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

[Riverpebble]

New thread for the start of the Oxbridge offers.

@Tumbleweeder my DD in the same position. No offer holder day from her college, they did send her access to an offer holder webpage. I think it’s a college by college thing and maybe not all hold them?
Durham is the only one left for us too. I mentioned to DD about withdrawing it as she wouldn’t choose it over O and it’s likely to be a higher offer so no good for insurance. For some reason she also wants to wait. I think I’d prefer to have it all settled (apart from the a-level bit!!)

@Tumbleweeder DS not confirmed his C offer but has had an invitation of an offer holder's day.
What is the Ediburgh course with as high an offer as oxbridge ?

@Riverpebble what course is Edinburgh offering for the same grades?

No offer holder day for ds and he’s still waiting for another offer before saying his top 2. Not sure why though as I thought he knew which his second choice was and I want him to accept the offer from Cambridge in case it goes somewhere!! 🤣

@Karwomannghia I feel the same way with DS . He's no wish to confirm (think he loves Imperial) 😅

DS has received an invitation to his college's offer holders day even though he hasn't confirmed yet so perhaps it's on a college by college basis?
He's really like to attend the day but we're international and can't justify the cost of the flights for a one day visit, especially having just toured a couple of months ago!

@BackToWhereItAllBegan DD’s college has the option of in person offer holder day or virtual or both, does your Son’s college perhaps offer a virtual option?

@PettsWoodParadise they haven't sent any information on a virtual option yet but he would most definitely join one if available.
Fortunately we were able to tour the College recently so I'm half inclined to think his desire to visit again in person is because it would involve him missing 3 or 4 days of school here when adding on the long haul travel time :)

Experience from DD last year and DS three years ago is that you don’t have to firm on UCAS to get invited to offer holders day. Rather some colleges have offer holders days and others don’t - very much a college by college situation.

We haven't had an offer holders day for Oxford

We haven't had an offer holder's day invite for Oxford either.

DS has had an invitation to an offer holders' day too. There is also a virtual half day but he's opting for the in person one. His friend has had an offer for another college and they don't do any offer holders events. DS is also waiting to hear from Imperial College before he firms his Cambridge offer - not that he won't put Cambridge as his first choice - he just needs to know his insurance choice. Does anyone else have DC waiting to hear from Imperial?

DD has had an invitation to an offer holder day (Oxford) and she has not firmed yet.

@Riverpebble DD has also had an offer from Edinburgh which is the same as her Oxford one - for Chemistry. I asked about this on another thread and it seems to be fairly common for applicants who have high predicted grades. I do feel they should be more transparent about this.

I think it really depends on the college whether there is an offer holder day or not. My child has an equally high offer from Warwick (Maths) and I know they are a little bit tempted by the 'more normal' university option. Offer day should be helpful to sort that out.
Some of the comments on here about how it is possible to do clubs /sport etc and work for the degrees at Oxbridge have been very reassuring in that respect.

Because we live in a low acceptance area for oxbridge there is also an online webinar for parents - I guess to try and convince us that Oxford is 'for the likes of us'. Anyone else had these invites? it looks really helpful for families who haven't much idea about going to university.

DD has an offer for Oxford but it's an open offer , so I guess no offer holder day as she won't know until after a levels which college she has been allocated.

They normally are transparent. A search of the course will show you minimal grade requirements. Lots of the ‘top’ universities ask for higher grades than Oxford or Cambridge. When my DC applied the Oxford course was the middle one in terms of grades required. The latter have more admission tests and interviews to inform their selections. Universities can and do ask for higher grades than the published ones though- especially for oversubscribed courses.

Edinburgh are going to get rejected here, they are number 3 for the subject in the country but they've priced themselves out of the insurance choice market.

I think that's rather short sighted of them.

DS isn't interested but if he was he says he'd contact them and say he was holding an Oxford offer and so asking for A star AA is pointless and ask if they'd reduce it.

@Riverpebble your son's reasoning is very sound. It certainly seems like Edinburgh are "pricing" themselves out of the insurance choices. I like his confidence in approaching them and saying about his other offer (though can also understand why he feels no need to do that) .

Agree. DD likely to insure Bristol.

I was especially surprised as the offer for Chemistry is A star, A star, A (both Oxford and Edinburgh) and I don’t think it is a particularly competitive subject.

DS2 has a Manchester offer for Engineering that is the same as his Oxford offer (2 x A star + A) - he genuinely loves Manchester but won't be able to insure it. However I'm sure Manchester know what they're doing - it won't have escaped their notice that their offer is the same as Oxford's. I guess they want students who really wanted Manchester, not students coming off the back of suddenly missing an Oxbridge offer (and probably being quite upset and demotivated for a little while at least). Plus they can fill their engineering course many times over, so why not set the standard high?

I know it's frustrating for applicants in specific circumstances but it's fair enough for the unis to do what they feel is appropriate to get the best students they can.

Why is it short sighted when Edinburgh can select just as bright DC who have Edinburgh as their first choice? It is only short sighted if you assume other candidates are inferior. Do you and your DS really think Edinburgh would overwrite their offer just to get to be his insurance?

Edinburgh is over subscribed in it's own right & doesn't need to take anyone who misses their Oxford offer, especially as an Oxford humanities offer is lower than many universities at AAA, so they would have at least 1 B in their A levels to need an insurance place.
One of my DC was disappointed to be turned down by Edinburgh even though they had an Oxford offer but realised Edinburgh had a choice of excellent candidates and could pick and chose from them just as much as Oxford. There are a lot of brilliant candidates who apply to St A & Edinburgh and don't bother with Oxbridge.
There's nothing special about an Oxbridge offer holder, they just struck it lucky in the lottery. Sounds like your DC needs a bit of a reality check.

This!

Many top tier universities ask for higher grades than Oxbridge. It’s not unusual at all. They will be able to fill those places and then some.

When DD applied, Oxford was her mid range option in terms of the grade requirements. They set their own assessments and so can make lower grade offers with better surety that they have picked the right applicants.

I expect Imperial to offer higher than Cambridge. I would also say with some courses Edinburgh will have far more applicants per place.

@nowheregirl dd is in the same position with C offer and waiting on Imperial, but if Imperial also offer an A star for further maths, it would not be an insurance choice.