Oxford aspirations but predictions poor due to ADHD only just diagnosed..

[TheBlessedCheesemaker]

My daughter who has previously sailed through academically messed up her summer exams which was a huge shock. Long story short she was diagnosed two weeks ago with severe ADHD - we had no idea. This is on top of dyslexia which we knew about. Prior to the exams the school were very supportive of an Oxford application (she is beyond passionate about her chosen subject) but because the school can’t be sure that her exams will improve by next year, the grade predictions are just below the level required for the course at Oxford. If she gets in front of a professor for an interview, I think she will get an offer because she is so articulate when talking, and her ideas and theories go way beyond the syllabus (teacher in this particular subject describes her as ‘exciting’). I’m also pretty confident that she will turn round the exams by next year and get herself the string of stellar grades that she needs (medication has just started and already helping hugely, and she will get extra support during exams), and I’m also sure that she will do fine if she got to Oxford. Saying that, I totally get that without clear evidence of improvement the school do have their hands tied.
But what do we do now? Apply with lower predictions than required and make a case in the personal statement? Or leave it for this year and apply when she has the grades under her belt? She hates the idea of taking a gap year but also hates the idea of going somewhere else.
Any advice very much welcomed.

She has not got much to lose by applying. Will she need to sit and entrance test though? How well is she likely to do then?

Oxford has started an Oxford Foundation program for talented students that have experienced disadvantage or education disruption. Dyslexia and ADHD are disadvantages as they are recognised disabilities.
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/increasing-access/foundation-oxford

“Is Foundation Oxford for me?
Are you interested in exploring and discussing your subject and are you motivated to learn?

Has your academic attainment been impacted to the extent that your current grades do not meet Oxford University’s entrance requirements and that this is due to your studies being severely affected by reasons outside your control, such as personal circumstances and socio-economic background?

Then you may be eligible to apply to Foundation Oxford!

Through this one-year intensive foundation year course you will have the opportunity to bring your academic skills to the level required to start an undergraduate degree at Oxford. The benefits include:

All tuition and accommodation are provided free of charge and you’ll receive a bursary for other living costs
Living and studying in an Oxford college alongside the wider undergraduate community
Being immersed in Oxford’s learning environment so you can develop your study skills, subject knowledge and capacity for independent study
Access to the University’s internationally outstanding teaching facilities and experience of lectures, seminars, labs (where appropriate) and our distinctive and supportive tutorial system
Your own academic mentor to support you with guidance on academic writing, presentations and communication
Your own college tutor to give you support throughout the year
A team of student ambassadors who will be there as friendly faces and will also be available to offer mentoring as well as their insights and experiences into studying and living at Oxford
Full access to the University’s support services, facilities, societies and clubs.
By the end of the foundation year you will have developed the confidence to meet the challenges of a demanding undergraduate degree. On condition that you have completed your foundation year at the required level, you will be expected to continue on to an appropriate Oxford undergraduate degree. If this isn’t possible, Foundation Oxford will help you with your applications to other undergraduate degrees elsewhere.”

I’d have a look at that and other parts of their widening participation website
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/increasing-access

There’s a lot of jumps in your plan. If she continues to improve academically, if she gets the required grades, if she gets an interview, if she gets an offer and indeed if she actually thrives academically and personally whilst there. It’s an awful lot of pressure on a child to only allow them to have one desirable outcome when in reality you know that any one of the above steps might not go to plan.
I’d encourage any prospective student to delay uni for a year or two at the moment anyway for all the covvie stuff to pass. Either way, it might be wise to float the idea to your child that they can still be very happy and successful regardless.

I suspect applying with grades in hand may be her best chance of success. However she could apply this year for other places at the predicted grade requirements and if then her grades are not of Oxbridge level she would have a place to go to rather than having an enforced gap year and still no chance of applying for Oxbridge.

If she has dyslexia she will already have been having the 25% extra time.

I am an Oxford graduate. I believe the institution is largely overrated. I subsequently studied at another University and in comparison it's clear the teaching at Oxford at least in my subject was poor.

It can be a high pressure environment because the terms are short. There is not much time to socialise like at other universities and burnout is rampant. Your daughter may be better off studying elsewhere. Just wanted to share another point of view; I understand it may not be helpful.

Of course, it also depends on what your daughter wants to study and which college. You might want to avoid the one at the top of the Norrington table because the ones at the top tend to apply pressure on the students because they wish to stay at the top. It can make for a stressful student experience.

I was dead set on going to Oxford too. In retrospect, I wish I had accepted my Durham or Sheffield offers.

Hi there
Your Dd's situation mirrors that of my DS1. He got great GCSEs but then was plagued by anxiety and panic through sixth form. Got disappointing CAGs in 2020. Applied to Oxford anyway but got rejected. Like your DD he has since had his meds sorted out. He did very well in resits this year and is applying again on a second gap year 😖. Feels much happier and relieved to be giving it another go. In my opinion, your DD could give it a go this year, but for Oxford she'd have to rely on her statement and her school reference to spell out her mitigating circumstances. If she's applying for a subject that has an entrance test and she can ace that, then that will be more fuel for her fire.
But I would probably accept (esp if there is no entrance test) that she won't get very far this time. But next year with grades in hand could be a different matter. A gap year really is no big deal, especially in these covid times

Thanks all for the input.
Reason for Oxford is that her preferred course (theology & philosophy) has some really interesting modules that aren’t replicated elsewhere and the current academic staff includes (she tells me) some formidable names at the top of their game.
I will chat with her tonight about the access course - am blown away by that as I has no idea it existed and I know DD will prefer to continue with education rather than taking a gap year and potentially being blown off course. I will also promote a gap year as an option - taking the pressure off at this point in time might be a good idea because she is still adjusting to the meds, and the entrance test will only add the pressure on.
Many thanks to all x

@TheBlessedCheesemaker

Thanks all for the input. Reason for Oxford is that her preferred course (theology & philosophy) has some really interesting modules that aren’t replicated elsewhere and the current academic staff includes (she tells me) some formidable names at the top of their game. I will chat with her tonight about the access course - am blown away by that as I has no idea it existed and I know DD will prefer to continue with education rather than taking a gap year and potentially being blown off course. I will also promote a gap year as an option - taking the pressure off at this point in time might be a good idea because she is still adjusting to the meds, and the entrance test will only add the pressure on. Many thanks to all x

PhilThe at Oxford is a great course. My niece recently graduated from it and was juggling job offers - apparently there's some particular employers who greatly appreciate the mixture of analytical skills, writing skills and formal logic. She took a gap year to take maths A level, after reading in an admissions report that very few get in without it, and said it was highly necessary as foundation for all the logic.

This course isn’t going to be as competitive as say history. Make a case. I think she’ll be granted at least an interview.

Also looks like she knows her stuff!

And her grade predictions are just below the levels required - so not A to C C D I presume. There’s still time for her to improve.

Also she can even take a gap year after being rejected if she wants. There’s no need to back out at this stage.

Good luck. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and know how it can mess things up. I almost failed my second year at uni (previous straight A student) because of it.

She can always apply after she gets her a level grades - they are unlikely to offer on low predictions especially this year when they know the students didn't actually sit gcse exams. Sorry but a "sudden" diagnosis won't actually make any difference to who she is. My dd like many sailed through GCSEs, predicted A's at a level and got far lower because they have to work at a levels whereas clever kids barely have to at gcse. I know this isn't what you want to hear. If she works really hard and gets A's and a*'s apply through adjustment or the following year with grades

She should apply anyway. Nothing to lose but a single UCAS choice. If she doesnt get an offer but proceeds to do well in her A levels and exceed expectations of the school then take a gap year and apply again. It's a well trodden path. And she may well shine in the entrance exam. Will school help her prepare for that in any way? Some do, some don't. And it makes all the difference