Oxbridge applications 2027 entry

[Justlurkingmostly]

Starting up a new thread for anyone whose YP might be applying this autumn for entry next year!

@WonderingWhyAndHow She's applied for four different courses across five different unis. Only two of them are physics: Oxford and Sheffield. Sheffield have offered physics and astro. Her other offer is engineering (made answering the question on the PS: "why are you applying for this course" particularly challenging LOL).

Yes I think this is it, DD was offered the option of overnight accommodation at her chosen college (if she gets invited for interview) because we're further than whatever the threshold is.

She only applied for Cambridge and Durham initially - so has no offers, I think starting to regret that as her friends who put down more unis have already got offers coming in.

Oooh- I wonder what they’ll
do with dd- she doesn’t live 100 miles from Cambridge but her school is much more than 100 miles away. I mean, she could just stay with friends but it might be worth us asking if she’s lucky enough to get an interview.

Anyone else hoping for an interview at Pembroke Cambridge? That’s where my DD has applied to (for History). We’re in Cumbria so if she’s invited for interview I hope she gets to stay over the night before!

Im worried Pembroke will be uber popular - my DH said at the open day most of the colleges looked a bit scruffy with parched grass but Pembroke looked verdant because it has its own borehole for watering! I’m now convinced every YP in the world has applied there on account of its lush presentation 🤣

My Cambridge form submitted, and just got an offer from Leeds :-)

In fact my DD had the opposite reaction to the gardens on the open day … she’d been planning to apply to Pembroke as she loved it on a flying visit last year but on the open day our guide hinted that the gardeners were quite precious about the lawns which put DD off! Obviously there was a little more to her college choice than just lawn protocols but between odds and the pooling system, I was happy for her not to overthink it and go with gut feeling.

Mine has applied Pembroke for Maths! <3 We're only an hour away from Cambridge, so fairly easy if he gets an interview. Son didn't find anything he didn't like about ANY of the colleges he visited, so applied for the one that made him excited most! He didn't mention lawns!

🤣 @Cheeseandquinceglad to see that not all DCs are making lawn based application decisions 🤣

@justteanbiscuitsfingers crossed for your DS! Pembroke looks a lovely college to me 🤩 It was between Pem and Trinity for my Dd but based on the lawns she went for Pembroke (there were other factors beyond the lawns as well, the director of studies there was lovely and does a lot of teaching it seems).

Praying to all the saints of university applications for them all ❤️

DD was heavily influenced by the deer park at Magdalen.

Thomas Aquinas apparently! Patron Saint of Students, Academics and Universities.

(I'm completely atheist but love how there is a Saint for everything 😁)

My very practical DD has gone for Sidney Sussex as having Sainsbury’s over the road and a ridiculously cheap student bar are big wins. That and she learned about Oliver Cromwell’s head being buried there in Y4.

Is his head really there? I did not know that! My Dd liked Sidney as well, she said everyone was super friendly there 😊

Cumbrian doing History and German at Cambridge here!

Although it is college dependent I'd imagine that your DD will be able to stay over. I know my college (Christ's) at least have been very accomodating about the distance when moving in etc., as for my first year I had to move in a few days early, but was not charged extra rent since they knew it was a necessity given the time slot they wanted us all in by!

As a general rule of thumb all colleges are pretty friendly and especially those doing in person interviews...they want you to pick them too!

Having been for the open day dd’s dad and I reckoned we would both have gone for Pembroke (he in fact went to Catz but we loved the gardens, climbing wall, everything). Dd has gone for Jesus though. Guess something different appeals
to everyone. Years ago I chose my (Oxford) college because you could sit on the grass for lunch and the meals
were really cheap.

dd is trying hard not to get too attached!

DS has had his second offer through, from Nottingham. Still waiting to be put on hold by Bristol!

Senior UKMT
In case any of your YP did the SMC I just saw on FB that the thresholds are out:

Does this mean results are out then?!

@summernameandthelivingiseasy DD also applied to Jesus. I was sure it was going to be St John's due to the policy of no tourists in term time and then she fell for one with an actual hotel in the middle!

Presumably - but our YP decided not to participate this year so I’m not sure sorry!

It's the first time my son has taken part. So intrigued as to what he will score.

Jesus has a hotel in the middle of college?! Which can be booked by anyone? A bit strange but also handy for visiting I suppose. DD spent a week there this summer but didn’t mention! Or is this Jesus college Cambs?

@Justlurkingmostly this is Jesus Cambridge. West Court Hotel.
I was really surprised by it being there as hadnt looked into it beforehand, but yes I guess very handy for visiting.

Ahhhh thanks!

Dd is in half term so probably won’t get her results til she’s back. It’s her 3rd year of doing it. Silver her first year and then a gold last year. Her school voluntarily submitted her to BMO1 last year but she only got 3 points so I think we found her maths limit. She was still best in her year though! 😂

You can log onto the UKMT portal for results - that's how son got his (afetr lots of nagging from me!).

Just missed the cut off for BMO1 - but possibly not a bad thing in a-level year with STEP and everything else to consider!