Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge aspirants part 4......Hold onto your nerves interviews ahead....!

940 replies

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/11/2021 12:17

Part 4 - A friendly supportive thread for those with DC applying to Oxbridge, its an arduous process to say the least. I suspect we will need some handholding and alcohol for the couple of weeks ahead as our dc have their interviews. For those still waiting to hear I hope news comes soon Flowers

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ealingwestmum · 17/12/2021 15:48

That’s a brilliant outcome so far Frankl, and I’m sure the 2 remaining more local as such, will find their respective new homes over the coming months.

pantjog · 17/12/2021 20:30

Super news @Frankl!

carben · 17/12/2021 20:50

@beeswain sorry for the delay:

This was the offer:

I am delighted to inform you that the University is making you a conditional offer of a place on the undergraduate degree course G100 Mathematics (BSc) for entry in academic year 2022/23. You will receive official notification of this offer from UCAS, if you have not already done so.

Your offer is conditional on you meeting the following terms, by no later than 2 September 2022:

grade A in A Level Mathematics, grade A in A Level Further Mathematics and grade A in a third subject at A Level. This offer excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking and Additional Further Mathematics. If your Science A Level/s include a Practical Skills Test, you must achieve a Pass in each. This offer is also conditional on official verification of the GCSE English Language on your UCAS form.

And this was the contextual offer:-

Congratulations on your recent offer to study at the University of Warwick!
Based on the information provided in your UCAS application we have identified you as eligible for a contextual data offer, in line with our contextual data policy. The offer we have made to you is therefore up to two grades lower than our standard offer (e.g. AAB rather than AAA) or removes an additional requirement (e.g. the removal of the STEP requirement for a Mathematics offer) based on geo-demographic and educational indicators.
Contextual data is additional information considered by our admissions decision-makers alongside your UCAS application. At the University of Warwick we aim to ensure that there are opportunities for all applicants irrespective of personal circumstances or background. We recognise that certain applicants may have previously faced social, socio-economic or educational disadvantages and the use of contextual information gives us a fuller understanding of an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of these barriers.
For more detailed information about our contextual data policy please refer to our contextual offers webpagee_.

goodbyestranger · 17/12/2021 23:07

Did the other two DDs put in applications for the US Frankl?

Why did they opt for different schools in the UK (I'm intrigued as a mother of a large family myself as to why you would want the monumental hassle - my eight all went to the same nearest school wit the school bus picking up at the door).

Also, surely you still had massive fees to supplement bursaries - do any independents offer 100% fees? I thought the max was 50 % or so.

goodbyestranger · 17/12/2021 23:07

*with

goodbyestranger · 17/12/2021 23:12

Apologies for the questions - obviously no need to answer - just can't imagine the faff of different schools (mine were all singletons but the first six were born very close together - I found it a challenge to pack them off to the same school each day, never mind four different ones. So really curious as to motivation. That said, I'm clearly lazy. Or incompetent).

Frankl · 18/12/2021 00:12

@goodbyestranger

Did the other two DDs put in applications for the US Frankl?

Why did they opt for different schools in the UK (I'm intrigued as a mother of a large family myself as to why you would want the monumental hassle - my eight all went to the same nearest school wit the school bus picking up at the door).

Also, surely you still had massive fees to supplement bursaries - do any independents offer 100% fees? I thought the max was 50 % or so.

No, only DD2 and DD3 wanted to apply for the US. DD1 was curious about the process, but when she saw how much work her sisters put in their applications she was relieved she didn't choose to do the same. As for DD4, she never considered it, she was not interested.

As for the different schools, I will not say to which schools they attend. They asked to go to different schools, as they were tired of being constantly compared, and they wanted to have different groups of friends. Also, they love talking about how school and their other activities went during the day when they are home.

All families are different, my DD's could not tolerate another year of wearing name tags so to not confuse teachers. 8 DC, wow, I am astonished! If my girls were not quads they would have remained in the same school, but we are really used to our timetables now, and I do not regret listening to them when they asked to go to different schools.

Regarding bursaries, I have heard of some independent schools which give 100% bursaries, though they are very rare

beeswain · 18/12/2021 06:30

@carben, interesting, yes it looks like a contextual offer. I was wondering if they had reduced the standard 3xA* because of her MAT, which is what happened for DS. Great to have Warwick offer early though, entry for Maths there is super competitive and it's a great course.

goodbyestranger · 18/12/2021 17:40

Interesting Frankl, completely get the point about individuality.

Have the two DDs with the offers from the US cancelled their UK applications? Because if they get an offer from Oxford offers then in effect someone else loses, if they really have no intention of accepting. That said, the decisions will already have been made. Other unis in the UK don't operate on the same margins, so it isn't important with them, just Oxford.

goodbyestranger · 18/12/2021 17:41

offers

Frankl · 18/12/2021 18:20

@goodbyestranger

Interesting Frankl, completely get the point about individuality.

Have the two DDs with the offers from the US cancelled their UK applications? Because if they get an offer from Oxford offers then in effect someone else loses, if they really have no intention of accepting. That said, the decisions will already have been made. Other unis in the UK don't operate on the same margins, so it isn't important with them, just Oxford.

Yes, they e-mailed all the universities which they applied to, so I think everything regarding UK unis has come to an end for them
goodbyestranger · 18/12/2021 18:27

They need to go through ucas. An email won’t be sufficient. Also, a lot less hassle - one click.

Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2021 11:11

Hope you are all planning for a lovely Christmas. Just wondering how your DC are feeling about a potential lockdown and them not sitting exams again? A bit of a nightmare and one I thought we had got through and they would 100% be sitting. They have had it hard havent they this year group with their education?

DD seems ok and admittedly learns well from home so I don't think she would be upset if they didnt go ahead its more the not knowing again. Poor kids!

OP posts:
MFLMum2021 · 19/12/2021 11:43

My DD would be quite stressed by it, I think. She really disliked online learning. I do think it very unlikely they will close schools again - they didn’t close schools when Covid rates for Yr7 to Yr11 reached nearly 10% in October (based on the ONS survey) and now many more are vaccinated.

I really, really hope they do go ahead, both for DD and for DC2, who is sitting GCSEs.

Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2021 11:56

I think the issue is them having sufficient staff to keep schools open rather than a blanket closure. This then leads to inequalities in their teaching / learning. At this point things are changing rapidly so it's certainly possible but then you'd hope schools would have prepared for this eventuality.

OP posts:
carben · 19/12/2021 12:04

I suppose for GCSE's they had more or less finished the curriculum and most had managed some mocks. So, there was data but the confusion about TAG's and algorithms was a nightmare. And, they were literally thrown out of school in March never to go back to Year 11. Over Year 12 and 13 we've all seemingly got used to not knowing what will happen next. Sadly, it's almost normal. Everyone knows how important on-going assessments and mocks have become. UCAS carried on and entrance exams and interviews have been completed for Oxbridge and most other institutions even if online. Prepare for exams but treat assessments and mocks as the real thing - that's what I have been 'advising' my DD and DS.

I'm hoping that this will mostly breed resilience but it will be a long time until we know the true effect on this cohort.

Stockpot · 19/12/2021 18:32

It would be a shame if this year group never had an externally marked exam.

doubleshotcappuccino · 20/12/2021 04:29

@carben totally agree with this advice .. this year group will forever be referred to when pupils at " mocks don't matter" ..
also thinking of you all with DCs already at uni- must be awful to have your first year away last year curbed by covid. DD would prefer to be in school but the news this morning does not look promising for their to be enough teachers to be in - and they also will have to think about their own families. Good luck for anyone trying to get through these days of waiting .. Christmas is a very muted affair this year thanks to Covid, waiting,
mocks and being a teenager !

ProggyMat · 20/12/2021 15:15

The UCL Classics bus has left the depot!

Horace123 · 20/12/2021 16:54

Wonderful news @ProggyMat - lovely for your DD as I think this is one of her favourites?

I have discretely reminded DS that he needs to keep checking his emails but got a vague dismissive shrug. Will have another go later and let you know if he hears anything.

ProggyMat · 20/12/2021 18:14

@ Horace Thanks! And yes it is one of her favourites.
Strangely, she got a ‘seasons greetings’ email from them today ( having recently had one from Bristol and Edinburgh) which was swiftly followed by an update from UCAS track! Grin
No news as yet from other universities that her friends have applied to- I’ll let you know when they’re rolling out!

badasscafe1 · 20/12/2021 18:31

Congratulations @ProggyMat !!!!

ProggyMat · 20/12/2021 19:43

Thanks @badasscafe1- I’m keeping my fingers firmly crossed for the Classics trio and all others waiting for news in January!

Thisisconfusing · 21/12/2021 00:15

Congrats to all of those with Imperial offers . DS1 applied for Biology which doesn’t do interview . This evening he got a rejection . He has 10 x grade 9s at GCSE , has two level 3 quals ( FSMQ maths and History both at the top grade) and predicted 4 x A* ( maths , FM, Bio ,Chem. ) He had ( I thought) a pretty good personal statement with a lot of relevant stuff he has done and which aligned to the course and had a great report from his school . He would love to know what it was that made him a no - do they give you any indication why ( I presume not but asking anyway ). He is at a top London independent and in the top of their cohort . Does anyone have any insight as to what sort of things would make it a no. I think he would understand it better if he had had an interview . Thanks in advance

SandyBayley · 21/12/2021 07:10

Congratulations @ProggyMat ! Lovely to have another offer in the bag.