Oxford or Cambridge advice and help needed.

[Puffalicious]

Hi all,

My DS is thinking of an application to either Oxford or Cambridge. He is very academic (Scotland, National 5s 8 at A band 1, Highers 5 at A band 1. Presently sitting Advanced Highers and additional Highers. He was school dux). He has been told by school (state) he will sit assessments locally but apart from that we are pretty much in the dark about which colleges to apply to and what the differences are. His dad and I went to universities in Scotland and it's very different.

Can anyone shed light on this? Or sign post me where to find the information? He will be applying for Mathematics.

He will also apply for universities here as he's not sure about the whole Oxbridge experience. He's very into music, gigs and DJing and wonders if his fellow students there would be like minded. Can you choose a college with more state students? Can he apply and defer like you can at other universities?

Thank you so much. His statement is due next month, so we need to get a wriggle on.

An update for all you kind posters. It's been a steep learning curve for DS and I over the past, few weeks: reading admissions info, immersing ourselves in the student room, doing so many virtual tours of the colleges he shortlisted. He's weighed it all up and decided last night on Mansfield. It was a close run thing with Merton and Balliol but Mansfield tipped it.

The personal statement has been through a few drafts and he and his pastoral teacher are going to press the button together this afternoon! His other listed unis include Glasgow, St Andrew's and Edinburgh- so plenty RG back up.

He's been on lots of the MAT sessions and is working his way through their suggested reading for the MAT on the 3rd November.

Thank you all so very, very much. It's been an introduction to an otherwise unknown world to us, but a super interesting one. I'll definitely be an expert by the time it comes to DS2 in 2 years!

Thanks, especially, to Always who first suggested Mansfield.

Lovely update all the best luck to your son @Puffalicious. Do let us know how he gets on. I will keep my fingers crossed for him.

Thank you Always for the kind thoughts and the finger crossing.

Good luck to your son.

If he is offered an interview, please ask for additional nights accommodation.

My son had to stay for four nights in total due to the ten hour train journey from northern Scotland so he couldn't travel down the same day or back the same day as an interview. The college was happy to accommodate his request and even offered to pay his train fare (he had already bought it at this point though).

Ooh that's a great point, Aurea. Did you go with him?

No. I've only been down twice in total (and he's in his third year now).

Once when he first started in the car with all his stuff, and once more for a trip down just before the first lockdown. All his other trips have been on the train on his own.

In fact his very first solo trip was when he was just 16 for an interview workshop when he was also offered accommodation.

He has vacation storage in his college, so he just brings a big suitcase back on the train for vacations.

Thanks Aurea. Useful information there. I was looking for an excuse for a wee,few days away

No need to worry about accommodation. This year's interviews are all going to be online again.

Good luck @Puffalicious DS. It's such a huge involved process that even the most relaxed parent gets totally invested as the weeks go by. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I know what you mean Jalfrezi! I'm really, really laid back, as is he, but now he's looked into it all he fancies it more and more. I sense my investment will increase!!!

Good info gyni didn't know that.