Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 2

[Lightsabre]

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

If they made the application blind, so no gender, no ethnicity, no name, no nothing (PS would be a hard one to do, granted), and could somehow remove accents and faces from interviews... it would be interesting to see the outcome. Unconscious bias exists, and may not be what one would assume (would a woman look more favourably on a female candidate or would she not)? There's internalisation of stigma too.

It'll be interesting (in an 'interesting times' sense) to see what Oxford do now in terms of the next stage. I know when DD applied, the average MAT scores of successful applicants in her subject were significantly higher than for all applicants, something like 49% v 75%. Presumably most applicants were academic high flyers. The entrance exam really does form a significant part of the process. It's hard to see how they can be fair to everyone without doing it all again.

So my daughter ‘accidentally’ applied to an ‘in person interview’ college. As in she chose the college deliberately but didn’t realise it was only the few offering in person interviews (Cambridge). Do you think the colleges with in person interviews will have a much higher application rate this year?

That would be a interesting experiment just to see the outcome.

@catmomof3 I'm sure I've read somewhere that even AI has a bias, no surprise as it's developed by humans and even learning AI pick up prejudices.
I guess what could be called luck is that 'je ne sais quoi' when an admissions person just 'feels' that the candidate will/will not suit the course, despite what the rest of their application is like.

I mean you are right that's what it ultimately comes down to, how well you perform in the interview and if the tutor vibes with you. I'm pretty hopeful my daughter will at least get an interview based on contextual data. But if she gets an offer I really don't know. It's certainly an interesting journey so far and I think we are all proud that our kids have the privilege to even be able to apply to oxbridge. For some it's just a dream.

A DoS at one of the Cambridge Colleges very openly admitted at an Open Day that likeability and personality are factors that are taken into account. Assuming academic interview performance is good (the candidates are graded), the Dos/Fellows make a decision partly on whether they would likely gel with the candidates in question. Essentially whether they would like to spend time twice a week in a group of 3-4 teaching them/in supervisions (I am quoting that DoS on this). That particular DoS was very much against overconfident candidates and valued humility. Acknowledged that all candidates would be nervous and will take a little while to calm their nerves. (My DD received an offer from that particular DoS).

The decisions of the colleges are also discussed at faculty level to ensure similar standards are applied, but as ultimately it is the college DoS that decides, personality is a factor. My advice is also to research thoroughly the interviewers, read any articles or books they have published, watch videos of speeches or lectures they have delivered as a) it is likely that interview questions may be linked to areas of their academic interest but b) give an insight to the person and their style.

That being said a large number of candidates are pooled to a different college based on their PS, predictions, admission tests results and interview grading and presumably interviewer's notes. Personality is likely less of a factor there, unless the interviewer specifically commented on that.

@hampsteadmum My daughter chose her college not only based on it being small but because the tutor specialises in the author she has special interest in, so she is hoping if she gets an interview she can talk to her about it. We actually was looking at buying one of the books she published but it was over £200😅.

Yes, DD made an open application and was told this afternoon she's been allocated to St Anne's.

Ah brilliant was that via a UCAS notification?

@catmomof3 Could you borrow it from a library? Or find a used version? Or find it online?

We bought one of the books of the DoS before the interview. I read more of it than my DD (I work in a similar field 🤪). "Don't forget to pack X's book" I shouted as she was getting her suitcases ready for Cambs... Book remained in London... (3 fingers thick-too heavy, "you can bring when you visit"). But on day 1 it was given to her and the others in her year by the College as 1 out of the 8 recommended text books. She had to carry it across a big Court in heels (matriculation day) on a rainy day... 😂😂

@lifeturnsonadime no it was an email from Oxford not via UCAS portal.

Thanks, DS is waiting and wondered how he will be informed. I'll tell him to look out for an email, thanks.

re preparation for interview - if an invite is sent, do Cambridge say who the interviewers will be?

Good luck! Hope he hears soon. It is so stressful for them.

DD was hoping for somewhere more picturesque than St Anne's but she's applied for a course with very few places so felt about open application was the best bet.

@Memba thanks I think that's the reason my son opted for open in the end too, although his is not an unusual course!

I'm hoping he hears soon too as his college need to send some additional information about his background/ GCSE mitigating circumstances and are hoping to do so before the end of the week as they are on half term next week!

Oh and I hope your DD is not disappointed with her allocation, I was talking to DS about this earlier today and he says he's not bothered but clearly has got a preference for the older and more picturesque colleges!

think we are going to have a look once we've got over covid, I know her friend emailed the tutor asking for a copy to see if she could give it to her for her 18th Birthday on Friday, as you can imagine it was ignored 🤣 but the thought was there lol.

I think they do @Hope4534. I just looked and there are three DoS listed for my DD's course at her college, though one is for Y2 and 3. Rather niche research areas!

I hope not, as my DS has also chosen an in-person interview college.
We are quite a distance from C, but decided in-person worked better for his visually impairment on lots of levels.
I suspect some candidates will prefer not to travel to C in the middle of Dec with the potential for travel disruptions, but maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.

Someone has on the Yr 13 thread.

Can I ask the hive mind a question - DD is having an assessment for ADHD next week. At what point, if any, should she include this in her uni applications, and how should she do that? We weren't expecting it to happen until after Christmas so thought it would be too late for a potential diagnosis to be taken into consideration (if unis take it into consideration, which they may not). Does anyone have any experience of this?

DD's portfolio for The Ruskin is just about done. She's going to submit it tomorrow because she's going on holiday and wants to be able to forget about it. It's been pretty stressful and it's quite an eclectic mix of works, which I'm not sure they will like as feel they might be looking for a definite direction, whilst her work is competent but maybe not yet possessing a particular style at this point in time.

I was shouted down for implying so earlier but yes - as a sixth form teacher I’ve seen exactly this happening over many years. Strong girls seem to fare less well than slightly less strong boys in arts subjects (may be the opposite for sciences). Will leave this thread though as saying anything like this seems to upset parents of successful candidates, even though there are of course many brilliant boys too

Both Oxford so not sure if much help ....

My DD (2021) knew who the interviewers were once the teams invite was sent as you can see it in the invite. She had three interviews over the two weeks.

My DS (2019) knew he would have one physical and one human geography interview and there was a fellow for each at his college so could work it out.

Definitely worth looking at the interviewers interests but also be yourself and share your own passions.