Oxbridge applications 2027 entry

[Justlurkingmostly]

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

@Beenthere02 is who you need to advise

@Numbersaremything Whoops - apologies!!! Clicked to reply on the wrong post 😂😂

Thanks all for the comments. It's my DS who asked me to go as he doesn't want to miss lessons. From your experience, would an Open Day provide an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with admissions staff about his particular subject choice, GCSEs and preparation? Or are Open Days primarily focused on visiting the colleges and learning about university and college life, in which case it might make more sense for him to attend at a later stage and me not visit at all now.

It's all about college & course choice. It will be VERY busy and it's for applicants, not their parents.

Is he at a state school in year 12? If so, UNIQ is a fabulous opportunity at Oxford and HE + is similar at Cambridge (i think - DD was at a state school but went to Oxford).

Thanks for the thread. DS applying for Philosophy and German, Oxford. School very supportive- internal deadline 25/9. DS assures me all on track!

Dd has just sent her completed application off via UCAS to school for final check over prior to submission. Out of our hands now!

For DS's subject, the subject talk was strictly students only, but the colleges were open to everyone. I didn't notice any parents looking round on their own though, and I'm not sure how useful it would be to be honest!

We did park and ride from London and got there at 10 or so (horrific traffic) and we had no problem with getting a space. It is big and loads get the train. I wouldn’t worry. Hope you enjoy it!

Well that's it, the process has officially started. 😬
DD's personal statement was approved so the application has just been submitted and paid for. We think it's now off to her tutor to put in their statement. (The school's internal deadline is the end of the month, so this isn't as early as it sounds)

She's only applied for 2 so far (Cambridge and her other preferred choice Warwick), and says she will add others later depending on the responses. She hasn't really found any others she would choose yet, so that at least gives her a little more time to look before the equal consideration deadline.

@CannotThinkOfUserNames- exciting but scary too isn’t it? Dd has filled in all five - Cambridge, Imperial, Durham, York and Birmingham but we’ve visited so many she just couldn’t face thinking about it any more!

@QueenMabby yes very exciting and scary!
That's good that your DD already knows what she wants. I hope she gets offers from them all - if so does she know yet what she'd choose?

Not many Unis offer her course in the way she wants it and we have seen so many, but mainly that seemed to write them off. We may have to start looking at options she wrote off without visiting, such as London and Scottish universities or revisiting others.

Well done @QueenMabby. Your DD is super organised. How has she picked colleges for Durham? We haven't visited - just no time because this is a nightmare term and I get the feeling that you quite often don't get your choice anyhow.

DD is very grumpy. I think it's all getting too much as she has two big concerts as well as recordings and the UCAS. I will be glad when everything's in and she can concentrate on the next bit. it's a slog.

DD2 hasn't finalised her personal statement yet. She send her draft in to her college tutor and got back some feedback, said she has to re-write. But she won't let us have a look!

Cambridge did a series of webinars that were very useful around February time, and then we did June college / subject visits. I did the first with my son, one college and then the Maths visit. They did a student presentation and subject lesson, and a parent presentation separately. Was useful for me to understand more, bit the visits for my son were more useful for him.

They do do Saturday open days - around June / July time.

My son has also done his UCAS. He has picked 4, but doesn't know what to choose for his fifth at all. (For MMaths.. obviously MMaths at Cambridge)

It's -
Cambridge
Imperial
Warwick
?
Bath

He doesn't want to apply for Durham, St Andrews or Bristol, he knows that. We're suggesting UCL, and he really liked the open day and did a LMO Summer school day there he enjoyed a lot.

@Beenthere02 as @justteanbiscuits mentioned, the Cambridge webinar were excellent. There are a range you can watch back that were done in the summer about the whole Cambridge process. Mostly for students but some for parents (Theres a live parent q and a you can still book on for tomorrow). They were incredibly useful and then didn't need to spend time at these talks on the open day.
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/applicant-webinars

Maybe a lower grade one as insurance in case things go pear-shaped? These are all pretty high. Exeter?

He will probably make adjustments after TMUA, as Warwick and UCL both offer reduced offers for good TMUA grades. He was thinking of having Bsc Maths as his insurance too instead of MMaths.

Hi All, can i join you?

UCAS submitted to school yesterday. Suspect school declining to predict A* in FM will get a rejection - but, he's one of the best mathematicians in the school - and they didnt get a A🌟 in FM the past couple of years .

ESAT booked (engineering)

Its just a waiting game as far as I can see now.

Second time around for us applying at Oxford. My DC has been back and forth about whether to pick O or C but landed on Oxford. Very close to their sibling so if they got in, it would be lovely to have them overlap by a year (and handy for the termly drop off / pick ups).

PS more or less ready to go so it’s just wait and see until the interview notifications 🙈

Is there a set date when interview notifications come out?

DS still finalising his personal statement and studying for the ESAT. School deadline for him is the start of October.

@AyeFairEnough late November, possibly into early December, according to Google.

Yes - no set date unlike the offers. My DC had their interview invitation early Dec only a few days before the actual interviews.

Wow it’ll be an anxious wait! I’ve stopped asking how the ESAT studying is going as I don’t want to put too much pressure on - trying to stay breezy about it all!

Looks like just a week's notice for interviews. What's the plan to prep for those???

With a 16% offer rate I haven't been too hopeful but the Head of Sixth seemed to think the application was of the desired standard.