Oxbridge 2025

[SnowFairy2000]

Let's start the journey here !!!

@Rhinoc did this extra time form go out to everyone after SAQ or only to those who indicated accomodations on the SAQ. Mine has extra time and movement breaks (dyspraxia) for exams but dont think mentioned it on the SAQ as there is no HAA (pre History test) - but has now realised that a source reading and on the spot verbal test just prior or during the interview is likely and so the extra time to read and process would be needed.

@5starzz I am about 90% sure that any forms other than the SAQ are from individual colleges. When interview invitations come out, it would be worth a quick email asking for extra prep time.

The colleges at Cambridge are far more independent and varied than those at Oxford when it comes to admissions procedures. Cambridge has the (rather ridiculous) "pool" procedure, whereas Oxford colleges try to balance things before or at the interview stage (where it's not unusual to have interviews with two different colleges).

DS was pleased with the TSA as well, said there were more maths questions than he was expecting - but that played to his strengths so fingers crossed.

Ok, I misremembered, They didn't actually send him the form, but referred and linked to it on the "timetable" that they did send out, which in his case is here, but check the applications page for your college for equivalent. https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/information-for-current-applicants/

Is there a tracker of whose DC is applying where for what subject?

That hasn't been done before Gocompared. It would be very invidious for the DC in question if their parents were sharing college and subject, especially before they've secured an offer. Generally posters mention subject and which of Ox/ Cam. A small number mention college too and usually get a gentle warning off.

My own approach has been to only mention college once the DC in question has graduated and then only very rarely, if there's a reason for it (such as someone else wanting advice about a certain college).

In previous years there’s been a general uni tracker (presumably filled by the students themselves to ease @ThatllBeTheDay’s concerns) posted on student room/reddit which contains details of predicted grades, offered grades and date of offer.

I haven’t seen it this year

Re: subject/college
On the long running Oxbridge thread, the form has been to only mention subject vaguely and college not at all, as these can be very identifying.

I've mentioned D1's subject on this thread as she has now graduated but would not while she was an undergrad - her particular degree was only offered by about half the colleges and had a total intake of around 12, typically no more than one per college. When she was in her second year she was the only person in her college doing that degree.

Thank you. And would the report form be something that was filled in at the test centre? I am asking because I can imagine the screen freezing or something and DS just leaving after the exam without thinking about any forms/ reporting. I just wanted to give him a heads up on if this happens then do this.

Here is a link to the Reddit spreadsheet of uni offers. Beware some are clearly fake, but it's interesting nevertheless: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Pie76pbvGL68_RF63WfWnz_zg_iOmSgbYBh2J9lbAQ8/edit?usp=drivesdk

And to the thread:
www.reddit.com/r/6thForm/comments/1g3eour/20242025_offers_spreadsheet/

Exactly as I said above, your DC needs to follow the precise instructions given by the invigilator. Pearson with have instructions for citizenship, driving theory, accountancy, pharmacy and other professional body exams, as well as various university entrance tests. I have no idea what the specific rules are for uni entrance tests, whereas Pearson deal with it day in, day out. It's business as usual for them in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, like a fire alarm going off.

As @JulesJules says, posters never disclose college on the current student thread. Even when one was closing, it was never explicitly named. When some of you join the current student thread next August, you may wish to name change and switch to subject only as Oxford & Cambridge are very small worlds.

Ofc the college they apply for is not necessarily the college they'll end up at (if they get in). Not sure there are any identifiers at this point.

I'm aware of TSR spreadsheets, whose entries are frequently not credible.

As far as MN goes the critical point is that parents are posting not the applicant/ student themselves. And as H2O has just said, these are small worlds. In fact they're very small worlds. The DC in question are often recognisable (or certainly have been to me, but I'm an old lag). Even when I'm aware that another poster's DC is at the same college as one of mine, I almost never say so (unless my own DC has graduated). The fact that a DC might be pooled is slightly beside the point. At Oxford in particular only three applicants per place are interviewed, so even at interview stage numbers aren't huge.

But each to their own.

@ThatllBeTheDay I’m not sure why you’re taking exception with my comment.

I agree it’s a very small world and was pointing a poster requesting a spreadsheet to a source (albeit I agree not entirely credible) of information that she might find helpful that doesn’t involve the attendant privacy risks that a MN spreadsheet would.

Hi, ds has been allocated a college for his application (Oxford) does anyone know please if he'll get allocated another one as well? I think I read that they get two interviews? We've not been through this process before so not too sure what to expect.

It depends on the subject. Some subjects always do 2 interviews at different colleges, others don't automatically. Did you read this on here, or on the Oxford website for his particular course choice?

Second choice college allocation will happen closer to interviews anyway, and he would only get a second interview if he gets past shortlisting stage. He may not be told in advance "your second college is X", he may just get an interview invitation from College X.

2024 interview timetable | University of Oxford info here

Thank you @foxglovetree that makes sense. I appreciate you replying.

This thread is really helpful, thank you to everyone that contributes.

If they don't do so well in the admissions test, does Oxford decline them before the interview dates? Or do they just not receive an invite to interview and receive the rejection after those dates?

I thought if they weren't invited to an interview they get declined formally in January. The interview dates for each subject have been linked upthread, it says you get notified about a week in advance. I think if the interview dates come and go, it's s pretty good indication of not being successful @FiveFoxes

I think my only reservation was the idea that you felt I had 'concerns'. No objection whatever to a link to a spreadsheet. Although arguably so unreliable as to not be worth linking to!

FiveFoxes their college sends a rejection email at the time the invites to interview are sent out.