Freshers starting at Oxford or Cambridge (finally?)

[littlesquid]

Taking DD to Oxford on Sunday, She is bouncing off the walls but I think nervous as well. All her friends went off to uni so long ago it feels like they must have graduated by now, she's been a lonely little thing the last couple of weeks.

She's found and friended people from her course and college on facebook, which is nice.

I hope she fits in, we aren't an Oxbridge kind of family... and that the workload isn't too much.

Anyone else heading off this weekend?

secret please don't let your son be put off.....my DS was also at a bog standard comp where it was not usual for people to apply to Oxbridge, but he did so and got in. I think one of his strengths at interview was precisely because he wasn't tutored and trained on how to answer the questions - he genuinely enjoyed the cut and thrust with the lecturer and thinking through the arguments, rather than just churning out the received opinions. When he got to Cambridge, virtually all his friends were either from private schools or super selective state grammars, but he made great friends and had a wonderful time (should point out he was also in a minority because physically disabled, but that wasn't a problem either).
should also point out that DS was asked if it was OK if someone from outside sat in on his interview. this was a teacher from a comp who'd been invited along to view the process and comment -- I felt Cambridge does try hard to understand what might, unfairly, trip up candidates who aren't from a privileged background.

Well done little squid and secrets DCs and all those trying for "that good big school" as my DMIL always called it.

She and I were old redbrick and DFIL and DH went to Cambridge. Nither were privalaged public school educated. DFIL over 50 when DH was born and went on the kind of scholarship lost in the mists of time. DH went to an ordinary state grammar and sixform collage as he got caught up in going comprehensive.

No harm at all in an Oxbridge thread, they are funny places with collages and intense short terms, but their ex students aren't so bad I've had one clutter up my life for 25 years

Thanks for that ancientandmodern and sparkling.
Today a friend asked where he is thinking of applying. I found myself reluctant to say but I did. I got the distinct impression she thought that wasn't for the likes of us or that I was being a pushy parent. In fact I have gone the other way if anything, to persuade him to have a good plan B and to treat it as an aspirational choice rather than a realistic prospect. He thinks that means I doubt his ability.

This kind of tall poppy stuff makes me cross! It wouldn't happen in the US, would it? If you have a clever child, you'd think other people would find it in their hearts to be pleased rather than immediately start feeling defensive about their own children or trying to instil fear about what might go wrong. Best of luck to sonofsecretscwirrels and all other applicants this year, wherever they're hoping to go!