Applying to Oxbridge for 2023 intake

[riverpebbles]

Not sure if there is already a thread on this? My son is hoping to apply to Cambridge for Computer Science for October 2023 start.

Ds is thinking of giving a Cambridge application a go but is unsure how to tackle the ps since it would be a different course at Cambridge to his other applications.

Cambridge has tracked (the old) AS scores, A2 scores, First Year percentage and Finals percentage for many years. So they have a lot of data on how their students develop. They found a clear pattern up to the October 2016 intake and their graduation in Summer 2019 (after which the Gove A Level changes had kicked in and then Covid-19 came).

The higher the School AS(Year 12) and the A2(Year 13) scores, the higher the Cambridge First Year and Finals performances.

Clearly there are 'the exceptions which prove the rule', but Admissions Tutors worry about the fate of entrants without at least 2 As for STEM subjects or at least 1 A for Arts-Humanities subjects.

I meant A*s.

@Dannexe , Cambridge applicants can optionally submit a Supplementary Questionnaire (known as the SAQ) which provides an opportunity to give extra/tailored information for courses that are unique to Cambridge.
DS directed his PS towards three of his choices and used the SAQ for specific interests related to his Cambridge course. Durham provide a form for extra stuff too.

@Dannexe, forgot to add my best wishes to your DS with his application.

Thank you so much that’s really helpful. He was in the oxbridge group at school then changed his mind and stopped attending and has now changed his mind again. He has his other four choices firmed up and then one which he isn’t at all sure about so he’s thinking of a speculative application just in case, even though he hasn’t done all the prep. He’s predicted A star, A star, A and would be applying for a humanities subject so it seems like it might be worth a go.

@Dannexe it's certainly worth applying with those predictions if the course appeals to him. DS made a late decision re applying but found he had covered a lot of the recommended reading already and he really enjoyed prepping for the admissions test. Having two or three other solid choices is a great strategy as it really takes the pressure of an Oxbridge application. Both my DC would have been very happy to have gone to their second choices.

DD still hasnt got a predicted grade in one of her subjects, but teh school wants 'early applications ' to be submitted by the 27th to give them time to write references. Chemistrty is based on mocks sat last term, maths and FM by her AS scores (only 2 subjects taken at AS) but no Biology predicted grade yet , She got a high A (which was the highest grade) in mocks but only got As and Bs in homeorks and end of topic tests. It is really annoying to be leaving it this late, she might have to go back to teh drawing board if she's not predicted A*

My feeling is tat if you are like 20% over the grade boundary for an A at AS level , then that should indicate an A*. If a student can achieve the grade in mocks/AS I don't know what grounds they would have to argue they couldn't achieve it in the real thing. Gos its so stressful!!

I am feeling rather disheartened. Our local TSA testing centre (according to the official website) has FINALLY got back to us to say that they don't actually know what the TSA is. 🙄 This means that DS will have to travel to another city to take it - and it costs 231 euros plus accommodation costs, train fares etc. This is going to end up being very expensive.

@rifling. That's quite a blow, sorry to hear that :-(

@rifling is it worth posting a separate thread on the HE forum to ask other MNers for advice? I know each year that I have been on the Oxbridge forums, there have been parents overseas. It may be that this year's hasn't got many yet, or people are reading but not posting. On the study abroad/gap/exchange-type threads there are people with lots of experience, who are normally pretty helpful.

Thanks. We are looking into his school letting him take the test there but it is,so last minute because the "official" test centre mucked us around for so long. If not, I think we'll just have to pay. Ds is adamant he doesn't want us to spend that much but I feel we'll regret not giving it a go.

Hi,
Just wondered if anyone could recommend any websites or books to help with studying for the PAT please?

@Hopeful646 my son is just working through the past Pat papers on the Oxford Physics website and also using Isaac Physics. We looked at books, but he says he only needs those 2 to keep him on track………so we’ll see if he’s right come November!

@OnePlusOneEquals thank you . My son is doing the same . I just wondered if there was anything else he could do . His sixth form don't help with any preparation unfortunately.

He feels that both of those are the best use of his revision time. He started with the older papers and is saving the newer ones on the different style for closer to the exam. He enjoys the Isaac Physics questions, so has put a fair bit of time into those too.

He just wants the stress of writing the personal statement out of his way. His 6th form want it all completed by next week.

PS nearly finished , they also have to have them done by next week.

How about the PAT - are the 6th form doing it there or do you have to travel?

Doing it at the sixth form . Where does your DS have to go ?

6th form thankfully. He’s not had help with Pat preparation from them, but he hasn’t asked. I think they would be happy to do so though.

My DD won't be 2023 intake but hoping I can ask on this thread as hopefully lots of you may have had the same experience.

She is Y11 at a relatively well performing comp and has just been advised she has been identified as having the potential to go there. I know there will be a talk and probably a tour. Has anyone else had this - do they just give them extra support with making sure they are in best position to apply etc?

Thank you.

@Whycanineverever for DD she was similarly identified by school and goes to extra Oxbridge sessions. DD hasn’t found it much use as she’d already researched the process but many of the others have found it useful in particular the maths students.

DD’s school didn’t arrange any tour as there is a range of subjects and colleges they are all applying to so each student signed up for their own open days. Some colleges have particular connections to certain regions as part of their outreach.

Look into competitions to enter as they can be great on the Personal Statement to have entered, if they win it is a bonus. DD won a prize from a college in Y12 and got a tour of the college and saw some things she didn’t on the open day.

@PettsWoodParadise Thanks. My DD is also quite motivated and will research stuff, she does a lot of work on past papers etc. After going to an open talk for anyone (within reason) at the school she had been thinking about applying and I had already said we could go to the open day when she is at end of y11 so she could see it and make sure she was in best potion to work on stuff in y12 to prepare to apply. Thanks for the competitions link - I have sent that to her. She is humanities inclined- English and Sociology being the main ones.

She is beyond excited that the school think she is capable - especially as she failed second stage 11+ and didn't get into local grammars!