Hello any mn kids at bath uni or Oxford? Live experience?

[UniversityQQuestions]

My dd really like the feel of bath but does anyone have real lived experience of it?
Also Oxford pyscology?

Friend of DS2's went to Bath to study maths and really enjoyed it. Did a paid year in industry which led to a job on graduating. All good.

Oxford as many threads will tell you is a very specific student experience – short terms, very intense, high-level work, seminars with lots of essays – amazing I imagine if you like that challenge, but equally not for everyone.

@clary thanks I've just seen the huge oxbridge thread. I get the idea it's going to be broad because of the college system and depends who you get and where you go.
A recent survey has said students are suffering at Oxford

DD is a Bath graduate (MEng, 2022) and she loved it there although covid didn't help with spending much time on campus. I'm doing my EdD at Bath as well, albeit mostly remotely.

Dc2 currently at Bath - going into final year Bio. They've been great, fab course and have supported DC when had some significant probs in 1st year. DC stuck with it, they stuck with DC and now doing really well....v proud of DC and impressed with Bath. Look for accommodation once out of halls though in Nov and no later for the following year.

DD has nearly completed first year at Oxford for Economics & Management and loved it. They have been very kind and she's been very happy there. She is quite sporty and rows everyday which I think helps. I think Bath is also good for sports and I think taking part in sports helps mental health and friendships. There are also weekly counselling sessions at her college where she tells me they give out free £3 doughnuts and says everyone goes for the doughnuts including her. They have a college parent system as well so have students who buddy up, her college Dad has been lovely. Her insurance was Bath and they were very kind re admissions. It is shorter terms at Oxford which makes it more full on during that time but that suits her. In her subject workload is not that high but it varies by subject and student.

The accomodation at Oxford is also relatively cheap at c£5000 a year for an ensuite room in college compared to other universities but they do normally need to move their stuff in and out for each term.

I would just see if she gets the place at Oxford - most brilliant people who apply don't get in purely due to sheer weight of numbers. if she doesn't then Bath is good. We have Oxbridge and non Oxbridge people in our wider family. Bath and Oxford are both good but Oxford is better and it should be no contest in picking it if given the choice.

If you are worried as your DD has mental health issues or you think would be at high risk for them then I would consider a year out before university anywhere, working, travelling, sports, to help. It gives an extra year and shows there is more to life than studying. Help at university also generally requires the student to ask for it.

I answered your query on the main Oxbridge thread for current students. I'm surprised that an applicant's thread for 2026 hasn't sprung up yet.

EVERY university has issues with MH & wellbeing support for their students, as it is such a huge issue amongst that age group. However, Oxford and Cambridge have the advantage of the college system. Each college has their own support network and are likely to know their students well, because of the small numbers in each college. You are far less likely to fall under the radar, especially as you are in weekly tutorials with maybe 1 or 2 others, attending meals in college and living & breathing the college system.

My own DC received excellent support ftom her college, which I'm fairly sure she would have struggled to access elsewhere. She is now a postgraduate at another university and nobody notices if you attend lectures, seminars etc, so they would be less likely to pick up on issues unless you approached them.

Have you been to an Oxford open day? Ds liked the idea of Oxford and got as far as booking his admission test, but we went to the open day before the UCAS Oxbridge deadline and he decided it wasn’t for him. He decided he would prefer a campus based university, so cancelled the admissions test and applied to Warwick instead

My son has just completed his 3rd year at Oxford and has loved every minute. It’s intense but he’s extremely well motivated and has had a blast.
My daughter also has an Oxford place for this autumn and I’m not convinced it’s right for her but I also said the same about my son and it’s been the making of him.

Oxford has been really supportive for my DD - she's had some mental health issues while there, but has been able to see a doctor within a couple of days. The admittedly weird 'family' system has meant that she's always got someone to talk to, and her college has lots of support in place too.

Interesting thread. Thanks.

Ds is thinking of applying for 2026 entry. We’re off to the open day in a couple of weeks. It’s a complete unknown to us so we’ve got lots to learn!

Thank you so much this is so helpful we are definitely going to the open day at Oxford she really liked bath

No mental health issues as yet, hopefully never but she's very gentle and sweet. She's not sort of stronger and savvy as some 17 year Olds can be

But I've been shown a article about Oxford mental health problems.

I think the mental health support at Oxbridge is better than at most universities as they are wealthy universities. I think the type of people who goes to Oxbridge maybe more likely to have mental health issue than average - more ND, a lot of perfectionism and fear of failure, very bright and thinkers and over thinking can cause anxiety. Sometimes pressure in families to be successful even if not directly said just others having been or getting Firsts etc. Quite a lot who feel like failures whatever they do but think they have this before and after Oxbridge, these are often types who will heavily focus on study with very little life and then go on to work all hours in jobs, often very successful but can't see it themselves.

Lots of quiet, gentle, not confident people at Oxbridge. To reduce chances of mental health issues I would encourage her to do more than study, things like sports or interests, working in a job can help. Being able to socialise helps to but may take time if she's very quiet now.

I work with clever young people typically aged 18 - 25 in an academic environment. We have to provide far more wellbeing support to them than we did 10 years ago. They come a wide variety of schools and universities. My own DD faced difficulties during covid when she experienced bereavement and serious family illnesses within a very short period of time whilst in lockdown.

Several of us have praised the support our YP have received at Oxford. At the open days you will get the chance to speak to current students and the welfare teams at different colleges.

If your DD has no current MH issues, there is no reason why going to Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Warwick, LSE, Hartbury (name any other university) would suddenly result in her developing problems. However, the support system at Oxford experienced by several of us has been extremely positive.

If you Google most top universities you will find reports of misogyny, sexual assault, bullying, racism, classism, plagiarism, AI cheating etc. Sadly, universities reflect society as a whole. If you think about it logically, a story about (say) MH difficulties at Oxbridge provides far better clickbait than a similar story about Newcastle University. Both will equally have students with wellbeing issues.(Not minimising either).

My Dd has just finished her first year at Bath. She has a chronic illness and has found the disability access team to be supportive. Accommodation is quite expensive imo and some of the rooms are pretty small. Vg sports facilities - Dd enjoyed yoga and swimming. Getting a bus into the city can be a pain, with huge queues, but it’s certainly a lovely place to study.

@Dearover thank you, your last post makes sense, no current mh issues but she does take her work extremely seriously and works hard.
We've never ever put any pressure on her to do so.
Her and her friends definitely meet up and have fun but I do think they err towards the more studious end of class mates which is why I'm wondering if Oxford would be a good fit or too much 😄.
@MsPengiuns she's not into sport at all but loves riding her bike casually and green spaces.

How does the application work if she does want Oxford, I suspect she has to put Oxford as her preferred choice the bath.
Oxford rejects her sooner due to their processes but bath stays second or is it all unrelated and separate
Eg applies to Oxford ejected then applies to rest.

If she can't and has to bath second will she get accmd option

DD went to Oxford and had a brilliant time. She loved her subject and the way it is taught but is also very sporty and, as an earlier poster has already said, that does appear to help keep the academics in perspective. She learnt how to work efficiently - doing “just enough” to do well in exams without compromising her other interests and that approach made for a very positive experience in beautiful surroundings.

There are no preferred choices at the application stage. She only needs to endure that her application meets the early entry deadline in October and that she has registered for the relevant admissions test (TSA I believe). She can add Bath and 3 others at the same time or at anytime before the January UCAS deadline.

The odds of getting an Oxford offer are low for everyone. You've had good advice here and on the second thread. If she wants to give it a go, let her do it and see how far she gets. She doesn't even need to accept an offer if she is lucky enough to receive one. A friend put Surrey as her firm and Oxford as her insurance a couple of years ago.