Reapply to Cambridge?

[Mollymalone225]

What are your thoughts on reapplying to Cambridge? DC was pooled and rejected for Natsci (physics) this year. Was predicted 4 A*s, had gold in physics and chemistry olympiads that was mentioned in personal statement. Since then has grown to like maths/physics a bit more than chemistry.

DC has an offer from UCL (natsci) to start 2022 and if reapplying only wants the following 5 (in order of preference)
Cambridge (natsci again- doesn't like Cambridge engineering course),
Imperial (2 courses in engineering- civil and mechanical)
UCL (natsci/physics and engineering).

He only wants to consider Cambridge, Imperial or UCL and I'm really worried that second time round he will get no offers from these places even if he ends up securing 4A*s. Why? Cambridge favours state school applicants and DC goes to selective private school. Imperial/UCL are incredibly competitive and nothing is a guarantee- especially if one takes a gap year, real passion needs to be shown. Given DC is so unsure about physics/natsci/engineering and wants to apply for different courses at each of the universities, I'm not sure a single personal statement can deliver passion for all this. So his statement will probably be natsci-oriented with a splash of engineering related work experience if he secures it. Gap year opportunities in relevant areas are so competitive and rare.

I'm so scared he'll end up with no offers - is it better to take the UCL offer and move on? So worried. Thoughts, advice much welcome. (of course, reapplying only applicable if he ends up getting at least 3 A*s in further maths, maths, chemistry and physics)

Yes, I did try to think of a way to compensate for the fact that there is a much wider ability range at state schools than at most private schools (another factor that smooths the path in the latter), hence starting with the idea of a cohort of 'equally able' children.

I don't have a figure for the proportion of 'higher ability' 11 year olds who are private schooled vs state schooled (11 is important - it isn't just the sixth form experience that paves the way more readily to Oxbridge in a private school context).

Is it 1 in 5 of ALL children who are private schooled at 6th form? Or 1 in 5 of 'schooled' children, so without those e.g. doing apprenticeships etc?

That said, I am sure that you can see that attempts to redress the historic factors that have skewed the playing field in favour of privately-schooled children (and no, a 'university coaching site' is not a substitute for 7 years of a different educational experience and university preparation) are, at a population level, fair, even when at an individual level having advantage removed that your child would have had some years ago is extremely distressing.

perhaps the value added of being at Oxbridge maybe higher for state school kids with genuine differences in journey.

That seems a terribly convoluted way of saying that state schooled pupils may have equal, or more, potential to excel in Oxbridge, even if they are slightly less polished candidates on paper and at interview when they apply than their private schooled peers!

I'm sorry but I just can't feel that much sympathy for individuals being extremely distressed by systemic unfair advantage having been removed.

How many independent school kids are accepted to read Classics each year compared to independent school kids accepted to read all other subjects OP? Numbers please!

I think your son needs to really consider why he wishes to reapply. His alternative options for his chosen degree are very good indeed. London has way better nightlife, museums and galleries than Cambridge.

He needs to brace himself for a second rejection and make sure he does something decent with his gap year or the whole reapplication may be very counterproductive.

He sounds very clever, but the achievements you describe have all been facilitated by his school. What has he done on his own? If his achievements do not go beyond his grades and Olympiads, he's not that remarkable in terms of his Cambridge application.

A lot of young people confuse their desire to go to Cambridge with their entitlement to be there.

@cinnamonjellybeans yes, you are right that the gap year should not be wasted. What has DS done beyond doing well at school? He's an avid reader and has been volunteering at a local reading club to help primary school kids read, was a covid vaccine centre volunteer most of last year, and a good cook. Plans for gap year? none yet. perhaps work at the local coop while looking for some engineering internship that are very hard to secure. Continue with helping primary school kids read and take over some grandpa caregiver duties. So basically nothing that will help him stand out as a reapplicant.

I wouldn’t encourage my son to reapply. My son was gutted to not get an interview at Oxford. But he got over it, got an offer from everywhere else including Imperial and St Andrews, but in the end chose what was his last choice pre visit, Warwick. At the end of the day the risk is quite high to be in the same position or worse one year down the line. I mentioned Oxbridge as a post grad so who knows, but I think my son will always have some sadness about it but he’s very much looking forward to going to Warwick in September

I think there are a few key factors to weigh up if considering reapplying -

1. Were they 'pooled' (Cambs)? This means that they thought the application was at the required standard, even if not actually offers a place.
   Were they offered an interview/s (Ox). This at least is an indication of a stronger paper application.

2. Grades. The majority who enter Oxbridge will have at least three A stars (At C it's something like 60% of humanities students and over 80% of science students - I assume Oxford is very similar) . It's only really worth applying if they have top grades in hand because they will be looking at where they sit in terms of the grade profile of the actual intake year on year. This is especially true for applicants from selective schools.

3. What have they done to boost their application since last time? Can they do something in the gap year that is relevant (much easier for humanities students admittedly).

4. Do they want to do a gap year in its own right? Even if they don't get into Oxbridge again, would they still think a gap year was the right thing to have done?

5. Have a clear plan for the gap year, rather than just drifting into it. Don't forget, their friends are likely to have gone and they will see a lot of freshers weeks etc etc etc on social media. They need to have their own focus and purpose and ways of meeting new people.