Oxford Cambridge 2021 Thread 6

[Chocomel]

Hopefully this is in the right place?

@Majaso12 @Pumpkintopf DD applied for Physics. A bit shocked (though predicted 4 A*).

My dd is predicted 3 A and been given a higher offer. Annoyed though because others predicted the same have been given an AAA offer. I felt like emailing back and asking if my dd got AAA on results day, would she still get in as others have that offer. Thought I better not though. She should get at least one A and hopefully her predicted, but still annoyed about it.

She got her offer beginning of December so before they announced exams were cancelled.

@Majaso12 that does seem harsh! Why do they do that?

@pepperaunt congratulations to your ds on his offer, albeit a high one!

Congratulations to @CosmicComfort and @pepperaunt offspring on offers. Holding out a hand to @Pumpkintopf as DS is also waiting for Imperial for physics (as well as Cambridge of course). 3x A-star offer seems insane (certainly higher than the Durham offer DS has got from Durham for Natsci).

@pepperaunt sorry your dd

Sorry, too many Durhams in that sentence

Congratulations to Cosmic DC on the Oxford offer and pepper DC on Imperial!

I know the VC at Cambridge confirmed that the uni will be making less conditional offers this year to mitigate against the impact of exam cancellations, but I wonder if they might also use higher entry requirements this year to filter people out (especially those in grammars or selective independents)?

Looks like that email yesterday was a hullabaloo about nothing anyway!

Hey @RunnersTipple good to hear from you and thanks for the handhold!

We've still to hear back from UCL as well... not a thing from them since the initial acknowledgment email when he applied back in Oct!

Agree the three a star offer seems insanely high. How is your ds ranking his options? DS would like Imperial (ideally Cambridge of course but we accept that's a long shot) but worried throughout that his lack of FM will prove to be an issue even though it's not a prerequisite, Cambs for instance do say you're more competitive with it and it's insanely competitive already so...

He changed tack from wanting to study medicine after he'd started a-levels, thank goodness he was indecisive at the start of the a-level course so kept four a levels including his maths and physics 😅.

@Pumpkintopf Cambridge is preferred option (crossing fingers, seeking out black cats and four leaf clovers, and avoiding walking under ladders. That last one being pretty easy in the circumstances) with Durham or Manchester (still waiting for interview) as second choice. If redirected, then either Durham/Manchester with the other as second choice. Of course if he gets an Imperial offer that throws all the balls back in the air.

Yes. DS has an offer from Manchester, and a very achievable contextual one from Bristol so far - all good options but would be nice to hear from Imperial/UCL.

@chopc and @quest1on when I read that email yesterday, who DS got, I didn’t read it to mean anything other than Information on how to apply, especially since the closing date is the 31st of January.
DS assumed it was sent to everyone. I think nerves are high and everyone just getting hyped up because of this. Also it appears this email goes out like this every year, sometimes even before interviews.

@Pumpkintopf did your DS have an interview with Manchester? And do you mind me asking his offer? My DS had to rearrange Manchester interview date as it was the same as Cambridge and its not until sometime in February. He likes the idea of having Brian Cox do first year lectures!

@RunnersTipple not at all - yes he did, can't remember the date but it was before Cambridge which was useful practice.

His offer is A star A star A to include maths and physics (but they haven't specified what the A stars must be in).

I remember you saying your DS had had to rearrange- Feb seems quite late though, had assumed that they'd have done it by now but I guess they'll have the January tranche of applicants to interview then. Yes Prof Cox is a definite draw I'm sure!

DS received an AAA offer last year for a Cambridge course that has a “standard” offer of A*AA. He now knows that all the successful applicants at his college received the same higher offer regardless of school type.

DS got an A A A offer from Cambridge last year, but they specified A in Further Maths and A A in Physics and Chemistry (in either order). Although he was taking Maths at the same time, this wasn't mentioned in the offer. It was effectively an A A A A offer by stealth, because most people who get an A in Further Maths would also get A* in Maths.

@chopc

Update on the email Cambridge sent out yesterday. Source is student room and I haven't fact checked

I can confirm this is genuine. DS also received this email today from the Cambridge Trust. So I’m guessing they are trying to rectify any stress caused yesterday

I'm struggling to understand these offers with the bolding!

@Pumpkintopf

I'm struggling to understand these offers with the bolding!

Parsing them is a knack you acquire after a while, but spelling out Astar avoids it.

Thanks @WarmAndco3y . I was adopting a "que sera sera" attitude in any case but it's good to know

@Ironoaks, it does seem an odd way to go about requiring 4A*!

Well, we thought DDs offer was 3Astars in effect but she managed to get the stars on phys and FM as required and an A on maths.

[quote Millylovespuddles]@CosmicComfort I found your post a little insensitive. Maybe it's just me and you touched a nerve, but there, got it off my chest.[/quote]
I just wanted to apologize to you Millylovespuddles, I really didn’t mean to be insensitive but I can see why my post could come across that way💐

I’m sorry if I upset you. I wish you all the best.

How are my fellow parents with Cambridge applicants doing? Dd has found it increasingly difficult and feels increasingly despondent about the whole process ( lcompounded no doubt by feeling ‘stuck’ due to the current circumstances) . I am desperate for it to be over so that we can move on. Roll on Monday.