Oxbridge applications 2027 entry

[Justlurkingmostly]

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

DD is on third draft and it sounds pretentious to me, and less of her voice comes through than in the previous version. I cannot say this to her!

I discovered a colleague used to work in a sixth form and has read 1000s by her count and she has generously offered to give some advice.

Someone needs to say this to her, perhaps gently. With the concern about voice, if you can point to what felt like her in a prior version, it's often helpful.

Fantastic that your DS has an offer already! Good to hear that offers can come quickly too.

@CrunchyNutCake Well done to your son! My daughter got the infamous “on hold” message from Bristol yesterday. It was to be expected due to the weighting on GCSEs (she thinks). 20% weighting - she’s got mostly 8s and 9s but has a couple of 7s in the mix.

Oh I've never heard of on hold.

@Zurbaran I'm torn betweeen letting DD sound exactly like herself but leave herself absolutely open to being ripped into at interview (she can defend her points I guess if she gets that far) and telling her to tone it down a bit. She has shown statement to five teachers but all have different views. Thing is, she's quite a quirky person and they probably ought to know what they're getting! Sounds like you've got a great person to check yours there though.

@CreamBeforeJamOnScones The Bristol “on hold” is where you meet or exceed the entry requirements so they would offer you a place but want to wait and see if anyone better comes along first 😂😂😂. You get an email saying you’re on hold.

They make early offers round Oxbridge application time to only the very best, a few more in December time, and then the bulk come after the equal consideration date (and once people know their Oxbridge result). They also then offer more as people turn them down and spaces free up. It could be a very long wait!!!!

@CrunchyNutCake that’s great, well done to him! What subject was that for?

@RatherBeOnVacation his isn’t submitted yet, but I imagine my DS will get the same from Bristol then - his GCSEs have some 7s and 6s. He knows that is likely though applying to Bristol and it’s the bottom of his choices. It’s a bit frustrating as he qualifies as contextual based on home postcode, and both his school he did GCSEs at and his college, but at Bristol contextual only reduces the offer, it isn’t considered when looking at their grades! Where else has she applied? His others are Southampton, Nottingham and Sheffield, and he is hoping all of them should give him offers.

@Eccle80 She should also get contextual for Bristol so yes, it would be a good one to get an offer from. Others on the list are Southampton and Birmingham and one still TBD.

@RatherBeOnVacation it’s just frustrating that they don’t consider the contextual factors that might have impacted on your results when looking at your application! Hopefully she’ll get offers soon from Southampton and Birmingham

@Eccle80 She loves Southampton - the course is perfect as she’s really into the space side of things - so fingers crossed. She should also get contextual there. She’s waiting to get her ESAT result before deciding on her final choice. The course at Imperial is also right up her street but could be a wasted choice if her scores are low - hence why waiting.

@RatherBeOnVacation that sounds sensible. DS loved the Southampton course too, although for the F1 side rather than space. He should get contextual there too, and from what they said at the talk we went to they should get offers if they have the predicted grades. I think it will come down to there vs Nottingham for him as he loved the campus at Nottingham.

I don't get the contextual offers always. The son of friend who lives half a mile away, but over an area boundary, is able to get contextual offers due to the area, but has been privately educated at a very good school since year 7! (not on a bursary or scholarship). Seems a little unfair to be able to get contextual when you've been privately educated.

you don't usually get them if you're privately educated?! dd1 got them because we live in a dodgy postcode - and in fact got exactly the same contextual as our foster daughter from Ukraine which seemed vastly unfair. DD2 is at private school, but funded by the dept of education- because that's how the UK chooses to run specialist music and dance education in England. She is not eligible in almost all cases though apparently Durham will give her 'a contextual flag'

Music, AAB offer. He is predicted 4 x A stars and has 11 9s at GCSE, so it would have been a bit surprising to not get an offer at all - but still nice to have it so early.