Oxbridge Aspirants - Part 6

[HoneyMobster]

The offers are in but there is still a long way to go...

@CurlyhairedAssassin
@Panicmode1
@PermanentTemporary

She must have been incredibly close SkygardenTower. Honestly, the difference between those who get places and those who don't is wafer thin, it really is. I'm sorry this has been so drawn out for you. I'm so glad to hear she's excited about her other choice though - good for her. That kind of resilience counts for far more than an extra A*. We all know this. I bet when she goes to uni she will maybe meet her future partner and make great friends for life and then she won't be able to imagine things having worked out any other way. There are bigger and better things awaiting her. When one door closes, others open, as they say. Anyway, if she really wants to go to Oxbridge, there is always the option of a Masters. Good luck!!!

Thank you. I am so proud of her, she has shown real resilience and emotional intelligence over the last few days.

Now on to the fun part and looking at what to buy!

Yes, @SkygardenTower , I hope she does realise that she still IS Oxbridge-level standard, and probably would have done well there, it's just that this year has been extra tough - to even get an offer has been much more difficult due to extra students from last year deferring/taking year out etc. There are students on certain courses who didn't get an offer who in other years would have done.

I don’t suppose anyone with a DC going to Oxbridge for music could answer a couple of questions for DS who is starting to look at it?

Did they have a diploma on their first instrument at application? Do they have a second instrument, and if so, what level was that at? Finally, the dreaded keyboard test.. He’s aiming to get to grade 5 in time - and he’s read if he had grade 5 he doesn’t have to take the test at interview - does anyone know if that’s correct?

Thanks 😊

@SkygardenTower - been thinking about you as you waited - the uncertainty must have been tough - my DN missed her LSE offer by one Pre U grade and they are still waiting for a final decision it... complicated by exam board messing up.

Do hope your DD can now look forward with enthusiasm for where they are going knowing they've done so well in a hugely challenging year.

With Oxbridge it's much more about the academics than about music performance. But - DC hadn't taken a diploma. Had grade 8 in 2nd instrument. Had grade 5 in piano and I don't think they had to take a keyboard test, but the keyboard skills part of the course is apparently tricky.

@Wannakisstheteacher my DD has the ASRM Diploma (not the full diploma) in both her instruments. I don’t know how much it mattered, though.
Is your DS looking at Oxford or Cambridge or undecided? The courses and application process will be a bit different.

@pantjog he’s looking at Oxford. Were your DC’s 2 instruments related? DS plays a brass and a string instrument. I can’t see him reaching ARSM or even probably taking the grade 8 in time, but he probably could do on a related brass instrument. But if musical level isn’t critical then maybe it isn’t worth all the extra focus that would take.

@Storminamu the keyboard element is a real worry for him. His teacher thinks he could get his 5, but I think he’d fall apart in an interview test.

@Wannakisstheteacher
Although DS2's situation is a bit different (music plus an organ scholarship), he hasn't taken any diplomas. (He was working towards one on his second instrument but Covid got in the way of lessons).
The organ scholarship was based on playing and technical tests. He did say the tests were quite tricky. He didn't do any additional tests for the Music degree, I assume they were covered in the organ tests
So I definitely wouldn't assume that lack of a diploma would be a barrier.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats wow, an organ scholarship too, that’s incredibly impressive.

Just looked at my comment above and realised that I missed out the bit about how he won’t have ARSM in his second instrument - he will have it in is first. He’s also looking at RCS, so possibly the second instrument will be more critical there.

The conservatoires base your entry on audition and interview, not grade exam results. Unless it's changed from 4 years ago, you pay to audition so anyone gets a go! DS1 has just graduated from RWCMD (piano). He was certainly playing at diploma level when he auditioned, but hadn't taken the exam.

@Wannakisstheteacher I wouldn’t worry about the diplomas tbh rather focus on the keyboard grade 5/6 skills. Different colleges will have different requirements on the grade but I think most will ask for keyboard skills

dd wasn’t diploma standard on any of her instruments - grade 8 on both her first instrument and voice and grade 5 on piano. She got the choral scholarship at Cambridge.

@Decafcoffee thank you, that’s really useful. His school have been pretty blasé about the keyboard skills element - at one point they were pushing for him to not have piano lessons at all so it didn’t “detract” from his current instruments!

@Wannakisstheteacher DD’s diplomas are in piano and a woodwind instrument, so she didn’t have to do the keyboard test. She was applying for a choral scholarship at the same college.

It’s worth looking at how many Music students there are in each college. DD wanted to go somewhere where there were as many as possible, though of course it’s a small subject overall.

@CurlyhairedAssassin @kitkitnkaboodle - DS has just discovered the 36 hours of work he has to do....all becoming a bit real! Wouldn't it be funny if they all worked together on projects in the weeks to come.

Still haven't had accommodation info...?!

@ScarlettDarling Don't worry. There is some pomp and ceremony but because everyone does it they soon lose any awkwardness.

He won't be the only one from that background. Hope he makes the most of it, it's not just about the studying.

Hi Scarlett! DD was equally ambivalent about accepting her place last year. She took it in the end because she’d somehow forgotten to apply anywhere else.

It’s been a slow burn, to be honest, but she’s in the midst of some obscure vacation reading now and talking animatedly about it at every meal or dog walk, so I presume she’s happy to be going back.

Well done that boy!

Thank you so much for all the lovely, speedy replies. I’m feeling really overwhelmed and emotional today.

My son is really sociable and loves a party but all the formality and pomp really isn’t him. I’m just hoping that will only be a small part of the whole experience.

@FlyingSquid I’m relieved to hear of someone else who was so ambivalent about the whole thing. He only applied because school pressured him and I really feel his heart is closer to home. But he feels he’d be crazy to turn down the opportunity and now he’s made his decision he’s happy with it.

I’ll be back tomorrow I’m sure with lots of questions for you all!

@ScarlettDarling please do come over to the current students thread. Lots of lovely helpful people over there. Everyone is welcome.

@ScarlettDarling in a similar position. One DS heading to Oxford to read law.. definitely go to the current students thread.
my boy is very reserved, extremely 🙄 about the ‘ outfits’. I’m hoping he embraces the tradition when he gets there

You mean notification of what they’ve been allocated, when they can go etc? I know they can take their keys from the start of the Period of Residence but I am only guessing at the date of that based on last year’s. The only dates I have seen are term dates, rather than when they can enter their accommodation (I think they differ by a few days?)

i think we want to stay a night in Cambridge after dropping DS off rather than driving straight back and I’m guessing lots of hotels will be getting booked up for that weekend. I wonder whether most first year students take their room over on the Friday or Saturday?

@ScarlettDarling My D1 is at Oxford and has just finished her second year. She is state educated, we are also in the North East. She's made loads of friends from all different backgrounds and countries, it really doesn't matter. I'm sure your DS will be fine, he will find his tribe. Come over to the current students thread, we are a friendly and supportive bunch.

@Malbecfan @Elliemayclampett @JulesJules Thanks, I’ll come over to the current students thread now. Didn’t know if it was the right place as he hasn’t started yet!