Oxbridge 2023 support; it's offer month. Good luck all.

[Riverpebble]

New thread for the start of the Oxbridge offers.

DS has Astar Astar A for physics at Manchester. Mandatory Astar for Physics and Maths. His others are in a similar ballpark.

It's crazy.

Maths/Computing and related subjects
Warwick, Imperial and Cambridge use them

Realising A star AA is a good offer for engineering (DS said it was his college of choice and a grade less than their stated 2xA* A). Just was scared when heard.

Thanks @NoCatsToday . DS applying for engineering just had entrance exams and they haven't asked for any STEP papers. Do they also ask for entrance exams if setting STEP papers?

I do wonder if it's stepped up a gear this year @NoCatsToday - I think the bulge in the numbers of young people is starting to hit Y13/admissions and unis are still coping with the Covid over-admissions too.

@yoyo1234 STEP is Cambridge's maths aptitude exam, taken at the same time as A Levels. I think most Cambridge engineering applicants don't take it.

Thank you 😊. I know he had 3x exams to do around November/December. It's nice to know STEP aren't required on top of 3x A levels. Would think extra exams pre offer would be easier for the University (to help selection along with interview).

DD has offer of A star A A for Cambridge which is not as high as her stem friends. It is a really helpful for decision making for DD as she knows Durham and UCL are unlikely to offer less so she is likely to pull out of her applications for them. DD will then be able to firm Newnham and then insurance York York is very different at ABB and BBB if she gets an A in EPQ. DD could totally get her predicated 3 x A stars but it is helpful for her to know it isn’t the end of the world if it doesn’t happen.

DD is going to think about it over the weekend. She is someone who like to plan ahead and doesn’t like dealing with too many delays so by making a decision it is dealing with her unknowns and then helping her move onto the focus of the final furlong of A levels. I think waiting for a ‘what if’ (unlikely) lower offer from her second favourite of Durham might be counterproductive.

*Caveat DD was feeling over-loved by York and their comms (and thereby put off ) but now warming up as others have not had any comms!

DD has received an A*AA offer for maths from Cambridge and AAA for Kings in london. The added STEP is the really challenge. Fingers crossed!

I think if DS2 had any offer with a B in it he'd snap it up @PettsWoodParadise! I went to York albeit a long time ago (before the massive expansion) - it's a wonderful city and the campus was looking lovely when we went there last summer for a look around.

That's a great offer - DS (first year engineering at C) had to hit A stars in FM and Physics, and As in Maths (and they weren't really bothered by his DT) though he got 4 x A stars in the end. He's needed every single ounce of maths knowledge and said they went beyond the FM curriculum in about week 5 - the pace is brutal, but he is "enjoying the challenge"!

Thank you @PacificState that is my thought but don’t want to project onto DD. I want her to enjoy the journey.

Other DC is prepping for the STEP on top of the A levels. He says it is harder than the TMUA. I think they've just got too many exams.

It's great reading this thread and wondering if I will be on it in a couple of years. My DD is Y11 and has had Oxford in her sights since year 10 when she went to a talk about it.

She is at a comprehensive and has been identified as having potential by the school - they went on a trip there today and she has come even more determined to go.

It would be 2025 entry so feels along way away!

My DD is also comprehensive. Best thing she did is join zero gravity which matches state school pupils with existing Cambridge students to give support and guidance on interviews, STEP exams etc. I’m not sure if year 11 is too early but have a look at it x

Congratulations to those whose DC have received offers and commiserations to those whose didn't. I've been the parent in both cases, so know how it feels.

Whilst it seems awful not to get an offer, with the benefit of hindsight, C was not the right place for DD2. She has had a fantastic time elsewhere (gasp - non-RG) but was able to spend 4 months in Japan on a cultural exchange that would never have been possible had she studied at C.

My school has done well this year, but there were some surprises. I teach 2 year 13s an instrument and both have received offers from C for STEM courses. One was nice enough to say that it was all down to me, which our SLT lead thought was hilarious. One offer is pretty tough, the other is definitely reasonable.

Both my DDs eventually received offers for STEM from Durham, although in both cases it was after their final offer-holder day. I think Durham need to sort themselves out better as both mine turned them down because it was so late.

Durham and Bristol do seem to be late with offers (DS not heard from Bristol or Imperial). He loved Imperial interview and open day (I'm worried about cost of living in London!).

Thanks for this info. I will have a look.

@yoyo1234 my DS received an email from his college today with details about an offer holders day next month. It didn't say anything about guests, does anyone know if parents can attend? We didn't go to the open day and would like to see where he may potentially be studying and living but don't want to be the only ones there.

Just asked DS his is next month (15th) he's more interested in going to London on the way to play arcade games 🕹 😂.

It's a strict "plus one" max

@Karmacat your DS has done extremely well to have got pooled, though it must hurt like hell to know that he didn’t get fished out.
my DS has been a bit shocked today that 3 of his very good friends didn’t get past interview at Cambridge for NatScience and Physics with Maths, all 3 are continuously top of a very high achieving year group. It’s been quite sobering for them all. But at least they now know and can begin to focus their interests elsewhere.
Hopefully March will bring the Durham offers in as you say.
@KittyMcKitty good news that your dd got her offer today!

Did she get a 'golden ticket' from York? DS was nonplussed...

Yes @multivac DD got a Golden ticket and three or four other letters from York. From a walking tour we did of the city during Covid I understand the town is quite proud of its links to chocolate manufacturing and the Uni took that tie-in to its marketing!

DS has the Oxbridge offer plus two AAA offers but one was reduced to ABB because of his EPQ.

What is EPQ