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?

The student fees amendment is going through the House of Lords today.
I looked up the Lords- 26 Bishops and Archbishops can vote as well as 92 hereditary peers. I looked up the hereditary peers (not all-just some of the longer standing peerages-not that much time really) and many of them have trodden an Eton-Trinity College Cambridge- House of Lords path. This makes sense, after all, it is important that law makers be well educated. However should an admissions tutor when faced with an academic peer'c DC offer a place on the grounds that they will be voting in the Lords in the future or should they offer the place to an academic commoner on the grounds that the commoner may become part of a fairer establishment?
Oxford has accommodated and fed approx 10,000 interviewees this fortnight. I take my hat off to the staff.

DD has just rung - second interview over- she says it was 'really cool' she had to read some stuff and then stand up in front of the panel while they went over it and she had to write on a white board.
She says a lot of listening went on as her mind kept blanking and also she had to think about what was being asked but she thinks she got there in the end. Luckily she knew a bit about the first topic but the rest of the stuff was all unfamiliar. She said it was challenging but 'really cool' she doesn't know whether she has done OK but thinks so but says it was amazing. Typical DD. She is always so enthusiastic only the admissions tutors will know if what she said was actually sensible. She got asked nothing about her personal statement. It sounds quite challenging- she said it tested the way of thinking quite a lot. There was a logic question. This last she has probably fluffed as they dont teach logic at her school.(my perception not hers)
Betelgeuse I will organise Somerset House. DS loves ice skating and so does DD. Thank you. Do you live in London?

PS I am thinking its a good thing she had comfy footwear- imagine having to stand up in uncomfortable new shoes.
Her experience of interviews seems very different from DS- perhaps due to the difference of subject.

Thinking on your feet haha {fgrin}

DD has applied for a single subject. Its what she wants. I think she is hoping she gets an offer from the college which has hosted her-Wadham- because she loves it so and likes the subject tutor/music/drama /near the science block/can contribute to college life etc.
I have just reminded her to let the college know her new mobile...just in case anyone else wants to interview her.
I think that DD will turn out to be Oxford material what I am worried about is that they only have a few places to give out and in that particular bunfight I am not sure what will emerge.
She didnt have to produce written work though DS did for history. Do you think she should have submitted some anyway?

DD wasn't asked to submit written work and is applying for a single subject. She has had two interviews- one at Wadham and one at Univ and is waiting to hear whether she has a third or not. There are 12 applicants being interviewed for 4 places at her college. All girls apparently.
There are other people including boys being interviewed for other subjects and she says everyone is very friendly indeed and, relieved that two interviews are over, she appears to be having a lovely time.
I am on a roller coaster again, swinging from relief at her not having messed up big time to wondering whether she was good enough to receive an offer of a place.
Can't bring myself to bake a cake just yet, perhaps tomorrow or perhaps I will just get one from M and S.

Arrgh! I should have stayed away - looking at betelgueses link brings home to me just how compettive Oxford is...and for those of us with DSs applying for PPE we seem to be in one of the most competitive fields of the lot.

The problem is DS really wants this, in a way that maybe DD did not. I think from what his teachers say, he would thrive in a tutorial based teaching system and would like the security of a smaller college environment within the big university whereas whereas DD might well have preferred some big busy lectures as well in a big busy city . ( I did find it very sweet though, her last tutorial of term when the tutor emailed or texted the three of them in the group and said he wanted to do a walking tutorial so picked her up from outside her house at 5 and the four of them wandered the streets of Oxford discussing English lit!).

Having said that he loves his subject more I think - when I suggested it was a shame he hadn't wanted to apply for a less competitive course (although i expect to be shouted down that there is no such thing - but archaelogy and anthropolgy maybe? or classics?)he rolled his eyes despairingly. Mum it's PPE I want to do , and where I do it is second to that..

But still....

Finally, I am in awe of betelguese and funnyp being able to gather together and organise their DCs for cultural fun and games together. Mine seem to go separate ways - I've had to resort to bribery to get my three together at the National on Monday. Anyone would think I was suggesting some kind of torture instead of Catherine tate and others in Season's Greetings. I'm sure we'll all love it when we're there but blimey....

Love to all of you, suspect we'll all be back here at the weekend...

funnyp, I know exactly how you're feeling - one in four is not the most encouraging of odds is it?

then again, for all you know the admissions guys have already decided that she is in on basis of her TSA performance and academic results and predictions....

I'm a big fan of colin the caterpillar from M&S myself

Hollyandififi the type of cultural fun isnt so much the problem as the agreement to be seen in public with moi at a time that doesnt clash with house party/impromptu social gathering of infinitely more attractive peers.
Luckily both appear to be getting bored of the house party/bad club scene and last time I booked a play got very excited and looked forward to it, like much smaller children would.

betelguese,

You poor thing - I don't know how boys can be so untidy.

My DH had exactly the same experience on the 4th too. DS was off on the ski trip that day and he just piled everything into plastic bags. In my day I had a trunk - much better.

Goodness, betelguese - sounds exactly like DS1's room in Newcastle & DS2's room at home - why are boys such slobs??? Am very impressed that you managed to get it all bagged up & onto the train!

(Re the fridge & food, are there self-catering facilities? DS2 isn't very keen on catered accommodation but didn't think there was any alternative - just a microwave & kettle in a small kitchen by the JCR from what he saw - can they make meals for themselves somewhere?)

Ponders

DS manages quite well (on pasta, omelette and sauces), they have small kitchens on each staircase, sometimes each floor. Failing that there is always Hall but you have to book usually online for the evenings. The food is about £4 ish per meal but its one good meal a day. DS has managed on £300 per month including books/going out/sports etc.

A trunk sounds like a good idea really but there are no porters with wheely things in stations these days and no room on trains for trunks any more.
Betelguese could you not hire a car for the days you take him up and down?
I dont live near South East London or I would offer to bring the cello down for you.
DD is waiting to hear whether she has a third interview tomorrow. She says if there isn't one she wants to come home asap lovely though Oxford is. I think talking to 11 other people who have been interviewed for the same subject and college as she is beginning to tire her.
I re read this thread from the start and all the stuff about wether they should wait for the notice board etc on the second day is really useful, even a week later.
Did the passport size photos get handed in btw? DD had her hair re-dyed (now deep brown with red highlights instead of peroxide blond with orange and purple streaks) so I'm thinking I should get new passport photos and hand them in but where do you think I should hand them in to? I think they must be handy because otherwise I cant see how the admissions tutors can remember everyone.

Alicatte £300 a month seems really reasonable but are you suggesting that DS only has one good meal a day? Or is breakfast included in his college accommodation cost?

Just heard the Lords have backed an increase in fees. Gutted and worried.