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Original poster

Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 2

973 replies

Lightsabre · 12/09/2023 22:43

Continuation thread (when old one is full) for those supporting dc through Oxbridge applications. All welcome as we enter the next phase.

OP posts:
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6
ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2023 12:25

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 12:11

4G5 you sound rather certain. There's no 'of course' about it. Tutors frequently say they are sick to death of hearing about the DoE, even gold. There's a lot to be said for simplicity and for focussing the attention of admissions tutors on the majors not the minors.

The 'of course' was in relation to the qualifications section. If an applicant has qualifications listed there, it seems odd to not tick them. I'm sure the tutors can easily distinguish the A levels from any other stuff. And while I don't suppose they give extras much consideration, as UCAS tariffs are often a metric in league tables, I'd very much doubt they object some bonus ones!

4G5 · 02/10/2023 12:31

I don't know if people will be able to see this, but it's a section taken from a FOI request (available to anyone on WhatDoTheyKnow). Someone back in 2018 had requested a list of all qualifications achieved for a candidates (in this case, it's for Geography BA, but there are similar requests for most subjects in other years if anyone is interested). This is just the first I found.

You can see from this that, for those who have them, nationally recognised music or singing qualifications, as well as drama, dance etc are recorded alongside A-levels, including the grade (pass, merit or distinction). D of E is also listed (though this carries no formal UCAS points).

Of course offers will only be conditional on A-level grades and not UCAS points, but I don't think it's correct to say other national qualifications are totally ignored, otherwise why would they be recorded in the Cambridge system? And why would there be specific categories for these qualifications on UCAS if they were totally irrelevant?

Again, there is no need to waffle on about these in the PS. But they do need to simply list them on the drop down menu because they will be recorded, alongside A-levels.

Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 2
Hertsessex · 02/10/2023 13:57

So DD has just started at C and had first meeting with DoS today including feedback on why she got in. Thought it might be useful. Two main points:

  1. Insightful answers in interview to every question. Everything question related to PS so prep paid off although obviously lots come down to thinking on feet. My DD had thought of the questions she would least like to be asked on every topic and was ready

2 The written work that was submitted. It was for HSPS so two pieces of written work. One was a standard topic but one was unusual and really got their attention as something they didn’t know about. Obviously this is not easy but if possible be brave when deciding what to submit.

it really does come down to fine margins on things that are very hard to quantify.

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 13:58

Errol is there a box on the drop down list for DoE?

Hertsessex · 02/10/2023 14:00

FWIW of course list music, DofE etc but I think at the level of people applying for Oxbridge it is background white noise. Perhaps helps on the margin with others especially the music UCAS points.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2023 14:13

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 13:58

Errol is there a box on the drop down list for DoE?

No idea. My dd hadn't finished her paperwork for her gold at the point she made her application, and that was years ago now anyway.
Maybe if that sort of thing is on the qualifications list it's good as it means they don't need to feel they should shoehorn it into the PS ... probably doesn't matter either way for the 'pointless' quals.

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 14:18

No I've no idea either. Mine only had silver. I think if mine had done something utterly exceptional they might have felt it worth a mention but so much is so standard that it adds nothing, except sometimes to flag up obvious privilege.

MirandaWest · 02/10/2023 14:20

DD has grade 8 singing but I think she said the board she did it with isn't on the drop down menu so can't include it. Will check with her but not sure and also not sure whether she's asked for it to be mentioned in the reference.

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 14:26

4G5 I assume that that list is for the successful applicants? Even so, it doesn't show who had add on qualifications and chose not to list them. The fact that it's 'recorded' is neither here nor there.

Why do people make these FOI requests?!

4G5 · 02/10/2023 14:28

I'm fairly sure D of E is not in the drop down menu - only quals that carry UCAS points are listed. Again, D of E can be mentioned in the reference, unless some part of it is relevant to the subject, eg the volunteering element perhaps.

@MirandaWest - worth checking out, or maybe just list it in 'other' if it's Grade 8? What board is it?

stoneysongs · 02/10/2023 14:30

DofE is an option in the qualifications section, I just checked. DD has not added her bronze 😂

(It's a bit like the veg scales in Tesco, there is a front page where you can select various popular options like bananas / A levels, but you can also search. DofE appears if you search and there's a drop down to choose gold, silver or bronze.)

4G5 · 02/10/2023 14:32

@goodbyestranger - no, it was for all applicants. Regardless, as UCAS has a form specifically asking for such qualifications, why would anyone not list these?

stoneysongs · 02/10/2023 14:37

@MirandaWest the music exam option is for ABRSM or equivalent, so she can add it if she wants to I think, doesn't have to actually be ABRSM.

goodbyestranger · 02/10/2023 14:55

no, it was for all applicants. Regardless, as UCAS has a form specifically asking for such qualifications, why would anyone not list these?

Oh well that is even less informative then 4G5. It yields nothing of any value. Two kids who may or may not have got an offer listed a DoE pass. Literally pointless information,

Why would anyone not list these add on qualifications? : in my DCs' case they thought they were so standard as to clutter the form needlessly without adding anything of merit. It's pretty straightforward really. I guess they might have mentioned an Olympic medal at the end of their ps if they'd won one.

But as I say, each to their own. If you like fairly low level clutter, go for it.

4G5 · 02/10/2023 15:14

Again, goodbyestranger, I am not advising mentioning this stuff on the PS!

If students do have any additional qualifications listed in the drop-down menu, they will need to scan and email these in along with the A-level certs before they start. DC had to scan and email music certs, with all the GCSE and A-level certs. They weren't sure whether to send D of E but it turned out the admissions did want that 'evidence' as well because they then emailed to request it. I remember this because we had to scour the depths of the bedroom to find it.

4G5 · 02/10/2023 15:17

And they will want the EPQ certificate as well, if they have this.

Teriyakieverything · 02/10/2023 15:20

DD did her Oxbridge UCAS application last year, I remember the pain of doing the UCAS form and PS and the Cambridge additional PS. Regarding the extracurriculars, she listed everything in those specific sections of the UCAS, even if it is 'only' Grade 5 piano, ballet and silver DoE. I think it just gives more info about her, which, if (non oxbridge) universities are making offers based purely on what's on paper, we think that it's a good thing to give more information, as it's in a list format and separate from the PS anyway.

Teriyakieverything · 02/10/2023 15:35

Speaking of 'clutter' on the UCAS application, she had to list the 4 different primary schools/international schools she attended, which is unusual but it just gives a more complete picture. Admissions could decide themselves whether to ignore the info as irrelevant, or infer whatever.

Scoobyblue · 02/10/2023 16:40

I would definitely include all additional qualifications on the form but not mention them on the personal statement. It doesn't strike me as low level clutter and paints a complete picture. Lots of students are rightly proud of their extracurricular achievements so I would include them if their is a specific drop down box asking for them.

User11010866 · 02/10/2023 16:45

Teriyakieverything · 02/10/2023 15:35

Speaking of 'clutter' on the UCAS application, she had to list the 4 different primary schools/international schools she attended, which is unusual but it just gives a more complete picture. Admissions could decide themselves whether to ignore the info as irrelevant, or infer whatever.

Edited

Is there a place to fill primary school in the UCAS form?

Teriyakieverything · 02/10/2023 16:50

@User11010866 I'm relying on memory here, I think there was last year ......because I remember her having to put 3 primary schools in, if it was secondary school only, it would have been just 1, which is not unusual.

bulbarsaurus · 02/10/2023 17:07

DH went to Cambridge and I also did a very academic and competitive degree at another university (Only have young DC's atm so not worrying about uni just yet!). My advice would be that personal statements and getting the offer are important but A-level grades can make or break the application. I know several people offered a place and missed their offer grades by a mile and rejected on results day. You got an idea in sixth form of who the really smart people are and the ones who were 'aspiring to oxbridge' even though they were very unlikely to make the grades. It's always a good thing to aim high but sometimes managing expectations is important. I would also say that there are other very good universities, Imperial, UCL, Durham, LSE that are also incredibly competitive and worth having as a back up. A friend of mine didn't get into Cambridge but went to LSE Instead and is one of the smartest people I know! Good luck everyone!

MirandaWest · 02/10/2023 20:43

Have asked Dd about the grade 8 and the issue is that she was privately entered by her singing teacher and so doesn’t have an educational institution to put it under. I think. She needs to do the paying and sending part before it gets a final check by teachers and so we’ll have another look first.

stoneysongs · 02/10/2023 21:09

MirandaWest · 02/10/2023 20:43

Have asked Dd about the grade 8 and the issue is that she was privately entered by her singing teacher and so doesn’t have an educational institution to put it under. I think. She needs to do the paying and sending part before it gets a final check by teachers and so we’ll have another look first.

Oh, DD is the same but just put hers under the school she was attending at the time.

LaaDeeDa321 · 02/10/2023 21:50

Can I ask you a question @goodbyestranger? if a candidate makes an open application, broadly speaking where do they tend to end up, if successful?