Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 3

[Lightsabre]

New thread as Part 2 about to fill.

Forgot to say, if he's happy to continue STEP practice, but doesn't need a certain level for offers, then he might as well carry on as it'll stand him in good stead I would imagine for a maths degree.

@Angharad01 so sorry to hear about your DS. I would wait until after the MAT result, and if his score means the reduced offer from Warwick, it maybe prudent to drop STEP and concentrate on getting the required A-level grades. Yesterday in the Cambridge STEP webinar they said some students are accepted after A-level results, but they have to have completed STEP and received the minimum entry requirements for both, and come from a state school. But I can’t remember if this only applies to those rejected at the interview or before. They also said something about those which fall into their contextual offer category. Might be worth watching yesterdays webinar, and then deciding whether to drop STEP.

I'm sorry to read that @Angharad01

It sounds like he has some other really good options so I'm sure he'll do well wherever he ends up. The decision about STEP doesn't have to be made for quite a while so he could take some time to think about it (and see how he did in MAT). STEP is very good preparation for a maths degree though so one could argue that it's worth doing from that perspective.

Somebody mentioned the August reconsideration pool - more details here

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/after/reconsideration-eligibility

interview email arrived yesterday from Oxford. It’s for a subject that has relatively low amount of applications compared to maths/Ppe etc. I don’t want to give too much info on here if that’s ok.

@Angharad01 really sorry to hear that. So tough and seems so unfair. MAT will give a lower Warwick offer so good to have done that. I think so think hard about STEP because it’s hard to prepare for that as well as doing 4 A levels and there are other ways of getting ready for uni maths (like doing STEP for fun) . Trinity does have this prestige for maths including from lots of internationals who have phenomenal grades (beyond 4 A stars) and supracurriculars like IMOs. They do in-person interviews too (I think) which must impact how many they interview as compared to on-line. The college choice may well sadly have had an impact.

Sorry for your DS @Angharad01 it's such a brutal process where so many bright kids will be redirected. He's got some great options though so once he gets through this initial disappointment I'm sure he'll be fine.

Sorry to hear about the maths angaharad. I think a degree in maths/economics etc from anywhere is a path for success

@Angharad01 someone else is on tsr Cambridge 2024 with the same perfect grades and a rejection from Cauis for an interview - suspect it may give some solace to see your DS is not alone as people post today.

@Angharad01 so sorry for your ds. I don’t have any advice re STEP. Am sure your ds is feeling deflated at the moment but Warwick is an excellent university for Maths and fingers crossed for an offer from Imperial too.

Sorry to hear that @Angharad01 . This process is barely underway but I’m honestly disheartened to hear this - this and another poster’s DC’s LSE rejection both with 4 predicted A stars… knowing the work that has likely been done to get to the stage of being able to make a competition application for it to just get a flat rejection. I know it’s competitive but still highly deflating for the applicants.

@Angharad01 sorry to hear of your DS disappointment. Onwards and upwards!

@Angharad01 sorry about the news and how it arrived

Congratulations @Newgirls on the interview!

@Angharad01 some really good advice on here on how to move forward. Hope your DS is ok as the day progresses.

@Angharad01 I’m very sorry to read about your son. Fingers crossed for imperial. Tough decision for him re STEP.

@Angharad01 Sorry to hear this, it's a brutal process. It's impossible to know why perfect candidates on paper get rejected without even an interview, it doesn't tie in with the 'these people know exactly who they're looking for' narrative because how can they know without even meeting them? There are just too many good candidates for places. In the last few years several perfect-on-paper candidates from my dcs' academically selective school ended up with no offers at all from any university, or only one or two and had to reapply after A levels - even then some with three A* didn't get into their top choice. So the fact he already has an offer from Warwick is a REALLLY positive sign. I would carry on with STEP, disheartened as he'll be, because it will help with his degree anyway and rest assured it's true he will have a more fun, less pressured time at another uni AND come out with a degree that makes him eminently employable.

Trinity does have this prestige for maths including from lots of internationals who have phenomenal grades (beyond 4 A stars) and supracurriculars like IMOs

Yes, that's a factor, they are known for selecting BM02 & IMO candidates.

My DS has just text to say he has an HSPS interview on 4th December.
So now the next lot of stress begins 😬

Excellent news for your DS @spacechimp79!! 🎊🎉Is that C or O?

They only do it at C

@spacechimp79 great news, good luck to him.

My DD just called to say she has a St Andrews offer so taken pressure off a little!

Well done to your DC @spacechimp79 , @Newgirls & @lullubell

Thankyou @Redhotchillipeppers! She's over the moon

Just checked with my DS - no new messages from UCAS or Cambridge. Keep telling myself no news is good news.

@lullubell oh that’s fantastic. Waiting on St Andrews here. We’re RUK so prepared for a long wait!