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?

Not sure what this is about though:

"TSA Costs 2010

Jump to Dates

Currently there is no charge applied to TSA candidates for who have applied to read PPE, E&M, EP or PPP at the University of Oxford. Candidates who have not applied to one of these courses will not have their results released to them."

Does that mean that the exam fee is actually to pay for the marking & release of mark, not for the test itself?

thanks Ponders - kind of irrelevant but he has always wondered

All the interviews are over by now aren't they? So I guess it's a bit late for me to be joining this.

I'd just like to say that there is, undoubtedly, a bit of luck in getting that final offer. All the young people who were interviewed had done well enough in the entrance exam to be a potential Oxford undergraduate - remember that. My family have been (repeatedly) lucky but I think everyone knows someone who didn't get through and it was a travesty. There are only so many places to be filled and there is some 'luck on the day' I'm sure, there is in everything in life.

Try again - if you want it and were unlucky - lots of people do and a significant number I knew/know seem to succeed.

One family member of mine went off to their second choice and then went up as a post-grad - this person is probably the most successful of us all and has been a real contributor to the knowledge base.

Good luck to everybody but please tell your DCs that it is a long game and a small setback now is not important. Good people will succeed and there are lots of good universities does it matter where you went first, second or third?

Just one more thing - I have one DC there at the moment and their interview was disastrous. One of their friends is also there and their interview was even worse. My DH nervously talked about Rugby all the way through and still got in. I think they must look at the exam results more than you think.

Re TSA results, they were given a sheet of paper after the exam with a web address and pin which they could later use to access the results. Actually, when you key in the pin the system sends you an email with a confirmation code. I think they then use that and the passwword to get the results.

In our case, I have the confirmation code (sent to my email address because my son tried several times and didn't get it at his address) but I didn't get it until he was at Oxford for the interviews. He decided that he had not been impressive at the interviews and didn't want to know the TSA result until he knew for sure whether he was getting in or not. So I've got the confirmation code, he's got the password and nobody knows the TSA result. Anyway, he doesn't want to think about it at the moment, and I suppose it doesn't really matter at this stage.

RRocks

RRocks DS was not given anything - but that was cambridge

FH, I just had a look at the Cambridge admissions tests site & that doesn't mention results; & their tests are done during interviews, not before, & for a much wider range of degree courses, apparently?

So different rules, probably.

This whole thing is so complicated!

it is isn't it ponders?

ds did his interviews at 9 and 10.30 am and the tsa 2pm before home

ds took tsa at cambridge

Hello all-have just got back from dropping DD at Wadham - one of the most beautiful places on this planet. I loved it. I could see why she loved it. Chapel bells ring every hour; it is truly magical. This is so exciting, I am so pleased DD has earned this chance. She is excited and nervous all at once.
Edemame was closed by the time we got there but looks great. We had a drink at the Kings Arms before heading back home.
The college room was large and warm and had hangers and things to hang clothes up. The helpers had funky red T shirts saying 'Wadham' (what else?) all over them and were really helpful. DD has an interview tomorrow and another one at Univ (anyone know anything about Univ) the day after.
We had a really nice day with birthday brunch for DS then DD to play in the jazz band at school and then this beautiful beautiful college with its quads and pointed archways by starlight. I really never thought there could be anything so lovely in real life.
WIll tell the full story of today perhaps when interviews are over as you have just had the short version. For now my parental duty is over for a few days and its all over to DD and the tutors and fate/God.

DD rang- she is being interviewed by academics with an astonishing research record. She is happy but nervous and cannot find her room key.

I take my hat off to any young person who keeps their head in a subject interview, sounds sensible and gets in- getting onto medicine is a relatively low key affair because the academic challenges needed for entry are straightforward. Or perhaps thats just how it seems to me now that I have the knowledge after many years of learning and practising.

Nephew was pleased with his interview effort for physics at Cambridge. He thought the questions were fine and was given a verbal rather than written test and said there didn't appear to be many other applicants for the place.

Where is the best place to get a cheap mobile pay as you go phone in Oxford near Wadham? DD handbag got stolen (wallet and phone inside but luckily not passport) on the way there and we didnt want to give her our phone so does anyone know a good place within walking distance of the centre? Thanks a lot

Thank you Issy.
Seeing the inside of Wadham college has been phenomenal. Its all very well organised, full of beautiful architecture both new and old, clean, and comfortable and didn't feel snobby or rah. Importantly whilst not at all like a barracks, a very safe environment. I can really see why DD liked it. Also, and importantly, within safe walking distance of the science block.
The college behind it- Mansfield - seemed very nice too and brought home to me how little we really know about most of the colleges, because at open days there is usually only time to go round two or three, and on the tourist trail perhaps another two or three. Yet they are all with a different atmosphere.
Still waiting to hear how the interview went from her viewpoint. She has to go and buy a mobile phone first though.

Thanks betelguese .
DD rang. She has a mobile phone bought for two pounds! Her interview went fine in that she didnt freeze and the people were friendly and 'really nice' (her words), and kept saying very good and excellent but she thinks they said that to everyone and she managed to answer a lot of questions and her prep came in handy but she says she isn't sure how she has done because they were so nice about it and she says the competition is fierce and everyone seems very intelligent.
However she has been on a trip to the botanic garden
(Lyra's seat of Philip Pullman fame- mega mega exciting as she identifies with Lyra half the time) which was really fun she says and is about to have dinner in college.
And the interview outfit was fine she 'felt really dressed up and great'. Phew!
This is quite an adventure because DD goes to a day school and although she has been on school trips etc this is really the first time she is having to make her way on her own with no familiar faces around her.
I am actually really glad I didn't stay in Oxford with her- because even though it is more worrying, now this experience is really all her own,

Issy I looked up your mathematics friend and saw that he lectured at the Royal Institution one Christmas and I remember watching one! DD and I are members of the RI and once we went together to a lecture entitled Physics and Psychology and that was such a lovely thing to do (I know it sounds geeky but it wasn't that geeky) because decades ago at her age I too went to a Royal Institution lecture on Physics. The place has hardly changed, though the seats have been re covered.
This holidays at home, when she comes back, we are putting up the tree, and going to the school carol service for her very last time and I am not going to talk about anything to do with academia at all.
What will those with bright sons be doing? I need ideas? have any others with sons at university been given assignments over the holidays?
Has anyone else noted a proliferation of parental posts on TSR?

Sounds as if DD enjoyed her Oxford experience anyway, funnyp - fingers crossed for her

We put our tree up yesterday (real-but-chopped) - very fresh & smells divine. We do have a fireplace so looking forward to lots of lovely log fires over the next few cold weeks

DS2 has the rest of this week at college, then prize night next Tues, & he has a Sat job at a local supermarket so will be working there a bit over the Christmas holidays. He has actual modular exams, not mocks, in January so will be revising I hope the rest of the time

DS1 will be home between 18th Dec & about 10th Jan - no idea at this point if he has any assignments to complete but he will be working 2 of the weeks & off to a friend's in Belfast for New year so that doesn't leave a lot of time

Ho ho ho-and will Santa do so?

How do you manage time over this winter holiday so that they get the break and family time and hopefully some fresh air but also have that space for academics?

I am going to have a largeish cut living tree this year as the weather is set to be cold so it will be a fresh pine/green scent. No fireplace. Yours sounds idyllic Ponders

DD has a second interview tomorrow.

DH might take them down to Devon to see friends over boxing day and then I am thinking the ballet (Cinderella) with DD one evening- but what , if anything, with a 19 year old (yay) son? Is it sufficient to provide tree/food/chillspace?

Betelguese thanks for all the suggestions, Shakespeare and the Roundhouse and St Martins and the opera all sound warm.

I have been a bit of an internet fiend over this period and am really surprised by how much support I needed as a parent to keep sane and calm at face with my children. I am going to read a good book and will have a lovely trip to a nice book shop to look at real paper and ink to choose one.

Thank you everyone on this thread.