Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Redirected from Oxford and Cambridge 2024

637 replies

MirandaWest · 11/01/2024 15:55

Thought I’d start this thread in case anyone else with a DC who didn’t get an offer from Oxford (or Cambridge in a couple of weeks time) wants to say anything - I feel a bit out of place in the Oxbridge thread now but could be good to have somewhere to talk about how they are and what their plans are now.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
CloudsandChimneys · 05/02/2024 19:06

Thanks all. It’s just a weird limbo, almost 4 months after submitting, still to have no offer (and no firm “no” other than Cambridge). Logically, I know the course is a competitive one and the universities in question at the slower end, but it would be nice to have even the faintest idea of what September might bring!

At least Cambridge were interested enough to interview, so I know DC must have filled in the UCAS form correctly!

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

Waitingfortulips · 05/02/2024 19:10

DS is heading to an offer holder open
day at UCL next week and we wait and wait and wait for Imperial.

He’s on the fence between UCL and Imperial and I’ve become agnostic.

I do think he’ll be swayed by the relatively easy (for him) UCL offer and the temptation of an easier life. Which seems a valid choice.

space99 · 05/02/2024 19:33

Offer holder day at UCL @Waitingfortulips ? When did they receive the email invite for that?

lifeturnsonadime · 05/02/2024 20:39

I think UCL has a number of offer holder days as my son has been invited to one in March.

space99 · 05/02/2024 21:17

Thanks @lifeturnsonadime Just got DS to check his emails and not received an offer holder day invite yet. I was led to believe the emails invites didn’t go out until April as that is what they say on their website. Fingers crossed DS gets an invite soon.

Waitingfortulips · 05/02/2024 21:52

I think DS heard last week for UCL open day. He is applying to an unpopular science course. I was surprised too. He’s going to stay with his brother and we are not involved.

I am not credible here 🤣.

lifeturnsonadime · 06/02/2024 08:38

@Waitingfortulips I know the feeling. I was hoping DS would want me to go with him to the offer holders day, but alas no.

Waitingfortulips · 06/02/2024 10:44

When DS1 had an open day at Imperial a couple years ago the uni did about 90 reassuring minutes for the parents and then sent us on our way. I was so surprised by the unexpected free time in London I took myself to lunch, got tipsy on a big a glass of wine, and then went shopping in Chelsea and bought clothes that seemed frivolous but became favourites. It was an excellent day and I wish DS2 didn’t keep me at arms length so I could do it again. Although, to be fair, we all know a lot more about university in London than we did two years ago, and given what I pay to subsidise DS1, it makes sense for DS2 to stay with him and we don’t book a hotel.
And I suppose with two in London I can not afford boozy lunches or frivolous trousers 🤣

PumpkinKnitter · 06/02/2024 11:03

@Waitingfortulips At least you got one frivolous day 🤣. I must admit open days / offer days with DD are a lot of fun as she considerately picked places too far away to do in one day and is happy to have company. We had mini-breaks in Edinburgh and York for open days, and are looking forward to two more in Exeter and Bristol for offer holder days. Mind you, Premier Inn does pretty well out of us!

Original poster
MirandaWest · 06/02/2024 16:23

DD wants to (and is) going to the Bristol offer hinders day on her own and staying the night before as well. She can sometimes be a bit more independent than I’d like…

Wish Edinburgh would either send her an offer or a rejection. Not sure where she would prefer to go.

Also would like her to go to a Durham offer holders day just in case it changes her mind

OP posts:
PumpkinKnitter · 06/02/2024 16:38

@MirandaWest Independence is a good thing! It's all good practice for when she goes to uni. I wish Edinburgh would get cracking too, but we are resigned to just having to wait it out.

mushroom3 · 06/02/2024 16:40

The Edinburgh offer holders dates aren't until April

Headingto18 · 06/02/2024 17:18

@MirandaWest i an going to Bristol simply as haven’t had chance yet; i will do the parents trip to accom as looks like DD is busy all day. Is your DD doing the Spanish taster? DD will be in that one as is doubt a joint degree

lifeturnsonadime · 09/02/2024 21:19

So my son had a strange experience today. He found himself sitting next to one of the professors he was interviewed by on a train going into Oxford from the North.

DS, texted me and told me and I asked him if he was going to strike up a conversation.

But he didn't!

Probably to the immense relief of the professor concerned!

mondaytosunday · 09/02/2024 22:28

@MirandaWest 'offer hinders day' - that's a slip of the tongue (or finger)!
I'm wondering if my DD would prefer to go on her own to offer holder days now that's she experienced some independence in Portugal. Probably not if overnight though (it would be easier as we have dogs if she did, and I really do not fancy flying up to Glasgow).

lifeturnsonadime · 09/02/2024 22:52

mondaytosunday · 09/02/2024 22:28

@MirandaWest 'offer hinders day' - that's a slip of the tongue (or finger)!
I'm wondering if my DD would prefer to go on her own to offer holder days now that's she experienced some independence in Portugal. Probably not if overnight though (it would be easier as we have dogs if she did, and I really do not fancy flying up to Glasgow).

My son has an offers holder day for UCL and doesn't want me to go with him.

I think it's a good thing on the whole.

Lightsabre · 09/02/2024 23:05

What a weird coincidence @lifeturnsonadime - ds would have been mortified. I guess the professor wouldn't have recognised him but strange all the same.

Lightsabre · 09/02/2024 23:08

I think I'll go along to the offer holders day - not the actual subject stuff but to look at accommodation again and logistics. Getting worried about putting Bath as an insurance now because of the no guaranteed accommodation problem.

Newgirls · 10/02/2024 08:44

we feel like that about Bristol and putting it as insurance - accom would be a nightmare.

im going to an offer holder day but not going to the actual event - just going to keep company on the journey and have a day out

lifeturnsonadime · 10/02/2024 11:43

Lightsabre · 09/02/2024 23:05

What a weird coincidence @lifeturnsonadime - ds would have been mortified. I guess the professor wouldn't have recognised him but strange all the same.

My son doesn't think that the professor did recognise him. He just thought it was amusing. If it had been me I think I'd have struck up a conversation!

mondaytosunday · 10/02/2024 16:26

Ha my son would have greeted him for sure! My daughter would have tried to disappear...

Xenia · 10/02/2024 16:43

For those on this thread, unlike my siblings who went to Oxbridge I did not try and it has never held me back as a lawyer. None of my 5 graduate children tried Oxbridge either and 4 are lawyers (the twins qualified last month) so I just wanted to say to all those on the thread good luck in whatever university the teenagers choose. 3 of my children including the twins had a lovely time at Bristol and did well (all 3 had a Durham offer too but rejected it in favour of Bristol largely because Bristol if closer to London where we live although I like Durham and am from NE England so I would have been happy with either choice).

ladsmum · 11/02/2024 20:37

DS got an offer for Imperial on Thurs so one very happy guy. Keep checking UCAS to find out the conditions but still not updated. Interview on Wed for Manchester and offer on Fri so he’s had a great week.

Lightsabre · 11/02/2024 20:41

Congratulations to him @ladsmum, ds still waiting to hear and getting a bit anxious it will be a no as it was his second favourite choice.

Thanks @Xenia.

Ragdollcharlie · 12/02/2024 10:00

Hi - my DS also heard from his last choice - got an offer from LSE so also very happy. I think that will be enough to make him reconsider reapplying to cambridge - LSE is excellent for his subject and I think he'll get a lot out of being in London. Durham is still in the mix though so going to the open day this Wed, so we'll see.