Oxbridge 2025

[SnowFairy2000]

Let's start the journey here !!!

Oh ok.

But either way, swerving the stats seems like good advice.

I agree - ultimately, becoming obsessed with stats and probabilities makes absolutely no difference to the outcome - it’s far less stressful to just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best!

I think the stats are helpful for managing DC's expectations. We've been very clear that, while DD needs to work and try her best, there are elements of lottery about the whole thing, so not to take it personally.

And I would have said this a hundred times more strongly if she were applying for maths or economics rather than a course with a 40% acceptance rate.

Often there are good reasons for high/ low application rates to particular subjects which mean that it's not necessarily the case that the subjects with higher application rates are harder to get an offer for and those with lower application rates are easier.

Yes, the stats can be for all sorts of reasons! If you look at A* percentages at A level you would conclude that Further Maths and Ancient Greek are very easy (lots of high grades) but really it's due to the high-achieving cohorts sitting them. I think something similar can be true of university admissions.

Lots of Cambridge offers in now amongst my DCs friends. I know Cambridge proportionally offers more interviews than Oxford but it’s still lovely to see and so excited for them all.

Sounds like a few Oxford interview offers have trickled in today as well. Not sure what subjects but I think previously biology and biochem have been quite early?

Just looked back at TSR log of applications/interviews for Cambridge for last year 23/24 and it seems that they kept coming through until 29th Nov.

Does anyone know when the rejections (ie no interview) might go out?

I believe some for art have been sent but not sure on the colleges. I wouldn't read anything into it, it's early days.

I think DS’s TMUA result will be available shortly so I’m bracing myself ☹️

I’m not reading anything into it I’m just passing comment. I’m well aware the interview notifications will come over several weeks

Hello, hope it's ok to join in as a relative latecomer.

Anyone else have a DC preparing for the MML admissions test at C?

Also a latecomer, but yes. DC's in on Thursday. Did you have a question?

Yes, DD is taking the test on Thursday too.

Thanks tortoise18 and namefortodayandtomorrow. Good luck to your YP

No question as such, but we've found the instructions to be a little unclear. DC is trying to ensure they're clear around how to upload the completed work, and isn't entirely sure what to expect in terms of invigilator checking the room before the test starts.

It might vary college to college, but DC's has said that you handwrite the answers then scan in by phone and email a PDF to the admissions tutor after the test but when the invigilator is still in the room. They did say use the scan function rather than take a photo, so he's had a dry run of that and it seems quite simple. But I'm sure a photo would be ok if there's any panic/problem.

Not sure how they're going to go about checking the room beforehand. Maybe someone whose DC has taken the test before will know.

Hearing of 4A-star, straight 9 friends of dc getting rejections for Cambridge interviews. Just the annual reminder it's so tough out there and no one is safe. Good luck everyone here!

There must be something amiss there though. Cambridge interview a proportionally pretty high percentage of candidates as they don’t routinely use entrance tests. Something else about that application must be lacking.

These are for very competitive courses - medicine and maths

No rejection email yet for dc economics 🤞🏻 no news…

Same happened to exceptional candidates in DS' cohort - medics and mathematicians mainly, but a couple of humanities students I would have put money on getting interviewed ...

They still use the standard entrance tests (ESAT, TMUA, UCAT) for Engineering, Computer Science, NatSci, Medicine, Economics at least, so it may be that.

l don’t know all the details, but I know one medic candidate scored very highly in the appropriate test. I don’t think there’s much point speculating on what could’ve happened, every year there are similar stories.

I agree. My DS is one of those with straight 9s and 4 A* students and I doubt he will get an interview. The TMUA results will be released next week so we’ll see. I also doubt he’ll be offered a place at Imperial. It’s sad to see these brilliant kids being rejected but they are competing with the rest of the world for two places on their course in their college. Pass the gin.

It's hard for them. They are used to being top of their year, but that doesn't necessarily translate when you open it up to the country/world!
I prefer to think of it as 100 places in the department than 2/3 in the college, though. Feels slightly more optimistic!

Hang on in there... lots of test results to be released next week.

I work in a school and every year I see bright, keen, wonderful, students who fail to get interviews. They are still bright, keen, and wonderful.

In the meantime, I'll swap you the gin for the Scotch.