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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Too late to consider Oxbridge?

20 replies

XxGetTheLondonLookxX · 10/07/2023 10:49

DS is due to start uni in 2024, and has recently started seriously considering Oxbridge.

Is it too late now?

OP posts:

NoraBattysCurlers · 10/07/2023 10:51

No, it is not too late to start now.

CountryCousin · 10/07/2023 10:56

Why would it be too late?

Are you both on top of all the application guidance on the UCAS site? That will lead you to specific Oxbridge application deadlines.

Presumably he knows which of the two universities he wants to apply to, and which subject(s)? Even if he’s missed subject specific tests for this application round he could apply for the next application year.

Are you more concerned about support from his school? Or some other aspect?

Choose your future

At the heart of connecting people to higher education

https://www.ucas.com/

User27680416 · 10/07/2023 11:31

No of course it's not too late. Applications have to be in by mid October (usually around 15th but changes by a few days from year to year so check). Entrance tests if you need one for the chosen subject are usually in October too. Interviews if you get through to that stage in around December. People make a huge fuss about Oxbridge applications but the process really as simple as that. Lots of people apply for limited places so that odds are against you but someone has to get the offers so, as long as you're realistic about your chances, then apply. Good luck.

Bunnyannesummers · 10/07/2023 12:03

It’s not too late but he does need to crack on in terms of personal statement, anything to go on it, any admissions tests etc. he needs to speak to sixth form ASAP to flag with them - if for no other reason than so they know he is an early applicant.

plenty of students only start considering Oxbridge at this point when they have predicted grades better than expected.

I would suggest not worrying too much about his other four choices, he can add them after. Focus on Oxbridge and box that off first.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 12:36

plenty of students only start considering Oxbridge at this point when they have predicted grades better than expected.

My dd had decided she definitely wasn't going to apply to either of them, until she got her AS results (this was a few years ago). So later than this.
She got her PS pretty much written during the remainder of the summer hols, and did some revision of her A level work, and the sample aptitude test - first year Cambridge did them, there are past papers available now but not vast numbers.

piisnot3 · 10/07/2023 14:04

Not too late but the extent to which some catching up may be needed is somewhat subject-dependent. Some courses have subject-specific aptitude tests (maths, physics, natural sciences), some as early as November). These can be demanding so preparation needs to start now.
Otherwise you just need to have the application in by mid-October, and prepare for an interview by December. Regardless of subject, candidates should expect to need evidence of super-curricular activities in degree area on PS and predicted grades meeting/exceeding the course requirements to get as far as interview

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 10/07/2023 14:19

Two of my dc did a UNIQ course at Oxford (it’s a widening participation thing). They were told the personal statement would make bugger-all difference to whether they got an interview/offer, but that it might be used to ask questions at interview. So don’t get hung up on the personal statement.

Much more important are predicted grades, and any other assessment asked for.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 14:40

Some courses have subject-specific aptitude tests (maths, physics, natural sciences), some as early as November). These can be demanding so preparation needs to start now.

DD quite enjoyed her test for engineering. Prep as mentioned was having a good grasp of the yr 12 maths and physics content and doing the one paper available. Even though there's more of those now, I wouldn't have characterised it as 'demanding'. Possibly a youngster who can't take that in their stride might struggle with the actual course.

Maths at Cambridge is probably the exception because of the requirement to do STEP.

Dixiechickonhols · 10/07/2023 16:44

No not too late. He needs to tell school as they may offer some Oxbridge support and find out deadline for school’s early ucas entry - DD’s school want Oxbridge and medicine in by late September to comply with mid October deadline.

Somanycats · 10/07/2023 16:53

DNephew accidentally got the grades he needed for Oxbridge so didn't consider it till results day. So he took a year out and went the following year. Just finished with a first in history from Cambridge. Is it ever too late?

User11010866 · 10/07/2023 21:15

Not late. DC hasn't started to prepare his MAT yet.

Paperbagsaremine · 10/07/2023 21:20

Quiet girl at school with me got outstanding A level results, applied to Oxbridge the next year, is now a professor and seems to be very much living her best life.

Original poster

XxGetTheLondonLookxX · 10/07/2023 23:22

Fabulous comments everyone - thank you all so much!

At the start of Y12 the 6th form staff very much gave the impression that the students need to crack on immediately if they were considering doing an Oxbridge application. DS dismissed it out of hand immediately, despite his outstanding GCSE results, so that was that and we forgot all about it. However, as he progressed through Y12 it's became increasingly clear to his teachers he should be considering Oxbridge. He repeatedly said he wasn't interested... until last week, completely out of the blue, when he announced he wanted to go for it.

I was worried DS had left it too late because others in his Y12 group have had a year of school support and coaching, etc. He seems to have a fair idea of what's needed for the application process.

Thanks again for all the advice as there are a fair few things we simply didn't know, as we didn't think we'd ever need to know!!!

OP posts:

hopsalong · 10/07/2023 23:36

Already been said. But NOT AT ALL. I teach at one of these universities and would be happy to get an email (a very rare occurrence) from someone who is thinking of applying next year with any questions. We only just had the first open days, with another to come in September.

Hope all goes well!

BackToWhereItAllBegan · 11/07/2023 00:19

DS didn't even decide to apply to UK universities until early September last year and now has an offer from Oxbridge (he's English but educated overseas). As long as you register in time for any entrance tests and make sure to take note of the early deadline for Oxbridge then it's definitely possible to apply!

Original poster

XxGetTheLondonLookxX · 14/07/2023 13:24

Hi @piisnot3 What did you mean by 'super-curricular' please?

"Candidates should expect to need evidence of super-curricular activities in degree area on PS"

How is this different to extra-curricular?

Many thanks 😊

OP posts:

Augend23 · 14/07/2023 13:28

XxGetTheLondonLookxX · 14/07/2023 13:24

Hi @piisnot3 What did you mean by 'super-curricular' please?

"Candidates should expect to need evidence of super-curricular activities in degree area on PS"

How is this different to extra-curricular?

Many thanks 😊

I think this means they aren't bothered about whether or not you play grade 8 piano or do dance recitals but they do care that you've read around your subject. So you have read more literature than just the school curriculum for English, or you have read up on an area of history you find particularly interesting, or maybe you have been reading books about an area of evolutionary biology you find interesting or whatever.

Whatever he writes about he should expect to be asked about. I think I did most of my preparatory reading in the summer hols of year 12.

HoneyMobster · 14/07/2023 13:29

Super curricular means going beyond the subject you're applying for. For a mathematician it might mean taking part in Olympiad. For a linguist it might mean reading widely in the language they're studying or starting another language.

Extra curricular means extra activities like music, drama, community work etc.

Augend23 · 14/07/2023 13:30

(Or maybe if you're lucky there's been a talk locally on an area of interest, or you took part in an essay competition or a science fair etc, but reading "around" the subject of interest is likely to be the easiest thing to talk about.)

ErrolTheDragon · 14/07/2023 13:34

Extra curricular is activities unrelated to the subject. DofE, grade 8 in an instrument if you're not going to do music, sports etc.

Super-curricular is things other than their schoolwork which are related to their intended degree subject. So for mine it was things like helping run the robotics club, designing and building a robot. Reading, following current developments. The sort of things which a youngster who is engaged with their subject will hopefully be doing because they want to.

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