Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 4

[Lightsabre]

New thread as our dc start the rollercoaster ride of interviews.

Might be a good idea. Save derailing this one.

Fluffy My DD is at a comp and just went to the normal Oxford open day (there is the option to stay overnight I think) and that plus looking online was enough for her. She got an interview on a course that interviews 18%. There's a girl at her school who applied for same course who went to those things and didn't get an interview.

DD has not mentioned an e-mail but she's currently very distracted which is probably for the best. Went to a cat café yesterday. It is strange not knowing if they are in or out. DD has said she will be so sad if its not to be and she hasn't got any alternative offers atm. Though she only applied for 3. But she's fine atm and said it all went well enough, its just a super competitive course and you don't know how others did and odds are 1 in 3.

@Pallando thank you for the information you provided in your post earlier today. I’ll let DS know to look out for the email after we know the outcome of interviews.

@Pallando if an offer is received, what are the usual conditions/requirement for STEP? S, 1 in both papers?
Are the STEP conditions the same across all colleges or do they vary?

Just echoing the request that posters start a new thread for 2025 entry - am going to struggle to stay on top of this otherwise ( and it has been very helpful).

Yes please

There are far too much unnecessary posts clogging up this 2024 entry thread

Many

I believe it varies by college and applicant

Just a heads up for those who have dc applying for 2025 entry, a new thread has been started in Higher Education.

@Pleasealexa I think the standard maths offer is 1,1 in STEP 2 and 3 but some do get in each year having not quite hit their offer.

The standard offer is 1,1 in STEP 2 and 3 (and AAA in A-levels). Some colleges make a "flexible" offer of AAA and a grade 1 in either STEP 2 or STEP 3 (but both papers* have to be taken!). The colleges that use the flexible offer are Downing, Emmanuel, Fitzwilliam, Girton, Jesus, King's, Lucy Cavendish, Newnham, Robinson, Sidney Sussex, St. John's, Trinity Hall - usually these are given to applicants who satisfy widening participation criteria. (but some colleges use a broad definition of WP for this purpose!).

Some colleges will make slightly different offers to a few students depending on individual circumstances.

Every year about 1/3 of those starting the tripos do not have grades 1, 1.

This page might be useful: https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissions/faq

Hmm - bold problems.

Standard offer is 1, 1 in STEP 2 and 3 and Astar, Astar, A in A-levels.

Flexible offer is either meet the standard offer, or 1 in either STEP 2 or STEP 3 (both papers taken) and three Astars at A-level.

@Pallando thanks so much. My ds is likely to know but I'm avoiding talking too much about it. Thankfully he is fairly relaxed about it all.

24th Jan is going to be quite a day, just found out DS qualified for BMO2.

That's brilliant @IThinkIMadeItWorse - an amazing achievement.

Cambridge maths is so tough isn't it - congratulations on acing your interview, now please achieve this almost impossible task. Or, because we are so flexible, you could achieve this other almost impossible task instead 😂

congratulations to your DS @IThinkIMadeItWorse

I would like the 9th to hurry up purely so I can figure out term dates for all uni's for booking our Japan trip next December. If DD's get into Oxford we can go a week earlier and if not then it be a week and a bit after as the other uni's she applied to breaks up then.

Jesus

College? Or Christ?

I'm finding this wait a little more stressful than I anticipated I must admit.
Partly because I, rather idiotically, have been reading the posts on TSR which go into detail about admissions manuals and acceptance statistics. I don't advise it!!

It just feels so front loaded to do the tests then the interview(s) then have to wait so long when you know they know and you know they also probably knew pretty much before interview. The fact that my son had a poor interview and wasn't asked for a 2nd one makes me sure he'll be a No on reflection because I can't see him having done THAT well in the HAT for the interview not to be important.

Anyway. Everyone in the same boat. Just need to get some Christmas distraction going and January will be here in no time, the wait for C is obv worse!

Then there will be UCL wait which could go on and on......

I don't remember it being this intense when I was applying to uni but then I didn't apply to Oxbridge.

I’m surprisingly less stressed at the moment than I’d thought I’d be although that is only about DDs Oxford application - I have lots of other stresses taking its place!

@IThinkIMadeItWorse, brilliant news. Obviously a natural mathematician and likely to suit Cam Maths.

Congratulations Ithink that's brilliant news.