Oxbridge applications 2027 entry

[Justlurkingmostly]

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

The open days for Maths at Cambridge all said that they wouldn't be concerned with lower GCSE marks as long as the majority were 8's and 9's, and that any related to the subject were 9's. No one mentioned points or anything else at any of them. Excellent a-levels, super curricular and, for maths, TMUA and STEP scores are what is needed.

IIRC from visiting both, Cambridge put slightly less emphasis on GCSEs than Oxford, but I agree with PPs that a 6 in a subject unrelated to the course he’s applying for shouldn’t be an obstacle if the predicted grades, admissions test results and personal statement are all on target. But it really doesn’t hurt to check with the relevant admissions teams - they’re pretty responsive I’ve found

DD did her first practice ESAT test of Friday, with another to follow this Friday. Lots of work to do there!

Also trying to finish her draft personal statement (this is third draft so far) and isn’t finding it easy.

College-wise, she’s chosen a few she likes the look of (in town, relatively near the engineering dept, pretty) and is going to the open day with a friend who is looking at one or two others so hopefully one will stand out.

The chances of getting a place are so slim (12% according to Cambridge website) so I don’t really think it matters. She’s pragmatic about it like everyone else, I’m just really hoping she gets offers from her other choices.

Am wondering why the early application deadline is before ESAT results are known.

Surely that would help students decide whether or not to apply?

You make a good point @CreamBeforeJamOnScones, doesn’t make sense really

How is everyone doing? Spent the day in Oxford getting wet and looking at colleges. Think DS is set on Trinity, any thoughts? We looked at some that were bigger and grander (Magdalen, New, St John’s) but he seems to like Trinity and isn’t really a flashy guy at heart anyway. It only takes 6ish ppl for English though. I don’t have any practice at this - any advice?

Re ESAT DD did it last year and I totally empathise. It was just so stressful. From the chats I remember last year there are a range of scores that Cambridge and Imperial will take, unlike the UCAT it’s not a complete knock out if you get below a certain score (although I assume it doesn’t help). DD got 6.5 (maths 1 and 2, physics) and got into Imperial (didn’t try for Cambridge). Rest of her application was good - strong personal statement and 4 A* predicted. But I do remember this term last year being super stressful - she tried to pass her driving test at the same time as the ESAT which did not go well!

Hope everyone is holding up ok

May I join? It will be a help to be in a group going through the same thing and who have knowledge to share!

DD is now planning a Cambridge application for a niche humanities/arts subject with not many spaces. It's not something she's been able to study in school before, but loves the subject, spends lots of her time doing it and will discuss it for hours with anyone who is interested. So it feels a good fit but like others mentioned above, she's being pragmatic about her chances.

Sadly we missed the full open days in the summer. At that point she was set on Oxford but after their open day developed reservations about the course modules. Later she decided the Cambridge content suits her better, researched the colleges and we made it to the colleges open day on Friday with a shortlist. She really liked it, has now chosen a college but realises the odds are that even if getting an offer she may end up in the pool.
As a niche course she didn't get to talk to any students or tutors for it. It feels a little risky applying for a course just based on the website info after her previous change of heart.

The UCAS application is almost ready. The school is being really supportive and giving lots of advice but they rarely get people applying for this subject and don't get many Cambridge offers, so I just hope they're steering her well. She has used the Cambridge online resources for writing the PS, but the guidance is very different to what she'd been told by school or other universities.

DS definitely won’t be in the country to sit the TMUA so despite his full hand of A⭐️across all of his GCSEs and A levels, he won’t be applying.

Good luck to everyone who does

TMUA is offered in many countries - might be worth looking into, if he hasn't already.

DD went to the Cambridge colleges open day on Friday and is almost sure which college to apply for. She likes to talk it all through so we got quite the run down. I don’t think there is a perfect one though as she liked the engineering fellows at one but otherwise preferred another. Her personal statement is in its final draft for school tomorrow so almost there.

@CannotThinkOfUserNames it must be difficult going for a niche subject, and it’s a shame that there wasn’t anyone to talk to about it. Could she contact her chosen college and see if they can put her in touch with someone?

@Muchtoomuchtodo thats a shame, is he ok about it?

DS has looked into it. He’ll be 7 hours by train from the nearest centre and his work timetable isn’t set so it’s just not going to be possible.

He’s fine about it @BreakfastClub80, he’s got a deferred place on a fabulous course and is really looking forward to his year out after 4 years of exams (we’re in Wales).

My son wants to go the Cambridge - we went to the open day to visit some colleges yesterday - he couldnt decide on which one to apply too - its a great place but no gaurentees - we just need to take it step by step. Im telling myself this!!!!

We also did the colleges open day at Cambridge on Friday. Dd already had a favourite and we visited that one and one random just so she could satisfy herself that she would be happy if pooled elsewhere. It was a good day. We missed the main open days though so dd has not seen the department and central areas.
We also did Imperial which dd surprised herself by liking.
ESAT prep is….going. There aren’t many past papers so she’s doing the ones from the previous type of test but is finding her results really variable. More work needed!
On the plus side her personal statement is done and with school for final review. Nearly there!

@BreakfastClub80 good idea to ask the college. The department website has a "get in touch with questions" email, so she was going to ask a few things that way.
Do they do offer holder days like other uni's? Can't see them mentioned anywhere.

Hello. Can I join? We were at cambridge on Friday too - it was a really productive day. DD wants to apply for Music. On the face of it it's a less competitive course but largely self-selective and confusingly different colleges seem to want very different things.

Feels like a long shot, but as we said to DD, unless she applies she'll never know.

She had a wonderful time geeking out about Shostakovich with some music students and asking about pianos in bedrooms anyhow. Now firmly focused on harmony training for the compulsory test.

F

Am I the only one that has a son that wants to do visits on his own?!! I put my foot down and visited two colleges on first open day, but he went back and did the others on his own. Plus Warwick, Imperial, UCL and Bath on his own.

@justteanbiscuits DD did the Cambridge colleges with a friend but otherwise we’ve been to open days with her - mainly because we’re nosy and enjoy it! A lot do want to go alone though, has he got any preferences?

@summernameandthelivingiseasy glad your DD enjoyed her day, and hope she works out which college to go for. I know nothing about music but she sounds very enthusiastic.

@QueenMabby sounds like your DD is getting there with her decision making, with the early applications to Oxbridge, it’s not long before they’ll be in. I wonder when offers might begin for the non Oxbridge unis after that? I am just trying to trust the system that DD will get into some of her 5 so she’ll have a choice.

@KTSl1964 my DH bought book which has a little quiz to help you decide on a college, I’m sure you’d find one online. It’s not very specific tbh but was amusing to see if it came up with DD’s top 2 (it did). It mainly asked about preferences for old school/modern, quieter, in the centre etc.

I love the early deadline! When older DD applied she put Cambs and one or two others down for October and added the last couple just before Christmas iirc. It was great as she received her other offers almost immediately which was very helpful indeed, while she waited for C news, to have good options in the bag so to speak (she interviewed for C maths but ultimately didn’t receive an offer, ending up at Warwick which was absolutely the right outcome for her — happy to try to answer any maths application questions having gone through that process previously btw, although there is plenty of helpful advice on MN on that from properly qualified sources!). I will say holding off to get the TMUA or other admission tests scores is a very useful strategy before adding in those courses other than O/C which require them.

Younger DD will do same, using up 4 slots for the early deadline and keeping one in reserve to add later but for biology she has no test to do, thank goodness!!!! Her PS has just gone into school for a review although it’s still a bit long and needs one last edit and then she’ll submit hopefully early next week. We’re in wales so predicted grades are pretty straightforward. Then we wait with baited breath…

Oh and I saw this online today from the Jesus Ox team which may be of interest to those prepping for the ESAT:

lucasrey.com/teaching/esat/mock-papers/

@justteanbiscuits it seemed a good mix of those with parents and those with friends at the open day, perhaps slightly more with parents on the tours we did. DD doesnt know anyone else from her school applying there.

@BreakfastClub80 that book sounds a good idea. After seeing a lot of colleges and losing track we did joke that they could have perhaps developed some "sorting hat" type tech for this, or just a buzz feed quiz by now 😂

@summernameandthelivingiseasy finding their people who they can geek out with about their passions is living the dream! Hoping for that for all them.

@BreakfastClub80 He is favouring Pembroke at Cambridge at the moment, followed by Imperial.
He adored Bath and was pretty impressed by their maths department. He also felt it would give him a better "life experience" as we live in London so Bath is very different.

Oh! Do they receive their offers earlier when applying earlier?? I hadn't thought about that side.

In terms of choosing a college Dd (interested in history at cambridge) managed to have a goodish look at three in July and another goodish look at three on Friday.

She was torn between two but when I said “if a fairy dropped out of the sky and said I’ll give you a free pass to whatever college you tell me to write down on this ticket “ - which one would it be?

She immediately knew the answer to that so I think that’s the one she is going to go for out of the two.

so I think she know knows her five choices and which college at cambridge- so I am counting the due diligence phase of the process as complete! 🤣