Oxbridge 2025

[SnowFairy2000]

Let's start the journey here !!!

Thanks PhotoDad. DC asked to be woken early to check their score but I didn't want to wake them and find the results weren't out yet.

The point is a number of posters are telling you that your approach - particularly at this point - is unhelpful or unwelcome.

your refusal to tone down your condescension is dismissive and rude

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rcfQC4qrWe8Fp4FlvlbJ7xZGskT12NHf15t2QW89OK8/htmlview

I hope the above link works. It should be to a spreadsheet that shows which courses have sent out interviews at which Oxford colleges. Green for interviews and grey if the college doesn't offer that course. A yp had created on reddit/tsr. May help those still waiting.

DD got an email yesterday to say she has an interview at Oxford. No date yet and it could be any time in a 2-week window starting from next Monday. The email said you will get at least 24 hours' notice. It seems kind of comedic to me, but I guess you just have to roll with it. Every interviewee for her course will be interviewed by two colleges, so she is also waiting to hear which the other one is. It feels strange now that we (well, I) did loads of research into the first college, but you are just as likely to end up at another one.

Anyway, a bit of happy news for the moment (before the stress kicks in!). Good luck to all those waiting to hear - I hope you get news soon. The sweet and funny kids on Reddit were making the wait slightly easier for us. No oneupmanship there 😉

That’s really interesting spreadsheet just to see which subjects are offered where (as well as interviews) !!!

Congrats @ColouringPencils

Oh the irony, in a week full of stories about the shocking impact of cancel culture in Oxford colleges when others dislike the actions or words of another.

DD heard on 29 Nov for 3 days of PPE interviews beginning on 8 Dec @RunningOverTime when they were still in person.

@Cubic Thank you. That's really helpful!

I’d see the other way HeWasH20 the irony of a poster who ignored repeated polite requests to be kind and polite in tone. People understandably came here for support.

My son has still heard nothing and the deadline is very fast approaching. Others doing the same subject (different college) heard back two weeks ago. I can't see any disquiet on any of the online forums.

Will you DM me your college and I’ll return likewise? If it’s the same one then I think it’s shocking as the uni department put out an Instagram post saying that interviews are taking place very shortly … and that was last week.

Now that the TMUA results are out DS might hear today. His score was OK but he knows he could have done better to tip him up to the next level of academic brilliance (slightly tongue in cheek there - all our kids are academically brilliant otherwise we wouldn’t be on this thread). Bloody roadworks. Still, it shows that he can still get above average results under duress and pressure so his A levels should be a doddle.

Sorry, oldie popping back because I well remember the 'stress' of waiting on DC's behalf to hear about whether he'd checked his junk and heard about whether he'd got an interview especially at this stage when some of his friends had and others were still waiting. He was sure his ENGAA results (think engineers do something different now!) would mean no interview, but he was happy to be selected for interview.

He was also surprised on offer day to have been pooled to a different college - to those saying you are invested in one having applied there but end up in another - it really didn't make any difference in the end. He is very happy where he is, and actually thinks that where he ended up suits him better (but he would say that, wouldn't he 😉)

Anyway, I hope that those still waiting on interview invitations hear really soon, that those who have interviews shortly enjoy them and feel that they have been able to show themselves off to their best - and whatever happens come offer day, know that as (I think @periodiclabel said), it's ultimately a bit of a lottery - there are far too many highly intelligent brilliant young people for a fixed number of places - and a rejection isn't a reflection on their worth or ability (I managed OK as an Oxford reject!).

I found the older TSR threads from previous years helpful as I could see exactly which week interview invites were sent out so assumed (correctly) when they would come for specific course and college. For PPE Oxford my undertanding is this will be in the coming days if they follow the same schedule as the last few years.

Thanks. I have already had a look back and It seems the subject my son applied for usually comes out much earlier.

Bit of a cliché, but ime, whether you get in or not works in your favour. Both DC applied. One got in, one didn't. He was gutted at the time because he thought it meant he was less clever. But when he compared his workload to his brother's, he was so relieved. He loved having an active social life and managed to get a first even though he was interning 3 days a week in his final year.

My Oxbridge son has ended up wanting to be an academic (shit pay! So much so that tutors have successfully taken Oxford to court) He works very hard but really enjoys it. And enjoys the whole tweedy, dim lit libraries, evensong in the chapel lifestyle that would not have suited his more 21st century brother at all.

The point I'm trying to make here is that, if they apply, get them to look critically at the actual lifestyle: the workload, the rooms last decorated mid 20thC (no exaggeration) and compare it with other unis where they may walk out with a First having barely noticed the workload. Make sure they have a back up that they genuinely love.

@ThatllBeTheDay when multiple people have told you and/or have liked posts stating that you’re being condescending/patronising/unhelpful. The majority of people would reflect on their approach rather than continue to double down.

And being called out on rudeness is not “cancel culture” it’s an entirely appropriateness response to someone acting in a tiresome fashion.

anyway like others I joined this thread for support, so in that spirit I won’t address the matter again.

thanks @HewasH2O for the feedback on PPE dates

good luck everyone - I guess the first round wait is almost over

First time posting on this thread but a long term lurker, so please be kind and objective with me and sorry if I over share ! It's a terrible personality trait.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who contributes in any capacity to this thread as all the information has been extremely helpful in our long journey.

My own child didn't make the cut for shortlisting at Oxford for Medicine despite being amazing ( in my opinion )

I think the algorithm used at Oxford ( I'm not sure about Cambridge) reflects their background school performance.

Child had great GCSEs, Predicted 3 A stars and an A at A level plus a significantly above average entrance test score.

However, 9 grade 9s, a7 and a 6 (out of the possible 11 sat) just wasn't good enough for her course and you can't argue with that. I believe ( and could be totally wrong) that Oxford looks at the percentage of the top grades ( 8 & 9s) to GCSE taken and my child's fell below the 90% of top grades and Ucat wasn't top 9th decile to counter that out .
I think this is fair enough as it levels the playing field between schools as extra consideration is given to students who attend less academic schools.

My only gripe is her contextual circumstances ( FSM, young carer due to my disability) may have had less impact because of her school type ( state grammar) which I feel a little salty about - can't lie!

Oxford admission statement says that 'FSM is a flag that tutors should consider when shortlisting due to under representation 'as only 6% on FSM nationally meet Oxford A level entry requirements ( my child is likely to exceed the standard offer for Oxford come results day) Not bragging as I'm sure they all will who apply.

We are a poor household and fall in this bracket , but also a happy family ( money can't buy that ).She gained a place at said grammar by her own Merrit as we live in an opt out county rather than opt in so primary school orchestrated the entrance test and all the children sat it ( possibly some opted out).

My child is pretty stoic and thinks her application would have been treated fairly by the admissions Tutors, so she bares no grudges but I do 😂

@jowanga She sounds amazing and I'm sure will excel wherever she goes.

DS had a friend in his cohort, with eleven 9s, 4 A star predictions, state grammar, disabled mother, loads of relevant work experience and he didn't get a single offer for medicine at his first attempt, including Oxford....he's now happily enrolled at medical school at his second attempt.

My brother is a surgeon (having been an accountant first) and thinks it's horrendous that the bar is so high for entry now - that many talented people who would make excellent medics don't get a look in. MAD in a country where we are losing our medical professionals to Australia and Canada at an alarming rate.

Best of luck to her 😊

Thankyou @panicmode1 I appreciate your support. The bar is so high and I guess University's have an extremely difficult time making the selection for shortlisting. I have been warned this could be a two year process ! I don't think I can stomach that but that's the deal unfortunately.

@jowanga - sorry to hear that and your DC sounds absolutely amazing. My youngest DC wants to study medicine and from what I've heard from very senior doctors, academics and DC's school is that all the medical schools in the UK are great places to learn. Your daughter will end up a qualified doctor and where she has studied will have little to no bearing on her future career. I think I even remember hearing that foundation years job applications are university blind, though I'm not entirely sure if I'm correct on that. Either way, hopefully the sting of this initial disappointment will soon ease, and she'll have a brilliant time wherever she goes.

@ontheturn - try not to panic. I know a few of DCs friends who sat the ESAT only got invites late yesterday, for example, whereas my DC was called a few weeks ago (humanities subject).

@flowerdress yes this is so true ! I believe they will be blindly scored for placement and child has other great options / if they materialise into an offer! 🤞

Hi, I haven't read the whole thread and don't want to be another person chipping in with their child's Oxbridge application experience because I can see how this is very irritating - but, just to say, there is often no rhyme or reason to who gets an interview and who doesn't. 24,000 apply to Oxford and the same to Cambridge each year. Only 3,500 ish will get a place at each uni, but per institution, another 6,000 (at least) will go in to get very top grades and there is no difference whatsoever between any of them snd those who were offered places.

Oxford do put more emphasis on GCSEs in making their initial interview selections and aim to interview roughly 3 per place for most subjects. Cambridge are less fussed about GCSEs (especially those in subjects not related to degree choice) and they interview about 75% of applicants overall, as I understand it. Honestly, I think the same student could apply to one college and not get in, turn up at another the next day and be offered a place. It's that random. Please don't be too disheartened if the luck doesn't swing the right way for your YP. The process is far from perfect. These are just academics, they don't have crystal balls and it's impossible to compare one individual to another for the most part. Good luck anyway.

Also @jowanga, medicine is medicine wherever you study it. It's far more competitive than say MML or many humanities subjects or even Chemistry at Oxford or Nat Sci at Cambridge. They say it can be a two-year process to get an interview anywhere. So for her to have other options right now is fantastic, as so many will not. Best of luck!

@quartzz So true ! And my post is just another in a long line of dashed hopes but actually my child is ok with it so says a lot more about her than me ! Too invested by far. Anyway we are out of the running but airing was therapeutic so thank you all and very good luck and best wishes for all onwards journeys and heartfelt commiserations for those who children's make their journey elsewhere