Oxbridge Aspirants - Part 6

[HoneyMobster]

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

@CurlyhairedAssassin
@Panicmode1
@PermanentTemporary

Yes, I think it's worth checking, @kitnkaboodle. Only because of their situation. I wouldn't be chasing my own DS's application up. I think for my DS he's in the "Reserves" pile from early entries, and they're seeing how his application compares to the post-Jan entries, and making the decisions as they come in. I don't think many students will be a straight off definite on a very oversubscribed specialised course. I think most will have a wait on their hands.

But your DSs' situation is different. Very definite possibility of a mixup. All you need is confirmation that there hasn't been one.

Apologies if this has been covered, but does anyone know about the Crankstart bursary? I’m trying to find out if savings or bank account balances are required? We have a low (c.£27k) actual income but some cash in bzz a no accounts, ISAs, maximum premium bonds etc.
Do we have to declare those or just actual taxable income?

@Notonetojudge I think it is just based on income from the student finance application so I don’t think bank balances, ISAs etc. are noted. I definitely didn’t need to give that information for my other two children’s student finance forms.
My DS is also hoping to get one. It sounds amazing.

@Letsgoforaskip it does doesn’t it!
In these days when students get nothing for free it seems, to have £5k which they won’t have to pay back would be amazing.

Ds is doing a 4 year course too so obviously more £££, goodness knows how architects and doctors afford it, although I suppose in their chosen profession they’ll earn decent salaries whereas ds is more likely to be an impoverished academic starving in a garret

@Notonetojudge I know! The thought of the thousands of pounds they are technically borrowing is terrifying but I try to see it as a graduate tax rather than a debt. I know it is really a sort of debt; the tax just seems more positive!
I like the way that the Crankstart scheme encourages volunteering too.

Phew, mocks over and he managed an A* in FM, so now he's confident that he CAN do it, so fingers and toes firmly crossed!!

For those that have older children already at uni and have been through this UCAS process before - when should we be doing finance forms etc? DS has not been very forthcoming with info on the financial side of things!

www.gov.uk/government/news/apply-now-for-student-finance-as-the-application-service-launches-for-2223-academic-year
New applicants need to apply by 20th May @Panicmode1
The student applies then the parent/carer gets sent a form to complete with their financial information.

@Panicmode1 my DS scraped an A in FM in his February mocks too. And I think scraped is the word! But an A is an A* ... He's got ANOTHER set of exams in the next two weeks now! All part of the belt and braces approach post-covid.

@letsgoforaskip brilliant, thank you.

Well done to your DS @kitnkaboodle. Mocks seemed really hard - I don't know whether the school do that deliberately (the physics teacher set a really obscure question on something that is only covered in one lesson for example), but he said to DS afterwards that he got a secure A*, so perhaps they do it to scare those who perhaps haven't worked quite as hard, into performing!

I found out at the open day about the Cambridge Bursary scheme, in case any of you were not aware. It is paid automatically on a sliding scale to anyone who qualifies for the means tested part of the maintenance loan, from £3500 for the lower income end to 0 at the top (£62k). A great boost for those that really need it

Well done to @Panicmode1 and @kitnkaboodle's children for their A* in FM. I just wish my son had managed that in his mocks. I don't feel I can relax properly till August now!

@CurlyhairedAssassin - it was a near squeak. More of an issue at the moment is Physics. Apparently they haven't finished the syllabus yet and are talking about extra sessions after school. I know that's not unheard of at this time of year, but it doesn't inspire confidence. I asked him if he wanted some private online tutor sessions, but he doesn't think that's necessary- yet. Just hope there's not a last minute panic.

Hello old friends, and @kitnkaboodle who wears two hats. Hope your DC are still excited about their offers and are working to get the grades.

Just reporting back to say DS received an unconditional for History/ IR at St Andrews this week. He’s still not decided and is waiting for news from Durham BUT I am over the moon - it’s close to home, free tuition, best rated course and an opportunity to go abroad for a year. What’s not to love!

Brilliant news @Eightytwenty - my younger DS is thinking about politics / economics for next year and it's great to hear of offers coming through.

DD is still excited about her Oxford offer but it has settled in a bit now. I think the excitement will ramp up again when we both get to go to an offer holders day next month.

@Eightytwenty many congratulations to your DS - sounds like an amazing course and a friendly small uni. We know two people there at the moment having a brilliant time.

You must be so relieved and I hope can relax after a long couple of months, I've been thinking of you lots and peeping at your other thread. The uncertainty is very tough on young people and their parents.

I was wondering if we would be better moving to the Irish system where all offers are post A Levels in the same week and it avoids this horrible waiting. It does though simply rank your final exams (with some algorithm for contextual factors) What do others think?

Thanks! Yes it’s been & continues to be highly stressful. It’s been a long haul since October. Haven’t heard a bad word about kids experience at St A, though some of that experience is from years back pre Covid.

@Eightytwenty Fabulous news - well done your DS!

@Juja - I do think that having results before applying would be so much better.

Ooh this thread has slipped down the leader board somewhat!

My DS2 heard from Imperial at 10pm tonight! It was a no, but as he has an offer from Cambridge he doesn't really mind. A bit of a shock, though, after his Imperial interviewer concluded, as I think I mentioned earlier, by saying 'Hope to see you in September' 🤷‍♀️ Really weird to get the message at 10pm on a Sunday too ... I doubt an Imperial offer is any less punishing than a Cambridge one, so he doesn't feel he's lost much. Probably going to firm Cambridge and insure Bristol now once he's been to Bristol offer holders day. Hope everyone is bearing up.

Oh no @kitnaboodle that is a shame for him. DS is firming C and insuring Bristol too!

I think my DS is going to do offer holders days at Bath and Bristol before ticking the final boxes. He's definitely rejecting Southampton. I went round Bath with DS1 last year, and we both know Bristol well, so I'll probably just stick him on a train!

My DC is trying to decide which to insure for modern languages between Bristol and Newcastle.

We were looking at the Bristol offer and it is somewhat weird - it is ABB - which sounds great but says the Bs in her two languages and so implies the A in the third subject which is the one where DC could slip - so the slip that misses the AAAA - O offer could also result in missing Bristol.

Newcastle is AA in the two languages and M2 in her third subject (it is a Pre U) which is higher than Newcastle's website standard offer of ABB.

Has anyone any experience of such tightly defined offers? And what flexibility there might be in modern languages which generally aren't that competitive.

Why can't they keep it simple?

Just popping back on quickly to say that DS finally heard from Imperial for aero engineering. Not only does he have an offer but he's also been offered a scholarship (not the standard bursary but an academic scholarship). So that is nice for his pride after this long wait. Unfortunately it's the exact same offer as Cambridge so he will be turning it down as he doesn't think there is any point having 2 offers the same as both firm and insurance.

Still waiting for Bristol but he's pretty much decided against that anyway now, it's been too long and his mind is set on Cambridge (even though his FM mock was a totally dodgy result! ). THink he'll be putting Southampton as his insurance, even though he hasn't been able to attend the offer holder days (once because of the storm, and the recent one was because he was in the final of a competition and didn't want to let his team down!) I'd be happier if we visited before results day, just in case.

It's so weird, @kitnkaboodle, that your DS has an offer from Cambridge but not Imperial. Makes you wonder exactly how they are deciding on their offers - picking out of a hat?!

Wow @curlyhairedassassin many congratulations to your DS. Amazing achievement. 😊

DS firmed C and insured Bristol last night and said it felt really odd rejecting Imperial. But he just felt that the course (and the prestige!) were right but the costs/London student life wouldn't have been right for him.

Fingers crossed they all get the grades they need now 🤞🙏

yes, my DS said the same about the downsides of Imperial. There are so many pluses but the downsides aren't good and do detract from it. DS is a better fit for Cambridge anyway I think.

Keeping everything crossed! What a stressful year!

Hi dd’s college has asked for gcse certificates and since those exams were cancelled due to 2020 covid I’m confused… what to send?