Oxbridge applications 2027 entry

[Justlurkingmostly]

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

I don't have much to update, we didn't go to the colleges open day as DD is set on one particular college already (although of course she does understand that she could get pooled). Prep for ESAT is creeping along, her college set her quite a lot of homework for the summer holidays and now that term is back, they're doing extra sessions after school. She won't let us look at her personal statement, but it's gone to her college tutor for review.

@Poisoningpigeons DID your child’s school give them ESAT prep over the holidays and then the extra sessions are to support this? Or do you mean just general school work?

My child has had no help at all and has just been working from the old tests available online. Their school, even though private, rarely has people apply to Oxbridge for STEM subjects so kind of doing it alone.

DD's college runs a (not sure of the actual name) Oxbridge/Imperial/LSE/etc "club" for those who are aiming for those unis. They were set additional summer holiday work for this. They get extra after-school sessions to help with the TMUA/ESAT/UCAT, and apparently will also get extra interview training. There are not many ESAT past papers though, so I'm not sure what they're being trained on.

This is in addition to all the students getting help with UCAS admissions, critiquing of their personal statements etc.

My other DD's college (different one) also has a similar offering, but she's not aiming for Oxbridge so I can't be sure what exactly they do.

Both are state schools.

I'm a bit surprised that your DC private school doesn't offer extra help, how disappointing! Well done to your DC for taking the initiative though - that is really mature of them.

Son's school only offers additional support for those wanting to study medicine, dentistry or finance! No additional support for Oxbridge (which might be why it's been five years since anyone got into Oxbridge).

That said, we are paying for some TMUA/STEP tutoring from a current Cambridge student, who has also offered advice on PS.

My DD is applying to Oxford, but it is really a total punt this year because it is for deferred entry. She has to sit the TARA, and hasn’t done much. Her school don’t offer any support for that. Her personal statement is due on Thursday, after her test at school (Wednesday) which they will use to determine if they can increase her FM predicted grade. Her school gives conservative predicted grades (relative to some of her friends schools) at the end of y11, but they allow additional work/evidence in September and will consider increasing them. The predicted grades are important, but only if she actually gets on and does some stuff for the TARA. Although I rather like the schools approach of making them do a bit more focused work in September (clearly, for more focused/organised kids that would have been in summer, but for my last-minute crammer it is now). It is a useful way of consolidating FM work carried out in the summer term. So really I’m just fingers crossed!!!

College-wise, she is going to just take a punt. It is so hard to know, and with the pooling system there is no point in getting too wedded to one college, so her slightly blasé attitude is not unreasonable. She wants somewhere that parties. Her worry about Oxford is that people won’t. If she doesn’t get in deferred entry this year, she plans to try again next year.

I have another one who is studying for the ESAT on their own. Their state school hasn’t had a single Oxbridge applicant for at least 10 years so safe to say he’s winging it!

What is TARA?

It is the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admission. It evaluates generic thinking, critical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. It is the replacement for TSA.

Both my two did most Uni visits on their own - as I did over 30 years ago

Must admit we mostly went with DD2 to cambridge to enjoy nosing around rather than to help DD. We weren't much help. Nice to see the accom though. husband (who went years ago) said he would definitely have picked a different college if he'd had the chance to go round as DD did on Friday. He rather lost his heart to Pembroke, which he'd never considered (gorgeous gardens).

I didn't go to university - left school at 16, so this is a WHOLE new world to me!!

That's a new one for me! Son is going for maths so doing TMUA and STEP which seems tough enough but at least they're very focused!

That is the college my son has chosen!!

He has excellent taste from what I've seen!

There are a couple of useful sources on YouTube. Dr Matt Williams at Jesus College Oxford, and Coursecast with Tim Mears. I found those helpful.

He did let me come to St Johns and the maths open day. They fed me!! I was amazed 😁😁

He did let me come to St Johns and the maths open day. They fed me!! I was amazed 😁😁

Does it make any sense to go to open day in September of year 12? Also, during the open day are they answering admission related questions meaningfully or just the standard as per information already in their website?
I am also thinking on going myself as my DS has tests on that day and a full day with all the subjects at school.
Is there a point on doing so or not?

St John’s fed you? I’m impressed. Another advantage to it being a rich college.

Or was it Maths?

I’m an oxbridge graduate - feel free to ask questions

The tours are done by current students who may or may not be open with you. We found that subject specific sessions in colleges were aimed at the young people who were expected to ask questions themselves, so they weren't dominated by parents. In a couple of sessions we were told at the start that parents were not expected to be chipping in. If space was tight, it was young people only.

Don't go yourself alone. The open days are for potential students (with or without parents) not for parents. This is a choice for your son to make.

My daughter was on her subject stand for the July open day and always tried to talk directly to the applicants. You also get director's of studies from the department as well, so really worth going to the open days, probably in year 12 and 13. I think she did get a lot of parents too, both with and without their off spring.

@Numbersaremything I would say it’s pointless going by yourself - your young person is the one who has to make the decision. Everything from the course content, societies, accommodation and overall vibe are very personal to the individual. Some very bright people decide that Oxbridge is not for them after visiting (often to the frustration of their parents 😂😂😂).

Going to the Oxford open day tomorrow. Anyone on here have experience of the park and ride at the last Oxford open day (specifically Thornhill - coming from London direction)? Bit worried as now reading it gets full up by 8am? thanks!