Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 3

[Lightsabre]

New thread as Part 2 about to fill.

@Ermengarde just seen your DD has heard about an interview, wonderful news!

@lifeturnsonadime Great news to your DS! What course did he apply for? We are waiting on KCL and UCL here which is DD's other two main options if Oxford falls through.

History, he's also applied to UCL but we know that that will be a late decision.

Fingers crossed you hear for DD for KCL too, although like for everything it might depend on the subject, DS did get an email from admissions saying that they aim to make decision within 6 weeks of receiving the form and it will be by email in the first instance. Has your DD had that email as, again, that might be unique to history?

@lifeturnsonadime My DD has applied for English but I don't think she'll hear back till next year. Bit like Oxford lol. Always a waiting game.

UCL english said they interview between Nov and March, so some people must hear before Christmas I guess.

DS1 is at UCL reading history and got his offer in November, but that was 3 years ago - maybe they have changed their timings. Even then, most of his friends didn't hear until Jan

@Revengeofthepangolins that's interesting about your DS. I think my DS would go for UCL over KCL if he gets offers from both. I am pretty certain he got an email saying that they don't make offers until the equal consideration deadline has passed so must have changed from 3 years ago. Does your DS enjoy the course at UCL?

He does - lots of flexibility and he has been able to select modules to suit his eventual specialisation in third year. However, (and I know this is a general theme for humanities), you don't get a lot for your money. A lot of lectures are still delivered as recordings from covid days and this term he doesn't have any - just three seminars a week.

Thanks @Revengeofthepangolins , it's so disappointing that with such high fees, lectures are still being delivered online. But the flexibility sounds very good.

@Lifeturnsonadime if it helps, DD2 in 1st year at UCL studying History and absolutely loves it. The course is very flexible, she is studying her top choice modules, all her lectures are in person with attendance checked (& available online if you miss them), the seminar groups are small and, compared with DC1’s experience of Humanities subject at C, the teaching is dedicated and first class: expectations are given and explained, work is reviewed in detail, feedback given and there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions. She has friends from KCL who are also very happy but, for her, the campus element really makes UCL stand out as DD is always bumping into people on campus, and on way to campus from Halls. She didn’t apply to C in the end (despite 4A*s) as she wanted a big city experience but UCL seems to give both a village-y feel in terms of campus in leafy Bloomsbury and all a city has to offer! That said, she has been very lucky with Halls this year so no commute needed. Good luck!

Yes, the sort of campus feel of UCL is much underrated or unobserved. Students dominate the area, so if one gets lucky with a hall in that area, whcih list of them are, it does feel much more campus-like than one might expect in London. dS1 has had an epic time. Expensive time though , although quite a bit of that is down to him

Thanks so much for the reassurances. As I said on an earlier thread my DS has his heart set on London as much as Oxford. I haven't visited UCL but fingers crossed with a 3 A * prediction he'll get an offer from there as well. I didn't know it has a campus feel, I do like the idea of that.

I’m actually quite shocked about the lack of in person lectures? Seems like our kids are not getting VFM. Not sure how universities can justify this now?

we’re also waiting on UCL…

@lifeturnsonadime excellent news! We are also waiting for UCL for history so good to hear experiences of the course. It was picked as it is the most campus like central London option and the straight history degree will allow him access to both ancient and modern courses.

We live in central London, so this is a backup choice (if he gets an offer) in case he decides he wants to stay at home to study. Otherwise he is keen on small city and/or campus universities.

Also waiting for UCL 🙋‍♀️

Waiting for UCL too!

Hello, does anyone have experience of this process already ? DD got email from UCAS to say her C application has been updated and to log in to check. We cannot see any updates or changes ? Has this happened to anyone else ? Due to it still being early in the cycle we are guessing she hasn’t been shortlisted for interview and C have updated at their end and UCAS just need to catch up ? Poor soul is so stressed and disheartened as she hasn’t heard back from anywhere, including the two where she has already achieved the minimum entry requirements. Any insight would be appreciated.

Difficult not to panic when this happens. It could equally be notification of an invite to interview. Try refreshing UCAS a few times.

Thanks, if it was me we would need a new keyboard for refreshing but I’m trying to distract her and keep it cool so as not to add to her anxiety !

@ThirdTimeBuyer that sounds odd - I thought the UCAS update and email were a linked process but possibly not! I hope DD hears soon

@ThirdTimeBuyer i think interview notices are going out so I have everything crossed for you 🤞

Thanks everyone …. Will let you know when we finally know what the update is. Good luck to everyone on here !

The email by DS received from the C college a couple of weeks ago stated that interview invites would be sent out w/c 20th Nov. The info was amongst a lot of other info. Might be worth checking to see what the college has sent. I was getting anxious until I read what had been sent again.

@ThirdTimeBuyer Trying not to very mildly panic here too. Despite having grades in hand for every uni applied to at above course grades specified, nothing has come back yet.

@FebuarySmith Have my fingers and toes crossed for you both ! Hope you get some good news sooner rather than later. It would be great to get a boost ahead of possibly a few more anxious months of waiting.