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Getting into Oxbridge through family connections

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You don't really hear of any high-profile students like Lily Cole or Emma Watson being rejected from Oxbridge, but then I can't imagine those who were rejected want it broadcast to the nation.

After all, wasn't Tony Blair's son rejected from Oxford or something?
Andy the Anarchist
That was of course my point, that he couldn't have got in even if he wanted to, despite being a member of the Royal family and having attended the most prestigious school in the country.

Exactly! Forget Prince Charles, Prince Harry would need a new, specialised system created for him, let alone a course :p: Beatrice did get an AAB, didnt she ?
Reply 22
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Woody91
im sure this is true, i think anybody that thinks this doesnt go on is probably kidding themselves or naive
If you're well off > money > private school > better education > better grades > Oxbridge

So yes academics, but you're more at a disadvantage if you're state educated.
AutVinceriAutMori
Exactly! Forget Prince Charles, Prince Harry would need a new, specialised system created for him, let alone a course :p: Beatrice did get an AAB, didnt she ?


It says something of the stupidity of a family in general when they can buy the best education the UK can provide, yet someone who gets AAB is something to shout about.
Andy the Anarchist
It says something of the stupidity of a family in general when they can buy the best education the UK can provide, yet someone who gets AAB is something to shout about.

Yes, and it was in Art/History or something, subjects a lot of people would blitz (at least I would :yep: Didn't mean to boast :p: ).
Personally I think family matters in the provision of education, so if your parents can afford public school/ language lessons/ music lessons you are automatically at an advantage.
Reply 26
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Kenyatta
It's true, it happens,

there was an article all on it for the 09 cycle IIRC from a respectable paper.
Andy the Anarchist
That was of course my point, that he couldn't have got in even if he wanted to, despite being a member of the Royal family and having attended the most prestigious school in the country.


Prince William got into St Andrews, despite the fact he wasn't teh brightest spark in the world, Im sure. He got ABC (with no AS), while on UCAS it says the minimum requirement to do art history at St Andrews is AAB. The Royal Family could send their children anywhere they want, and we all know it, and I am happy for that to be teh case.
And also, Eton is actually considered (academically atleast) to be second to Winchester (atleast I think thats right) - sorry, random.
In my school there was a girl who got one of the top grades in the country for biology A2, besides As in everything else, and she got into Oxford. Her brother's gutted, got five As and AS and predicted five As at A2 and got a rejection from Bristol and Oxford? Hmm.
Reply 29
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bantams
it's not what you know it's who you know.
Kolya
Prince Charles? Prince Edward?

:yep:

However, those examples didn't happen particularly recently. Prince William didn't get accepted into Oxbridge, and Harry did exceptionally badly in his A-Levels.
Reply 31
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tomoli
2
Blazor
I was having a quite heated debate with a friend about this today.

He spoke to an Oxford graduate who is a teacher at our school, and he has stated that it's possible to get into Oxford through family connections or due to the fact your family is quite well off and your parents are of a good profession.

I argued that this was false, and nowadays entry to Oxbridge is based only on academics and not on "who you know".

Who's right?


You're right.
Andy the Anarchist
It says something of the stupidity of a family in general when they can buy the best education the UK can provide, yet someone who gets AAB is something to shout about.

Not really. Just think of the pressures and duties that they have to undertake, which could detract from their studies and motivation. Also, perhaps most importantly, many people push themselves academically with the goal of getting a good job and/or rich and/or have high status -- with the Royal family, of course those impetuses are redundant.
Reply 33
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Imson
13
Blazor
I was having a quite heated debate with a friend about this today.

He spoke to an Oxford graduate who is a teacher at our school, and he has stated that it's possible to get into Oxford through family connections or due to the fact your family is quite well off and your parents are of a good profession.

I argued that this was false, and nowadays entry to Oxbridge is based only on academics and not on "who you know".

Who's right?


my friend got an offer from cambridge because his mum was the admission tutor there
jammythedodger
Prince William got into St Andrews, despite the fact he wasn't teh brightest spark in the world, Im sure. He got ABC (with no AS), while on UCAS it says the minimum requirement to do art history at St Andrews is AAB. The Royal Family could send their children anywhere they want, and we all know it, and I am happy for that to be teh case.
And also, Eton is actually considered (academically atleast) to be second to Winchester (atleast I think thats right) - sorry, random.


Actually, St. Andrews requirements at the time were much lower. I believe ABC was enough to satisfy them then.
vander Beth
Actually, St. Andrews requirements at the time were much lower. I believe ABC was enough to satisfy them then.


Really? Wow, theyve shifted theyre grades up over the past few years...
Reply 36
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Isherwood
6
'Donate' over £1million from the family pot and Daddy gets whatever he wants for his precious girl.

It's still possible but of course these things are as much about 'how you know' as well as 'who you know'.
It's not about institute donations either; professor so and so may also recieve a new rolex as a compliment and next week a new diamond necklace for his wife.

If MPs have gotten away with it for over 100 years; these institutes remain undercover but hopefully the media will sort it out.
There are always a lot of things that happen that may not make logical sense but Capitalism is Capitalism and greed is human nature.
I went to Oxford in December for interviews.
Another girl from my college who I know quite well, applied for the same subject as me, submitting the same pieces of written work as me as we're in the same classes but she had better GCSE grades than me and AS grades.
I got an interview and she didn't. There was literally nothing between us on paper.
EXCEPT...
My dad went to Oxford?

Who knows if that was the reason.
I suppose I'll never know.
But I can safely say there's no probing questions as to the social circles you move in or the education history of your family. It is purely academic grilling.
And besides, even if you have connections within a college, there are several interviews for each candidate from various tutors, surely if someone doesn't find you to be suitable to be a prospective student of theirs, they won't accept you because of who your parents are etc?

Bottom line, who knows what goes on behind those old, stone walls?
Reply 38
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Podgeykins
Yes this happens :/ society is sadly not based on meritocracy as your educated to believe.
If they accepted students who don't have potential, would they produce some of the best students in the world?

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