Parent of oxbridge candidate-peersupportneeded

[funnyperson]

OK so my DD is applying to Oxford for entry in 2011 and has a 75% chance of getting rejected so I am told by the Oxford website so I reckon a new thread would be helpful for us parents who may end up with joy or grief but in any event need to keep sane enough to support our loved ones. Any tips on maximising chances of success at this stage?

There's nothing you can do about it now everyone.
We were in this position this time last year when DS2 was at Oxford for interview, and in fact 5 years ago when DS1 was interviewed at Cambridge.
Both of them turned out to be Oxbridge rejects and both went to Nottm and have been very happy, the first having graduated with a First in engineering this year.
Both went to the local comp and both had the exam results for Oxbridge, but it is just so competitve.
Enjoy the excitement of the possibility, but then get over it and just enjoy the excitement of wherever they go.

My children are too small for all of this, but it's only reading this thread that I realised how stressful this must have been for my parents back in the day.

I remember travelling down to Oxford from Scotland on the overnight coach, sitting next to the DULLEST man who was being interviewed at one of the mature student colleges. I had my mum's old suit in my bag, which made me look like an air hostess. The college I'd applied to pooled me and I ended up having 6 interviews at three different colleges, and was eventually offered a place at Jesus. I was pretty relaxed about it as I believed I didn't have a hope in hell of getting in, and my parents either agreed with me, or disguised their anxieties so well, that I didn't feel too much pressure.

My interview was for medicine, and I was asked about all sorts - some chemistry (identify this molecule), how would I separate a mixture of two liquids, some medical politics/ethics, why I had I done A Level English not another science. I found them quite exhilirating actually.

When I got the letter offering me a place I nearly dropped the phone (my mum opened it for me! when I was shopping in town); even now I can't walk past that phone box without remembering.

Good luck, everyone. I do hope I'll be on a thread like this in a few years' time...

bear, of course you are right and ds is very excited about the possibility of any of his choices ( he loves Nottingham and has an offer which he is clutching greedily )

Holly - he tried for brasenose but they take so few. He got pooled and is interviewing at st annes. He did go to look around st annes and has attended some of their lectures and liked it so, post his brasenose minor disappointment, he is hopeful. He is applying for eng .

Evening all... I can finally relax now I know DS is in Oxford. We had a nightmare with 16 inches of snow and no trains. In the end Ds drove as he had somewhere to park and get taken in! It was hie first time motorway driving! he was fine of course it was just me treating him as though he was 3!! DH unhelpfully went to USA during this!
It does make me feel better that all the other DC have been uncommunicative and that all the other mums are starting to feel a bit bereft!!
I really wish them all the best of luck....

oh I'm so glad he made it OK, om Well done to him for driving as it's horrible enough for an experienced driver

iwastooearly, I heard on the news tonight that they hope to have caught up with the backlog from Spain tomorrow, so fingers crossed for your DD (& thanks for the poem [sniff])

fififi, DS didn't take a suit but did take a smartish shirt (no tie) & some shiny shoes

bearcat & cheesypineapple, thanks for your stories

& good luck to everybody...

Thanks ponders! Tbh it's a relief as he's been really ill as well -everything that could have gone wrong was going that way....
DS took everything from a suit to joggers.My only advice was to pull his trousers up!!

DS2 has a Politics/Philosophy combined interview this afternoon, & an Economics one on its own tomorrow - Economics is his weak point as he hasn't done Maths since GCSE, I would have preferred him to have that combined with one of the others...

I'm even less optimistic than before now

He thinks he did really badly

I think he forgot that it isn't about knowing stuff, it's about thinking & discussing stuff.

Oh well

Well that is encouraging, betelguese, thank you

But apparently some Economics tutors do prefer students to have at least AS level maths before they start & it depends who interviews you.

Hi Ponders - don't worry my lovely - the worse the interview the more likely he'll be fine!!
God, this is soooo weird, I don't know what to think! DS1 had interview at 4 and one tomorrow at 1. He thinks interview was OK, as expected, but, of course hasn't got a clue as to how everyone else has done! Gawd....!
He is soooo laid back, he's practically horizontal and I don't know if that's good or bad.
He's going to have a coffee with schoolmates tomorrow who are at different colleges.
I just keep telling him to enjoy the experience even if that's it.....

aw, thanks, om

that's what DH said, more or less - we don't know what they're looking for, or what they expect, or what anybody else says in their interviews...I think DS2 was quite worried though because he rang me immediately afterwards, & kind of talked himself through it, & I said (all I could say) don't worry, you did your best, just wait & see.

DS2 was planning to meet up afterwards with an old schoolmate too ( he is in for geology, they admit 50% of their applicants, damn, why didn't DS2 think of that!) - but not for coffee, he said they were going to the pub, I hope they're not in there till closing time, his interview tomorrow is at 12

He'll be fine. I think they should have a life changing experience even if that's it...
Gawd, now I'm repeating myself...wish DH wasn't in NY!!

I told DS - no drinking - or else

ne'er mind. good luck to all our lovely children

to you too! It would be sooo cool to have a MN meetup in Oxford - eh?

oh it would, om! if (when???) they get in, we will, I promise

(the was for DS2's inability not to pub btw!)

I realised...!
wonder where everyone else is????

hurtles in

I'm here - had a big crisis with my mother to sort out yesterday and DD2 has been laid low with a nasty flu virus which , given her CFS, has knocked her back v v badly....

Suppose it has taken mind off DS in Oxford. Have only spoken very briefly to him - a bit non plussed by his first interview, didn't think he had a chance to shine and so has decided pesimistically that the tutors were just going through the motions. Second interview this afternoon, hope for his sake he will feel a little better after that one.

Just hope he gets an offer from his second or third choice sooner rether than later.

Fingers firmly crossed for everyone...

Good luck good luck to them - really great they managed to get to their interviews on time etc- let us know about the second and third interviews -main thing is not to let the first interview get them down if it went so-so and keep enthusiastic for the next ones. A friends son said the last day was the worst because he hung around feeling silly and they called him up for another interview just 15 mins before he was going to leave.

At DS school once a boy had 11 interviews ( I kid you not) in Oxford and still got in so they need to keep the energy in reserve.

DD has been asked to play in jazz band for elderly peoples tea party on Sunday the day she goes up- has done loads of prep- has not had time to purchase interview outfit- but is very excited now. It is a bit like a roller coaster. I am going to get a cup of tea.

Littlecheesy I wore a Jaeger skirt which was the first ever non uniform skirt I owned, as advised by my mother's Girton friend, and looked a complete sight, and over it wore a coat from Topshop which my mum bought as a treat because it was winter and so I wouldn't have to wear the school duffle coat- It was black suede with a faux fur collar I thought it was wonderful so I wore it throughout my interviews and must have looked a complete twat but got three medical school offers all the same- 1xCambridge 2xLondon ( wont say which but top notch). Happy days.
Actually going to medical school was a shock as lots of very dull science in the first year and very very structured, but such great people and I soon settled in.
Magichomes if 2/4 people drop out- doesn't that say something about the course ( dare I ask?) or the way it is taught or the way it is described to prospective undergraduates? Or is your friend thinking it is the selection process?