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Higher education

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Original poster

Oxford aspirants part 5......the wait is over the results are in!!

999 replies

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 10/01/2022 18:53

Thought I would start a new thread as its likely to fill up quick now.

So here we are after many months of applications, assessments and interviews. The wait is finally over for those with DC who have applied to Oxford. Those with Cambridge applicants have another 2 weeks to wait until the 25th Jan (bummer!!)

You have all been a lovely bunch to share this journey with and I wish your dc nothing but the BEST OF LUCK for tomorrow (and the 25th). Flowers

OP posts:
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5
Puffalicious · 19/01/2022 20:09

Can I just ask what you mean about strategy for medicine? DNiece didn't get a single interview despite a high UCAT and excellent results. She's very happy doing Forensic Anthropology at the moment but I don't rule out her then doing a 2nd, medical degree. TIA

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:10

Also, can I ask what you mean about 'extra work'? I don't think my own DS1 put in anything extra at all over his siblings. He took the BMAT, they took the LNAT/ HAT/ CLAT etc. Nothing extra beyond that. People romanticise med school apps which will just make for big headed doctors.

mumsneedwine · 19/01/2022 20:13

If anyone reading this thinks you can get into medicine without applying strategically please check it out. It's vital. Essential. Necessary. Important. And it works !
Good luck to everyone waiting for Tuesday. I have 14 waiting (not my own !). 5 Oxford offers this year, but we had less students wanting to apply. It's not everyone's first choice.
Well done to everyone with Oxford offers too.

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:15

Puffalicious there's a whole magic circle on online forums where 'strategy' means matching strengths to the particular admissions requirements of the various unis. It's astonishingly simple. The interesting thing is that some of those practising the dark arts have had DC who have actually - despite copious amounts of strategy - not succeeded in getting a single offer. So, be wary!

Puffalicious · 19/01/2022 20:15

Applying strategically?

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:17

I occasionally pop up to say well maybe just leave your DC to read the bleeding websites and I get rotten tomatoes thrown at me then I absent myself again. But it really is massively over the top and ridiculous.

Puffalicious · 19/01/2022 20:18

Gosh goodbyestranger I've never heard of it! Can someone give me an example of 'strengths' matching admissions requirements?

HoneyMobster · 19/01/2022 20:20

Please let's not take this thread off track again.

Maybe my fault for mentioning Medicine. @Puffalicious - hop onto the Medicine 2022 thread and we'll bring you up to speed.

@mumsneedwine - great news on the Oxford offers. DD is already at work seeking out her potential peers. She's found quite a few already 😉

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:21

It certainly wasn't essential for my own DS mumsneedwine, or indeed his 150 odd peers at Oxford who have received the best possible training out there (in that Oxford hits #1 spot year after year).

Just standing my ground. Don't want a quarrel if that's ok! Simply to be allowed to air an opinion!

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:22

Then ignore the advice Puffalicious, is my advice :)

Chilldonaldchill · 19/01/2022 20:22

Until last year our school had a record of pretty much every medicine applicant (25-30 a year) getting at least one offer every year too.
I would argue it's getting harder to do that without some inside knowledge.
By "extra work" I meant the UCAT / bmat / interview prep / work experience. My DD (at C but not for medicine) did not have to do any of that so it is additional to what the average student has to do.
I also don't think that understanding that it's harder to get into medicine (which it simply is with 27000 ish applicants nationally for 9000 places) than other subjects makes doctors big headed. I think it makes them better at reflection and learning about failure early on. I've met plenty of big headed doctors in my time but they tend to be the ones that assumed they'd be a shoo-in wherever they applied.

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:25

HM please stop censoring. Provided that there are no personal attacks (and actually no rudeness or incivility would be nice too), discussions which are vaguely on point (Oxbridge Medicine apps) are perfectly legit.

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 20:30

Those doctors who assumed they were a shoo-in and were indeed proved to be a shoo-in may arguably make good calls in their professional lives Chilldonaldchill. Because they're realistic. Some of the worst medicine I've personally been on the receiving end of is where doctors are too timid to make a decent call so insist on endless repeat visits to hospitals, pointless tests etc. For me, that has been a very recent experience which as a reasonably intelligent lay person I called time on, so no harm done (but nearly was).

Puffalicious · 19/01/2022 20:35

Sorry, don't want to step on toes, was just vaguely interested because of DNiece. I'll pop over to the other thread for a quick question. Interesting.

HoneyMobster · 19/01/2022 20:54

I'm afraid I do feel the need to remind posters what this thread was supposed to be about. There are a number of posters who have already left this thread because of the diversions into spin off discussions which make them feel uncomfortable. The OP has already left.

I'd start another one but I fear the same will happen again....

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 21:11

So no talk about state and private, no talk about Scotland and RUK, no talk about med school applications. Anything other subjects you'd like people to avoid HM?

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 21:13

I'm a bit puzzled, since the mood hasn't deteriorated beyond discussion into antagonism, and hasn't got personal.

goodbyestranger · 19/01/2022 21:15

And as someone said above, it's a bit of a wait until the Cambridge offers are out. Comparing experience of mocks probably can't completely fill the gap!

MFLMum2022 · 19/01/2022 21:17

@HoneyMobster, l completely agree. Most of us joined this thread to get mutual support and help while our DC go though a process most of us have found difficult and stressful. And some who have been through the process previously have offered helpful insights and support along the way. I too would very much like to get back to that.

Plenty of threads around in AIBU for those who love a good debate.

MFLMum2022 · 19/01/2022 21:23

@goodbyestranger, with 2 DCs writing mocks at the moment that is actually exactly what is uppermost in my mind right now and I could discuss it at length!

On a lighter note, best observation from DC2 about this set of mocks: “it’s a very different experience writing a Latin paper when you’ve actually learnt the vocab”. About time too.

Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/01/2022 21:37

I AM BACK after my flounce earlier!!!! Had a little tear at all of the lovely support.

I honestly don't want to police the thread AT ALL but the talk of Harvard and Eaton is just so very far removed from my own life and not one I can relate to. Thank you all so very much for the messages and posts and lovely to "see" so many posters back giving their own experience and support. These threads have kept me sane this past year as it is very difficult to talk to anybody IRL about the process.

As you were Flowers

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Original poster
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/01/2022 21:46

@ACloseMatch DD is convinced she won't get an offer either (so am I TBH) but she is lucky that she is very very excited to have an offer for Bath which I am sure she will firm as soon as the 25th arrives. Please let us know how your DD gets on too.

DD has finished mocks last week. She studied hard all over Xmas and has had English lit back at an A* which she was gobsmacked about as true DD style she was in floods of tears about how bad it went. Just waiting on Politics and History now. Fingers crossed for all your dc too.

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HoneyMobster · 19/01/2022 21:51

Welcome back @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango - everyone is allowed to flounce when they feel like it. I may have been known to do it myself from time to time...

Excellent news on the A * - hope more follow.

Parents' evening tomorrow. Last ever one for DD. I have that ABBA song in my head...

ealingwestmum · 19/01/2022 21:56

Welcome back Tango. We can count down the days together and call it ‘moving on day’, as thankfully there is clearly life beyond a decision.

We’ve booked dinner in a restaurant DD has been wanting to go to for months. My 82 yr old mum is also with us next week to dog sit whilst I have some medical appointments, and DH is doing jury service. I think my mum is slightly guilty of vicariously living via DD, or hiding her long standing disappointment of my lack of higher Ed achievements. Either way, DD says she is able to celebrate offers, C or not. Hope so…

HoneyMobster · 19/01/2022 22:01

Grandparental pride is a wonderful thing. We're lucky enough to have all four parents / grandparents still and they do love everything their grandchildren do. Less interested in their children but it was ever thus...