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Original poster

Scrapping into Oxford?

202 replies

fakenamefornow · 24/03/2023 21:10

I think my y12 teen should try for Oxford, she thinks she shouldn't because she won't get in and it'll use up one of her Ucas options. I think she has a chance. Honest opinions please.
Context -
From excellent state school, never been on free school meals or other disadvantage indicators. Not tutored.
11 GCSEs - 6 grade 9, 5 grade 8
Doing chemistry, biology and history, A levels plus history related EPC
Want to study History

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
IheartNiles · 18/05/2023 07:21

Notellinganyone · 18/05/2023 07:14

@IheartNiles - that’s absolutely not my experience both as someone who went to Cambridge and as a teacher with many years’ experience. They are looking for spark and potential and just slog really won’t cut the mustard. In English for example it’s students who have a genuine interest in Literature well beyond the syllabus and who develop their own areas of reading.

But that’s all through hard work. I’m not knocking it but saying the kids who are naturally brightest but not swots didn’t get in. I think that’s fine as Oxford is a slog. Those who do no work but can ace an exam with a quick read won’t be suited to writing essays each week and preparing for tutorials. We know from our recent prime ministers that Oxford doesn’t necessarily take the brightest.

sanityisamyth · 18/05/2023 07:27

mackthepony · 24/03/2023 21:18

Not much scrapping at Oxford I don't think, more of a Preston thing

🤣

ofteninaspin · 18/05/2023 07:57

My DC didn’t slog through A Levels (both did their sport to a high level) and haven’t found Oxbridge a slog either. Although DS is probably having to work pretty hard right now with finals in ten days time.

Original poster
fakenamefornow · 18/05/2023 08:59

IheartNiles · 18/05/2023 06:17

The ones who got in at our school were all sloggers. Spend hours and hours reading and revising. Speak up all the time in class. The admission tests can be passed through endless practice. Interestingly, the cleverest kids (naturally so) didn’t make it.

Show quote history

Interesting you say that. She is very shy, I think her lack of confidence meant she didn't pass her Macdonald's interview. In class though, her teachers say she's always the first one with her hand up to answer the questions. She also runs the junior history club and history support club for the year 7s at school.

Another example of her lack of social skills, I took her for a 'try a day' at a health club, the receptionist looked at her list and asked her if her name was xxx (wrong name). My daughter just said 'no' then just stood there, didn't say 'no I'm zzz' as you would expect anyone to do. Receptionist looked at me after getting nothing from DD and i told her the name. I think the receptionist thought my daughter had special needs. I fear stuff like this will mess up every university and job interview she goes to.

OP posts:
1dayatatime · 18/05/2023 09:00

I was offered a place to read PPE at University College Oxford but I didn't go because it was clear I had just scraped in (it might have been an early contextual offer for state educated kids).

But I realised I would have had to work my butt off just to stay in the bottom 25% and quite frankly at 18 I wanted to party as well as study.

I don't regret that decision and went to a respected RG Uni instead.

carben · 18/05/2023 09:25

1dayatatime · 18/05/2023 09:00

I was offered a place to read PPE at University College Oxford but I didn't go because it was clear I had just scraped in (it might have been an early contextual offer for state educated kids).

But I realised I would have had to work my butt off just to stay in the bottom 25% and quite frankly at 18 I wanted to party as well as study.

I don't regret that decision and went to a respected RG Uni instead.

What made you think you had just scraped in 1dayatatime?

faffadoodledo · 18/05/2023 09:48

When was this @1dayatatime ? Bc Oxbridge don't give contextual offers. Or at least haven't done Since my children and their contemporaries have been in the system (so in the past decade).

IheartNiles · 18/05/2023 09:54

faffadoodledo · 18/05/2023 09:48

When was this @1dayatatime ? Bc Oxbridge don't give contextual offers. Or at least haven't done Since my children and their contemporaries have been in the system (so in the past decade).

Someone in DCs year had a contextual offer this year. The university has very broad contextual criteria.

faffadoodledo · 18/05/2023 09:57

Offered actual lower grades @IheartNiles ?
Then that is a v new thing. And I stand corrected. It wasn't happening 2014 til 2020.

trickortrickier · 18/05/2023 10:03

Someone in DCs year had a contextual offer this year. The university has very broad contextual criteria's

@IheartNiles - someone might be offered a place under the Opportunity Oxford scheme but it's NOT a contextual offer. Everyone gets the standard offer. The scheme is more about smoothing the path into Oxford life for those with less advantages and helping them to get off to a flying start.

InSpainTheRain · 18/05/2023 10:22

She should make the decision entirely. I don't believe you should be interfering at all. I say this as the mum if DS just graduating this year.

jgw1 · 18/05/2023 11:08

trickortrickier · 18/05/2023 10:03

Someone in DCs year had a contextual offer this year. The university has very broad contextual criteria's

@IheartNiles - someone might be offered a place under the Opportunity Oxford scheme but it's NOT a contextual offer. Everyone gets the standard offer. The scheme is more about smoothing the path into Oxford life for those with less advantages and helping them to get off to a flying start.

Interestingly the early statistics show that those who recieve places having had their context considered by Oxford do at least as well as those that Oxford more tradionally take (with there being some indication that they actually do marginally better).

trickortrickier · 18/05/2023 11:15

ALL applications are looked at contextually. No exceptions.

faffadoodledo · 18/05/2023 11:28

You could say that of all courses at all universities. As li g as it's not confused with a contextual
Offer which is lower on the basis of background

IheartNiles · 18/05/2023 14:29

trickortrickier · 18/05/2023 10:03

Someone in DCs year had a contextual offer this year. The university has very broad contextual criteria's

@IheartNiles - someone might be offered a place under the Opportunity Oxford scheme but it's NOT a contextual offer. Everyone gets the standard offer. The scheme is more about smoothing the path into Oxford life for those with less advantages and helping them to get off to a flying start.

BBB for an AAA course.

carben · 18/05/2023 14:29

Was this a Foundation course?

IheartNiles · 18/05/2023 14:31

carben · 18/05/2023 14:29

Was this a Foundation course?

Nope

pimplebum · 18/05/2023 14:41

The school will tell all those that have a chance usually is all solid 9's in hard subjects like math science languages and play an instrument to grade 8 or sporting achievement which are significant , provable long term volunteering

pimplebum · 18/05/2023 14:44

If she studied hard for those results them I'm sorry she just isn't bright enough
If you told me she had " issues" that prevented her from studying and has resolved fully and is now working on better 4x A grades A level then maybe

carben · 18/05/2023 14:49

The only entry requirements I can see for a BBB offer is a Foundation offer

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/admission-requirements-table?wssl=1

cestlavielife · 18/05/2023 15:10

She needs to contact the widenngg participation schemes snd ho to an open day or wotkshop
Then she can decide to apply or not
Has her school advised her on schemes and sent her to open days?

cestlavielife · 18/05/2023 15:12

There ard variuous schemes for state schools some are week long and give application and interview practice and are free of chsrge
Her school shoukd know and put her forward
she needs to ask the uni advisor

mathanxiety · 18/05/2023 15:17

Sometimes the reputation of a university can be off-putting.

Has she visited Oxford or Cambridge informally, to just wander around?