Oxbridge Aspirants 2022

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Hi not too sure if there is another thread started as could not see one. May be waaaaaay too early but wondered if any other parents out there who have a child applying for next year?

Dd would like to apply to Cambridge to study History and Politics in 2022. She is at a state A-level college doing History, Politics and English Literature. I have never had to push her towards studying she is a very motivated child and wants to give Cambridge a shot (a very long shot as we know!). Her GCSE results were good but not top notch (9s in History, English Language and literature and the rest 7s and 6s) so not sure how much this will affect her. So far her A-level essays are coming out at As and A* and those are her predicted grades so if she continues on track that should meet the criteria.

She reads a lot of extra curricular stuff and has a genuine passion for politics, has joined the local Labour party youth group. She has applied for the summer programme at Cambridge & is part of an Oxbridge group that the college puts together.

It feels like a such a long shot and the stats of actually getting in are very low only 18% of applicants successful in 2019 so I am trying to tell her not to get her hopes up whilst actually supporting her!

She is my first born so I have never been through this before. Anybody else out there? Would be lovely to hear from you.

On colleges - it’s much more of a pastoral choice than an academic one (once you’ve established that the college takes people for your course). If the college doesn’t have the best tutors in your subject you’ll just be sent out to another college. It’s more important that you like the “feel” of a place. I chose mine because it was central but small, I liked the male/female balance and it had a reputation for being friendly. It happened to also be the best for my subject but once I’d got there I chose fairly esoteric papers so ended up with tutorials in other colleges as often as not.

@Gizmo98765 DD is about to start C studying NatSci and was having similar thoughts. What cemented her decision was that the Maths exam is indeed held in July and notoriously difficult. This year 2 of her friends got 4A* at A Level and failed the exam so offers rescinded (though both had excellent insurance choices)

Thanks @pepperaunt thats interesting thanks for the heads up. DS was only considering it as he is currently studying A level maths, fm, physics and a 4th non relevant a level and an epq. His predicted grades are 4 x A*’s and an A in his 4th A level. But his options in year 1 Nat Sci are very narrow having not taken chemistry or biology and its really the physics and maths that he is most drawn to but would have to also study I think physiology in year 1.

DD finished her UCAS form and sent it in! It was at the behest of the school who said she would be better off getting it done and not dragging it out. I think they are right.

I was a little about her personal statement. To me it sounds like a report on what she knows about her subject, or even a lecture! She refused to take any advice from me about getting to the point, plain English, the purpose of a personal statement.

At least she is happy with it and it is very much her sincere offering. I can only hope the people reading see her enthusiasm for her subject and are used to precocious/pretentious teenagers!

How soon do they hear if they have an interview?

For Oxford Maths, the MAT is 3/11 and interviews are early December. They've got a timeline on their webpage so hopefully similar info out there for Cambridge and for other departments.

Hello, hope I can join. Ds2 is applying to Oxford to study Human Sciences . He got grade 9’s at GCSE’s in state comprehensive and is on course for excellent A levels but who knows whether he will get in.

Ds1 is just about to start at St Catherine’s college, Oxford to study engineering so am in the throes of preparing one for Oxford and stressing about the next ones journey🥺

Not a stress I ever thought I would have a few years ago and I am very proud of both my dses but I do worry that ds2 would suit a more relaxed environment than Oxford. As with most teenagers he is very independent minded ideas I trust him make his own decisions. And I could be completely wrong, my only experience of Oxbridge up until now was growing up near Cambridge🤣 DS2 is also applying to Durham, UCL, Exeter and Sheffield so a decent mix, I think.

I do think DS1 benefitted from going through entrance exam and interview remotely from his school and I wonder if they will continue this? I think this would also benefit DS2.

The interviews are online again this year.

Good morning! I'm sticking my head above the parapet. I think this thread can sometimes be a bit scary, but you lot seem friendly. Interesting times here in our house, with DS1 applying to Oxford and DS2 applying to Cambridge - both for Engineering! They aren't twins. DS1 is 19 and on his second gap year - long story of MH issues before covid, then covid disruption. This is his second go at Oxford. DS2 is more standard and is in Y13! I doubt very much they have got as far as thinking about colleges. Off for a visit to Cambridge with DS2 Friday/Saturday despite my regularly offering to take him over the summer holidays . We like to take things to the wire...

In a way it is a shame that interviews are again remote. BUT there is no doubt that for the many unsuccessful applicants it is a bit less of a blow than when they’ve had a taste of the whole in-college experience. On the other hand - meeting “rivals” in person does bring it home that there the competition is very fierce. Some people have been big fish in small ponds.

Ds and his assembled group at interview were told bluntly that of the 40 interviewees they had 8 places, which might not even go to people in that 40. They had all done very well to get to interview, but there were limited places. Also ds had to trundle round three colleges for interviews. They kept throwing him a lifeline, but he threw it right back!

@DottyHarmer Did your DS get in, in the end and what was he planning on studying and where?

That sounds very fierce. Also DS would have an extremely long journey from the north then have such a gruelling face to face ordeal then very long journey home.

@mustardpot13 is that for both Oxford and Cambridge?

Ds got in on second go. He was very, very nervous and knew he’d come across as “boring”.

Can anyone advise if it's just not worth applying if my DD's predictions for IB are one point lower than the entry criteria? Entry criteria are 7, 7, 6 and her HL predictions are currently 7, 6, 6.
I'd be grateful for advice. Thanks.

I was just listening into a webinar on applications and interviews. He was diplomatic but he did suggest that, unless there were exceptional extenuating circumstances or specific contexts, you should be realistic that even getting to interview stage is less likely. He said while an exceptional PS helps in the sift and selection, the 'teachability' is also apparent in academic potential and grades predicted are important.

DD is suffering by not having decided to apply to Oxbridge until after the start of term. She spent her summer doing reasonable but Oxbridge unrelated stuff. So now has to read lots of relevant books and hasn't got time to read many in time for the personal statement. She also started a part time job in the summer, which she wants to keep, and has a non-relevant exam coming up which she has to work for. So she's feeling under pressure.
She's told me today that the Oxbridge assessment she has to do is, she thinks, happening at school next week. I was assuming it would happen around interview time (if she is interviewed). So she has almost no preparation time and the assessment looks really difficult.
So this is definitely a learning experience rather than a likely success story. I think she gets that.
She is still struggling with the personal statement and hasn't managed to choose a college yet.

That's confusing, @Lateyetagain. They won't be having official admissions tests before the application deadline next month. They tend to take place in early November.

She may be ok, Lateyetagain, but frankly most Oxbridge successes don’t read for the personal statement or the interview. They read widely because they like and are interested in their subject. An interview will probe deeply and widely an applicant’s reading (if it is a “reading” type subject) and for, say, English you’re on a bit of a hiding to nothing if you’ve only read the set books.

She's applying for MML and spent the summer reading English literature. Just bad timing. She's had much less time than English students as she is in the Scottish equivalent of 1st year of 6th form.

@Piggywaspushed do you have a link please?

@Lateyetagain if she's set on Oxbridge, it sounds like she might benefit from having a gap year and applying this time next year with grades in hand. Then she'd have a year to explore her subject and get some valid reading/research/experience done ...?

It was a live webinar gizmo, do afraid not.

late which actually year is yours in? 5 or 6?

6

I think you are overthinking the whole Scottish disadvantages thing tbh. She has still had the whole school career, and the benefits of breadth that come with the Scottish system. AHs are more challenging than A Levels. If she's Oxbridge bound a lot of that will come from stuff she does because she loves it and wants to. It's a bit of a myth that most English students are prepping for uni from year 12. You can honestly spin it as an advantage to have done Highers in presumably 5 subjects across disciplines.