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Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge 2024 Entry

988 replies

Lightsabre · 28/02/2023 13:52

Thought I'd start a thread for parents of dc considering Oxbridge applications for entry in Oct 2024 (I don't think there's a current one)? Past threads have been so informative and supportive and hopefully this thread will offer that too. Please feel free to add to the thread if your dc have recently had experience of the process, good, bad or ugly!

OP posts:
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7
fafffaff · 27/03/2023 20:49

The university that does set a lot of store by the PS is LSE. It's literally make-or-break there because they will all have the grades and there are no interviews or aptitude tests. They actually do expect them to specifically tailor the PS to their modules.

I think Durham used to offer the opportunity to submit a 'Durham PS' once the application has been submitted. This is because a high proportion will have applied to Oxbridge and mentioned minimal to zero extra-curricular, but Durham are more interested in this.

Also, Bath allow them to submit an alternative PS for many of their courses as they recognise their courses are often slightly different.

Notaclu · 27/03/2023 20:54

@fafffaff yes LSE have actually told applicants this year that they are rejected on the basis of their personal statement which is quite a challenge as again they have some course that whilst not wholly unique are quite specific - Imperial the same with their new course. It is very difficult to reconcile this!

elia3 · 27/03/2023 21:12

I think with Oxbridge, the PS can be quite 'unique' as long as it is academic and analytical. They say not to list things they have read / done, but to talk about what they have learned from it. They should talk about the 'why,' not the 'what.' On YouTube there was an Oxford tutor who talked about this - he has lots of videos.

elia3 · 27/03/2023 21:15

But yes, LSE is a nightmare as it's all about the PS (which seem ridiculous as students obviously have varying levels if help with this) and also they often don't get back to applicants until April / May..

MarchingFrogs · 29/03/2023 20:35

@Notaclu Scrolling back through threads on TSR, LSE have been telling applicants for quite some time now that they expect the PS to be pretty much 'Why I want to study this subject, in the specific form in which it is presented at LSE' - and telling rejects who fail to adhere to this closely enough that this was the reason that they were rejectedShock.

Fortunately for them, practically every other university in the UK seems not to be too picky about being presented with a PS essentially stating 'Why I want to study X at LSE'.

(I initially took a look at the LSE threads a few years back, mainly through nostalgia - class of 1985 hereSmile - and curiosity as to how things were there these days. And then kept going through a sort of morbid fascination, sadly).

Original poster
Lightsabre · 05/04/2023 18:17

Hope everyone is having a good start to the Easter break. Ds was away on a camping trip returning today and has a Chemistry masterclass next Tuesday. We're going with him as we're then heading off for a short break from there. There's also an essay competition deadline but I have a feeling he won't get round to doing this - too much like hard work!

OP posts:
Ooolaaaala · 06/04/2023 12:58

Just joining. Not yet read through the thread.

Just seen as for these tutoring companies who guide you (fleece you?) through the Oxbridge process.

Has anyone used one - or have any comment? Is it one of those things that people deny in public but secretly use?

Malbecfan · 06/04/2023 13:07

Never used one, couldn't have afforded it at the time and there aren't any that I'm aware of in SW England.

As someone whose state school educated DDs managed both to get to interview stage at C without any need for a tutor, unless the provision at your DC's school/college is dire, don't waste your money.

Norma27 · 06/04/2023 14:14

My daughter has a Uniq place which is free and only available to state school educated pupils, I hadn’t heard about it until her teachers suggested it for her. Too late for 2024 entry now though.

Norma27 · 06/04/2023 14:15

I wouldn’t pay though as said above.

ofteninaspin · 06/04/2023 14:36

I would not pay. Both my DC navigated the application process successfully without tutoring; one for Oxford, the other Cambridge. DH and I had no previous wisdom of Oxbridge to hand on but our DC found the application process straightforward. There is so much free guidance on the universities' websites about writing a PS, how to choose a college, admissions tests and interviews.

Jaxx · 06/04/2023 14:44

@Ooolaaaala read the thread - there is a link for a mentoring scheme that might be well worth it for you. I have only read warnings about the companies that charge. There is a lot of good information out there so spend some time on the university and college’s websites and YouTube channels and you will get a good idea of the process.

My son has a busy Easter work wise. The first draft of his EPQ is due on Easter Monday and a 2-3000 outline essay for his History coursework is due the first Friday of the term.

He did a lecture on Monday and has a remote whole afternoon taster next week. He is at Cambridge today as part of a scheme ran by his link college for the students in the London Borough they cover (other areas had a short residential earlier thus week as they are too far to say trip). Everybody there bar one is from his school 😳

ErrolTheDragon · 06/04/2023 17:48

ofteninaspin · 06/04/2023 14:36

I would not pay. Both my DC navigated the application process successfully without tutoring; one for Oxford, the other Cambridge. DH and I had no previous wisdom of Oxbridge to hand on but our DC found the application process straightforward. There is so much free guidance on the universities' websites about writing a PS, how to choose a college, admissions tests and interviews.

I agree.
Maybe some of those outfits are of some use to overseas applicants, idk.

HewasH2O · 07/04/2023 08:04

My daughter has a Uniq place which is free and only available to state school educated pupils, I hadn’t heard about it until her teachers suggested it for her. Too late for 2024 entry now though.

My DD had a place on UNIQ. It gave her an insight into what living and studying at Oxford would be like, albeit at a different college to the one she is in now. I think the odds of getting a UNIQ place for her course were 1/7 and she is probably one of the few who ended up with an offer. She's still in touch with some of the friends she made who switched courses slightly or ended up at places like UCL or Bath. It was a brilliant experience and I hope your DD enjoys herself.

Norma27 · 07/04/2023 08:37

Thank you! She is really excited. It was roughly 1/6 who got a place this year I think.
She has a 3 day online course next week to start her off. Such an amazing opportunity for her.

HewasH2O · 07/04/2023 12:22

DD was sent the OUP Short Introduction To...books for her subjects by Uniq. These formed part of the basis of her personal statement as she could talk about what she had done as a result of UNIQ. They also ran an interview workshop for any applicants from UNIQ straight after the TSA and they helped with admission test prep during her summer stay.

Norma27 · 07/04/2023 17:02

Thank you! That is so helpful.

IThinkIMadeItWorse · 07/04/2023 17:23

I've just booked DS into the maths faculty open day at Cambridge at the end of April. There is a session about preparing for STEP so I hope it will be useful. There is a talk for parents as well which I will probably go to. The main open days are in July I think.

Ooolaaaala · 07/04/2023 20:46

So the application process and timings look like this to me so far for history at O.

  1. Ucas form (by 29.9)
  2. Online test - HAT on 20.10
  3. Submit written work - 10.11
  4. Interviews - Dec

Is this the same process for C - and does anyone know the timeline?

Am I also correct that C say don’t bother doing the maths / trying to game the numbers on applications as they are all done centrally by Dept - but that with O there is wriggle room to take this into consideration?

Do they both do the pooling thing?

And what’s the summer pool?

PhotoDad · 07/04/2023 20:49

Cambridge has the pools. Summer pool is for "near miss" students who didn't make their offer.

Oxford do their 'pooling' internally and without the need for extra interviews. If another college wants you, they'll offer you a place at the normal time.

In general, Cambridge colleges are more independent of each other when it comes to admissions.

HewasH2O · 08/04/2023 07:36

Oxford also does an Open Offer underwritten by a specific college for a few people each year. They guarantee you a place somewhere at the university if you meet the grades, with the underwriting college having first dibs or taking you if no other college wants you.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/04/2023 08:03

Cambridge has the pools. Summer pool is for "near miss" students who didn't make their offer.

Do they still do that? I though it had been replaced by giving offers in the summer to applicants with 'widening access' markers who hadn't been given an offer in January but who had gained 'typical requirement' exam results in the summer. So they're getting people who missed an offer not those who missed their grades. Maybe they do a bit of both, not sure.

They still do the winter pool, so if the college applied to to doesn't have enough places for all their good candidates, another college can take them.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/04/2023 08:05

Am I also correct that C say don’t bother doing the maths / trying to game the numbers on applications as they are all done centrally by Dept - but that with O there is wriggle room to take this into consideration?

Not sure what you mean by that?

PhotoDad · 08/04/2023 08:09

ErrolTheDragon · 08/04/2023 08:03

Cambridge has the pools. Summer pool is for "near miss" students who didn't make their offer.

Do they still do that? I though it had been replaced by giving offers in the summer to applicants with 'widening access' markers who hadn't been given an offer in January but who had gained 'typical requirement' exam results in the summer. So they're getting people who missed an offer not those who missed their grades. Maybe they do a bit of both, not sure.

They still do the winter pool, so if the college applied to to doesn't have enough places for all their good candidates, another college can take them.

They do! One of my students last year missed by one grade and was put into a summer pool. He had to hang on for ages until they said "no" which really messed up his chances in clearing and he ended up taking a gap year.