Applying to Oxford E&M without Econ and Fmaths

[Sunshine126]

Hi there! I’m actually a student not a parent. I’ve received my alevel results recently (A* in Bio,Chem and Maths). I’m considering applying to Oxford’s E&M this year. I know that the acceptance rate for this course is extremely low. I’m just wondering if my subject choice would put me at a disadvantage.
Background info:
Never applied to Oxbridge
12 A*s at GCSE
EPQ: A
Profile is more geared for science
Reapplying while at another uni (doing Econ)
Private School (one of the top schools)
Thanks a lot!

My Ds has just been accepted on this course with Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics. You are right 4% acceptance rate. I don’t think your A level choice is an issue, you have fantastic Gcse results and are already doing an Economics degree so it will be the Thinking Skills assessment you need to get through & to prepare a great Personal statement.
You had such great results can I ask what deterred you from applying previously?

Another parent of a current E&M student. The only subject specified is maths but this FOI request shows subjects for previous years (there may be a more recent one but this was the one I found on searching). I guess since you have an economics place you must have relevant work experience/ research in the area to do the personal statement for that course? So it will just be the TSA that you need to work on.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/448541/response/1086538/attach/3/Economics%20and%20Management%202016%202017%20FINAL.xlsx?cookie_passthrough=1

@Arewedone

Thanks for your reply! I was going to apply to Dentistry before and changed my mind in around October, missing the Oxbridge deadline.

Hi Arewedone

Can you please let me know if Oxford were stringent on Eng Lang and Lit gcse grades. Is 7 at Eng Lang ok.

My son attained 7 in both Eng Lang and Lit, and we may reluctantly resist Eng Lang; he score higher in his his 8 other GCSEs. But, it's eng lang that concerns us.

@portico I’m not an admissions officer but from my own DSs experience all his cohort had 9s and A* at igcse as they were coming from a top performing Indy. There were 10 applying from his year and they all took the Thinking skills assessment which reduced the interviews to 50%.
So my personal summation is no if you have an 8 in an essay subject ( history, RS ,) then the English is result would be ok. The TSA is really important!

@Sunshine126 what do you have to lose, go for it 100%

@Sunshine126 you have all the grades, you are currently studying the subject , just do it!!! Practice the thinking skills assessment it’s not that hard if you study what they are looking for! You should ace the interview given you are already studying the subject and you have a really credible reason for switching your interest. The interview was really grilling, being able to support views on economic strategy, beliefs and adding names to theories and providing evidence of self motivated study but you must have covered that in your current course?!
Honestly I hat do you have to lose!

*what

I’d encourage you to go for it but with one reservation - is the “reapplying while at another uni doing econ” really ok now? Years ago those who wanted to reapply took a year out and did that. Hopefully someone who knows better will come along and advise but that sounds strange to me and I wonder what admissions tutors would think.

What would be the impact on your student finance if you start one degree & switch to another?

Portico This is from the Oxford Admissions web pages: Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of A and A* grades or 7,8 and 9 grades

@Arewedone - thanks for the info. He did get a 9 for RS, so should help. He will take A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Chemistry. I would have preferred a Humanities subject instead of Chemistry, however, he tells me Chemistry is seen as a facilitating subject - whatever that means.

@Hoghgyni - thanks for this. He attained 6 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s. He’s going to look at the TAS, so he is prepared for it in a years time. He is aiming for Oxford or the LSE.

By E&M do you mean economics and maths?

Do you actually like studying economics?

Not everyone enjoys both. I love maths, but dislike economics.

@Arewedone Thanks for your encouragement! Do you know what TSA score would be competitive for E&M? What college would you recommend?

*Which college

@Sunshine126 DS is going to Trinity. He scored over 70 on the TSA but I did hear that scores of 65+ gained interviews.