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Turning down Oxford offer...

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Why do people apply to Oxbridge then end up saying they don't want to go because of the workload? Give your son a kick in the arse and tell him he won't receive another opportunity like this.

Reply 21

Bellaxoxox

From someone who did their undergrad at Durham and postgrad at Oxford , I would definitely recommend Durham ! The quality of life is definitely superior , and it won't harm his future employment prospects . I chose not to go the Oxbridge route for my undergrad ( despite 4 A*s and one A ) and have never regretted it for a second .

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 22

nexttime

Original post by Crumbofcomfort

My son has an offer for Philosophy, conditional on three As, which he should get.
Only one problem - he's very daunted by the workload he'll have at Oxford.

He's worked flat out for the last four years, got all As or A*s at GCSEs and AS level,is now predicted A*s for A2 -but he wants to ease up a bit and even have time to enjoy himself a little.

He's not against hard work but, as he says, 'Why work flat out at Oxford, with a workload that's reputedly several times more than elsewhere, and end up with a 2:1, when I could go to Durham, work a bit less hard, enjoy myself a bit and get a first?'

Any thoughts?

That's clearly not true though is it?

At Durham you will work a bit less hard and the degree will be a bit easier. You will however also lose access to the tutorial system, and the (proper) college system, and the widest selection of societies anywhere.

But it is, of course, his decision. Lets not pretend oxbridge is for everyone.

Original post by Keyhofi

Your son sounds intelligent as he is thinking ahead and considering many options.

Although clearly not too much - he did apply to philosophy*!

*Which, incidentally, is not a degree Oxford offers

Reply 23

Thomb

Original post by nexttime

*Which, incidentally, is not a degree Oxford offers

ROFL

Reply 24

Lucilou101

Original post by Crumbofcomfort

As mentioned above, there is not a straight Philosophy degree at Oxford.

Does your son have an offer for PPE, PPL, Philosophy + Languages etc? Because this would affect the advice given.

Reply 25

The_Lonely_Goatherd

I love how all the other Oxonians except me remembered that there is no Philosophy single honours degree!!! :redface:

There was me wracking my brains and being like "who were the single honours Philosophy students in my year", lol :getmecoat:

Reply 26

such_a_lady

Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd

I love how all the other Oxonians except me remembered that there is no Philosophy single honours degree!!! :redface:

There was me wracking my brains and being like "who were the single honours Philosophy students in my year", lol :getmecoat:

That was the first thing that stuck out to me when I read the OP! :iiam:

Reply 27

The_Lonely_Goatherd

Original post by such_a_lady

That was the first thing that stuck out to me when I read the OP! :iiam:

#TLGFails

Thing is, I totally knew that as well. Coz my friend had to apply for Philosophy and Theology, due to the lack of Philosophy single honours. So it's not like I didn't know.

I'm such a noobface sometimes :tongue:

Reply 28

Notrid

I had a very similar dilemma last year while I was applying to Cambridge (please don't hurt me Oxonians). I worked flat-out for my GCSEs and A-levels and was convinced that if I got into Cambridge, I would have to work solidly in order to keep up with everyone else. However, I can safely say that I now do a lot more extra-curricular activities and general socialising than I did while I was at school, despite having a considerably heavier workload. For a while I was worried that my performance might be suffering as a result, but according to my reports I'm doing as well as I would have hoped to be had I been studying 24/7. It may be that your son didn't actually need to work as hard as he did in order to get the grades which he got, and if he chooses to go to Oxford then he might be able to cut himself some slack. Of course there's no knowing that his experience would be the same as mine and as others have said, it's his decision.

Reply 29

Thomb

Original post by Notrid

You're wasting your breath the OP is a fraud.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 30

The_Lonely_Goatherd

Original post by Notrid

I had a very similar dilemma last year while I was applying to Cambridge (please don't hurt me Oxonians)...

TAB IN THE THREAD! TAB IN THE THREAD! :headfire:

Spoiler

Reply 31

Pursing skiesss

I apply for PPE Oxford as I'm fancy about the students there: huge workload and still have myriads of time for sports and music. Especially choir and orchestra I like most.
If someone read about Plato and his theory about the Forms, I believe that I can contribute somehow to attempt to find the Forms. That is reason why I think academics is totally crucial for human civilisation.
I went to Oxford Pathways programm last week and had a lecture about relationship of science and philosophy from 1 tutor from Jesus College; and lecture about God from teacher in St John's College. It was lucky that those topics are always my interest. I felt relieved as not only they answered questions that I always inquire, they also challenged to my core arguments.
I think no where is better for me than Oxford, with their unique tutor systems and professional lecturers.
I'm willing to contribute 3 years of my life or more to get lost in Philosophy, Politics and Economics world of knowledge.