whose dc has got into Cambridge from state school?

[brimfull]

dd thinks she has no chance.

NOt my DC, but I went to Oxford from a rough state comp in the Rhondda, two other people from my year went to Oxford the same year as me, and four the next year

Dh went to a state comp and he went to Oxford, as did our best man. His wife went to a state grammar school

Last year two of my students went, one to Oxford and one to Cambridge

well that's hopeful.

I would like her to think she has a chance .

about 50% of kids at Obbrige are from state schools IIRC.

Now, I realise that is an under representation, but it is still quite a lot of people who were sucessful.

What does she want to study?

I was at Cambridge, and supervised and interviewed there, and while there are a higher proportion of students who attended independent schools than at other universities (though not all, incidentally: I think Bristol, or somewhere, has more), it is absolutely not the case that if your dd is bright enough she won't get in because she's from a state school. Most Cambridge colleges work really hard to overcome this perception of them (access officers, student ambassadors, etc) and are delighted to talk through issues, etc., with state school applicants. I could give you more advice, if you like.

I did - but it was eighteen years ago. Does she think she has no chance because she's at state school or because she doesn't think she's up to it academically? If she's been predicted 3 or 4 As at A2 and has a good range of co-curricular activities there's no reason why her application shouldn't be considered. They will be looking for things like music, drama, sport, DofE, young enterprise, peer mentoring, community service, hobbies/wider interests to support the academic qualifications. If she's taking any Advanced Extension Awards, that will look good too.

not my dc (far too young) but i work in a 'truly' comprehensive school up north and 3 or 4 of our sixth formers get into oxbridge each year (about 7 apply). She can but try.

I got into Oxford from a decent state school. Only one to apply in my year and only one to get in. I was totally unprepared for the interview, and to an extent I think it helps. Its easy to stand out as memorable against a bunch of prepared kids from Westminster. i got in, as did a friend who went to the local secondary modern. We both had a great time, and met lots of people there who weren't as bright as those we went to school with. People there aren't as bright as they're made out to be.

she's not sure what she wants to study exactly,which is a pain tbj

she's inclined towards maths/finance/business

Well, Cambridge doesn't offer finance or business until what's known as Part II of the Tripos degree (unless this has changed recently), but she could apply for Maths or Economics... And they'd love to see her too (if she's got the right results so far), as women are under-represented in these subjects.

Lots do from ours - about 15 into Oxbridge every year I think - but it is a high-achieving selective grammar so not typical.

(Actually the 6th form part is not highly selective, but most of the Oxbridge entrants came from the lower school, which is)

Had a phone call from my ex neighbour last week when we both used to live in a grotty part of Leeds. They had 5 boys under 7 then who all went to comp. No 2 son has just left Cambridge & is studying for his MBA in Paris, no 4 son is still there, no 5 son is applying.

Some schools are better at putting forward applicants than others. Maybe worth looking at the school's record on this?

part 2 of tripos degree ???

see I don't know what you're talking about!

already at a disadvantage

I was offered a place at cambridge to do maths and went to a ss, and a couple of people in my year went to oxford.
(didnt go cos screwed up a levels majorly, but the place was mine if I had got the grades!)

my niece did this yr.
my old comp still gets 3-4 kids into oxbridge each year.

Sorry!!! Don't be put off!!! It's just the poncey name for the degree (comes from the 3-legged stool upon which students used to sit to take exams, apparently...). Just degrees, really.

My cousin did. This was years ago, about 14 or so I think but she got in after going to a school in East London. I believe she studied History and English and she's now very successful and works in the media.

ggirl my only advice on the math at oxbridge suggestion is only allow your girl to do it if she is a real mathmo. It's a very academically rigourous course filled with truly talented math minded individuals. If she is not one she fall by the wayside as it really is tough.
Oxbridge don't really offer vocational degrees (ob exception medicine, law etc) ie accounting or finance, business etc but are obviously excellent for a first degree before specialisation in these subjects

To get into any of the top flight of universities she needs to have something fairly specific to aim for IME

thanks for the advice

she's great at maths but def not a maths genius

she is interested in a sandwich degree so she can study abroad so maybe cambs isn't suited to her after all

DH went to very very rough comp in Birmingham and he was probably the first there to go to Cambridge
He is v driven

I went to a mixed comp and 6th form college up north, then to Oxford. The sixth form college was the only sixth form provision in the entire town so had a huge range of abilities, but about 20 went to Oxbridge from my year. Nine of them came from my comp which was VERY socially-diverse! It happens.

I hardly need add that I had no preparation at all for the interview etc, the careers adviser at school was useless. Still, seem to have done something right...

Economics is probably the most difficult subject to get into at Cambridge. I checked the statistics when DS was applying to university and found there were more applications per place than for vet science. Lots of overseas applications as it is one of the world's best universities - so you aren't only competing against students from the UK. If your DD is undecided about the course or wants to do a sandwich course there are plenty of other good universities - check out Bath which definitely does a 4 year with sandwich course for economics (don't know about finance/business).

Some colleges are very committed to taking state school applicants, IIRC Kings College is about 70% state school pupils and suspect others will be too. I suggest she goes there for an open day to get a feel for the place, and whether she would like to study there.

Darrell would love to know which one... DH also went to possibly the poorest performing secondary in Bham... was offered a place at Oxford (Mathematics), but turned them down to go to Manchester.

ggirl My friend's DD went to Oxford, and read French- she had a year abroad between Y2 and Y3... so it does happen. They had to do a year abroad- was compulsory, though of course that was because of language immersion.