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?

oh and he changes his questions every year. In my day my admissions tutor didn't, but he does as after he's finished interviewing he usually comes back to see how I would have done, as a benchmark if you like as I am probably the only person he has asked every years questions to. Every year I say I don't know at some point, and always always feel I would not get in now, even if I did 20 years ago. Every year he says he thinks I probably would.

I suppose that's just to point out that I always feel stupid when he comes and talks to me after interviewing, just like I did 20 years ago. I still got in though

the other thing I will say to you all is one piece of advice my mother gave me, when your children go for their interviews they will meet the cocky confident ones, who seem like they know everything. But they shouldn't sorry, as they'll never see them again. I never did.

So the introverted people get in too you know

sorry shouldn't worry not sorry

I was about to say that introverts get in too, but hilda said it for me!

DD1 is at Oxford, in the first term of her second year. Yes you have to pass the exams at the end of the year but they don't count towards the final degree (although I guess they colour the tutors' perceptions of you going forward) . For DD the main incentive to getting a good result, rather than just a pass, seemed to be that students who get a first in their first year exams get first dibs on the rooms in college for their final year. She had already earmarked one which overlooked the quad with its own balcony and requisite ivy clad walls. Sadly, her dreams of achieving a first without curtailing her social life too much did not come to pass...

Talking of exams once in (and yes I know it's a bit off topic) would those with links to tutors be able to shed light on the awarding of firsts. In my day (gazes through swirling mists at the distant past in Exeter) a first was a very rare thing. But DD said that 6 of the 8 in her tutor group got a first for their first year exams. Have "results " gone up like A levels etc at university too with more transparent marking schemes etc or is everyone just geting cleverer?!

xx

Betel the endowment comment was tongue in cheek.......I for one struggle to ensure bills are paid and enough money saved to put the DC through university etc and in any case would think an endowment unethical in such a situation.

DD inevitably has a cold what with the snow and all. She is in bed with hot chocolate and a book.

Lol that Hildathebuilder would still get in! Ah but Hilda would your 17 year old self have been able to answer the 2010 questions?

There are a lot more firsts, both at Oxford and elsewhere, than there used to be. There are fairly consistent statistics showing this.

My subject at Oxford (PPP) had no firsts when I did it 20 years ago (clearly a subject for slackers), it had about 2/3 with 2.1s and 1/3 with 2.2s. But I just found the results for 2006 and there are 10 firsts and all the rest, about 20, are 2.1s apart from one lone 2.2.

Ds1 has just booked his tickets for interview next Monday.

He seems calm. >

Thanks
he is however very independent and wishes to go alone. He is only 11/2 hours away but has booked the accommodation for the night before so as not to risk train probes.

I grew up near oxford so I am very familiar with the city and we have a weekend booked just before Xmas to see family.
My mum lives in Didcot so he can always chill there too.

Deep breaths, pag

DS is booked on a train from Manchester on Sunday afternoon - if the weather isn't too horrible DH & I can have a look round the Christmas markets after we drop him off. Interviews start on the Monday so I hope if there are any train probs he will still be able to make it (supposed to arrive in college by 8pm Sun though, that might be another matter )

Luckily we were able to get an open return for less than 2 singles (usually it's the other way round). The letter says it is "imperative that you remain in Oxford until 4.30pm on Tuesday, or, if you have an interview after this time, until Wednesday" (love those commas)

Presumably they won't know until quite late on Tuesday afternoon if they will be needed on Wednesday so the open return is a godsend.

Fennel, what is PPP?

It is the open ended aspect that is a little frustrating... .

I am being calm but he is going to end up in oxford for three days isn't he. And he will forget to charge his phone... Wahhhhhhaaaaa

thank you, betelguese He went to an overnight open day in Oxford in the summer with a group from his 6th form college & liked it very much, so I hope this will be as enjoyable (& that he will make some friends!).

It's just 1 college at this point, as far as I can tell - the letter says "your application may be considered by a number of colleges, which may decide to invite you for interview" - I don't know if that's standard wording? Does the letter sometimes name 2 colleges?

DS2 is perfectly calm about the whole thing, pag, which is infuriating!!! And he also may not bother charging his phone - although then again he does use it for FB, so perhaps he will (but whether he'll communicate with us is another matter...)

'For example the college options for women at Oxbridge were rather limited 30 years ago.'

I went to Oxford then and there was only one college women weren't able to go to and that was Oriel.

To set your minds at rest if you have introverted DCs:

IME we would consult other students only extremely rarely.

Also IME facebook is consulted equally rarely.

Funnyperson FWIW - Boho/goth is fine. Looking like you've been dressed by your parents is not.

Although it may sound odd, I agree with an earlier poster that an oxbridge degree is not the only degree to be had. Most of our rejects go on to get great degrees elsewhere (some of which are better degrees than the Oxford syllabus). Some of us even then come back to work at Oxbridge...

Good luck to everyone......DD still hasn't heard yet though the letter is on its way according to the website. I am feeling gloomy. Some good advice on here though. Fingers crossed for all the young ones.

I know of a group of boys who will be travelling to Oxford together by train this Sunday for a ?4-day interview?. Got to say these are ultra confident boys or hopelessly stupid boys (I leave it to you to decide which is which) because some of them have only put down on their UCAS application form, one, and one only, choice of university, i.e. Oxford.

Well, I did send them my very best wishes and I hope they make it because there?s nothing else whatsoever (for this cycle) if they don?t.

I would vote stupid tbh
DS is lucky and is in top ranked academic independent who usually get 30 -40 boys into Oxbridge.
One boy who mentioned he was thinking of doing that got a massive ' don't be so monstrously stupid' chat with head of year.

Which school?

I think over-confident and hopelessly stupid!!! How will they all feel if 1 or 2 get in & the ones with no other choice don't?

(betelgueuse, how on earth will you carry all his stuff on the train? Have you got a wheeled trunk or a trolley (or both)? Or does he just not take much in the first place? DS1 always fills the back of a large estate car at the start of the year & then accumulates on top of that!)

I would also vote 'stupid' peteneras but up to them... I think you have to be realistic.Of course my DS wants to get a place but he will go elsewhere if not - he wouldn't reapply I don't think!
We only live 2 hours away and my DS is wanting to drive himself which I would be fine with if it weren't for the 12 inches of snow we now have! I guess we'll wait til Saturday and then pay ful whack on the train. He would be mortified if we went with him - typical boy!!