Any point in dd applying to Oxford, a star predicted but no extra curriculum

[Chickensilkie]

She is not sure if it's worth applying because she feels she can't prove a passion in the subject.
She's predicted 3 x a stars and isn't sure what to study.
She's thinking about law or biology or history.
She could not do biolgy at Oxford but possibly law.
Is there any point.

She has plenty of time to add some , surely. Work experience, reading, courses, visiting law courts?

Is this for Sep/Oct 2025? In which case she’s missed the cut off.

If it’s for 2026, she has plenty of time to ‘prove’ - or more specifically develop - a passion, by reading outside her A level curriculum, signing up for on-line and in person seminars (the Royal History Society, volunteering at local museums etc), workshops, work experience placement this summer etc.

If she's flip-flopping between three quite different subjects I'd take that as pretty certain she wouldn't be able to demonstrate to absolute focussed commitment that OxB would be looking for. Not that they would be interested in extra curricular particularly - but supra-curricular experience to demonstrate genuine interest yes.

Gap year to work out where here interests genuinely lie and apply with grades in hand?

Bio anywhere may be slightly challenging with only 1 science A level btw.

She doesn't need extra curricular or even volunteering or work experience as the pp says. She just needs to show a supra curricular interest in her subject which can be by reading or doing online courses etc.

If she is year 12 she has plenty of time to do this to support a y13 application to Oxford. If doing law check she does the LNAT for rhe correct date.

Applications for September 2025 have already closed, so she must be looking at September 2026. If that’s the case, as @LIZS says, there’s plenty of time to do things to enhance her application - most students will do a lot over Y12 summer.

Year 12

Many top tier uni will take her for biolgy without a science it depends on the course.

Are law, biology and history her a level subjects?

Does she particularly want to go, or is she being encouraged to apply by School?

Is a lack of extra-curricular stuff all that's putting her off? Plenty of time to start remedying that. It's only January of y12 - many students won't have decided what to apply for yet. For law, she could join the debating club if her school has one. She could go and observe in a local court. She could try to organise work experience in a law faculty at a local uni. I have been looking at this as ds might apply for law and is also in y12.

Here are some suggestions:

https://medium.com/think-cambridge-law/supercurriculars-in-a-pandemic-b996b2b1d9f

Really? Where?

So far bath and Bristol

Bath definitely needs a science. Two, actually. Same for Bristol. Not sure where you are getting your info from?

First of all make sure she wants to go to Oxford. It’s a very different university experience and, depending on your background, might add some challenges she isn’t prepared for.

Really she needs to be very sure about what degree she wants and why. It’s a silly amount of money to spend with no end goal. It’s would be far better to take a year out to really find her way than to rush into any old subject and do a degree just for the sake of it.

Bristol too:

Does she actually want to go to Oxford? If so, what does she stand to lose by applying?

Demonstrating passion for their chosen subject is absolutely key to the Oxford application process. Working out which subject that might be sounds like step 1. Many schools have a member of staff responsible for Oxbridge applications so she could talk to them, or the person who helps students with University applications. Going to an open day would bring the University to life. Dates here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/open-days-and-visits

As well as online courses, see if your local university, if you have one in easy travelling distance, puts on any public talks or events.

For history, look out for talks, exhibitions etc put on by local libraries and archives. Local societies will have programmes of talks too. Archives and societies may also have volunteering opportunities.

Applicants don’t need extracurriculars or work experience - they can demonstrate passion through a bit more wider reading in the desired subject - eg. if law, some general introductory books on legal ideas, current affairs and so on. Ditto History - read a few introductory books about historical method, eg. Collingwood, etc. Mention some ideas from these in the personal statement that have caught her interest and that she’d like to explore further. This is really all that is meant by showing passion - the willingness to explore around the subject and show you are interested in it at a level beyond the A-level.

Her school should be able to help with some resources, including books - or the local library if not. Watch some documentaries by famous historians — eg there’s a Simon Schams series on TV at the moment — or legal issues or cases (and not only criminal law - criminal law is only a small part of the law, so if she is keen to do it, then she needs to get a good sense of what other kinds of law are part of the degree, and what issues are interesting current legal questions). However - don’t just watch TV or videos - some actual books are needed: not tons, but enough to show that a degree which is essentially about lots of reading and ideas is one that she would thrive on.

The sciences are difficult to get into at Russell Group universities if you only have one science A-level; but has she thought about social/environmental sciences, or other degrees in mixed social science/humanities subjects, like anthropology, politics, PPE, and so on?

@SeaDragon17 unfortunately with ai and fierce competition I feel all university courses could be considered to be a waste of money hence with 3 a stars I'm thinking why not Oxford.
To give her a better chance at graduate scheme and hopefully jobs.
We have looked into the other unis as well.

Gap year is a good idea however we hadn't thought of that!

Re bath and Bristol, she has the correct combination to do a biology course there.

However only on some biology courses so she is limited.

What subjects are her A levels in?

…and have they really issued A* grade predictions already, after one term? My Y12 has 2 sets of exams coming up in Jan and April which will be the main basis for her predictions.

Is this her idea or yours? If school suggest it they may run trips and activities to support candidates in their choices and application. Dismissing most subjects/courses due to potential impact of ai is futile and unhelpful to your dc,

There’s zero chance that AI is going to render university level courses redundant in the near future, any more than you can teach yourself a university-level discipline by reading Wikipedia articles. It just doesn’t work like that: AI is basically designed to synthesise and reproduce mediocrity (it’s all a bit of a techbro fantasy at the moment, I’m afraid!)

In fact, if AI could do even half of what’s claimed for it, the thing everyone would be better off doing is high level courses in law, sciences and humanities! It’s mid-level office jobs in administration, marketing, tech support etc. that it will be automating away - not either the low-skill or high-skill jobs.