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Original poster

Oxbridge info/ support thread 2014

527 replies

lismore · 18/10/2013 10:41

Does anyone else with a DC applying for Oxbridge this year feel like having someone to share the highs/ lows/ questions- if so, please join in!
I have a DS who has just applied to Cambridge- our family has no Oxbridge background and he's at a state school which gives absolutely no advice so definitely feel at a bit of a loss how to support him.
I think he's incredibly brave even trying, especially as 80% get rejected unfortunately.

OP posts:
AnnaBegins · 08/12/2013 18:18

I also spent a large part of my Cambridge interview telling a literature professor why I much preferred linguistics... still got in!

Also happy to give interview advice on languages/Cambridge colleges if anyone wants, feel free to PM.

HorsePetal · 08/12/2013 18:21

Thanks for that tip Panda. Have just texted DD to remind her.

I hope that his day isn't too long tomorrow Grin

PiratePanda · 08/12/2013 19:26

Leaving home at 7AM, not expecting him back til past dinner - it's long and tiring, but he and all his colleagues consider it to be one of their most important duties.

DeckTheHallsWithBoughsOfHorry · 08/12/2013 19:29

::fistbumps Anna in Raised Fac solidarity::

ATailOfTwoKitties · 09/12/2013 11:38

Ah, OK, thanks all for the reassurance!

Just dissuaded DS from wearing his interview clothes to go scruffing round the watersports club yesterday, then suggested that drawing futuristic space vehicles till 1 in the morning wasn't quite the same as 'preparing for interview questions on astrophysics.

I shall hope for someone as nice as PiratePanda's DH to interview him, though just at the moment I'd be inclined to boot him out on his ear for diddling about instead of putting his mind to it all.

AnnaBeginsTheChristmasShopping · 09/12/2013 19:43

Woo Horry! How I do not miss that building. Which college? (Unless you'd rather not say). I was at the small overlooked one between Queens' and King's...

DeckTheHallsWithBoughsOfHorry · 09/12/2013 20:08

Ah in that case we are sworn enemies. I am from Up The Hill and not to be confused with the museum Grin

I miss late breakfast at Nadia's in the basement of the law faculty - hot chocolate and a cheese & ham croissant for £1.25.

Anyway, enough sidetracking. Hope all the various DC are doing ok. How were today's interviews if you were even allowed to express an interest ?

Whatalie · 09/12/2013 20:20

My DS had his today. Now he is constantly re-living it, thinking about what he could have said and should have said!! I keep reminding him it's done now and to just relax.

HorsePetal · 09/12/2013 20:59

Good luck to your DS - it's natural to over analyse.

DD had hers today - two interviews so far. She thought that the first went well but she blanked a but in the second.

What college has your DS applied to?

HorsePetal · 10/12/2013 16:23

DD back home after interviews.

She felt that they went well overall and she really enjoyed the whole experience. Just a waiting game now Smile

She wasn't invited to interview for other colleges in the end - not sure if this is a good sign or not Confused

Timetraveller · 10/12/2013 16:44

My DS had interviews today. He thought they went well, the first better than the second. I'm glad he is pleased with how he did.

PurplePotato · 10/12/2013 22:04

DS just home after a nightmare. His first train this morning was cancelled, so he was late arriving (we had built in a couple of hours for delays with trains but this wasn't enough) - so he was very stressed. Went straight into an exam which he only had time to do a quarter of. Then three interviews, none of which he feels went well. Poor lad is knackered, fed up, and says he never wants to hear the word Cambridge again.

I'm just relieved it's all over - he's had five interviews in the last four weeks and I'm SO glad they're all done.

HorsePetal · 10/12/2013 22:19

Oh purple - give him a great big hug. Poor lad.

He may still get a big surprise yet x

DeckTheHallsWithBoughsOfHorry · 10/12/2013 22:23

They will care how he thinks, not necessarily how much he finished.

Brew and Cake all round.

BCBG · 10/12/2013 22:26

Good luck to everyone - DS interviewed in Upper Sixth and didn't get in (Cambridge, vetMed) first time around, but took a gap year, came back and got in second time around. Being slightly more mature meant he dealt with all the pressure better - now he's just finished his first term and couldn't be happier!

PurplePotato · 10/12/2013 22:31

Thanks HorsePetal and Horry. He's gone off to bed, and I've opened a nice bottle of wine Smile

BeckAndCall · 10/12/2013 23:18

Oh purple your poor, poor, DS.

If its any consolation, and it was the TSA at Cambridge today then even if he'd have had enough time he'd still have come out of it in tears. Or was that just my DD?

Lancelottie · 11/12/2013 08:46

Yes, I think they only expect candidates to be able to tackle half of it at best, from what I've heard. Poor old PurpleChip, though, what a day!

hattymattie · 11/12/2013 16:09

Purple - hope your son's OK. That's a nightmare with the trains though. We stayed in Cambridge the night before and even that was stressful as all the taxis were delayed in the morning traffic. I can only imagine how he must have felt. Surely they'd take that into account.

DD pretty distressed as felt she could have done much better and thought of all the things she should have said after the interview. Durham here we come!

hattymattie · 11/12/2013 16:10

By the way the university didn't seem to feel the need to tell the students when they'd hear so it's anybody's guess.

PurplePotato · 11/12/2013 17:10

Thanks everyone. The college were lovely - I phoned a couple of times and they were very kind.

Anyway, there's nothing to do now but wait. Hattymattie, the college DS went to told him very specifically he would hear on 4th January, so at least he has a time frame in mind and I think I'll just try to not mention it again at home until after Christmas.

littlesquid · 11/12/2013 17:31

Uggh, Purple, that's horrid, he must have been distraught. I don't know why Cambridge don't let more people stay over, If DD hadn't been able to stay over the night before her interview I think I would have been a bag of nerves about her making it on time.

Anyone with DC unhappy about how their interview went... well, I could have cried for DD last year when she told me how badly hers went, she fluffed everything, stammered on her answers, forgot the most obvious things, and of course thought of all the answers after she'd left. TBH it sounded like she made a complete fool of herself... but she got a place.

secretsantasquirrels · 11/12/2013 17:43

Just back with DS1. He doesn't think it went well. The interviewers seem to have made no effort to put him at ease, he says they were very grim. Asked him nothing about his PS and nothing about his extensive wider knowledge of his subject. "They didn't give me any opportunity to show how much I know and love it."
He is so sure he'll be turned down he is actually relieved, thinking positively about his other choices. He would have to do STEP which his school cannot help with and he is sure he couldn't manage on his own.
I'm so glad I went with him as trains were delayed, traffic was gridlocked in Cambridge and taxis at a standstill.
I'd say most DC had a parent with them so he didn't feel awkward that I went.
PurplePotato so sorry about your DS experience. I hope he feels better today.
I am so ready for Wine but it will have to wait as I have a long day tomorrow.

Original poster
lismore · 11/12/2013 19:33

It sounds like my ds's experience was very similar to your DS's secretsquirrels. He too felt that he didn't really have a chance to show what he knew, and came out totally baffled about how he'd done as the interviewers were quite distant and did not really respond much. Quite different to the mock interview videos on the Cambridge website!
I wish they could have ended it with a pleasant comment , whatever the final outcome, to make our Christmas and New Year a bit less stressy!

OP posts:
hattymattie · 11/12/2013 20:13

Purple was that Jesus? and would that be by letter or e-mail?