OR 22 - Edinburgh, Warwick, St A, UCL, Durham, Nottingham, Bath and more

[Valleyofthedollymix]

Following on from the Oxbridge rejects thread but I've got rid of those two words. I for one am interested to know where they all end up and when Durham might finally deign to reject/offer DS...

@Puffalicious Teachers like you make all the difference:-)

@doubleshotcappuccino Don't have it in the tank....yes that just about sums me up too. I have DS doing A-levels next year too so can feel what you're saying. Hopefully she will realise what a fantastic opportunity she has ahead and continue with her original plans.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango another nail biting year ahead for you too! I expect we will meet on another thread !

Ds finally rejected from Edinburgh! Looking at TSR thread and spreadsheet they appear to have got nuts. Ds is 3 grades above the standard contextual offer and they are rejecting much better students than him and also giving out AAA offers which seems really unfair given that it is an AAA-ABB course. Medicine or vet med or comp sci I could understand but on what planet should you need 2A*s to study history? It was ds’s 4th choice and seemed, back in October, to be a pretty safe bet. He has firmed UCL and has Newcastle as his insurance and is in a total panic about not getting the grades for UCL after sitting a couple of fairly disastrous mocks. He’s totally fine in the 2 subjects he’s not studying next year but he’s suddenly really crap at history 🙄

That should say

A star A star A

offers for a AAA-ABB course. Not an A grade but bolder

Puffalicious - I love it when you hear or read interviews with people who've done well from a disadvantaged background as there's always a teacher who made the difference. It's so moving and that's just the super-successful - there are so many children whose lives have been immeasurably improved by a teacher opening doors in their minds.

Kitnkaboodle - I'm so happy! I was almost more invested in your DS2 than my own child. Brilliant news, but again, what took them so bloody long?

TangoWhisky - I have to say I'd be horrified if DS started talking about reapplying. He won't, because frankly it was always a long shot that he approached pretty phlegmatically. Of those I know that have reapplied, more have been successful than not - it helps being a year older, having experience of the process, time and headspace to read around the subject.

However, it has been incredibly stressful, far more loaded than first time round. One girl I know (all 9s, done the year that they did GSCEs, 3 A stars in hand) was rejected from Cambridge a second time and when I last spoke to her mother was still waiting on Durham, where she'd been due to go the year before and had a place.

And even if it is successful, I'm not sure it's worth it - as you say, there are other great courses and universities. But I guess if your DD is determined, you can only support her in this.

That’s wonderful news @kitnkaboodle I’m so glad that DS1 has several good choices. The wait is awful.

@Puffalicious you are the teacher we would all want for our DC!

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango that’s frankly terrifying. I really hope your DD settles on Bath. I read a really good argument on here somewhere that DC who give Oxbridge a second try are less likely to gain a place than they were in years past even with a clutch of A*s. I wish I could remember the details of the argument. Basically, there is still a big hangover of students to push through. And this wave will take a while to wash through. I think Oxbridge is great. Worth trying for, but it’s not got the lock on certain professions that it used to have and it is not the only show in town.

Thank you for all the lovely comments. I'm just one cog in the wheel, being very lucky to be in a great school (been there almost 27 years 🙈)that allows us to be who we are. I do think the Scottish system has been protected from the harsher conditions imposed on teachers elsewhere in the UK- but I can see them coming😪.

Amazing news kitnkaboodle! What a relief. But we can only imagine what the hell took them so long.

What is going on with my posting?😡

Tango it must be a concern for you, especially if she was really affected by it this time round. All you can do is what you're doing: quiet support in the background and hope she comes to the decision to go this year!

Exactly what Stockpot says: it's not the only show in town, by a long shot.

I think even aside from the issue of being rejected a second time, what if they get in and then get there and don't like it? There were lots of unhappy people with me at Oxford and plenty of dropouts and, sadly, suicides. They're pressured places and having put so much store in getting in that can create additional pressure.

Also agree with Stockpot that even with perfect grades in hand, there's no guarantees. I remember my best friend, who was taking a gap year and applying after results, ringing me on results day saying 'I'm going to Oxford with you' because she'd got three As. And lo, she did. It's very different now.

@Valleyofthedollymix really good points ..

Hi gang had trouble with accessing the new version for reasons I haven't the band-with to understand.

Lots to catch up with - especially pleased to hear of success for DS2 @kitnkaboodle!

@SimpleShootingWeekend there's definitely something going on with Edinburgh this year. So far DS's only offer is AAA for a course with a standard offer last year of AAA and I don't think without 3A predicted he would have got that. DS still waiting on LSE but was rejected by Durham on basis of GCSE grades apparently.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango I can well understand your trepidation. May I offer my two cents? She would I think need to get 3A* achieved to realistically be in with a shout if she's non-contextual. I wouldn't apply for HSPS again (DS got nowhere) as it is one of Cambridge's most over-subscribed courses, almost as much as Law I think and doesn't have a pre-test she can ace. I'd think about History and Politics; it is much less popular and I think has a pre-test she can do well in but which obviously would need to be prepared for. Bear in mind also that if more than 10 apply to Cambridge from her school that next year Cambridge will rank them by GCSE results so she'll need to be at the top of that cohort. Pick a different college, maybe Homerton? But be careful that she would be re-applying for the right reasons and not making a perceived perfect be the enemy of good. Wise words from @Valleyofthedollymix - my experience of Oxford also for sure.

Oh damn sorry @SimpleShootingWeekend - DS offer is A star As star A, predicted 3 A stars. Standard offer from E last year for same course was A star A A. All their courses seem to have upped their standard offer by one grade.

Interesting that Edinburgh are slow with so many offers this year. DS got his unconditional really quickly (within a month of applying) for Maths, but we're STILL waiting on St As. It's a disgrace, it really is.

Great info about re-applying for Oxford- lots of ins and outs to in. I'm just glad DS has decided against reapplying (which was maybe on the cards a few months back)- phew.

Didn't mean to crow there- just re-read and it comes across a bit as that🙈. I meant that it's a disgrace that there's such disparity between courses within the same university.

Thrilled for your DS @kitnkaboodle - I think the whole thread has been cheering for him (for both of them!) since the beginning

Nowt from Bristol here. I wish we just knew (and such a shame re late offers and missing out on the offer holder days ☹️ )

Not been able to look on here all day - so thanks everyone for DS1 congrats! I'm away from home, so don't know even the details of his offers yet!
In answer to your question of hours ago, @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango - no he doesn't regret it, as he has his Bristol offer now, which was his top 'normal' choice after the heady heights of Oxford and Imperial. If he hadn't got that, or if Bath had rejected him when he'd been holding a place with them last year, I'm sure things would have been a lot different. Thank goodness for yesterday 😓

Thank you all for your words of wisdom, you're all so helpful. I 100% do not want her to reapply, I know it would be a huge mistake for her. She is so excited about going to Uni this year so I am hoping she will see sense. Tbh she wasn't particularly gutted when she didn't get in nor had she longed for a place, she was very pragmatic about it all that's why she's surprised me.

@kitnkaboodle That's fab then that he's got Bristol what a huge relief, now you can relax!

@kitnkaboodle sorry for confusing your DSs! I'm so glad both are happy with their offers now.I can only imagine the parental challenges involved in having two at the same stage (and same course if I remember?) You must be so relieved.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango I think it's a tough one - admissions to top universities seem to be getting more competitive year on year, especially for the social sciences and politics/IR type courses that our DC both applied for. I guess it's a case of stick or twist; my DS is sticking and content to do so. I do know people whose DC targeted less competitive courses to get in to Oxbridge, but it can be a risk if DC aren't really interested; to spend three years doing something you're not wild about and it's hard enough even when you do love it. Would your DD think about a Masters? Oxford has great Politics and IR courses - I think St Anthony's college especially, which is what my DS is thinking about if he does well at undergrad. Pricey though.

@VikingNorthUtsire So sorry you're still waiting on Bristol. We are waiting on LSE - DS clearly on a waiting list of some kind so guessing dependant on others going elsewhere.

I spoke to an admissions officer at Bristol open day on Weds and he swore blind that there WASN'T any kind of two-tier system where they release offers as the top tier turn offers down 🤷‍♀️ @fishingeagle I confuse them on here too as I can't use their names! Yes, both applied for Mech Eng at Imperial, Bristol and Bath! There's a chance they could even end up at the same place together if DS2 slips a grade. That will be interesting, given they barely speak to each other 🤣

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango I'm so sorry I feel we were all going 'no, no, that's a terrible idea because...' and you were saying 'I know I agree' and then we were bombarding you with more reasons why she shouldn't reapply!

It's hard for them not to feel that this isn't some life changing moment. It's the first time they've had any real agency and in addition to the normal stresses, their development has been arrested by the two years of Covid.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango @Valleyofthedollymix yes indeed sorry if my tone sounded hectoring...

Oh no fishingeagle - I was definitely the queen hectorer! More as a reminder to myself not to let DS suddenly decide he wants to do this if he gets good results.

Great news @kitnkaboodle about the Bristol and Bath offers. Must be a huge relief

congrats @kitnkaboodle - great news. I can’t believe some students are still waiting for offers. It’s really frustrating with exams around the corner. DS had his first exam today. Spanish speaking. He said it went really well and I could see a noticeable shift in his mood as he’s been quite stressed lately. I think the pressure is starting to get to him. Nearly 1 month until the next exam. He firmed Warwick in the end for MORSE and St A for statistics for his insurance (which is the same grades but the 2 A stars for Warwick have to be in maths and further maths, whereas for St A it doesn’t matter what subjects).