Another path to greatnesses

[chopc]

I woke up around 4:30 this morning and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Couldn't get back to sleep so thought I will have a go and starting the new thread. Hope the title is not too cheesy

Pumpkintopf We seem to have cross posted with my last post to ChopC too. The new title seemed to suggest we were going to be looking forward to 2021 entry hence my comment about looking forward.

@Pumpkintopf - in no way am I telling anyone how to feel. I'm just suggesting that it's important to remember there are other people out there impacted by what disappointed parents say and do.

And just to add I'm a Cambridge reject myself. It was disappointing but not life defining.

Blimey - way to kill a thread...

Not going to get involved with this other than to say that SeasonFinale was actually the model of graciousness in the days after her DS was told no, as she was on the day itself.

@bendmeoverbackwards your plans for DD birthday sounds amazing and I may just steal some of your ideas for DS 18th in April

Might not be relevant to this thread, but my DS didn't get in to do his degree (he went to another excellent uni where he's been very happy) but he's just got in to do his phd, which he's chuffed to bits about!

Many congratulations to your DC @yearinyearout !

What subject yearinyearout? Oxford or Cambridge? Either way, well done him! A nice early acceptance too :)

@quest1on I hope this thread is not killed. As with life people have different point of views etc

@yearinyearout that's fabulous news, congratulations to him!

@SeasonFinale

Also it is not the highest hit rate anyway in relation to the number of overall applications.

You misunderstand. DD attends a selective indy. We just don't have the numbers. And to some extent it IS a numbers game. The more that apply, statistically the more get accepted. But you have to admit, that with an average what, 20% chance of getting a place, 50 out of 130 is a high acceptance rate.

DD was an Oxford applicant, and actually not very affected at all by being rejected. Yes, she was a bit sad on the day, but is very happy to have other good offers, and is already choosing her accommodation.

Sorry but it is not the case that the more that apply from one school statistically more get accepted. Each and every Oxbridge application is determined on its own merits. This year was a good year, last year was less so. It varies year on year and sometimes what looks like a "better year" get fewer offers than a year that doesn't look as good on paper. In the same way often there are "dead certs" who don't get offers and some well you might as well try , it's only one space, who do.

It would however be the case that students who have achieved their place at a school when there were 10 to 1 candidates for each place (who also did well at gcses) would also be of that above discussed "Oxbridge calibre". They don't allocate places on the basis of 5% of places go to X school and so on.

My own son had a minus gcse score for his gsces in his Oxford feedback which were basically 9 x9, 1 x 8 and 1 x 7 because that was below the average for his school. (Subsequently he has been diagnosed with an SpLD which we weren't aware of when applying). From gcse results reported online I assumed he was average. I had not taken into account that many do extra curricular gsces or early entry ones.

I just think this is not the place for a school v school conversation whether private, grammar or indie, in the same way it is not the place for a candidate v candidate comparisons.

That said we all know that our very able Oxbridge calibre kids may have received an offer on another day and it does smart and take a while to come to terms with sometime. Interestingly too we see some students get an Oxbridge offer but fail to get an offer from say Edinburgh, LSE, Durham and the like. It shows how fine the margins are and that the unis are looking for that slight difference.

I am happy in my capacity of the mum of an Oxford reject (and two other non Oxbridge applicants who have been through uni) and in my work capacity to help anyone with any queries they may have going forward. But I am not interested in negativity towards other schools or individuals and I am sorry if that offends people and of course you are entitled to feel disappointed. I haven't said you mustn't.

BigWoollyJumpers Where is she off to?

@Tenpastseven.

My DD1 also did a MFL degree and it was at Bristol in the end. She also did law conversion and is now a barrister. If he wants Law, Bristol is a great place to go if Oxbridge didn’t happen.

There are a massive amount of deadlines if he wants to go into law. Applications for summer vacation schemes, traineeships and planning what to do if he doesn’t get one! For DD there was loads of work experience (mini pupillages) to apply for and they are competitive. Then there are scholarships from the Inns of Court for barristers. Then Pupillage applications whilst at the same time boosting the cv. And so it goes on!!! You do need to be organised and don’t leave planning until y4. It’s too late. Bristol, Durham and other top universities are well represented at the magic circle firms and the bar and they are no barrier to the organised, savvy and determined young person.

I see again that a poster thinks Acton halls of residence are on the Piccadilly Line. They are not.

When looking beyond Y1 in London, it’s definitely true that students will make friends and inevitably live in shared accommodation the least affluent student can afford. A bit like everywhere else! The best bet is to look at residential areas north of UCL on the northern line underground. Camden used to be hugely popular but it’s very expensive now so keep going north until you find prices you can afford. Obviously take halls for y1. The private halls can be expensive and it’s important to do homework on this.

£8000 with meals isn’t bad. £8000 is pretty standard for self catering in London. But not everywhere and older halls are cheaper. Non en suite is cheaper too. DD1 at Bristol was in Wills Quad and that is catered with formals. I think Churchill might be similar. Not sure. Again check out all the info and see where the budget leads.

How can 9 grade 9s at gcse be below average at any school? Winchester?

Thanks @PresentingPercy for the accommodation advice.

It seems fairly obvious that schools like St Paul’s/Westminster with extremely high academic entry standards would do better than a state school sixth form where you can do A Levels with any old grade. Dd has some, er, less than able people in her classes. When they attended in person (gosh, to think that ever happened ) dd told me that every lesson the girl sitting in front of her scrolled through Boohoo.com on her phone and was, “Huh?” if the teacher asked her a question. Can you imagine that happening at Westminster?!

@Tenpastseven my DS is also interested in pursuing a career in law and as a PP pointed out law conversion courses will be obsolete for our cohort.

www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/how-do-you-become-a-lawyer

Oxbridge treat 8 and 9s the same,so if you are below average for your school with 9 top grades and one 7,then the average in that school must be ten at top grade or more..really?

Chopc - Yes that was me too. I do have my used!

PresentingPercy - I have messaged you.

Irma - none of the schools you have mentioned but we do appear consistently in indie gcses and A level results tables.

@SeasonFinale

BigWoollyJumpers Where is she off to?

That's all fine, I honestly have no issues either way. I have had one in, and one not. So more of a case of bloody hell, have to find somewhere we don't know so well, and is more expensive for accommodation.

DD's top two choices are Exeter and Warwick.

Yes Nolans Crack unfortunately we discovered this post Oxford feedback. Most take 11 but many take early language or extra curricular gcses so we discovered that the average was 13+ at 9/A*.

That’s true but the summer vac schemes won’t go. Hardly anyone was turned down from the law conversion course but huge numbers didn’t have/get training contracts or pupillage. So now it’s work experience for two years and that will, of course be hugely competitive. Students will need their ducks in a row. It’s not very clear how non law grads will be “converted” to law! Learning on the job possibly!

Woolly - which subject too?
DS didn't like Warwick as he didn't like the idea of bussing in from Leamington Spa from y2 onwards. He had an Exeter and they even offered him an AAB offer rather than A*AA but went for Bristol and Manchester as he likes music gigs and clubbing!!

@PresentingPercy

That’s true but the summer vac schemes won’t go. Hardly anyone was turned down from the law conversion course but huge numbers didn’t have/get training contracts or pupillage. So now it’s work experience for two years and that will, of course be hugely competitive. Students will need their ducks in a row. It’s not very clear how non law grads will be “converted” to law! Learning on the job possibly!

Hi there are already SQE part 1 preparation courses being devised /offered from September so these will prepare those who do not have a law degree. Those with law degrees should hopefully pass their SQE without the need for a prep course and I strongly suspect that going forward there will be an element of SQE prep built into LLB.