Redirected from Oxford and Cambridge 2024

[MirandaWest]

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.

Been lurking on here for a while, my DS had an offer for Cambridge but failed the STEP requirements, I wish he had been turned down earlier as it is so heart breaking at such a late stage and really soured his fantastic A level results he received! Anyway we have also been redirected and he is now just starting to look forward to his insurance choice that many others on here are also heading to. So hello to the group and STEP can do one! 😊

@alisonloves, sorry to hear about your ds Step results. It is a truly awful process and sympathy to your son. This happened to a couple of people at ds school too. I hope he can be happy with his insurance choice.

Same as my son, although the Step he missed was for Imperial. He is off to Durham now, slowly coming to terms with it. Is your DS off to Durham too?

@alisonloves so sorry for your son! My DS was pooled but not picked out and although it was disappointing a little part of me was glad we weren't going to be hanging on the step results especially as his brother lost out on getting an interview/offer from Oxford/Imperial likely due to the MAT test. They both achieved four A stars in their A'levels, bonkers to think that's not good enough for Oxbridge but I'm sure our children all be more than happy in their chosen uni's! Good luck to everyone's YP as they start their new chapter this month!

Yes! 😊

I can sympathise. Another lurker here whose ds also missed his Cambridge maths offer despite getting 3 A stars and an A, plus 1 in step 2 - but only a 3 in step 3. It's a horrible process and they should all be immensely proud of their achievements. Best of luck to your ds - Cambridge maths is definitely not the best all and end all!

So heartbreaking to hear of what these young people go through with the University process. I hope they all have the best start to Uni and are proud of their achievements.

My DS is getting his application ready for Physics at Oxford at the moment and putting a lot of work into it, to his credit. He is prepared for rejection and just hoping to steadily engage with the process as it unfolds, but I don't think he has truly thought about the possible outcomes for his other choices - Imperial is equally tough (although it requires a different pre-test, so I understand the value of that in case he has a bad day), UCL, Edinburgh and Durham. I'm trying to encourage him to apply to a University that may give him value for the EPQ he has done and I hear of lots of very happy students at Glasgow, Lancaster, Southampton, Birmingham etc, all of which may give him a lower offer with the EPQ, and possibly an early decision to bolster his morale through the long wait...

Are there any Physics applicants on this chat who might have some advice, having been through the process recently? This is our first experience of the process, and I'm wondering if he should apply only for Oxford and Imperial on 15 Oct, then hold off until 29 Jan, when he will know the Oxford decision and could make a more informed choice on the other three.

This is almost identical circs to what happened to us! I hope you and your DS are ok and he is happy with his insurance choice? I feel for you too as I know how much work has gone into getting an offer alone and he has done so well to get there 😊 We all felt bereft for a couple of weeks but are now feeling a lot better about things! 😊 It definitely isn’t the be all and I think the cruel process of STEP should be looked into for young hopefuls MH, hearing on offer day is cruel, particularly when they have the high A level marks required but there won’t be any cause for celebration naturally. STEP should be announced before then IMO like they used to, it would be a kinder process for all!

You have to apply for all options at the same time, so by the 15th he will need to have whittled down all his choices. Good luck with Oxford, I think it’s a much kinder process! 😊

you don’t have to apply for all options at the same time – you can fill in the form as and when up until the January deadline.

@stringseleven, Oxford is a kinder process as you know earlier in the process. Also consider Manchester as they have exceptional facilities for Physics and are highly ranked.

I'm not sure about applying all together, some do seem to add later.

My bad, sorry. We did them altogether so just presumed that was the case 😂

We are on the train to Edinburgh!

@stringseleven Edinburgh has the option of second year entry for STEM subjects if a student gets high enough A level or equivalent exam results and scores well enough in the subject entrance test. You can apply for second year entry or switch when you start.

Thanks yes he's very happy with his insurance (Warwick) but like your DS was disappointed for a while despite excellent results! Agree completely that it needs a rethink - it's so stressful having to wait until A level results day

I so feel for all of you with YP who missed their place at Cambridge due to STEP. It's such a long drawn out process and can end in heart break. I hope that they can find their way slowly and I'm sure you're all navigating that with them right now.

I have twins. One got an offer to Cambridge and the other did not, despite identical grades, admission test results etc, back in January. It has been unbelievably tough and is still difficult, even now to be honest. A level results were also challenging as both achieved 4 A stars and the one who didn't get an offer scored higher than the offer holder in two subjects, so of course it has reared its ugly head again. I have to believe that they will find their way and all I can do right now is be there and support. This thread is a great support too, to know we are not alone, thank you.

Could they apply next year or for Oxford? Such great grades and clearly very bright

But also a clear reminder that it really is a numbers game or luck on the interview day if two twins with such similar grades and brains can have dif outcomes

To cut a very long story short, it's extremely difficult to reapply for maths or physics related degrees due to the perceived loss of maths fluency during a gap year. Oxford also looks for some kind of internship, which we don't have lined up. We did consider it very carefully but the odds are so stacked against you. I also don't think we could go through rejection again especially with their twin being at C.

Yes, no disrespect to any offer holders but I do think there is an element of luck involved and a numbers game when it comes to the college you happen to apply to. We have found the system quite opaque and feedback was unclear and generic.

@SeaofTranquility, similar situation for my ds, his friend got an offer but had considerably lower academic achievements for every stage such as GCSEs, PG, admission tests, even external competitions for the subject they were applying for. Ds had a good interview, tough as you expect but he was given a bonus question because he worked so quickly through the solutions.The friend didn't complete the questions. Ds achieved 4A, friend was 2AA.

The only difference was the college choice so I think this makes much more difference than applicants appreciate. My ds is however excited about his Uni choice and knows he will have a great time. He a very strong all rounder, lots of sports, activities and social life so will thrive wherevet and I'm sure it will be the case for your son.

@stringseleven
I wld include at least 1 uni in your list who will make a quick offer. If he has the grades for a Manchester physics offer they are likely to respond almost immediately - before Oxford interviews - which is a nice little morale boost. Durham is notoriously late, sometimes going into May, as they don’t even start making offers until the equal consideration deadline at the end of Jan. Edinburgh and UCL can also be quite late in the cycle. Imperial also interview most for physics so that’s a slow drawn out process.
It changes every year but your son’s school shld be able to advise on likely time of offers by uni and by subject.
Only you know your child but Y13 can be a brutal rollercoaster especially when friends are receiving offers so it’s nice to have one in the bag.

north51 Manchester* invite for Physics interview first (based on application and predicted grades). Only after the interview do they make an offer so it isn't that quick ime. Bristol were the fastest to offer, less than a week after application. Manchester Physics offer is 2A.

@Pleasealexa what was Bristol's offer please and are there any other physics courses that come back quickly, that you know of please?

My YP's offer for physics at Bristol came within about a week of submission to UCAS and was A star AA. UCL was also quite quick, may be they heard back in November. Durham also fairly quick in December.

Perzival A*A,A for Bristol - they offered lower of DS made it his firm. I think it was 3As.

Manchester's offer for Physics is the same as Cambridge. If you look on UCAS for the course it shows yhe typical grades achieved by applicants which is 3xA*.

"The As* must be in Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics"