School Oxbridge programme: essay to apply

[networkname]

DS has just started sixth form at a new school. It’s great, really well organised and supportive, and I’m really happy with it.

DS got good GCSEs (6x9, 2x8, 1x4) and would like to apply for the Oxbridge programme. He is studying maths, further maths, physics and computer science and wants to apply for maths at uni.

In order to apply for the school Oxbridge programme, students have to write an essay on a vague and waffly philosophy/history topic (choice of 4) along the lines of “Negotiation is always preferable to war” or something like that.

DS is dyslexic, absolutely terrible at writing essays and wants to apply for maths. This seems like a really odd requirement for anyone who is applying for a STEM subject.

WWYD? Get DS to write an abysmal essay? Not bother with the Oxbridge programme? (Would he actually have to write essays for a maths degree so am I unreasonable anyway?) Contact the school?

DS is an Oxford maths student so I just asked him and he said so far he hasn't had to write more than two sentences, nothing resembling an essay!
He also mentioned that the maths tutors in his College have told him they do read the personal statements but they're just skimming through to pick out bits of information, certainly not judging anyone's writing style.

The support that would be useful if applying for maths is with preparation for the various extra maths papers - MAT for Oxford and STEP for Cambridge. If they're unable to provide that, the "Oxbridge programme" may be of limited use to him anyway. He might try asking what support they will give for MAT/STEP, and he could suggest that instead of the essay, he has a go at the first of the STEP preparation modules (see maths.org/step/) instead.

The school shouldn't be gate keeping Oxbridge applications like this at all. Speak to whoever is heading up this programme. When my kids were @ secondary they had to write an essay to get into the school's D of E bronze award. Totally ridiculous (in both cases)

That's a fair point about the programme being extra work that might not be useful. Particularly given the extra effort dyslexics need to put in to complete work, tasks taking longer and how tiring such things are for them. Would the school support an Oxbridge application from a student not formally on 'the programme'

I really hate these types of programmes anyway often a marketing tool, elitist and not always useful, just support all students to carry out the work they need to do to access their chosen destinations!!

I think that's ludicrous. I'm with @MagentaRavioli and others. It is very telling as you say OP that they get very few applicants in maths and science.

I certainly wouldn't suggest that you write his essay for him, but I do think it's worth you getting in touch with the school and ask thrn in so many words TF they think they are doing.

I would think that any Oxbridge programme that operates like this is probably worthless, but I wonder if the average GCSE score at the school is high or low? If your ds's scores aren't very different from the average at the school, that's more of a problem. If they are high compared with the school average, like ds's was, he should be fine.

For context, ds wrote his own personal statement- I was ready to make comments but didn't change anything. Then I got him a tutor for 3 sessions on the TMUA exam which was strongly advised by Cambridge for his course, just so that he was familiar with what it looked like.

I think the best thing you could do for him is to get him to talk to you/a range of people about maths, and to explain his thinking when he is dealing with a maths problem. Ds git himself a job teaching coding to kids and i am certain that helped, because he had to explain things verbally to them. He actively enjoyed the oxbridge interview as a result.

Another way to look at it is he's aiming for <good university > and is going to apply for Oxford/Cambridge. That focusses more thought on choosing a place and feeling excited about going there.
The entry requirements are so high, there are about fifteen universities that would be tough to get into for maths and would be amazing places to study.

Has there been any update, OP?

@Ellmau he spoke to the head of sixth form who told him to write about the formulas used in encryption. So he wrote a short essay and submitted it on time. It was completely over my head but at least he’s got something in. No news on whether that qualifies him or not. I presume he’ll hear soonish.

Oh, that sounds like a great idea - and actually good preparation too. Best of luck to him, both with this programme and the actual application!

Just a note for anyone who isn't clear; applicants applying in the coming September still have a personal statement to do that involves writing. It is just split into 3 questions but all three still expect you to describe the supercurricular exploration you have done: essay competitions, summer school residentials (not paid ones), books/podcasts etc.