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Higher education

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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Original poster
Lightsabre · 15/06/2023 08:16

Ds last exam scheduled for tomorrow - FM. Apparently they have marked his other subjects so I guess he'll get the results next week. I think he's looking at 3 x A stars with FM at A. Hoping this will be good enough but might not be enough for Oxbridge/Imperial as he has no contextual markers and a lot of his cohort will be predicted 4 A stars.

Looking forward to the Bath open day on Saturday. We're setting off after ds finishes school tomorrow and will see if we can book a place for dinner. The uni emailed to say there were several large events going on this weekend in Bath so traffic might be tricky (we're staying 10 miles away). We will probably do the Park and Ride.

OP posts:
IThinkIMadeItWorse · 15/06/2023 08:31

We haven't had official predicted grades yet but so far he has Astars in Maths and Further Maths and an A in Physics (his Physics teacher said he was happy to predict him an Astar if he got an A so that should be fine). He didn't do much revision for Physics, mostly Chemistry which he should get the result of today or tomorrow. He is going to the Warwick open day on Saturday.

Rollergirl11 · 15/06/2023 08:50

DD had her predicted grades for the mocks they sat after Easter. She has 2xA and an A. They have more mocks in November and Feb of Year 13. We are off to Durham this afternoon for their open day tomorrow. Quite looking forward to spending a lovely summer evening there tonight!

Rollergirl11 · 15/06/2023 08:51

Sorry that’s meant to say 2x A star

Jaxx · 15/06/2023 12:05

We find out the predicted grades on the 30th June. Hopefully they will go through the exams they have just finished before that in class which will give a good indication of what they will be. He is pretty confident with History and Latin, but he struggled with a few questions on his second maths paper so 🤞.

We did have some good news, he got got Highly Commended for his essay competition entrance 🎉. He also got a part time, summer/weekend job at a historic monument - so good for both £ and personal statement.

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 12:44

DS told me yesterday that when applying even though he's doing 4 A Levels Uni are only interested in the results of 3 A Levels so if he gets say 3 A* and one A then he only needs to put in the higher results ?!?
This includes Oxbridge

Jaxx · 15/06/2023 13:18

@HappiDaze I think your son needs to check his info. You need to include all you exams on the ucas form and there were some instances where Cambridge made offered based on 4 or even 5 A levels last year. It was in response to this that my son’s school pretty much told all the students to drop their 4th A level unless it was Further Maths.

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 15:23

@Jaxx ok will do especially as it sounded a bit Confused not to write all 4 down

He is actually taking a 5th A Level off his own back in a subject he's interested in but he's not planning on adding that. It would make sense to though but I expect he'll mention it in his PS

ErrolTheDragon · 15/06/2023 15:26

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 12:44

DS told me yesterday that when applying even though he's doing 4 A Levels Uni are only interested in the results of 3 A Levels so if he gets say 3 A* and one A then he only needs to put in the higher results ?!?
This includes Oxbridge

That's definitely wrong for Cambridge.

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 17:35

@ErrolTheDragon he's so convinced he's right but hopefully his school are on top of it and will steer him the right way.

I did try to tell him earlier that I'd heard all 4 predictive grades / exam results should be added. He told me no it was only 3 as the system will only accept 3 ?!? I presume he means UCAS

Also his predictive grades he came home with today are sort of pre predictive grades and not the ones they'll use when applying

So I'm going to take what says with a pinch of salt for the time being

Livinghappy · 15/06/2023 19:50

@HappiDaze All public exams taken have to be added to UCAS.

What universities are saying is that 3 Alevels are sufficient - so it isn't essential to study 4 Alevels. However if you take 4 Alevels then you have to record the exams you will be sitting and you may get an offer on all 4 A levels. EPQ has to also be included but can be pending if no result yet.

School usually check to ensure the UCAS application is compliant but in this case could the school be prepared to look the other way???

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 22:55

Ok I might suggest he definitely doesn't take the 5th one just for fun then

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 22:56

It's a language which he wanted to keep up with.

Original poster
Lightsabre · 18/06/2023 08:51

We visited Bath yesterday and were impressed by the course and university. They place a lot of emphasis on the personal statement. It was very well run and Bath is a beautiful place. Accommodation costs were yikes though! Off to Warwick next week.
How is everyone else finding open day visits?

OP posts:
singingstones · 18/06/2023 10:37

We did Bristol yesterday and DD thought it was ok but didn't grab her. Maybe a good insurance choice if nothing better comes along, as she would get a contextual offer from there. It was her first open day though - we are doing Birmingham / Manchester next week and Oxford / UCL the week after.

She has finished AS exams and now waiting for the results in August. I don't think there will be any wriggle room on predicted grades as AS results form part of the final A level grade and have to be recorded on the UCAS form. She took four and I guess needs at least 3 x A for Oxbridge to be realistic. (No A* at As.)

Original poster
Lightsabre · 18/06/2023 11:56

Jaxx · 15/06/2023 12:05

We find out the predicted grades on the 30th June. Hopefully they will go through the exams they have just finished before that in class which will give a good indication of what they will be. He is pretty confident with History and Latin, but he struggled with a few questions on his second maths paper so 🤞.

We did have some good news, he got got Highly Commended for his essay competition entrance 🎉. He also got a part time, summer/weekend job at a historic monument - so good for both £ and personal statement.

Well done to your ds @Jaxx on the highly commended result. My ds entered one (last minute as usual) and got a well done but no commendations. He also took the Chemistry Challenge last week but not that hopeful of a great result there as he's been too busy studying for end of term and his AS exam.

He needs to get stuck into supra curricular reading in earnest now the exams are over.

OP posts:
PettsWoodParadise · 18/06/2023 12:37

Jaxx · 15/06/2023 12:05

We find out the predicted grades on the 30th June. Hopefully they will go through the exams they have just finished before that in class which will give a good indication of what they will be. He is pretty confident with History and Latin, but he struggled with a few questions on his second maths paper so 🤞.

We did have some good news, he got got Highly Commended for his essay competition entrance 🎉. He also got a part time, summer/weekend job at a historic monument - so good for both £ and personal statement.

I do think the fact that DD won a Cambridge College essay writing competition was a foot in the door for her Oxbridge application and the eventual offer, well done to your son.

DD did ask her teachers about choice of college given the award and they said to go with the college she got the award from, she really liked the college anyway and then after the prize giving day and tour fell in love with it. When she went to the open day they even knew her name, so all very encouraging.

ShanghaiDiva · 18/06/2023 15:13

Lightsabre · 18/06/2023 08:51

We visited Bath yesterday and were impressed by the course and university. They place a lot of emphasis on the personal statement. It was very well run and Bath is a beautiful place. Accommodation costs were yikes though! Off to Warwick next week.
How is everyone else finding open day visits?

dd is very keen on Bath too and just looked at the accommodation prices! My ds studied at Warwick and accommodation prices were not as expensive. He was in lakeside and shared a kitchen with 7 other students.
Not doing any open day visits at the moment, but visiting both Bath and Cambridge in July.

O2HaveALittleHouse · 18/06/2023 17:12

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 12:44

DS told me yesterday that when applying even though he's doing 4 A Levels Uni are only interested in the results of 3 A Levels so if he gets say 3 A* and one A then he only needs to put in the higher results ?!?
This includes Oxbridge

This was very loudly said at recent open days including Oxford, Durham and Exeter. Even for maths, they said the offer was based on 3 which needed to include FM so maths, FM and 1 other.

Cambridge seems the outlier.

HewasH2O · 18/06/2023 22:54

You must include all of the A levels you are taking. The university will then decide which they will offer on & whether 3 or 4. Cambridge are notorious for asking for an A* in further maths but only asking for an A in maths for maths and natural science courses. Meanwhile Oxford have a standard offer made to everyone which is listed on their website eg AAA for humanities.

Juja · 18/06/2023 23:07

DC2 had a friend with Maths A'Level (A star) completed in Year 12 and then Cambridge's offer (for 2022 entry) only required a further A star and A for NatSci even though he as taking 3 A Levels in Year 13. But I think that is unusual as often Cambridge require high grades in all A Levels taken.

Cambridge also have v demanding IB offers. DN lost her place getting 41 instead of 42.

These high offers seem to be a late filter on demand management by C. Personally I prefer Oxford's approach. They decide who they want and then give them an achievable ask...

Hertsessex · 19/06/2023 08:01

Juja · 18/06/2023 23:07

DC2 had a friend with Maths A'Level (A star) completed in Year 12 and then Cambridge's offer (for 2022 entry) only required a further A star and A for NatSci even though he as taking 3 A Levels in Year 13. But I think that is unusual as often Cambridge require high grades in all A Levels taken.

Cambridge also have v demanding IB offers. DN lost her place getting 41 instead of 42.

These high offers seem to be a late filter on demand management by C. Personally I prefer Oxford's approach. They decide who they want and then give them an achievable ask...

Oh interesting on your poor DN. DD2 has 42 776 offer for this year. Not much room for error on 776. All the others doing A level for her course got A*AA offers which seems a bit easier.

Juja · 19/06/2023 08:12

@Hertsessex Good luck to your DD2. DN I think also slipped one of her key subjects they asked for a 7 went to a 6 and that is where C gave no flexibility and said there was no point reapplying. As you say these IB demands seem harder than A star AA offers

At least the waiting isn't as long for IB results - fingers crossed...

HoneyMobster · 19/06/2023 08:23

Sadly Cambridge does seem resolutely inflexible on IB. DD had a friend who had an offer of 43 and got 42 and was declined. For people unfamiliar with IB these are astonishingly high scores and incredibly difficult to achieve.

DD, on the other hand, had a very 'comfortable' IB offer for Medicine at Oxford (39).

Hertsessex · 19/06/2023 11:32

HoneyMobster · 19/06/2023 08:23

Sadly Cambridge does seem resolutely inflexible on IB. DD had a friend who had an offer of 43 and got 42 and was declined. For people unfamiliar with IB these are astonishingly high scores and incredibly difficult to achieve.

DD, on the other hand, had a very 'comfortable' IB offer for Medicine at Oxford (39).

My DD2’s college to be fair have already said if miss by 1 point send us breakdown asap and we will consider. DD1 got 42 in IB, took gap year and didn’t even get Oxford interview. Whole process is a bit random.

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