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Original poster

Another Path to Greatness - Part II

999 replies

BigWoollyJumpers · 11/02/2021 12:52

Here we are.

OP posts:
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9
SeasonFinale · 22/03/2021 19:45

The other thing goodbye is I believe some of the other contributors to this thread have kids in similar schools to mine.

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 19:47

Absolutely they do. The Oxbridge threads always have a very high proportion of DC at high achieving indies - it's striking.

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 19:51

It's also striking how the Oxbridge success rate for the MN threads this year and last seems to have taken a tumble (that's not a scientifically observed conclusion, more a strong impression).

jano69 · 22/03/2021 19:53

Thank you @LoonvanBoon for sharing your situation. That is quite frankly weird that Durham has rejected him, especially as he's from a comprehensive. I understand your relief that DT1's still in the running. I can only hope they somehow knew he had an Oxford offer in hand but I'm told that's impossible (although I struggle to believe it's "never" happened). Where will these high achieving kids end up if the top unis are rejecting them, extremely tough in them and their families.

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 19:54

And I guess the reality of most Durham offer holders where they already hold an Oxbridge offer is that the offer is worth nothing by way of an insurance offer as invariably they are the same or higher grade offers and won't generally budge on results day.

So true. Which is why this year in particular it would be kind if Oxbridge offer holders still waiting would decline Durham and not sit on their applications just to see if they get an offer. I would be very strongly exhorting my DC to do just that, in that position. Durham is clearly in a unique position this year and dealing with tiny margins.

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 19:56

jano69 I also struggle to believe it never happens.

LaundryFairy · 22/03/2021 21:32

So true. Which is why this year in particular it would be kind if Oxbridge offer holders still waiting would decline Durham and not sit on their applications just to see if they get an offer.

Hi all - DS decided to withdraw his UCL application so he could firm Oxford (and decline Durham ) for exactly this reason. No need for the ego boost of waiting for another possible offer if you’ve made your mind up.

chopc · 22/03/2021 22:09

Q for all Durham fans. Is Durham well known outside the UK as being a top institution?

I knew Durham Uni existed but I never rated it until my friend's Oxbridge rejected son chose to go there about 3 years ago.

St. Andrews - again I heard of it as one of my friends got in their through clearing - it is ranked very highly in UK. But did it climb up the rankings before Prince William went there or after?

bendmeoverbackwards · 22/03/2021 22:12

@LoonvanBoon I remember your twins and thank you for the update.

I can’t believe your DT2 was rejected from Durham with those fantastic grades. I really hope DT1 gets an offer, keeping fingers crossed for you.

I have a question - once a student firms up an offer (plus an insurance) are their other offers automatically withdrawn?

Longtimenewsee · 22/03/2021 22:27

Yes @bendmeoverbackwards- when Dd firmed and insured, ucas asked her to indicate that she was withdrawing from her 2 other offers

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 22:27

Yes bend

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 22:28

St Andrews owes nothing to PW!

bendmeoverbackwards · 22/03/2021 22:33

Thank you, so if a university has students turning down their offers, they’ll have more spaces? It’s a numbers game right?

Wonder how many successful Durham students turn it down?

Reading about all these great students being rejected does make me think it’s a lot about luck this year.

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 22:39

Exactly bend but this year is unique and in terms of spaces available Durham is probably in the most difficult position of any uni after last year's bulge and now the cancellation of exams for this cohort (collegiate/ gusrantees college accommodation/ can't rely on the majority of offers being accepted).

goodbyestranger · 22/03/2021 22:41

gusrantees? guarantees!

Chilldonaldchill · 22/03/2021 22:50

DD didn't withdraw from Durham in the end, despite my encouragement to do so - school discouraged her for some reason.
She was rejected by them today.
As an early applicant I guess it was obvious she was applying to O/C and her personal statement reflected that - I'm wondering if D rejected her because they thought she would have an O/C offer or because they didn't like her PS? She has a clean sweep of 9s and predicted all A* so wouldn't have been rejected on academic grounds I think. (She attends a state school).
I'm glad she didn't get an offer because I really really hope that means someone who will firm it will get it but I'm still a little surprised (though clearly she isn't alone, even just on this thread).

bendmeoverbackwards · 22/03/2021 22:58

That’s shocking she was rejected @Chilldonaldchill I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she has offers she is happy with.

I just wish these universities would stop playing games and trying to guess where potential students will end up going. Just make offers to the students they like and put the others out of their misery! Doesn’t seem to be much care or compassion in this process.

If dd is rejected from Durham now at this late stage, she might not get her choice of accommodation at her second choice (Exeter).

chopc · 22/03/2021 23:04

I don't understand the reasoning behind universities offering for candidates to pick their accommodation before the decision deadline. In fact what's the point before your offer is confirmed on results day? Unnecessary pressure

Chilldonaldchill · 22/03/2021 23:15

@bendmeoverbackwards

That’s shocking she was rejected *@Chilldonaldchill* I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she has offers she is happy with.

I just wish these universities would stop playing games and trying to guess where potential students will end up going. Just make offers to the students they like and put the others out of their misery! Doesn’t seem to be much care or compassion in this process.

If dd is rejected from Durham now at this late stage, she might not get her choice of accommodation at her second choice (Exeter).

I'm hopeful that today was rejection day for history @bend and therefore there might be good news coming for your daughter. As well as @LoonvanBoon twin there was someone on another group who had been rejected today despite 12 9s and all A* predictions (but sadly had not had an O offer either). Maybe they did all their history rejections in one go today? I'm wondering what things are going to look like at dd's school tomorrow - lots of would-be O/C history applicants were desperately hoping for D offers.
chopc · 22/03/2021 23:31

So @Chilldonaldchill , yours and Loona's DC with clean sweep of 9's and A* predictions with Oxbridge offers got rejected from Durham

Another DC with even more 9's and all A* predictions with no Oxbridge offer also got rejected

I am not aware of Jalfrezi's DD stats but she got both Oxbridge and Durham offer

Not seeing a pattern here myself .......... may be a case of eenie meenie maini mo or I think Durham has enough DC with clean sweeps of A* and 9's and want a mix (?), or as quest10n said, they may have given out too many contextual and international offers earlier and now have to reign it in (although I know Jan's DD didn't meet either and got an early offer).

I thought Durham usually gives a reason for the rejection? Did they not give a reason to your DC?

Chilldonaldchill · 22/03/2021 23:34

I thought they did too (only from what I've read) but I didn't see anything on track - is that where it would be?
Yes looks as though it's hard to find a pattern in it. I wonder how many history applicants they will have had this year? Normally it looks as though over 60% get an offer and it seems unlikely that that's the case this year.

jano69 · 22/03/2021 23:35

Goodness me sorry to hear about the Durham rejection @Chilldonaldchill.... it really does sound like Durham have been calling their mates at Oxbridge to see who the offer holders actually are. I do feel terribly sorry for the student with all 9s and A* predictions who missed out on both O and D. That's quite shocking.

Still rooting for you dd bend....

jano69 · 22/03/2021 23:39

Hmmm having read @chopc's summary, doesn't look like there is a pattern after all, ignore me...

LoonvanBoon · 22/03/2021 23:46

ChillDonaldchill, they (Durham) must be trying to second guess which students have O/C offers, mustn't they? I really can't make sense of them rejecting your DD, my DS and all these students with similar academic records on TSR, for any other reason.

Unfortunately if that's the way they're thinking, I can't see DT1 being offered a place either Sad.

I was saying to DH that it doesn't make sense as a strategy. Given that, as we know, very few students are really 'dead certs' for O/C, surely they miss out on some of the most able students this way?

DH was pointing out that maybe they're not that bothered about that this year, and far more focussed on filling their places without over-offering and ending up in last year's mess. As long as they have roughly the right number of students, with good enough grades to manage, why should they care if they've missed some of the best? As there aren't interviews for the vast majority of subjects, they don't ever really engage with applicants as individuals.

I would be really interested to know what percentage of applicants are getting offers this year. It's normally quite high - even for popular subjects like English and History it's usually over 50% - and tbh I never considered that either of my sons' applications wouldn't be in the top half, at least. Baffling.

chopc · 22/03/2021 23:47

Well remember Durham history started off with 35 less places due to deferred places?

Unfortunately by the time the statistics are available if will be too late for our cohort