Oxford/Cambridge open days

[Lotustiger]

DD just starting year 12. Has the GCSE grades to consider Oxbridge but has no idea whether she wants to. Is anyone else taking a year 12 to the open days this week or it is far too early? There isn't another open day until July 2024 as far as I can tell, which feels a bit late

Not sure. Was wondering if ds’s sixth form would do something for potential candidates. Isn’t the closing date oct 2024 which is really early compared to other unis ? We are in the NW so it’s a bit of a journey.
He’s been told about a visit for prospective medic and oxbridge applicants to Liverpool uni (he thinks 🤔), not sure what that’s about !

Go! We started looking in Y12, and we also started going to open days for Sixth Form in Y10, just as well as few open days the following year due to the pandemic.
The way they are scheduled, often on the same or consecutive days, makes sense to start early.

Definitely go. It will give you a good idea of any additional activities your dc can do to boost application and more prep time for admissions tests. The dc can focus on which other choices to make.
DS visited Oxford and Warwick in the autumn on Y12, then other options in summer of Y12.
If not, there are usually faculty open days in the Spring that might be an alternative.

Definitely go. They will need to submit their application if they apply to Oxbridge by mid October of y13 so its best to get open days over and done with in y12, preferably not just Oxbridge ones.

Yes, agreed. We did most open days in Y12, DD was excited to begin the process and as above, the early submission for Oxbridge can make it a bit of a rush. Practically, it helps to spread the cost too - DD's choices are from Exeter to Edinburgh and all but one required at least one overnight stay.