[quote OnTheBenchOfDoom]@JemimaMuddledUp early entry deadline is also for medicine, veterinary and dentistry not just Oxbridge. I think a lot of sixth forms don't necessarily have the best advice. I learned more on here (MN) than anywhere else. We couldn't do open days due to lockdown so couldn't access department admissions people in person.
Ds had just started sixth form (state sixth form in the North) and was selected by a Cambridge outreach program designed to guide them as to what Cambridge is looking for. I read the Oxbridge aspirants threads on here to find out more as at no point had anyone told Ds he was Oxbridge material despite his GCSE grades. Sixth form couldn't give us any information as it is Cambridge people who come into the sixth form.
This meant I found it by November of year 12 what he should be doing in terms of supercurriculars for his personal statement. Also there are freedom of information requests which showed how many offers were made by universities in which months. It is on the website What Do They Know. I cannot find those links now and we are in a weird year just like Ds was last year. However, it shows offers are made way before January deadline, not huge amounts but they do offer. Obviously the vast majority are offered after January but the pile starts early.
I know you are saying too late and clearly it is but if you have younger children or someone asks you about applications to uni you may advise them to just get their application in. On this higher education board there are parents who have had 3 or 5 or 8 children go through the university application process who tell of their experience generously on here. There is a long running Durham thread for applicants, current students and alumni too. A wealth of information on there too. I hate text as there is no tone but I am truly trying to be helpful.[/quote]
DS was selected for something similar (Seren Network) but they didn't tell him anything about anywhere other than Oxford or Cambridge.
I know the deadline is earlier for some subjects too, as well as Oxbridge, but I don't think anyone applied for them either. It is a small school with a very small sixth form so everyone knows everyone.
DS is my second child to go to university so I'm fairly familiar with the process, or at least I thought I was! Maybe he won't end up with a place in Durham at this stage, but there are bigger things to worry about I guess. It is pointless advising anyone else to get theirs in early as the school won't have written references until January and they can't go without those.