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[LeDix]

I am starting this thread in response to my DD's not receiving an offer from Oxford yesterday. She is disappointed, but hasn't taken it too badly, so that could be worse I suppose. Trouble is she gave so little thought to other universities, and her UCAS application was so specific to the course at Oxford we are a little bit worried that she might not even get other offers. Her second choice would be Durham but the course there is very very different to the one at Oxford, so we could imagine them reading her personal statement and rejecting her out of hand!

Is the Maths Warwick offer just Maths?
My DC applied to Oxford with grades in hand, 5 A stars and 12 9s at GCSE…Oxford is indeed a mystery but they clearly didn’t have that ‘something’ they look for at interview-whatever it is and looking at the results on the graphs, lots didn’t 😆
Yes, they got a very high TMUA score…fingers crossed for Imperial and Warwick.
Good luck to your DCs, I am sure they will all love where they end up. Looking forward to the updates already ❤️

Yes, just maths.

Amazing to get an early offer. Well done to your DC. Must have been a super strong application.

My brother did maths at Southampton many ago and is now a well qualified actuary earing a gazillion pounds. He loved Southampton

I have to say the sting of the Cambridge rejection is abating especially as DD seems OK. And she has other excellent offers (Kings AAB) which was lower than their asked for grades and very much lower than what Cambridge would have asked for so has reduced the exam pressure hugely. Her insurance is even more achievable (edinburgh ABB) so maybe a blessing in disguise. Best of luck everyone with other offers still coming in.

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad Absolutely loads of dc doing maths at Warwick are Oxbridge rejects. Honestly, take the place! He might want 4 years there too. It won’t affect job prospects at all! Bath ditto. As Oxbridge interview, there’s the uncertainty all over again and who, honestly, needs it? Plus they aren’t just looking at A levels. There’s much more than this taken into account and why go through the wringer for no obvious gain and Warwick is one of the elite maths universities. Bath not far behind!

@OhDear111 yes, that’s what I think. But it is ultimately not my decision.

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad there is a very good reason why Warwick is in the COWI team for maths. Fabulous reputation.

Would your son consider Cambridge?
Assuming the subjects are typical rigorous
ones - double maths, physics, CS etc - he has done amazingly. What more can they ask for? I’d try Cantab. which might appreciate his results more. Also I’d have a plan for how he is going to stay ‘sharp’ over his year off. Admissions Tutors want reassurance on this particularly for STEM as the human maths brain seems to need to be constantly exercised at that very high abstract level.

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad I think he does need to appreciate the very strong reasons for accepting the offers he has. Most dc would be delighted. I think dc get hung up on Oxbridge but it doesn’t give huge advantages (if any?) over Warwick. Warwick isn’t as attractive but from any objective point of view, a 17/18 year old needs a clear steer and how are Oxford on delaying a year? Do they like gap years for their mathematicians? Not sure they do. You are the adult here I’m afraid.

The thing is, if I tell DS that he is not allowed to try again for Oxford, he will think that this, above all else is what he wants to do.

After all, by August, he will be an adult, as he will be 18, and it is his decision.

The challenge of trying for Oxbridge has kept him interested and motivated through sixth form, and it would be great if he keeps on going in pursuit of as many A stars as possible, as he will need good results to go to either Warwick or Bath, as well as to have a chance of reapplying to Oxbridge.

He is doing maths after all, so he can see that the odds aren't all that great for a reapplication. It is about 9% chance of success for a first application for maths. The figures I've found vary a lot, but the likelihood for a second application in a gap year is that there would be another rejection. However, I think he needs to come to an understanding of that himself.

You know your son @WhisperingAngelisnotbad and sound wise and insightful. You know the options and what is and isn't worth pushing at this point. It's okay just to share feelings on here, not everything needs solutions. In most cases, they'll find their own way over time.

What course is your DD applying for @BurnoutGP ? My DS is wishing we’d looked at Edinburgh - it is literally the opposite end of the country for us! Your DD has fab offers and I’m glad she’s feeling better about the Cambridge disappointment.

Shes doing theology. We absolutely loved edinburgh we had a weekend away for the open day. But it's absolutely miles away from us which has pushed it into 2nd choice .

They are gap year at the moment. Decided to apply this year rather than last year as wanted to travel with mates. This may well have contributed to their rejection.
🤞for their second and third choice.

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad I’m absolutely not saying you should tell him what to do. As parents we don’t and cannot. However you do have a responsibility to set out the pros of going to Warwick now as opposed to the highly possible failure of getting into Oxford again. He’s hardly going to be studying with average students at Warwick.

It’s disappointing that it’s Oxford that’s motivating him. I think that needs addressing - it’s high risk and what is the tangible advantage? I’d set that out very clearly.

I was not entirely correct about the gap year. He needs to read what they say. They have clear suggestions about what dc should engage with so he will need to be highly motivated to follow their guidance. This might be difficult but it needs planning now. They are also talking about deferred entry but I would suggest a gap year and reapplying would have exactly the same guidance because it’s sensible.

My DC has just got their first offer-Warwick 🙂. I think Warwick are going for it with their offers today.

Congratulations to your DC (and you) @AprilMay75, that must be a big lift.

Rejection is redirection. My son also did not get an offer from Cambridge for Natural Sciences, he was understandably disappointed, a lot of extra work went in for the ESAT etc, fortunately he has now moved onwards.

Has anyone had an offer for Natural Sciences at Durham yet, we’re still nervously waiting.

Thank you, and yes it’s so nice that they have one in the bag. Just need the others to offer now 🤞🤞 and decisions can be made.

Delighted to hear that @AprilMay75

Gosh me too @AprilMay75 . I've been gobsmacked by your son's story - 5 flipping A stars! And a nearly perfect MAT. I'm agog for to share the feedback when you get it. I know maths is competitive but... certainly makes me feel better about DD (who's currently fuming about a tiktoker with a Cambridge offer for history with a 5 in Foundation Maths! She's like 'why the hell did I kill myself to get a 9 in English Lit which I hated?').

All these amazing children will go somewhere and actually I think it's great that they're spread across lots of great universities.

Thank you. I’ll update on Oxford feedback when they get it. Now keeping everything crossed for Imperial which is their second choice.
Good luck to your DD. What offers do they have?

She was lucky (and obv not doing such a competitive course) to have had all her other offers in by Christmas. Prob Durham, possibly Edinburgh. Durham actually ranked top/or near the top for her subject in all the tables and she hopes she'll get a good degree with a lot less stress.

Congrats for the Warwick maths offers!
We are also waiting to hear from Imperial for maths, but I don’t think they offered until about March last year.