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Original poster

Oxbridge Aspirants 2022...Part 2...applications submitted now the tense wait!

994 replies

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 11/10/2021 11:00

Thought I would start a new thread as part one is nearly full and found thread one to be of great support.

So its deadline week this week for our applicants then the nervous wait begins to find out of they have made it to interview. DD applying for HSPS at Cambridge. We know it is a long shot but got to be in it to win it and she is very keen to try. Looking at the admissions info it does not look as though she will need to sit a test prior but all the best to those who will have to.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 19/10/2021 11:27

It's any two essays TWAT Wink

DS does sociology , so it's a marked sociology essay on woman and crime, and an as yet unmarked history NEA on Civil Rights movement.

He did have plenty to choose from from all of his subjects, luckily.

Geamhradh · 19/10/2021 11:40

Grrrrrrrr.
Now got email saying refer to SAQ guidelines.
Because we'd obviously not thought of that. Hmm

Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/10/2021 13:12

@Piggywaspushed

It's any two essays TWAT Wink

DS does sociology , so it's a marked sociology essay on woman and crime, and an as yet unmarked history NEA on Civil Rights movement.

He did have plenty to choose from from all of his subjects, luckily.

Grin Grin Grin

I have to say DD sounds similar to your DS , essay writing is one of her strong points but she chose Clare as she liked it the most. I guess if she was lucky enough to get pooled she may have to submit something.

OP posts:
Gizmo98765 · 19/10/2021 14:05

@Abetes thank you for the link, it seems my son has it all in hand for 2022 entry. His application has been submitted, he meets the entry requirements with his predicted grades, has an online written test to do early Nov (does not have to supply any other written work for Nat Sciences). He has until 6pm on 22/10/21 to submit the SAQ and fingers crossed he gets an interview but if not as others have said its not the place for him.

ACloseMatch · 19/10/2021 17:23

DD's head of sixth form has been insistent that she would have to do an essay on the day if not submit work in advance. However she looked and looked and could not see that anywhere. I however have just found that she'll get a passage to read just before the interview for discussion, which makes perfect sense, and I feel will be a great way to assess them. If she is lucky enough to get an interview, she will thrive with this sort of thing (I think, unlike her siblings!) which is a relief!

Gizmo98765 · 19/10/2021 17:43

What course is she applying to study @ACloseMatch?

Think maybe a lot depends on the course.

Newfrontdoor · 19/10/2021 17:56

@Gizmo98765 I'm not sure about all subjects, but she is HSPS and that varies by college. Some ask for existing work, some nothing, and for her a passage to read and some thinking in her feet!

SecondRateFrog · 19/10/2021 18:27

I suspect that Clare will be relatively easy to get into this year. The front court (the only court on the main site) is one massive building site. So is the riverside garden, which is usually beautiful. There's a massive crane in it. I imagine the work will be finished by next academic year, but it will have put people off.
I've never seen Cambridge so full of building works (the colleges rather than the city).

MareofBeasttown · 19/10/2021 18:38

@SecondRateFrog

I suspect that Clare will be relatively easy to get into this year. The front court (the only court on the main site) is one massive building site. So is the riverside garden, which is usually beautiful. There's a massive crane in it. I imagine the work will be finished by next academic year, but it will have put people off. I've never seen Cambridge so full of building works (the colleges rather than the city).
Oh no, my DS applied to Clare. Or was that clever of him?
SecondRateFrog · 19/10/2021 18:41

Clever !

Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/10/2021 18:44

@SecondRateFrog

I suspect that Clare will be relatively easy to get into this year. The front court (the only court on the main site) is one massive building site. So is the riverside garden, which is usually beautiful. There's a massive crane in it. I imagine the work will be finished by next academic year, but it will have put people off. I've never seen Cambridge so full of building works (the colleges rather than the city).
Fingers crossed!
OP posts:
Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/10/2021 20:19

@SecondRateFrog

I suspect that Clare will be relatively easy to get into this year. The front court (the only court on the main site) is one massive building site. So is the riverside garden, which is usually beautiful. There's a massive crane in it. I imagine the work will be finished by next academic year, but it will have put people off. I've never seen Cambridge so full of building works (the colleges rather than the city).
Looking at stats from last year when work to Clare would have been in full swing it was still a very popular choice with just shy of 1k applicants and offers of just below 200. In fact last year was it went up sharply perhaps due to deferrals due to COVID. I truly doubt it will be relatively easy to get in sadly.
OP posts:
coldsoonplease · 19/10/2021 20:36

Regarding building work, am reminded of Alan Bennett, who chose his college because he thought it ugly and thus likely to attract fewer applicants, giving him more of a chance. Unfortunately others had reasoned thus and his college turned out to be one of the most over-subscribed in Oxford.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 19/10/2021 22:28

@kitnkaboodle Is it your son applying for Engineering at Cambridge? My son is, too. He has applied to Churchill. He desperately wants to go to Cambridge and I do think it would suit him and his learning style/personality. We visited for 2 days in August as we hadn't been to Cambridge before. We loved it.

kitnkaboodle · 20/10/2021 01:12

@CurlyhairedAssassin yes, DS2 has applied for Engineering at Cambridge. We looked at Churchill and really liked it - one of his criteria were good sports fields! Smile. But he's applied to a different one a bit nearer into town. He isn't too desperate for Cambridge but is having a go. He's keen on Bristol and Southampton too.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/10/2021 07:57

My DS has also tried for them! Durham and Imperial too but I’m not keen on the London idea. I think accommodation would be an issue.

Puffalicious · 20/10/2021 18:06

I'm quite surprised offers are coming in already. DS has had his first- unconditional for Maths at Edinburgh. It's not his second choice but a great back up.

He is doing advanced Highers, but these won't be relevant except for Oxford. Good news today for us.

ealingwestmum · 20/10/2021 18:31

Brilliant, that’s a great offer Puffalicious!

SandyBayley · 20/10/2021 18:52

So pleased my alma mater is making offers already @Puffalicious . Spare a thought for the poor medics who have no chance of an offer until at least January when the Oxbridge offers are made....

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 20/10/2021 19:24

That's great @Puffalicious. My DD has offers from Sheffield, Birmingham and York. We've only managed to visit Birmingham but she loved it, so she's feeling relieved to have those offers in the bag.

Darbs76 · 20/10/2021 19:52

Good to see some of your DD/DS’s getting some offers already from other uni’s. My son only put in the Oxford application for the 15/10 deadline, he’s not 100% decided on the others yet as still a few visits and open days. We are going to Scotland (live in Surrey) in half term to see St Andrews and Edinburgh. I’m excited!

ealingwestmum · 20/10/2021 20:22

Enjoy Darbs76. Great news for your DD mynameisnotmichaelcaine.

DD’s final 3 yet to be submitted will be 3 of around circa 5 non Oxbridge that offer the languages combination she’s looking for; one of those being SOAS. No London unis being considered though.

Puffalicious · 20/10/2021 20:32

Great news for all DC with offers. Shame the poor medics won't have any clues before Jan.

Darbs76 enjoy your time up here- it's cold but we're really, really friendly!

Geamhradh · 20/10/2021 21:07

Oh lovely news for those with offers! Well done all!
I have helped school transcribe dd's reports into English for the SAQ. Picking it up tomorrow after the HT has signed it off.

Stockpot · 20/10/2021 21:25

Darbs76 my DD has applied to both Edinburgh and St Andrew’s. We live in London, but I’d always prefer a summer holiday in Scotland over the Mediterranean, so she associates Scotland with all good things. I’ve no idea how good her chances are. She certainly doesn’t have an offer like puffalicious DS, that’s fantastic!

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