Oxbridge info/ support thread 2014

[lismore]

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.

That's another thing DD said, she'd spent ages and ages reading around her subject, and researching current stuff, and she didn't get the slightest chance to bring any of that knowledge out at interview, which she was sooo disappointed about. I guess that wasn't what they were after. I still don't know what they were after, but either DD had some of it or the competition did even worse...

Littlesquid - that's exactly what DD said (this for law). Nothing about the PS or current affairs, purely academic scenarios. I suppose they're trying to avoid people being prepared.

Hi all, good luck to all with interviews still to come, and a big phew to all with it behind them! DS had his yesterday, and also said they showed no personal interest in him at all! Much more a verbal exam than an interview. Doesn't know how he did, and doesn't know if he would want it either. But would like an offer all the same! We then went straight from Cambridge to Birmingham last night for an interview there today. Such a contrast! They really wanted to show off their department, and entice applicants to pick them. Also more of a traditional interview, but with academic questions too. If, huge if, DS gets an offer from Cambridge, he would really hope for an offer day, where he can see the department and what they offer. He hasn't been to an open day there. Does anyone know if they hold offer days?

Did anyone else find it really amusing to see so many smartly dressed teenagers walking around with their parents?

All the boys looked really uncomfortable with their ties . Luckily with a DD she just went for smart black jeans (used the occasion to get me to buy her a new pair) and smart jumper (Boden sixties). She met a very nice boy who she walked out with so at least she's got her boyfriend lined up in the very slim chance that they both get in .

Mindgone I guess Cambridge don't need to sell their uni so they don't bother.

Ties?? Oh god. DS has conceded reluctantly that he might need a shirt. Ties would throw him completely. I don't think he's ever worn one in his life.

To be fair, he does look pretty authentic-student-mode, just not smart.

I get the feeling he has one of the latest possible interviews on this board. Eek.

re offer days, you're really supposed to find that stuff out before you apply, during the summer open days. I can't see there'd be much call for Y13 open days in January.

Oh Horry,the list of things DS should have found out before applying is rather terrifyingly long.

I'm hoping that playing the SEN card might be useful to him for once in his life here. He has it in writing that he 'needs longer than average to process questions', so maybe he can stonewall through the awkward ones till the interviewer gets bored!

He is bloody bright, just disastrously organised, and attempting to help is like trying to steer an ocean liner by poking it with a stick.

DD announced this morning that she's 'going to Newnham when it's her turn'. She's 11 and appears to be basing this decision on a guaranteed absence of smelly brothers at a women's college.

I don't think I want to do this again!

Lancelottie there are useful things I didn't find out until after graduating

I am firmly of the opinion that what the interviewers are looking at isn't whether you're the kind of person who will get a First (though many claim to be able to predict Finals classes from interview) but whether you're interesting enough to spend an hour a week with, on the assumption that they'd be supervising you. Someone who knows all the answers is no fun; someone who gives up and waits to be told the answer is no fun either. The person they want is the one who goes "hmm, dunno. But let me see, if V=IR then perhaps..." and takes them on a journey towards an answer, even if it's wrong. So when people say there are no wrong answers, they're not far off.

Newnham is lovely, but has the most gigantic spiders. Would that put DD off, do you think?

Deck - hope you're right - DD definitely didn't know the answers but she said she did make them laugh .

Lancelottie, I wouldn't worry about the lack of a tie! There really were all kinds there. I think 'authentic student' look would fit in fine. DS wanted to wear a suit, as he wore one for sixth form and said he feels smarter and cleverer in it!
Deck and Hattie, he didn't go to any open days at Cambridge because it really was never on the cards before results day. He was planning to go to Manchester to do Pharmacy, but then got much better results, and had a re think, change of plan, and now an unexpected gap year. I guess we won't worry about offer days unless we need to!

How exciting, mindgone! I think the gap year will prove to be an advantage as his thinking will necessarily be more mature.

I wasn't criticising, btw, just observing that there wouldn't be the demand in the circumstances.

Hi Hattymattie, no not Jesus - Fitzwilliam. I asked if it would be by email or letter and got a blank look in reply! But they have done all their communicating so far via email, so I would imagine the offer letter would also arrive that way.

As for open days, DS went to one with school in the summer, but that was also in the university holidays. In the (highly unlikely) event that he gets an offer I think I would encourage him to go and have another look around the town during term time, as I imagine the town has a different feel when the students are there.

Thanks Purple - she's checked with somebody who was with her and apparently 4th is D Day for the entire university. Still unsure if by e-mail or regular post though. They're going to be very busy on the 4th!

I agree. I wouldn't like him to accept an offer just because it's Cambridge. It really needs to feel comfortable enough to spend 3 or 4 years there. They also need to feel that they fit in and 'belong' there.
Thanks Hattie, it is quite exciting, and so much less stressful than the uncertainty of last year. No need for a back up plan, and all offers are unconditional! Once he makes up his mind, he can get straight on with finance and accommodation. But it's still really hard seeing all his friends having such a good time at uni. I guess he'll appreciate it so much more when he gets there, and any added maturity won't go amiss either!

My DDs understanding is that the results will be by letter in the post to be received on 4th..... Not by email. And they won't be on UCAS track until some time after that....

We're in France so don't know how that works - e-mail would be better but thanks for clarifying Beck.

mindgone I smiled to myself at all the pale skinny 17 year olds in uncomfortably smart clothes.
Much more a verbal exam than an interview. Doesn't know how he did, and doesn't know if he would want it either. But would like an offer all the same!
Yes that strikes a chord. Exactly how my DS felt. He has offers from other good unis and is not sure about the high risk strategy of STEP.

I did Step papers back in the day (they called them "S Levels" for arts/humanities subjects though). They were very different from A Level, not in content but in how you answer - much closer to the Cambridge experience than the fact-regurgitation of A Level. One question I remember from an EngLit paper was Is the novel a higher literary form than poetry? which was to be discussed in the context of any book you liked. If it's your subject and you're Cambridge material, it should be interesting.

I think Cambridge likes/liked them because a good result shows you have the right kind of thinking. In fact I can see that the same person could fluff an A Level paper and ace a STEP paper in the same subject in the same week.

They also used to be late, after the other exams had finished, so you had time to concentrate on them without prejudicing your other subjects.

Back in the day a friend of mine got E at A Level but distinction at S Level. The place was awarded despite the abominable A Level.

Oh brother.

Just back from 'rescuing' DS, who decided for god knows what reason that instead of chatting to other candidates he would take a bus to the town centre, then another one back out, and ended up nearly four miles out of town having somewhat overshot the bus stop he was aiming for.

Oh, and he'd left his backpack at home. Nothing major, just, 'y'know, pencil case, calculator, interview details...

Have inserted him firmly into his college bedroom with about 6 alarms set.

Breathe. It will all work out ok somehow...

Fingers crossed Lancelottie.

Just pounced on a text message from him...

'breakfast was encouraging'.

OK. Thanks DS for that insightful update into the interview process.