Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

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:
Thread gallery
6
Uohoxbridgeapplicationtime · 15/10/2023 09:42

Yes I think convention dictates that you don’t give away too much identifiable info. There may only be two places available at say Downing to do History with Spanish from scratch and if you are successful, it would be clear who your mum/parent is on here. Pretty sure that’s not ‘cool’ 😂

Jaxx · 15/10/2023 10:01

@lifeturnsonadime The story of George Baldock entered my twitter feed today - he is a brilliant young man who despite spending secondary school in a Pru due to anxiety has just started at Trinity Cambridge to study History and Politics. He tweeted about his story and it was picked up by The Times. Thought it was worth pointing out as he seems very similar to your son. What an inspiration they both are.

Rollergirl11 · 15/10/2023 10:04

Ahh yes I see what you are saying. I’m not that bothered about being identified but I’m guessing DD would! 😂

HewasH2O · 15/10/2023 10:06

You all tend to give both college and subject in the run up to interview. On the main Oxbridge thread we will only refer to subject, never college, although we often know informally.

goodbyestranger · 15/10/2023 10:09

I've certainly never once named college for any of my DC in the run up to interview.

HewasH2O · 15/10/2023 10:12

You, as in they have all already done so. I don't think I ever mentioned DD's college either.

goodbyestranger · 15/10/2023 10:20

Yes I got that HewasH2O. Just saying it wasn't what I did. It's about the privacy of the DC. Not that I've ever discussed anything personal about my DC on MN either. It's certainly not about my being identifiable because I couldn't care less (slightly object when other people id me in posts though :)).

lifeturnsonadime · 15/10/2023 10:36

Jaxx · 15/10/2023 10:01

@lifeturnsonadime The story of George Baldock entered my twitter feed today - he is a brilliant young man who despite spending secondary school in a Pru due to anxiety has just started at Trinity Cambridge to study History and Politics. He tweeted about his story and it was picked up by The Times. Thought it was worth pointing out as he seems very similar to your son. What an inspiration they both are.

Wow!

That is so similar to my DS apart from the fact that he couldn't have even gone to a Pru, I couldn't get him out of his room even for months on end.

It's so good to see that he had such a success in a Pru, because you do hear horror stories. What a fantastic head teacher he had to guide him in the direction he's ended up going in.

There are so many misconceptions about these children who refuse school though so it's good to see a such a positive outcome reported.

Well done to George, that's so amazing!

stoneysongs · 15/10/2023 10:54

I guess course might sometimes be more identifying than college if DC is studying eg one of the small joint hons courses at a large college?

goodbyestranger · 15/10/2023 11:01

Intakes at Oxford across most subjects average about four to five per college. So that's a pretty tight pool, especially if gender is identified.

stoneysongs · 15/10/2023 12:16

Yes, I'm just thinking if you're going to reveal one but not both, then college might be less identifying than course for some combos?

Original poster
Lightsabre · 15/10/2023 12:18

Half term at last here. Wishing all dc taking Oxbridge Admissions tests next week the best of luck.

OP posts:
Jaxx · 15/10/2023 15:22

stoneysongs · 15/10/2023 12:16

Yes, I'm just thinking if you're going to reveal one but not both, then college might be less identifying than course for some combos?

That is why it is one but not both, user chooses which.

stoneysongs · 15/10/2023 18:21

That is why it is one but not both, user chooses which.

That makes sense thanks - I think someone upthread said colleges were never mentioned, only ever courses, so just checking the conventions. Not that I will need to think about it for long, probably Smile

LoveTurnips · 15/10/2023 19:02

Anyone’s child doing the Nsaa test on Wednesday? Mine has had a major wobble today doing a practice paper. Timings seem so tight, and this is not something they are used to. I think they always had at least 1/2 hour spare in each gcse paper.

not a lot I can say now that will help the situation. But I will be glad when this week is over.

MirandaWest · 15/10/2023 19:32

I will also be glad when it’s over - DD has two Oxford tests on Friday (and then another week after that until half term…)

WobblyLondoner · 15/10/2023 19:39

LoveTurnips · 15/10/2023 19:02

Anyone’s child doing the Nsaa test on Wednesday? Mine has had a major wobble today doing a practice paper. Timings seem so tight, and this is not something they are used to. I think they always had at least 1/2 hour spare in each gcse paper.

not a lot I can say now that will help the situation. But I will be glad when this week is over.

DS is doing the Oxford TSA on Wednesday. Fingers crossed!

stoneysongs · 15/10/2023 19:41

A different test, but DD has just got her worst score ever on a past paper and is now convinced that she can't do it 😬
One more pp to go so hopefully that will go better.

PandaPacer · 15/10/2023 19:57

My DS (CompSci applicant) is doing an Imperial test tomorrow and the TMUA on Wed. He'll be pleased when they are over - he has been doing past papers on every maths test he could find since the summer so surely he is ready!

Fatbottomed · 15/10/2023 20:17

Can I ask about the Cambridge extra information request? My daughter has applied, completed the UCAS application & had a request from Cambridge for further info. It basically requests the same info as the UCAS form. Does she need to repeat the info in the personal statement section? Is it sufficient to cut & paste from UCAS form or leave it blank? There does not appear to be any guidance.

ShanghaiDiva · 15/10/2023 20:19

Fatbottomed · 15/10/2023 20:17

Can I ask about the Cambridge extra information request? My daughter has applied, completed the UCAS application & had a request from Cambridge for further info. It basically requests the same info as the UCAS form. Does she need to repeat the info in the personal statement section? Is it sufficient to cut & paste from UCAS form or leave it blank? There does not appear to be any guidance.

My dd left it blank. She is applying for the same course at all five choices so in her opinion there was nothing extra to add.

ShanghaiDiva · 15/10/2023 20:21

LoveTurnips · 15/10/2023 19:02

Anyone’s child doing the Nsaa test on Wednesday? Mine has had a major wobble today doing a practice paper. Timings seem so tight, and this is not something they are used to. I think they always had at least 1/2 hour spare in each gcse paper.

not a lot I can say now that will help the situation. But I will be glad when this week is over.

My dd is taking NSAA on Wednesday. Agree timings are tight.

IThinkIMadeItWorse · 15/10/2023 20:44

@Fatbottomed the Cambridge form has a 1200 character limit so you wouldn't be able to copy and paste the UCAS personal statement. I think it is mainly for people who have applied for a course at Cambridge which isn't offered elsewhere to explain why they want that specific course. DS is considering leaving it blank as he has applied for the same course everywhere (well only three choices have gone in so far but he can add two more later.)

LoveTurnips · 15/10/2023 20:46

ShanghaiDiva · 15/10/2023 20:21

My dd is taking NSAA on Wednesday. Agree timings are tight.

Show quote history

@ShanghaiDiva What subject is your YP doing for their optional topic? We’ve been focusing on chemistry but after a disastrous 2022 paper this afternoon, they’ve decided to try biology.
looking at the mark breakdown for both last year it’s seems chemistry results are all bundled below about 4.5 and then relatively few get scores well above. However for biology it seems quite different, with similar proportions getting each of the different scores. I assume that the admissions tutors will look at the subject taken in the test as well as the score?

sympathy to those doing more than one entrance exam

ShanghaiDiva · 15/10/2023 21:15

@LoveTurnips
biology