Question about extenuating circumstances/medical needs - Oxbridge

[magentafleur]

Namechanged as possibly a bit outing.

DD has an ongoing health condition that is now thankfully well managed with medication. She's had a couple of short term stays (think 2-3 nights) in hospital because of it - one a year ago, and once during the Easter term of her GCSE year.

Happily, she's navigated this all very well, and seems to have had zero impact on her school life/academic achievements - she did very well in her GCSEs, has great A-level predictions and is applying to Oxbridge.

Because her condition is (so far) now under control with the right meds (she hasn't had any relapses the past year), she doesn't want mention this on her application form - but I am wondering if she should?

Recently heard an admissions tutor saying that anything medical or personal that could have affected a candidate adversely should definitely be mentioned, because 'it's even more impressive to us that you've had to navigate that'. On the flip side, I know universities cannot discriminate at all, but bluntly - if a candidate has to deal with a medical condition that could 'distract' them from their studies, could this not possibly work against them?

Apologies if this is sensitive. I'm very aware there are students having to manage disabilities and circs that are much more serious than dd's and I hope this doesn't cause offence in any way...

Can’t speak for Oxbridge but I put my health conditions down very honestly for uni and they were fine. They had me meet a disability team member who went through adaptions etc and I got a better laptop for free. My sister recently had to do the same for another uni and again, they made lots of adaptions. Not all of mine were necessary ones, more ones that just made my life slightly easier. Im on the side of including it for university because they’re very inclusive but I appreciate it’s nerve wracking!

Thank you @WhappleBee . Just can't work out what is best, particularly because she doesn't have any additional needs as a result of the condition (so far, at least), so we initially felt it wasn't relevant. I think she was concerned that it could even work against her to disclose it, as it is a condition that can cause cognitive issues, though not for dd.

But the admissions tutor's words gave us pause for thought. It IS impressive that she has achieved all she has done while also having to cope with a few hospital stays, a diagnosis and daily medication. Bluntly, could it even work in her favour to mention it?

Really not trying to 'game the system' here if it sounds that way! I am just so proud of her and want her to do the right thing.

I have a DD with special circumstances at Oxford and her school said they would mention it on their reference and she should not mention it on her form. I don't think it gives any advantage in applying but if she say went down on A level grades it might help her to still be taken.

Best to mention it. It will affect things such as the accommodation she is offered, and possibly additional welfare checks, so well worth the unis having all the info.

Oxford also had a form to fill in close to A levels and after offer where you could state anything affecting A levels and send proof in.

Honestly I would recommend telling them. They’re going to be the ones she feels with if any issues related to her condition arise, she’ll be registered with a doctor up there and living up there so really it’s beneficial for them to have ALL the info - even if it’s not something that’s currently affecting her!

Also it probably helps their inclusivity/diversity stats to have someone disabled (especially someone they’re not having to make adaptions for haha) so in this case especially I would say tell them! Just my opinion/experience though!

Thank you all. I am still quite torn - dd really doesn't want to disclose at this stage but I don't know if I should encourage her to. I thought the top line was that Oxbridge do NOT have any quotas with regards to this, but I am not sure? And on the flip side, I can't help but worry that Oxbridge admissions tutors could look at a candidate whose future studies COULD be affected by a health issue and be less inclined to make an offer?

It is a chronic long term condition that many sufferers will class as a disability, however - the equality act definition - “a disability is a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities” - doesn't apply to DD...

@Penguinsa - that's interesting. The school do know about dd's diagnosis but I have no idea if they have mentioned it on the reference.

@WhappleBee - I'll certainly be ensuring she informs them if she gets an offer etc, it's just whether or not to include on the application form...

Any more thoughts appreciated!

So. Trying to read between the lines, I had such a diagnosis in my teens and don’t class myself as disabled even though I, for example, do not drive as a result.
I didn’t mention on my UCCA form (THAT is how old I am!) but my school mentioned it in oxbridge reference as I’d missed several weeks of sixth form and had hospital stays. There wasn’t a concept of DDA etc then, but they did, in their feedback following interview, say that they had taken it into account.
for what it’s worth, I went through my 20s actively avoiding mentioning it to people, but then it almost became a bigger Thing, if that makes sense? And if I were to become unwell people wouldn’t know it was a pre-existing condition.
so in hindsight, I’d recommend mentioning it and don’t see it as trying to game the system or broker sympathy. It is part of the package of who she is.
best of luck to her. It can take a while to properly get your head round this stuff.

@ArghhWhatNext - thank you so much for your understanding, I wonder if you might have the same condition as my dd, in fact. So your instinct is, if anything, it could work to her advantage? I might check and see if her school has any view, or if they have actually mentioned already.

Btw, I think I was the first year of UCAS so you are not old at ALL in my eyes! 😂😉

😄 certainly not to her disadvantage, at any rate!

My DGD mentioned it in her application and has met with a team at the uni who are available for support and who pointed her in the direction of a support grant. It has all worked out very well. She needs occasional time off for infusions or treatment of flare-ups etc. and there is no problem with this - everyone helps her to catch up as they know the situation.

@ArghhWhatNext - I know officially there can be no discrimination.....but is it possible that these super-academic Oxbridge admissions tutors might privately look less favourably on a candidate whose condition could impact their studies?!

I would say to mention it, because it is important and does show what she can do in adversity. I applied to Oxford after significant illness in 6th form (which affected my results). Because of unfortunate scheduling of an operation I'd been waiting for, I wasn't able to attend the interview, so I'll never know if I would have been given a place. I did get 2 unconditional offers from other universities though, one of which I took up. They won't discriminate against her, they will be interested in finding the best minds for their next intake.

She is doing herself a massive disfavour by not mentioning it. Extenuating circumstances will only work to a candidate’s advantage

(I am a “super academic tutor”, as you put it, who has done Oxford admissions from the other end and I can guarantee you we don’t discriminate against candidates with medical issues or disabilities but if we don’t know someone has faced adversity we can’t take it into account when assessing them against other candidates. Also, a huge proportion of Oxford undergraduates have medical needs or disabilities - she will not be alone.)

@foxglovetree - thanks, that's good to hear.

It's just very difficult to judge as she has hardly missed any time off school, rather co-incidentally as the hospital stays happened to occur in the holidays! At the moment, the condition is having little to no impact on her daily life. It almost doesn't seem 'fair' to mention this, if indeed it does give her a slight advantage, as the admissions tutor yesterday suggested.

That said, she's shown remarkable strength in the face of a medical diagnosis, so...

I would leave it entirely up to your DC as to whether it is mentioned.

I did not mention health in my forms but fell over in front of the interviewers so I was rather embarrassed. I still managed to get a place - probably because it was a memorable interview.

This was years ago but if I had put something on the form and not got in to the uni I would have resented the parental advice to do so - that's why think it is best left to your DC. If she chooses not to then I think it is admirable and she can always explain later - I did mention it later as I had surgeries in my third year so had to do finals with absences etc - it was character building

@Reginald123 - thank you - and for sharing your experience. Though I'm sure you got in on your ability, not just because the interview was memorable 😂

I know that dd would rather NOT mention it at this point and it will of course, ultimately be up to her. I'm just trying to gauge informed views at this point so I can give her a clear picture...

Very important to mention this. I don’t know if it will get a contextual offer. Does didn’t for my DC but it probs will help with accommodation next year. Plus he has access arrangements.

Oxbridge tutors want academic students with a passion for their subject. They don't expect them to be super human and somehow unaffected by illness, disability, difficult life circumstances etc! My experience is Oxford where every college had pastoral staff (grad students and generally the chaplain), undergrads who were on the student committee as welfare reps, college nurses, a university counselling service, procedures for extenuating circumstances that might affect your exam performance, and procedures for students to take a year out (not sure if they still call it rustication) in extreme circumstances. They are intense universities and the colleges and tutors know that students will go through hard times for various reasons.

foxglovetree it’s reassuring to hear what you say. Our DC wasn’t interviewed by Oxford and we did think this was unfortunate for 2 reasons. Firstly, the ELAT wasn’t taken into consideration because of the tech issues etc. and it might have been a good gesture to interview as many people as possible in such circumstances. Secondly, because he’s a great communicator.

@Summertimer - thank you. I wasn't thinking it would result in a contextual offer for dd, but was wondering if it might perhaps make an offer more or less likely following the interview...

@terrywynne - thank you too. It's great to hear the students are so well supported there.

It’s not so much that it would give her an advantage, but rather that she won’t be unfairly disadvantaged by not being able to put her achievements in the context of her medical/personal situation. It makes it possible to take into account, for example, that someone’s GCSE performance may underrepresent their true potential.

Oxford don't do contextual offers, but they do take circumstances into account in making offers and if they go down on grades they look at mitigating circumstances. They were really kind to my DD re her special circumstances and it was very reassuring to know she would be going somewhere very caring. It was actually quite interesting to see responses from universities. Bath was also very caring. Others did not acknowledge at all.

If it’s impacted her GCSE results I would ask her reference to include it, if it’s somehow relevant to her course (E.g she’s applying for a health related course) she should mention it.

Otherwise I don’t think there’s much advantage or disadvantage to including it. When she firms an offer she should contact the uni to discuss any requirements.

Maybe see how she gets on in the next year, as there’s a long time to go still until applications and things may have changed for her since then - although I hope she does remain well.

Thanks all. No, the condition hasn't affected her GCSE results or UCAS predictions whatsoever. It was more what the admissions tutor said - 'if you are still achieving very highly in spite of adverse circumstances, you look even more impressive to us' which gave me pause for thought.