listening to the radio abt Oxford admissions made me wonder what gives kids the best chance of getting in?

[hatwoman]

I didn't catch the whole program but what I did hear was interesting. lots of talk about looking for kids with potential, with ability to probe, and spotting the ones who've been coached but aren't actually up to it. We all know that, whatever the reasons, private schools do better at getting kids in, but does anyone know what impact the educational level of parents has? I've always argued the impact is considerable, in general terms, but just wondered how significant people think it is is for the specifics of Oxford or Cambridge or other top universities.

Grammercy - Nobody said you needed 134 GCSEs. You need more than 8 A* in acceptable subjects for some courses though.

Winchester college do mostly IGCSEs and then they do the Cambridge Pre U.

Also, most state school pupils university application is limited to 5 courses and just the one Personal Statement, via UCAS. Most excellent schools will encourage their pupils to make extra overseas applications. As university in this country becomes more expensive, I suspect there will be lots of candidates who having failed to get into Oxford, take up an offer from Brown and turn down offers from Bristol, Durham and Warwick. Especially as American universities offer very generous bursaries even to students whose families are pretty well off by my measure.

Again, independent schools are ahead of the curve. My son in fourth form is thinking of going to America to study... it's something we are already investigating and have had brilliant assistance from school.

gah sorry, typing with 3 year old asleep on lap

Most state school pupils' university applications

Yes my DS in year 9 at a state school is considering America and there was an article in the local paper about two headteachers of state schools helping pupils to prepare applications for studying abroad when the tuition fees go up.

I think a lot of people are considering universities abroad.
Taking into account the fees and living expenses in the UK perhaps there is no longer much in it financially.

Yes at DS's top acheiving indie for the first time this year the proportion of boys choosing to go to top US universities is greater that than goint ot Oxbridge. (ie The bous who chose US were offered but declined Oxbridge for Stanford, Harvard, MIT etc.)

achieving

swedes1 - re Birmingham and the required GCSE's for medicine - my niece had set her heart on going there but didn't have the required 9 As. It was a good thing she went to the open day and found this out, so didn't waste a choice. The tutor said straight off - we won't look at you without 9 A s

My SIL complained about this - that they were putting out false info in the prospectus. It didn't make the slightest bit of difference - they are still doing it.

My niece got in elsewhere BTW.