tempted* to ask him add Edinburgh to his slots as I'm so curious about the whole Scottish/not Scottish thing. He's lived in Scotland long enough to qualify as a Scottish student. I'd want to see if they reject him. I read that only 2% of students there are from Scotland, so I'd imagine that it's a fees thing.

*disclaimer obviously this is an imagined situation. I'd never actually ask him - it would be a selfish thing to do as he won't go there and I wouldn't want him to get a place at the expense of any other applicant. I'm just day dreaming.

Ahh thank you @MarchingFrogs dd has used all her 5 choices - offers from Exeter, Manchester and Liverpool (of which she is only considering Exeter), no from Oxford and still waiting to hear from Durham. So I suppose she can wait to see what happens with Durham before deciding if she wants to use UCAS extra. It sounds like it's an earlier version of clearing ie trying to fill available spaces?

Can someone explain the Cambridge pooling system, and what you mean by compulsory pooling? I'm just interested as to how that works and how that differs from Oxford.

Dd got an edinburgh offer in early December. She has not been asked to send copy of passport!.

@BilberryBaggins

Can someone explain the Cambridge pooling system, and what you mean by compulsory pooling? I'm just interested as to how that works and how that differs from Oxford.

I can’t paste it but if you google What do they know and Cambridge compulsory pool you will find some info. WP get pooled. As do three A star students who got three a stars. Actually this is quite interesting.

Just had a quick look. I had no idea so many students got pooled!

@Beetlesand l'm beginning to wonder if DS inadvertently ticked a wrong box in his application!

Last year, D1 had offers from Edinburgh and Glasgow and did not have to supply her passport, even after she made one her insurance choice.

I’ve only got to page 12 but I’m frankly shocked by some of these posts about MH issues. Panic attacks are terrible things that can narrow lives. It distresses me that some candidates experienced these in interview .
It seems to be more the girls.

Hi all, just catching up. So sorry to hear of those of you who have had family health issues or bereavements. What a harsh month it's been so far.

Had a look at the Ofqual consultation. Anyone else think this looks like 'exams by the back door'?!

This is an interesting run down -
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-2021-summer-exams-plan-everything-you-need-to-know/

What does WP mean please?

@BilberryBaggins Winter Pool ?

Yes could be.

I think I prefer the Oxford system on the whole - less nerve-wracking I think to know post-interview whether you had a 2nd interview or not, rather than wondering if you are swimming around looking for a fishing rod! (I know that's not really how it is, but they do talk about 'fishing people out the pool' on their website!).

@BilberryBaggins

What does WP mean please?

Widening Participation

Ah yes, that'll be it, Widening Participation

How are we all doing? Anyone heard from C today?

Hi we’re hanging on in there! Why do you ask if anyone heard from C today?

I completely forgot about pooling. DC hasn't said anything so I assume not

Do they tell them if they’re pooled?

Only if they need to be interviewed again