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...

Thanks so much fishingeagle. They all will on this thread.

Nice to hear all your news. Just caught up from my Covid sick bed.

Missed a leavers drinks reception at the weekend so hoping I’m better for prize giving and leavers lunch on Friday. And especially hope that I don’t pass it on to DS1 or DD2 so they don’t miss their end of school activities.

Mixed bag with Cambridge feedback. Not sure it’s really worth them doing it.

I do understand that they have a lot of rejected students asking for explanations and they want to be careful about what they say. I’d prefer, if they didn’t bother.

My DS also got Cambridge feedback a few months ago. It was detailed and was definitely focused on him. It included references to his exam and the two interviews he had. I was impressed with it. It was fair, pointing out the positives and negatives. It was definitely worth asking for and demonstrated the amount of effort that Oxbridge invest in coming to their decision. One of the other unis he was rejected from did not even bother to send him an email.

@Eightytwenty get well soon .. gosh that's rough at the end of exams to get Covid. Yes @Stockpot I agree that they should hold themselves to the same standards as they expect from applicants.but you're right @coffecake12 that's it's good to have communication. Although Dd exams not finished yet ( History) tomorrow ..I'm thinking about the next stage .. which means that at the end of this she leaves.. that's a whole other thread I would like to unpack with you all ! So ... last exam tomorrow , then C feedback .. then bat off any ideas of a gap year... then have a large (huge) G and T and then .. on to the leaving part ...

The leaving part is ok. Takes a little getting used to and I personally recommend going into their room quite quickly after dropping off. They are back before you know it and it is wonderful to see them but they upset your new found peaceful routine !

@Volterra excellent ! Twins with GCSEs next year so shall I enjoy the brief respite ..

@Valleyofthedollymix they are also picking out those for whom a place will be most life-changing, knowing that in doing so they are rejecting more academically able applicants. I'm not saying they are right or wrong to do so, but I think it's a factor to bear in mind. Admissions are not straight forward, 'best' is relative and context is everything.

I do think they are looking for potential, how an applicant might thrive given the opportunity. Not trying to imply that kids with offers don't deserve them.

So for 'academically able' read 'perfect grades up to now'.

Oh no, I'm not trying to imply that those with offers don't deserve them either - just that probably almost all of them do and the differences are marginal and sometimes arbitrary. And also agree that they might be looking at other factors than just the 'best' (whatever that means as there are so many different ways to measure it).

All I mean, I think, is that there's no binary 'Oxbridge successful candidate' vs 'Oxbridge unsuccessful candidate' categorisation, it's very blurred. I heard an interesting interview with the author of a book called Chums about the Tory government and their attendance at Oxford in the 80s. Lots of them segued into adulthood with a belief in their fitness and entitlement to rule based on the fact that they got into Oxford aged 17. The author pointed out that the hit rate for applicants for Classics (Johnson's subject) was two out of every three applicants, so hardly a sign of some deep intellect that would improve the nation's politics.

Anyway sorry, this is a very backwards point to make given that all the lovely children on here are going off to other great universities and so the point is self evident.

@Valleyofthedollymix absolutely.
I don't think Johnson's problem is so much lack of intellect rather that he's only interested in applying his abilities for his own self-aggrandizing purposes. But how Liz Truss got into Merton God only knows.

Hi sorry I haven't read the thread and not sure which unis all the DC are off to, but I went through this the previous year and I just wanted to agree with the point above that, with the exception of a few outliers, there is no discernible difference between students going to Oxbridge or other competitive unis. Also, don't forget that when they apply first time around, they are up against quite a lot applying second time round and sometimes just that extra year of maturity can make a difference. My DS reapplied and was successful (Geog) and it was a lot easier second time around. He now knows quite a few going next year (different subjects) and all are reapplicants.

Thanks fishing. And it's done! DS is done, whatever the outcome. Yippee! Maths today was "ok". He's gone to celebrate with his friends, though I suspect he will be stuck getting back because of the tube strike.

Feel a bit empty and emotional. My last DC in school too. The last two years have been very hard.Thrilled at the thought of never going to another parent teacher meeting though.

Hope all of you finish soon!

@CaliforniaDrumming that's amazing you're done ! Must say I agree with you ... whilst the thought of her leaving is sad I'm delighted the school years for her are done . Last exam today !

Hellooooo!! Well here we are last day for DD with History this morning, she's then off out with her mates to celebrate 💃💃💃 She's not sure how it's all gone, feels History has let her down. No point worrying now she's done everything she could.

@Geamhradh Glad to be of service DD has loved speaking to all the other offer holders too and everybody seems friendly.

Gosh it's been a long slog since I started the original thread in March 2021 but at last they're done. Our babies are leaving school 🥺

Good luck to them all 🥰

DS is sleeping in this morning and it is really nice to see:) After all the months of hard work. At some point I am going to make him clear out his room but not today:)

Oh yes me too!! Dd room is a pit but I've left off the nagging 😂😂

DS is done too, he found all his exams quite easy. Well not easy, but he thinks he’s done well and to be honest he had done a million hours revision so deserves to feel so confident. He’s quite confident he’s got the grades he needs for Warwick, so think I can start collecting stuff now (as back up in St. Andrews and flying there so would be getting from Amazon). Hope everyone enjoys the summer, no doubt we will all be here towards results day.
I also got a promotion recently so we are off out to celebrate this weekend - double celebration

Well done to those who have finished. What a journey we’ve been on @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango

Prize giving here tomorrow. Will be one hot mess at various points I’m sure.

All finished here too! DS happy with how they went so now just playing the waiting game…. Well done to all our DCs for making it through and hopefully they all have some fun in the summer before the next chapter begins!

Yes it is such a relief and now they can enjoy the long summer. DD is really unsure of how things went. She always has that feeling for English Lit but tends to do well so fingers crossed she will get what she needs. History has been the subject she has felt least confident in but the last paper on Wednesday she came out of feeling much better. God knows, going to have a look at clearing when UCAS publish the list just incase she needs it. She would be gutted not to get the grades for either her firm or insurance. I suspect a lot have a wobble afterwards. Gah its going to be a long wait until the 18th August!

DD also had last paper on Wednesday for history, she also doesn’t feel confident about history.

She is also a poor judge of her own exam performance.

Great to hear all your news and pleased so many are finishing and relaxing. Well deserved rest for the mamas too.

I've left all uni chat alone and DS1 mentioned 'uni' twice in the past week and SAAS application today. I have hope. I'm answering all travelling conversation with 'hmmm' 'uhuh' and nothing else 😅. Crossing my fingers.

My DD is finished too, she thinks all went well but is a little nervous if results day. It's her birthday the day before so hopefully a double celebration!
It's sixth form prom this Friday, she's looking forward to that as they didn't have one in year 11 obviously.