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Original poster

Anyone want to join a year 13 UCAS THREAD?

746 replies

JesusChristOtterStar · 07/11/2009 21:05

We can join in stressing about ucas forms interviews etc?

I am finding it all a very steep learning curve - we could support one another - celebrate and commiserate?

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 08/12/2009 12:23

York has duck poo everywhere, which has put DD1 off even thinking about applying there as it would ruin all her shoes apparently .

NotanOtter · 08/12/2009 13:08

one interview terrible by all accounts.....! ds said completely went blank on simple maths hey ho!

I remember all the duck poo from my days at liverpool!

Swedington · 09/12/2009 13:08

News from the med school interviews. Newcastle med school interviews put you under tremendous pressure and Barts med school panels are very relaxed and friendly. I would have thought the latter technique would enable to get to know more about the candidate.

DS was asked by the Newcastle panel what his friends might say about him as a person and he said "they would say I tell terrible jokes". Apparently "loyal, kind, considerate, empathic friend" just didn't spring to mind. Pffffft.

NAO - tell him not to be disheartened. I know lots, really lots, of people who felt their interview went badly only to receive an offer. You just can't tell. Remember most of these teens have no or little experience of interviews and they are likely to be very nervous.

ajandjjmum · 09/12/2009 13:49

Hope your ds receives positive news soon Swedlington - and for what it's worth, I think his answer was brill. Shows he has character!

NotanOtter · 09/12/2009 15:23

and honesty Swedes!!

thanks for kind words - ds just keeps muttering about ucl and durham so who knows!

arionater · 09/12/2009 15:34

NotanOtter - feeling it went badly is definitely not a good guide to anything - you tend to 'push' much more at a candidate who is good or whom you feel might get somewhere. To be honest I think it's the weakest candidates who tend to think they've had the "best" (i.e. easiest) experience - because if someone is really not at the right level you tend to go a bit more gently and push less hard.

Also, the interview is only one of many elements involved in assessing the application, and everyone's aware that candidates are nervous and may be flustered - so a few silly mistakes like slipping up in basic grammar, maths or getting names/titles wrong is pretty much par for the course.

Swedington · 09/12/2009 18:56

Marvellous news. Barts med school offer. Woooo hooo.

selectivememory · 09/12/2009 19:41

Well done!!!!!

NotanOtter · 09/12/2009 20:22

swedelington well done ds I am delighted for him!

thanks arionater that is good to hear
I am shocked at just how much he wants it now that it looks worrying

One of the interviewers literally 'hounded' him on a maths question - with the other interviewer saying 'let's move on' and the first one saying 'no - come on ...' J floundered and started to lose the will I think...

that was the 'general' interview - the specific natsci one went well

Drayford · 09/12/2009 20:30

Fantastic Swedlington!!

ajandjjmum · 10/12/2009 08:57

Brilliant news Swedlington!

I'm assuming that the universities will all go pretty dead over the holiday - and drag out the suspense for a bit longer?!!

NotanOtter · 10/12/2009 20:33

hmm i am wondering that too aandjsmum

ds has to wait until January to hear about his interview but some perspective has been gained chez us so we are all feeling better

ds has said 'what's done is done and I have to wait four weeks now so no point in stressing' which roughly translated as 'shush Mum' so I have done

NotanOtter · 14/12/2009 22:10

hello all

hope you are all having good news or has it all gone quiet for xmas?

anyone been to oxford in last few days?

selectivememory · 14/12/2009 22:24

My nephew had interview at Oxford last week! Hasn't heard anything yet. Friends have gone this week as well, some on Sunday (sciency ones)

NotanOtter · 14/12/2009 22:30

ooh selective i hope it went well for him - did he seem pleased?

selectivememory · 15/12/2009 08:49

Said everyone v friendly and kind and at great pains to make them all feel at ease.

Managed to field questions put to him, but you never really know how its gone til the letter comes through the post. All a bit on tenterhooks at school (same one as my DCs). Lots of them doing Oxbridge.

Has your DS had his interview at Cambridge yet? Hope it goes well.

Swedington · 15/12/2009 13:56

I've now resorted to bribery. I've offered a Eurostar trip to Paris at Easter for DS and his girlfriend if they can get over 90% in all their january modules. It seems to be working.

ajandjjmum · 15/12/2009 15:06

Whatever it takes Swedington!!

NotanOtter · 15/12/2009 20:14

good thinking swedelington

i offered an iphone for cambridge offer but looks like i am quids in !

ajandjjmum · 16/12/2009 12:27

Really hope you have a nice surprise (and empty purse!) Otter.

Swedington · 16/12/2009 17:01

I got an iphone for my birthday. It is really loverly and amazing what you can do with it.

ILxmasM · 18/12/2009 14:26

Dd1 received 2 conditional offers yesterday
Staffordshie & Warwickshire,
just waiting on Bournemouth now -

Swedington · 19/12/2009 10:19

ILxmasM - Great news. Does she have a favourite?

Has anyone's teen got January modules? I'm a little worried about DS1's lack of revision. But pfffft if I can be bothered to keep cracking the whip right through Christmas.

JustGettingByMum · 19/12/2009 11:45

swedlington- yes mine is taking exams in jan but he's y12.

lazymumofteenagesons · 19/12/2009 12:41

Yes swedes, mine is taking maths module S1 in january and retaking a history module. I ahve enquired as to whether he has got some past papers to practise and I got a muffled answer. The history retake is a bit of a nuisance, school made some sort of mistake, still not clear, and about 50% of them are having to retake. It means relearning a whole lot of stuff when he should be getting on with A2 revision.