Congratulations for your offer. You all must be really proud of the achievement.
My son had an offer from Oxford for 2014 entry for one of the most sought after course. His friend also had an offer. They were the only ones at their school successful to get an Oxford offer. They both went to a comprehensive state school. However both of them lost the offer after the results in August 14 2014 as they narrowly missed the A* grade. Both had brilliant GCSE with all A*, AS level with nearly 100 UMS and excellent results in their entrance exams.
I am posting this so that no one in this forum becomes complacent and lose the offer. The heartbreak, which happens then, can be really unbearable and it does not go away easily. Last year 374 students lost their conditional offer at Cambridge (according to freedom of Information website). You don’t want to be one of them. Oxford and Cambridge do not normally listen to appeals. They would rather leave the seat vacant than taking someone who did not meet the grades
My advice to you:
You can’t score marks in A Levels and GCSE just because you have subject knowledge or intelligence. You should know to answer according to the mark scheme. Mark schemes and past papers should be your best friends from now on;
Make sure that you take help from teachers or extra tuition if you are struggling in any aspect
Make sure that your lab work and controlled assessment are up to standard; don’t take them lightly as that can cost you your A*. If there is any opportunity to re-sit take it;
Avoid clubbing (if you do that too much now; you won’t be around to attend fresher’s week parties at Oxford.) It may be tempting as most of you are turning 18 and there are too many parties to go to. But focus on the end goal;
Make it clear to your girlfriend /boyfriend that you need to focus on studies for the next few months and don’t entertain unreasonable expectations;
Don’t be arrogant regarding your offer. Please note that there may be others who were better than you who were rejected after the interview, as interviews can be subjective
My son accepted his insurance choice which is nowhere near Oxford regarding international reputation and he is disappointed. In his mind he knows that he could have done better preparation for final A level exams.
So after partying this weekend to celebrate your offer; get back to your studies and make that offer unconditional in August. Even if you decide not to go to Oxford later; you want to be the one making that decision; not them. All the best. The new series of Game of thrones can wait!