oxbridge?

Sola

When I interviewed at Oxford many many years ago, I was provided a room within the college for the night. I had extra tuition at school for a year beforehand.

Voyager2002

One point on the selection process: grades really do matter.

My sister is exceptionally bright, and applied to Oxford in her last year at school. She interviewed well, and was offered a place. They telephoned and left her a lovely message on our answering machine (we might even still have it) congratulating her and welcoming her to the college. However, her offer was conditional on getting specific grades in her 'A' levels, and she just missed.

So she went to another university instead, loved it, and is now a professor. Oxford's loss.

celyn90

Hi OP, it isn't as scary as it sounds, honestly, so don't panic - treat it like any other University application just be aware the procedures are a bit different.

Come up and have a look round both places if you can (I'd advise that for any Uni you're considering - you have to find somewhere that you think you'd like to study). I've studied at both as a postgrad, was state educated and from a non academic family background and have never been made to feel it was a problem.

Oxford's much better IMO Not all subjects have entrance exams either. For Oxford, the interviews are often over a couple of days and the colleges will tend to put you up and feed you so you don't worry about the cost.

In terms of applying, one thing that can make it easier is if you do other things - have a hobby or an interest or do something that sets you apart from the other applicants. Straight A's get you a foot in the door, as all appplicants have good grades - but what makes you different from the others can often count for quite a lot. I'd advise he tries to get some work experience even if it's just for a few days in his chosen subject so he shows he's committed to it.

What does he want to study?

I'd agree massively with some of the other comments about the issue of funding for his time at uni. My college has helped me so much over the last year on the money side of things - my parents aren't in a position to and I'd feel bad asking them. They really care that students don't have to worry about money issues and many of the colleges have extra grants and money available.

digsby202

Oxford and Cambridge's interview processes do differ.
Cambridge do a whole day of interviews/tests, daughters lasted from 8.30 am until 6.30pm. If you don't get offered a place at your chosen College you can be pooled and again this involves more interviews at that college, usually in early January.
Oxford do keep you there for a few days , or they may send you home after one, depending on the College. I know someone who was interviewed at their preferred college, then over 2 days was sent to 2 other colleges to go through the same thing, they still didn't get in.

Oxford interviews do tend to be tougher, I know of some applicants who have been in tears at the line in questioning. I think a lot of it is deliberate to see how you cope under pressure.

The year my daughter applied, 13 from her school got into Cambridge and 1 into Oxford. Last year 5 got into Cambridge and 14 into Oxford, so you can never tell.

At times I think the whole things a lottery.

Love d

virgin_moneysaver

candyflossing wrote: »

Huh? If there is a charge it won't be more than £50! Surely you can afford to save up £50 between now and next academic year?

The exams are in November(ish) so that leaves you 8 months!

As for the actual university, it won't cost more than any other university. And if you are a low income family, like you said, your son will get a large maintenance grant & bursary to help him pay.

Oxford is an amazing opportunity for your son. If you're worried about fiance, discuss it with him and perhaps he can get a part time job over summer?

I don't know what charge you are referring to? - my op was about the cost over the whole time he would be there & yes I could save £50 in 8 months if you really need to know that info!

our income is low, but not that low that we get any benefits other than the normal child benefit & £40 p.m. working tax credit so we are not talking living on the breadline & receiving major handouts as your post inferred - our joint take home pay each month is less than £2000

and for your info my son already has a part-time job and has been earning his own money since he was 13

celyn90

digsby202 wrote: »

Oxford do keep you there for a few days , or they may send you home after one, depending on the College. I know someone who was interviewed at their preferred college, then over 2 days was sent to 2 other colleges to go through the same thing, they still didn't get in.

Love d

Yep - this is called "pooling" and is common at both Oxford and Cambridge - sometimes a college has a lot of applicants for a particular subject and can't take them all. They might think that some of the ones they can't take are still very good so send them to other colleges who didn't get such a high number of applicants for that subject to see if they would like to consider those they view as good. It is normally a reflection of applicant numbers if a candidate gets pooled.

If you look in the prospectuses, they often have charts saying how many places are available at each college for each subject and the number of applpicants they get per place.

I would think that more aggresive interviews are more common in subjects where you have to debate, such as the arts, humanities and law. Don't be afraid and stand your ground if you don't agree just come out with it. They will often not be testing your knowledge - as you can't be expected to know everything - but how you can evaluate and come to conclusiond based on information you are given and react to conter-arguements well. Funnily enough the most aggressive interview I've ever had was at Nottingham (many years ago). I walked out. I also know people that have walked out of interviews at a London Uni for the same reason.

Edited to say: OP, its really great that your son has been working too - all these things count for a lot as he's proved through employment he has a work ethic, which will stand him in good stead for any application.

(Just to clarify as I know it's confusing - both Oxford and Cambridge are made up of groups of colleges - you choose one and apply there rather than to the university itself. You can also make an "open" application where you apply to the University and alow thw the admissions office to allocate you to a college. The college then interview you and admit you)

digsby202

virgin_moneysaver,

I completely understand how you must be feeling.

We are not an academic family, my daughter being the first to go to University. When it dawned on me she might go to Cambridge, it was scary! Not just the financial implications, but the the whole picture of the people she would meet, the work load and pressure, would she come back a different person and lots of other things go through you head.
I was dreading that first holiday when she came home after the first term , but I need not have worried, she still spent the first two days in bed ! We regard ourselves as her support system as we really cannot ask any more from her. Last term the pressure was really on as she also had a newspaper to edit. Every weekend I would pick up her laundry, drop off shopping and disappear after about 15 mins, I would them turn up a week later and repeat the process ! Mad, I know, but it got her through!
She has done brilliantly, being Editor - in- Chief of the student newspaper ( at19) and being head hunted by 2 big organisations.

When she comes home though, its as though she never left ! And as she said herself, no daughter of mine could ever be a snob !


Love d

Molanole

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

my son has informed me that his teacher wants him to consider sitting the oxbridge test/exam?? - i haven't got a clue whats involved & I'm split between being pleasingly gobsmacked & desperately worrying how people like us can afford this - I'm a part-time cashier & my husband is a lorry driver - I don't feel I can ask my son too many questions as he's at that funny age(boy turning into man) & I don't want him to feel any pressure either way - he may feel he has to do it to please us or not to do it as we can't afford to fund him

anybody else been in the same situ

virgin_moneysaver - not sure if you're already aware of this but there is a nation wide programme called Aimhigher. It aims to widen participation in Higher Education and give young people (particularly those 13-19) an experience of Higher Education. If you're son is first generation HE (i.e. you and your husband did not go to HE) and are from a low income background it is highly likely that your son will be able to benefit from some of the activities Aimhigher offers. There will be an Aimhigher regional office in each of the 9 English regions. Aimhigher also offer summer schools which are up to a week long experience of Higher Education. Many are for Year 11 and Year 12 students. Worth doing a bit of googling for their websites. Or. if you want to tell me what region you're in I can point you in the right direction.

Take a look also at the UniAid website. There's quite a lot of useful stuff about finance and higher education there.

HTH

virgin_moneysaver

Molanole wrote: »

virgin_moneysaver - not sure if you're already aware of this but there is a nation wide programme called Aimhigher. It aims to widen participation in Higher Education and give young people (particularly those 13-19) an experience of Higher Education. If you're son is first generation HE (i.e. you and your husband did not go to HE) and are from a low income background it is highly likely that your son will be able to benefit from some of the activities Aimhigher offers. There will be an Aimhigher regional office in each of the 9 English regions. Aimhigher also offer summer schools which are up to a week long experience of Higher Education. Many are for Year 11 and Year 12 students. Worth doing a bit of googling for their websites. Or. if you want to tell me what region you're in I can point you in the right direction.

Take a look also at the UniAid website. There's quite a lot of useful stuff about finance and higher education there.

HTH

I don't know if he would qualify then as we are in Wales

littlemissmoney

Hi

Oxbridge is one of the cheapest places to study (if not the chepest)! Here are the main three reasons:

1. You are likely to get cheap college accomodation the whole time you are there. Plus you only pay accomodation for the weeks you are there e.g. three 10 week terms a year, not 56 weeks like private accomadtion at other unis!

2. The uni and colleges are rich so have lots of additional burseries, grants and awards to less well off students. Check out the website below.

3. Terms are shorter (only 10 weeks) so you have longer holidays to work, if you need to.

Take a look at their websites:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/finance/costs.html
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/student_funding/index.html

PM me if you have any questions. Please don't worry about the money - just encourage your son to apply! Oxbridge will make sure your son is not prevented from going for finanical reasons. Honestly, it really is cheaper than elsewhere!

Just thought of another reason... ;-) Meals are often provided by the college at subsidised rates. A three course meal can cost about £3 :-)