Help with the process please, no experience

[Perzival]

Hi, My ds is doing well. He's taking maths, further maths, physics and chemistry with a*'s estimated. He goes to one of the worst state grammars but the best our area can offer.

Myself and dh didn't go down the typical paths with our qualifications. I ended up doing mine later in life via a college and he did his through work. So we have no experience an nobody in the wider family with experience either.

Ds wants to take physics and we've paid for a pat tutor every other week (all we can afford but will inc over Summer).

He wants to apply to Oxford, Durham and Warwick. We have no clue and school aren't really guiding us.

He applied for widening participation as our younger ds has very complex needs and he's classed as a young carer. We earn ok and live in a nice part of one of the poorest towns in England. He didn't get on any courses but is in a waiting list for one at Durham so fingers crossed.

We've booked the open days at Durham and Warwick and his school have organised a trip to Oxford.

What should myself and dh be doing please? Have we missed anything, is there anything we can do to help please?

Any advice would ve much appreciated as we font want to let him down and aren't too sure about what we should be doing.

Is zero gravity free for students?

Im wondering if the cost is quite prohibitive as there’s mention of a £3k scholarship.

It sounds like a great scheme.

It is for state school students and yes it is free.

The scholarship is for your time at uni - £1000 a year. Obviously there are only a few of these given out each year and, as far as I can remember, you had to apply for it and they also looked at how well you engaged with the programme. Not sure if there were any other criteria.

Thank you so much. I’ll check it out for my students.

Hi, sorry quick question if anyone is able to advise please. Ds is applying for a course which asks "please write a short statement explaining why you would like to study physics. In this statement you should focus on the university degree rather than on jobs in that field".

Ds is debating whether this is asking why he loves physics and wants to study it or what he likes about the course (skills, tutorials etc). He's drafted two answers and getting tied in knots about it.

Any advice please?

Sorry just thought I'd ask the above on here as you've all been so helpful.

Imo I’d suggest why physics and link it to the modules offered on that degree. If there is a part of the structure he likes eg dissertation, assignments, mentoring then he could mention that too.

I don’t know if any of the admissions tutors can offer further insight.

I would say the former. It sounds like it’s about love of the subject. If they’d wanted “why are you interested in uni x to study physics?” they would have made that clear.

First of all, tick all boxes that apply on the UCAS application. Young carer, (free school meals, parent has served in armed forces, physical or mental health conditions - if applicable). Have you checked your postcode against Polar 4 and IMD? You can find online tools to do this. Great that he has a PAT tutor. Look at college stats at Oxford (admission data report came out yesterday for 2023) pick a college that has a high proportion of offers to applicators for state school pupils. If he isn't already doing so, lots of super-curricular activities (academic stuff outside of his subjects that link to physics) - read books, attend webinars, talks, lectures online, undertake MOOCs, enter academic competitions.
In his personal statement - link things together e.g I read X book which I found fascinating because..... this led me to attend an online lecture about quantum mechanics which I thought was ........
Hope that helps!

Hi, OP -

The advice above is good.

DS should definitely tick all the applicable boxes on the UCAS form. As we discussed, each of them will work in his favour.

Regarding the question you asked, I take it to mean, why do you love Physics and want to study it to degree level?

Backing his statements with evidence will be very helpful: popular and scholarly books he’s read, online or live lectures or courses attended, etc. Where did his love of Physics come from? He should discuss that.Again with evidence @MarxhionessofMayhem is giving examples for a Personal Statement, I think, but hers can be adapted for other purposes .

He should also mention that he is a young carer. If this is for a summer course or other enrichment opportunity, try to include a brief note about this from DS 2’s SW. The reason is that DS1 has had less time to pursue super curricular opportunities than others. I know that might sound controversial, and I am not in favour of pulling heartstrings or playing the victim card. But this is a reality, and DS should learn to deal with it matter of factly. It is part of giving himself an equal opportunity.

Whatever activity this is for, I agree with the philosophy behind statements from PPs: space permitting, linking his love of subject to aspects of the programme is a good idea

Thank you all again for your help and advice, it is very much appreciated.

Hi, @Perzival

Before I forget - there is another thread currently on p1 of the HE Board that I wonder if you are reading. It was started by @pastapesto and it is called something like Cambridge/oxford - really don’t know anything. Her DS is interested in Engineering and they are in Scotland, but the family background is similar to yours (first gen uni, her DS himself has special needs) and the DS sounds similarly gifted to yours.

If your DS is interested in Oxbridge, the thread makes good reading. Someone has linked to a good ‘Guide to Oxbridge’ from the Complete University Guide. There is a good of discussion about how everyone must apply to Oxbridge with resilience but you won’t know unless you try. (I will say again that your family circs will help your DS will all of his applications, but the PAT and the Oxbridge interview both want practice).

Cheers

Hi @poetryandwine , yes I have been following that thread with interest. Thank you again for your help. I'm really taken back by everyone's help.

Hi @Perzival, you must be so proud. Your son sounds like he has all the qualities needed to succeed at university. Please be aware that there is a lot support available and that he should not be shy of seeking it out - a good university will be forthcoming and encouraging, and if they are not you know its one to avoid. He should feel welcome and supported through the application process from day one.

Regarding being a young carer, I am particularly aware of the support offered by Nottingham. I'm sure other institutions offer similar. But the earlier he reaches out to the institutions he is (or may be) interested in the better, as they can provide advice tailored to his circumstances, even as a pre-applicant.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/schoolsliaison/services/student-support-packages/young-carers.aspx

Is your DS only applying to the 3 unis you have mentioned?

They get 5 options on the UCAs form. As he is applying to Oxbridge, his application will need to be submitted for the early deadline (October-ish), so he could apply then with the 3 options, but it is possible to add the remaining 2 at a later date before the January deadline.

Obviously your DS is bright, and putting in the work, but so will all the other students applying for those specific courses at those unis. And they only have so many places - some are bound to not be successful. For this reason, most schools recommend having a couple of options that aren't quite so high, to hope fully ensure that the student receives some offers.

I can't see that this has been mentioned before. And I'm not implying that your DS won't be successful, it's just useful to consider all your options. I wish him the best of luck.

Hi all, I've just been reading on the thread for next year's applications and a poster mentions that her yp is applying to Cambridge for medicine and has a full Summer of work experience lined up with a Summer school at Cambridge.

DS is on a wait list for a wp course but didn't meet enough criteria to get a place straight away. He did get on to a wp school at Sussex but he's ruled it out as a somewhere he doesn't want to attend so has turned it down to free up the place. He's on the Sutton Trust online course.

He has been taking courses on various aspects of physics that he enjoys via different universities (short courses online), he reads a lot and watches videos etc on topics he's interested in. Will this be enough for his supercurriculars please?

@Seeline he is applying to two other universities with a lower grade entry. He's still unsure which ones.

Hi, OP -

This is a great start. My answer is a bit long.

How much is DS enjoying all of this? Does any of it offer networking opportunities? Does Manchester Physics ever offer public lectures or high school outreach events he could attend during the coming year?

The chance to speak informally with academics, eg by asking a question during or after a lecture, is invaluable. So is the chance to meet peers who share his interest, and the chance to chat about science with them. Partly it will help prepare DS for his interviews, but it will also help him feel that there is a place for him in the world he wants to join. And opportunity begets opportunity - we can’t predict what these conversations might turn up.

If DS continues showing this pattern of interest and makes it clear he is doing so, then considering the constraints of his life it feels pretty substantial to me. But it shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise. Oxbridge might not be the right place for DS if he isn’t in love with Physics(I don’t have a sense of whether he is or isn’t), as demonstrated by what he’s getting out of his super-curriculars and that is just fine. No university is the best fit for all who are qualified to attend. Each applicant should aim for places where they will thrive.

And if DS is in love with Physics, I personally hope he will go for it! I would want him to have the confidence to do so. But I would recognise that some who have the confidence and ability find they prefer somewhere else.

Is the Sutton Trust course going to help with the Personal Statement? Interview prep? University admissions tests?

An important thing is to show what you’ve learnt from your super-curriculars, how they’ve motivated you to study certain aspects of your subject, etc. Then it’s great if you can link them to specific course units at the universities when you interview. Also it is good to be systematic with your super-curriculars, which it sounds like your DS is.

@poetryandwine thank you again xxxx

You are kind, OP. I know that was a bit convoluted.

Yes, basically DS is on the right track. He needs to start thinking about how to create a picture of his super-curriculars as a coherent whole.

Also finding some ways to continue communicating about Physics will do him a world of good, and hopefully be enjoyable.

One informal thing he could do is join The Student Room, an online forum, and ask Physics students at different universities questions about their course modules, experiences, etc. There might even be a board for Physics enthusiasts

I would also recommend looking at Bath. Great support for young carers and good bursary schemes and widening participation.

Great idea. I think highly of Bath as a university, OP, and STEm us its great strength. It is considered part of the ‘Russell Group +’ and was The Times University of the Year very recently. The students there seem very happy.

DS might not ultimately apply there but it is worth some thought at least