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.

Thanks.
DD has arrived safely and found some other people to talk to. She has 2 interviews tomorrow.

Tell her not to get on random buses!

Good luck to anyone's DC who have interviews this week. It must be tough having to wait this long. Hope everything goes well - it's such a relief when it's over and they can relax!

Good luck to Pretty Daisy's DD. I though the interview phase must have finished. They really have to turn around fast for results by 4th Jan.

DD is on her way home - just tackling London in the rush hour. Don't think she will have seen the like before!!
Three people from the college where she was interviewed have been kept on for more interviews tomorrow. Hopefully she'll tell us a bit about it when she gets home.

My DD ruled out London having taken exception to the Piccadilly Line in rush hour.

Anyone else got an anxious 17 year old who is agonising over whether they really want to go to Cambridge (natural sciences) because of the perceived offputting social background of students there, but feels they will regret it if they don't? (Assuming an offer arrives). Its going to be a hard one....

The perceived social background thing is a myth. At worst it's maybe 40/40/20 private/state/foreign, and in some colleges it is even more normal.

And privately educated people are normal too sometimes.

"They're all posh" is a seriously outdated whinge.

We came across all sorts of people when I went with DD. I get the impression that they take the brightest and the best and couldn't care less where they come from. DD found everybody really nice and I really wouldn't describe us as posh.

Just my two pence worth, but I studied at Cambridge (natural sciences fwiw) in the mid-2000s, in a supposedly posh college. I went to a bog-comp, then 6th form college, didn't have to pay fees as my parents' income was too low. I had the most brilliant time. Yes, there were rich people, and posh people - mostly lovely, a few nobbers, but then you get them everywhere. But what we had in common was that we all loved our subjects, we all loved finding new things out, testing new ideas, learning and working hard and playing hard. For me, it was the first time I could be myself, and show how much I loved to learn without risking being ridiculed for it, and this was a much greater leveller across all social backgrounds than anything else could be.

Teenager, I think they'd be just fine with NatSci in particular!

Land Economy might have a few more of the, erm, Landed. Science, no.

DS has at last heard from Warwick, A*AA plus STEP 2. So just the Cambridge result to come.
He has chatted to the (few) others at college who had interviews at both Ox and Camb and not one has felt they did really well. Could be teenage pessimism or false modesty but I get the impression they genuinely don't have a feel about how they did.

Secrets - Cambridge obviously have an across the board Policy of being bewildering to applicants. Like you I don't know anybody who is happy about their interview.

at Policy of being bewildering to applicants

Hatty, my DS is happy about his interview, but that just makes me worry that he shouldn't be!!
Secret, glad your Ds has heard from Warwick. Mine is still waiting for Imperial.

Timetraveller, will he have to have an interview for Imperial?

Secret, I'm not sure! But he's not as keen on Imperial as other places so I don't think he'd be too nervous.

Timetraveller - maybe your DS is the one who's got the spot. Fingers crossed. . I have friends who have an apartment opposite Imperial (French expats on a fab package) - it looks gorgeous. Provided you can fund London, I'd be tempted to go for this over Warwick if he has an offer but that's my personal opinion.

Hatty - he'd have to live at home, that's the disadvantage. It would be a completely different experience for him and I think he'd gain far more living away. He'd be spending hours on the tube every day..

DN had an offer from Imperial without an interview.

Ah that's different - true not exactly the student experience - although we've actually had to steer clear of London and some great uni's just because of the cost. Difficult décisions.

LeBear, maybe it depends on the subject. He had to do an exam in November.

Teenager007 very similar situation here, same subject too! If a flock of pigs fly over and he gets an offer, I think DS will want to go back for a really good look to suss it out, and see how 'comfortable' it feels, and whether he thinks he could fit in.

We are praying for many flying pigs on 3rd January .

Teenager007 yes another doubter here. The OPs opening post sums it up really.I think he would like to have an offer so he has the choice but I suspect he will go for Warwick and Durham in the end.

hattymattieDS didn't apply to any London unis, partly because he's not keen on cities but mainly because of the higher cost of living.