Stupid question about Oxbridge

[WaysintoUni]

As a working class graduate of a very ordinary Polytechnic (now a University) I have a child who might be applying to Uni for 2022 entry. He’s a bit overwhelmed about what to do Uni-wise as are we.

We live in Scotland but are not averse to him leaving Scotland if he finds a course he likes. He did well in his exams last year (8 As at Nat 5) and is hoping to get awarded 5 As in his Highers - but we have no idea what’s happening in terms of testing/exams so that could all go pear shaped.

I’ve been looking at Oxbridge but thinking he’s got no chance because he’s not very confident and/or obsessed with a subject in that driven way that I see many private educated or well educated kids are. But he’s bright and I don’t want him to discount anything.

I know nothing about Oxbridge - none of my immediate family have connections. I was the first in my family to go into Higher Education but I don’t want that to hold him back.

He’s interested in philosophy and psychology (although his school don’t do either as a subject) and he’s also going to be Grade 8 in Music in 2 instruments by end of next year (fingers crossed). I looked at Cambridge and don’t understand something. As an example, for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences it says that ‘Applications per place - 6, Number accepted - 96’. Does that mean that only 576 people apply to do this subject at Cambridge? Surely there are more than 6 applications per place on this course? Or am I misinterpreting what this means? Does this only include the people they interview or who pass a test. Is there an additional test they have to do on top of exams?

He might decide to do a Music course instead but is not sure a 100% Music course would be suitable and would like to mix it with something else like philosophy, politics, history?

Of course he’ll be looking at Scottish Universities too but I’m asking on here because I know his school will give him lots of information on these but not on studying at Oxbridge. I think a couple of kids have gone there each year from the school but they are very exceptional.

She did, but UNIQ swung it for her. It probably helped that someone she us very close to had a grim time reading history at Cambridge and had far more fun at Oxford. He took her for days out at both!

In fairness, he was a fish out of water in a very traditional college in his day.

It's good that your son is already doing his reading. Take a look at the suggested reading lists from O and C. They tend to cover the basics and he may have read them already.

I am going to disagree with @IM0GEN. If your son attends a state school where he won't even bring his instruments, then he may not have access to the kind of discourse whereby students get into the Oxbridge mentality, so he's not necessarily passive. A lot of brainy state school kids (and their parents and teachers) really have no idea that they are actually smart enough and that Oxbridge is indeed achievable. Also a lot of state schools are not as good as private schools at understanding and facilitating the Oxbridge application process.

How does his A level progress compare to the rest of his cohort? If he's at the top, or near the top, make sure his tutor puts that on his reference.

Were his GCSE grades much higher than his cohort? This will also go down well and the university will have access to this info (but obs not the A level comparison at this stage, which is why the tutor has to tell them)

I suggest he picks O or C and then if you have time, look into how you apply. It's actually a very open process and they bend over backwards to be welcoming and help the student perform their best at interview. You just need to get your head around it first.

Make sure he does at least one essay comp.

I didn’t mean to read or respond to this message but I thought I would give my view for what it is worth. I went to Oxford many years ago, as a grammar school girl. So long ago that there were separate entrance exams which people were expected to do and almost everyone did them post-A level which of course made it massively more likely that applicants would be from public schools. That all changed. Entrance tests have made a comeback but they are targeted at A level students ie not post-A level students. Moreover, both Oxford and Cambridge have made massive but also genuine efforts to search out and be open to talent, especially from state schools. That isn’t going to lower the entrance requirements in terms of getting great A levels or equivalent but it does mean that they are more open to raw or less tutored talent than in my day. Even in my day it was extremely competitive. And for all I know the tutors made allowance for the fact that I plainly a bit raw.

Being a mother I have had recent looks at Oxford and Cambridge, My summary is this. The number of extremely talented and excellent people applying from both state schools and independent schools is just crazy, Anyone who thinks a rejection from Oxbridge means they didn’t meet “the standard” is crazy. There are just so many excellent applicants. I do believe the tutors do their best to choose - it often turns on the smallest of things. The point is that someone has to get in and there is absolutely no point in trying to second guess what makes the difference on the day so if it is realistic then just go for it - no matter what anyone says. At the end of the day, it is just one choice on the UCAS form. Sure, there is an earlier deadline and extra work to do. Also, for goodness sake, don’t obsess about it as Oxford and Cambridge are just two universities - rightly world renowned but there are outstanding universities in England and Scotland. Note also that other universities often have a flexibility and study abroad opportunities that neither Oxford or Cambridge offer - that wasn’t really the case when I applied but it is now. So go for it if it appeals but just regard it as an experience rather than getting invested in the outcome. A lot of people from famous schools get rejected so if that happens then just remember that the acceptance rate for some courses is 5%!

A further comment. Of people who get invited to interview, quite a few decide that they actually don’t like it as much as other universities they have visited. Just because it is Oxford or Cambridge doesn’t it is your favourite when you see it up close. Part of the problem with Oxbridge is that the application and selection process demands more and can be quite long so of course youngsters get more invested. A bit like the job that by the end of interminable assessments you weren’t actually that keen on but still wanted the offer.

I was the first in my family to go to university and went to Oxbridge.
I’d suggest that anyone in my position apply a year later, i.e. already with results. Allows you to focus first on exams and later on applications, and gives you the confidence of already having the amazing grades under your belt.
(I did not do this but wish I had.)

I would encourage him to apply. But also to look at St Andrews and Edinburgh which have incredible reputations and would be free of charge - that would sway me.

My eldest DC has just received an offer from Oxford from a Scottish state school which does not send pupils to Oxbridge. They benefited enormously from a mentoring scheme set up by Oxbridge students which matches current Scottish students from state schools with those who are thinking of applying.

I can't recommend the scheme highly enough. It demystified the whole process, and was so helpful to have someone giving one to one advice all the way through the process from picking a college to personal statement to interview advice and exam prep. It was a complete game changer.

I don't know the name of the scheme but I'm sure you can find on google. It's just for state school pupils from Scotland.

Just found it

www.clydesideproject.org

@MrsCurly congratulations to your DC. My DD has been mentoring on this project for the last couple of years & I mentioned it on page 1 of the thread...

MrsCurly huge congratulations to your DC. How proud you must be!

Great to hear that the Clydeside Scheme has worked for your DC. I really don’t think some people understand how unlevel the playing field is with many state schools. Success to the state school is ‘passing’ while success in the private sector is getting top grades. They don’t get set up to exceed expectations, or get given pep talks from day 1 to aim high. Often they just don’t believe they can attain the more ambitious academic goals that private pupils are led to believe is within their grasp. Yes, there are exceptional state schools, yes, there are exceptional children who with parental encouragement are told they are just as capable and yes, there are teachers within schools who go that extra mile when they see talent. MY child’s school is deemed to be quite high-ranking but they haven’t done anything about UNiQ this year, and my child will have 2 days to choose their Advanced Higher subjects when they go back without having had any information about University options, how it all works etc...

Schemes such as Clydeside are fantastic and obviously work. But at the end of the day your child made this happen with their hard work and determination in difficult circumstances.