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!

@daffodilandtulip Just agreeing with previous posters. An offer from Cambridge is likely to be Astar, Astar,A, A plus STEP or MAT for Oxford. Has she entered any external maths competitions such as UKMT? What were her GCSEs?

Shocking if her Maths teacher is treating her badly because she is female. My dc have exams in June which will be used for predictions.

We'll, ds got his pre predicted grades which I think the school use to 'motivate'. They think he can achieve 3 x A star and an A for further maths. His tests for FM so far have been borderline A/A star. Hoping this will be good enough for an Oxbridge application for sciences but I suspect there is a strong cohort at his school.

That’s brilliant @Lightsabre , well done him!

Amazing link thankyou xxx

Is STEP needed for Cambridge compsci???

Or just TMUA???

DD’s current predicted grades are A star English Lit, A star Philosophy & Ethics and A History. She’s also doing an EPQ. She’s considering applying to Cambridge for English Lit. Would those predicted be enough or does she really need all A stars?

I think it's just TMUA but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will confirm.

Thank you @Delphigirl - I think ds feels a bit under pressure with those predictions but we always say just do your best and don't sweat it.

I think two A stars and an A seem to be the standard offer but there are stats on the website that give an indication of the grades the successful applicants achieved. @PettsWoodParadise might be able to help with English knowledge as her dc has an offer for English I think.

DD was predicted three A stars and A star in EPQ, she got an offer from a Cambridge college for English of A star A A and no specific requirement for which A level is the A star, her stem friends have mostly got to get two A stars and an A and subjects for the stars are specified, I think one has to get A star in maths and in FM.

Thxnks @Lightsabre

@PettsWoodParadise thats interesting to know, thank you! What subjects is your DD doing? And what other unis has she applied for for English? I hope you don’t mind me asking.

Hi @Rollergirl11 studying English Lit, History and Classical Civilisation. Plus EPQ submitted. Applied to York and Leicester (has offers from both that came in by early November, one likely to be insurance with lowest reduced for EPQ) also applied to UCL and Durham (still waiting) .

@PettsWoodParadise ooh quite similar a levels. DD also interested in Durham and York. Would be interesting to know what courses your DD liked the look of as I thought they differ quite vastly for English. Also did she apply for a particular college at C? Might pick your brains a bit further down the line if that’s okay. 😀

Rollergirl11 - Hi, two A stars and an A plus EPQ will be fine to apply for English. It probably helps to be realistic though, that many with three A stars will be rejected. I think it's about half of humanities students actually at Cambridge achieved at least three A stars in their A-levels. However, predicted grades are just that - and they will know there is a good chance she may also achieve the A star in History when the time comes.

Is she in a selective or independent school?

In general, it is harder to get the very top grades in humanities (more variability / subjective marking) which is why humanities subjects ask for A star AA as minimum threshold, rather than A star, A star, A as in STEM. Having said this, the stats show that few are actually admitted with 'only' the minimum threshold grades.

For English she will also have to submit essays and do an admissions test - so there are other factors apart from predicted grades.

Any question of this type, always check the relevant website page for requirements - they're really easy to find. And if the website isn't clear then the applicant should contact admissions.

There used to be a couple of colleges which wanted STEP for comp sci, but looks like none do now, but note that trinity and Peterhouse may require an extra test as well as the TMUA

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/computer-science

@elia3 thanks. She’s hoping she can push the A in History up through the course of the year.

She is at a state school. She knows about the ELAT but I will mention to her about the essays. She is currently the editor of her college paper. Is that something she should make mention of in her PS?

Rollergirl11 - yes bring editor of the school paper is great. Have a google for essay competitions too and things like that. I'm afraid I don't know any specifically for English, but I'm sure they exist!

I came across this site which seems to push expensive tuition and courses but there seems to be an English (and other subjects) essay competition @Rollergirl11

www.mindsunderground.com/english-competition

That looks interesting @Lightsabre but often third parties will use your data to push services to you. There are Oxbridge colleges that have their own competitions . e.g. newn.cam.ac.uk/admissions/access-and-outreach/newnham-essay-prizes/

I have heard this, but there is no time to fit in a job anyway. The terms are so short and so intense, it isn’t possible to have a job as well. It is end of term in a couple of days and my dd and all her friends look shattered, and are either grumpy or in tears. She will come home on Saturday and sleep for twelve hours. It is very high pressure.

My advice for any year 12 would be:

1. Never pay for anything that claims it might be useful for Oxbridge applications

2. There are plenty of free resources available to help with applications on the Oxbridge websites, such as HE+, which will give you great ideas for things to do to enhance your application.

3. Cambridge can be very cheeky with STEM applications and ask for A* for FM, but A for maths. You're unlikely to achieve an A star in FM without a matching grade for maths.

4. You don't need perfect GCSEs or A level predictions to get an offer, especially if you are at a non selective state school. You will probably still have imposter syndrome though.

5. Don't over analyse an application by fretting over stats. Find a college & course you think you will like and go for it.

6. Don't worry if your school doesn't have a dedicated Oxbridge support team to help you. DD was the first from her secondary school to have an Oxbridge offer in 10 years.

7. Practice talking out loud about your subjects to build confidence. DD hadn't studied any of the PPE subjects at A level, but is now taking her finals. The interviews will resemble the tutorials you will face week in week out. There is nowhere to hide if you are in a one to one or one to two tutorial each week.

Relieved to hear it’s not just mine who finishes the term grumpy and in tears!

@SirVixofVixHall is correct @Rollergirl11 . There really isn't time for P/T work beyond their course.

Sorry, work has been all-consuming for weeks and will be until 5th May but I am happy to offer advice on NatSci applications.

DD spent her Christmas and Easter vacations revising, sleeping or consolidating work done. I think she took Christmas Day off but that's it. However, the long summer breaks provided opportunities for decent work, other than 2020. When DD started in 2017, DH was setting up a small business and our household income wasn't great. Cambridge put DD onto their bursary scheme and were always very supportive. Please don't imagine that everyone is loaded and posh because that really isn't our experience. Yes, there are some people who obviously have high disposable incomes, but there are many more who are just ordinary but highly intelligent people.

Thank you so much for the information on here - DD is still deliberating, but has signed up for the Cambridge master class linked to upthread (in English). Also really appreciate the link to OxbridgeLaunchpad - no Oxbridge talks and preparation that many talk about on here at her school - we are working out the process ourselves.

@FlyingSquid - my two are also incredibly grumpy at the end of term. And always a bit sick. The car journey back from Oxford is rarely filled with sparkling chat.

DH is doing that journey ! I won’t fit in the car all the stuff and our other child. I agree, mine will be exhausted, snappy, and probably either ill or coming down with something.