Oxbridge 2024 Entry

[Lightsabre]

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!

At the Oxford open day in the summer, one professor told everyone to write their PS with their second choice in mind (assuming Oxford is first choice!) because they might use it in their selection process, whereas Oxford won't.

He did also say that they will all be looking for the same stuff anyway, basically evidence of your interest in and suitability for the course.

Just looked up MOOCs as I hadn't heard of them before this thread. There were only a couple relevant and they are currently archived 😞Oh well. She did a UNIQ course and has been on a couple of other programmes so they're going in.
(Will stop hogging the thread now!)

@singingstones yes I watched a YouTube interview with a couple Cambridge people who definitely said that they are well aware that some Oxbridge degrees are quite unique to them and that applicants should write their PS with the other universities in mind. For Cambridge (don't know about Oxford) there's that separate form for writing a more focused PS.
If I hear any more 'we want to see you on the page' type mantra I'll scream.

that location is to your dd's advantage

I think what should read "that location won't put your DD at a disadvantage". We all know that meeting WP criteria helps the College put applications in context, as they understand that applicants are likely to have faced more challenges than (say) an applicant from say SPGS or WinCol.

@TenSheds most UNIQ attendees go on to study elsewhere, but some of DD's PS included what she had learnt on UNIQ and how it linked to her EPQ. She hadn't formally studied any of the strands of her degree before she went to Oxford. Definitely include those GCSEs, then they will appreciate that she hasn't had to opportunity to take them in school.

advice from DD’s school today to all Y13’s - Your priority is schoolwork. Do not neglect it in favour of UCAS. Every year someone misses their grades because they spent far too much time on UCAS and not enough time on their studies….

DD has shown her tutor her PS, apparently very few amends. She hasn’t shown it to me though 😂

I was on this thread a few years ago, when my DC both went through the process, one successfully and another year one not. Thought I’d look to see how it was going now –exactly the same as every other year is the answer with a lot of concerned and supportive parents understandably wanting help. What I will say is, mn can be supportive, it can also (from my experience) be extremely unhelpful and fill you with doubts.

There are certain “knowledgeable” somewhat pompous posters, not here the last few days as far as I can see, but certainly appearing further back on the thread who offer “advice” every year that’s often at best misleading, at worst just plain wrong. One told me something that turned out to be simply incorrect but I believed in my naivety and it may have weakened my dc’s application. My fault and problem obviously for believing a stranger on the internet but just be wary. There’s an awful lot of subjectivity, and an awful lot of myths propagated. Chance plays a huge element, in our family, the dc who didn’t get a place is arguably academically stronger than the other.

There is an argument every year about how the dons just “know” what they’re looking for. They don’t, they have an idea of course but ultimately they’re seeing a lot of great candidates and - although they deny it - have quotas to fill. Good luck everybody, try not to get too invested, it will all work out either way - the dc who went elsewhere is undoubtedly a happier person than their Oxbridge-educated sibling.

Does anyone have any insight into application with grades in hand? Looking at a humanities subject with 2A stars and 1A. From an independent school. Mainly trying to evaluate how O and C view gap year applications for essay based subjects.

Also interested in this @FebuarySmith as my daughter is considering applying for HSPS at C with grades in hand (3xA star with A star EPQ). I've heard that it's the math/medicine/science courses that they (or any uni) are wary about a gap year. My daughter is doing an Art Foundation this year (was going to apply to art schools but has had change of heart). If they are doing something relevant to their course in the gap year so much the better!
I have heard that at Christ College (just as an example), 20% of their intake are on gap years, so it appears that being on a gap year in itself is no hindrance. Whether you are more likely to get an offer with definite grades? I'd like to know!

Angeldelightful what was the duff advice you were given?

Hi I really should have read this thread last year ( or the equivalent one!) when my daughter decided after the autumn open day to apply. It’s fair to say we had no idea what we were doing and no real help from the school but she starts at Oxford in a couple of weeks! I think she proves it’s worth a punt as someone has to get in! I have learnt loads in the process and if I can help at all am happy to. I do agree there is definitely a percentage of luck in the whole process!

It was about what subject to apply for - the school was useless too but the advice on here turned out to be very unhelpful. Caveat emptor

Agree that you have to be very cautious about what advice is worth following on these threads.

But I’m curious as to how your DC could be influenced in subject choice by anything said by anyone on here?

Sorry it didn’t work out.

Not going to go in to the details, it's too outing as it's quite a specific example. It was hardly a disaster though they were obviously sad at the time but I really don't believe Oxbridge is important in the scheme of things, these threads can also make it feel a bit that way, even though everyone talks about managing expectations.

I assumed it must be quite a singular example so didn’t expect an answer.

You’re quite right though, between the good and useful advice there is quite a lot of rubbish peddled.

Hi all. I don’t think my DC did nearly as much as some over the holidays. But I’m trying to live up to my username and be supportive and encouraging but leave my DC to drive the process. She has drafted a personal statement, but I’ve not looked at it as I know the school will.

She has chosen 4 out of 5 unis and courses, but is struggling with what constitutes an “insurance choice” if you are applying for Maths and/or Physics. The unis she is looking at all require (at least) A star A A, and we have only so far found one uni she may be interested in whose standard offer is lower. Also, for those doing further maths as a fourth A level, how common is it for offers to be based on all 4 subjects rather than 3? I’m aware Cambridge do sometimes make 4 subject offers as this happened to one of DC1’s friends last year, but is it common among other unis too?

Hi - I would leave the 5th choice blank for now. Then when the other responses come in she can put in a 5th insurance choice before the Jan deadline. It will be a more informed choice as she will have a bit more clarity by then about her other applications.

I would leave the 5th choice blank for now. Then when the other responses come in she can put in a 5th insurance choice before the Jan deadline. It will be a more informed choice

I wouldn’t guarantee it would be well informed apart from maybe knowing if they had Oxbridge interviews.. DD got quick responses from her two lower tier unis very quickly (early Nov I think) which was a huge relief and confidence booster. She found out she got an offer from Cambridge on the same day as the final UCAS Jan deadline, Oxford I think are a little bit earlier in Jan so yes you could sneak something in after that. Her other two (Durham and UCL) dragged their heels into March. I know some of DD’s STEM friends didn’t get any offers until Spring but that was fairly rare.

Oxbridge offers should be in before the UCAS deadline this time I think. But yes, others might be much later.

I think waiting to see if an Oxford offer comes might be useful as their required grades are often lower than other top universities, so might necessitate a different insurance. I don't think it's quite as tricky with Cambridge offers which seem more in line with the likely alternatives.

@mondaytosunday and @FebuarySmith - in answer to your questions, I had a DS who applied (successfully) to Cambridge post A-levels for a humanities / social science subject with 3 A stars and an A star EPQ. I think I read somewhere that for most humanities courses, having three A stars achieved will guarantee an interview. However, whether this is actually the case or not, they do interview about 75/80% of applicants anyway, so maybe not a huge deal.

This is just my suspicion and I have no special insights at all, but I wouid think they are probably looking for something a bit 'more' from post A-level candidates. They will definitely want to know what they are doing in the gap year.

I can't remember the exact stats, but I think it's something like 60% of humanities students actually at Cambridge achieved 'at least 3 A stars' at A level. So having those grades means they can place applicants within the 'top 60%' of the actual cohort, I would think. But also, the actual subjects are probably relevant - eg. If applying for Classics, they might not be too bothered that they got an A in Chemistry, rather than an A star. Hope that makes sense?

I agree with the poster above who says luck has a lot to do with it and all this talk about 'they know what they are looking for' is just hype.

I think all the DC can do is be realistic about the numbers of applicants per place. Recognise it's a very imperfect admissions process as all colleges interview differently (certainly at Cambridge). Anyone with a few A stars and As could easily cope (academically) at Cambridge - it's not that different to any other uni, just nice buildings, etc. Yes they have to write an essay a week, but it's not as if they have anything else to do! And these essays are just ti trigger discussion in tutorials, they are not graded. Also, they are catered for and don't have all the stress of finding accommodation for the second and third years and all that drama they have at other unis. Also, Cambridge is fairly compact and even the colleges a bit outside the centre are really not far when you think about how accommodation is at other unis.

If there is an admissions test, this will be important. Also look at HOW they interview at different colleges (eg. is there reading material the day before, the week before, none)? This can make a big difference. Also, what are the specialisms of the DoS and what di they teach? HSPS is a broad subject, so if they are more interested / informed in the Sociology modules (for instance) maybe don't go for a DoS who teaches the IR modules. Also, find out if it's two subject interviews, or a general interview and a subject interview. A general interview will be taken by a senior admissions tutor who does not teach that course, so will be much more about the PS, supra-curricular and what they are doing in the gap year to boost their application. Subject interviews tend to just dive straight into a text or some other material, as if it were a real tutorial.

Hope this is a bit helpful going forwards. As I say, this is stuff I suspect in retrospect having gone through the process, but I'm no expert!

My daughter is also struggling to find a fifth uni. Though in her case the offer grades are significantly lower than the Cambridge one (AAB-ABB at most of them), though I know many applicants will have higher grades. Her head of Sixth said Durham, but it's too far plus from reading the Durham thread I'm not impressed. I'm thinking she might put a more local one (LSE?) just as an alternative if she decides to stay local for whatever reason!
Her HofS said she didn't think Cambridge would be a good fit due to the small supervision sessions as she's quiet in class, but we both think the opposite - that she HAS to talk and one reason she's quiet is the other students in the room (her HofS doesn't really know her). It's one of the main reasons she likes the system there (she's quiet but ok with public speaking and not afraid to defend her position). Anyway they are happy to support her and she now has to get in touch with her old A level teachers about which essay samples she should use. Deadline for PS Sept 15.
For those who have been to an open day any recommendations for where to park and where to have some lunch? We will be there on the 15th.

Was writing when you posted @6ampatrol but very good tips. Definitely will check out the DoS and will check out how the interview are formatted at each college.
My daughter is doing an art Foundation course (as she was going to apply to art school), so not sure how she's going to finesse that, they require students to volunteer at their gallery or elsewhere but that will give her some skills if not directly related to HSPS! She's interested in the Sociology/Anthropology part, not so much the politics. A levels were Art, History and Psychology, the latter two mentioned as 'preferredoum A levels' on the Cambridge website for the course. Her EPQ might be finessed as more relevant mobs too.
She's well aware that it's😺😺☠️ a long shot, and you can second guess and research as much as you like mmmmo ooo. I obut sometimes it just doesn't work out. I'llok i9. I idiot i i a ha

Sorry about the rogue emojis! No idea how they got in there!

Omg - Tesco arrived think I posted before I looked at my post. Anyway the main point is there 🤦🏻‍♀️

For those who have been to an open day any recommendations for where to park and where to have some lunch? We will be there on the 15th.

We are going to Oxford on 15th and the trains were so awful last time and so expensive this time that we're taking the car - parking is apparently a nightmare so I have booked a private space on someone's drive using Just Park.