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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge 2015 #2

999 replies

Molio · 27/11/2014 19:14

Continuing Roisin's thread.

I've even succumbed to TSR, having sworn I wouldn't. Still no news here and haven't heard of news from any other source in the same subject at the same college but being very uncool tbh as the reality is that rejection after an interview would be much kinder for DS than a no ab initio. Massively cheered by a late afternoon offer from Bristol though. I thought I was chilled, I'm clearly not Grin.

Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting and hoping. It's very hard to see them disappointed, is the problem :(

OP posts:
MarianneSolong · 05/12/2014 11:27

I'd look for a hotel with free(?) parking. Perhaps somewhere out of town but on a bus route. Or where you can drive her in/drop her off. TripAdvisor is always worth consulting.

Littleham · 05/12/2014 11:32

I stayed once overnight in Cambridge and used one of the 24 hr car parks, but I seem to remember it was pricy.

www.visitcambridge.org/visitor-information/parking

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186225-i633-k5657113-Overnight_parking_near_the_park_and_ride-Cambridge_Cambridgeshire_England.html

bobs123 · 05/12/2014 11:35

My DD was sent this link for if she needs to stay overnight. done a quick reccy and there are hotels that include overnight <a class="break-all" href="//parkingwww.visitcambridge.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">parkingwww.visitcambridge.org/

bobs123 · 05/12/2014 11:38

Whoops - same link as Littleham

AtiaoftheJulii · 05/12/2014 11:58

Morse and Lewis also have magical powers of transportation, skipping from one bit of town to another Wink

Hope everyone gets their logistics sorted Smile Glad dd just has a quick train journey!

Coatandhat · 05/12/2014 12:10

Wasn't expecting such speedy replies - many thanks Marianne, Littleham and bobs. I'd already booked a room for us to stay in one of the Colleges - going for the whole Cambridge experience! ... and now seems we'll be having another kind too - the expensive variety!

Quenna · 05/12/2014 12:13

Sorry not to pop back sooner....last night turned out to be mad busy at work for me.

Thank you so much for everyone's kind words about not getting in. I know it will all come right in the end but his week has been tricky. DSL has 3 other offers from good unis (Bristol, Cardiff, Kings London) and is waiting to hear from UCL, so he will end up going somewhere really good and loving it, I do know that.

All the very best for everyone's DCs on here... They all sound like great kids who are giving it their very best, sometimes in the face of difficulties and personal challenges. They are lucky to have all these lovely mums and dads supporting them.

This is such a lovely kind thread, I will definitely stick around!

Fingers crossed and lots of love to everyone x

HocusUcas · 05/12/2014 20:55

Littleham , we will be driving DS up on Tuesday night as well (various logistical stuff - it makes the most sense ) We will probably get there too late for him to eat in college so will take him for something to eat , probably dropping him and his bag off first - so might see you in the environs !

MadameJosephine - we went to an open day at Cambridge and one of the tutors said they often see candidates leaving an interview clearly upset they thought it went badly and they want to say - no that was really quite good . So , don't worry just yet . But , obviously , (and also to Quenna and others who did not get an interview ) there are more Oxbridge capable DCs than they have places for . There are other fantastic universities and capable students will do well wherever. Please someone parrot this back to me in January Smile

MarianneSolong · 05/12/2014 21:19

My daughter will be in Cambridge on Tuesday night and till after lunch on Wednesday. So if you see anyone (unaccompanied by a parent) who looks as if they might be a descendant of Marianne Solong, do give a friendly wave!

At which point she will/would give a bemused stare....

AnnaBegins · 05/12/2014 22:15

Coat just park on west road and make sure you move car by 9am, or on one of the side streets off grange road, all free and safe.

Littleham · 05/12/2014 22:23

Hocus - Isn't it weird that they will both be in the same place? Isn't life strange? Don't worry about January, just enjoy this bit! My dd's other choices are lovely & I'm sure your son's choices are all great too.

Perhaps Oxford could arrange to send the third History Musketeer over to join them for his second interview? Wouldn't that be brilliant?

Original poster
Molio · 05/12/2014 22:45

Well he's been told he has to be there by Tuesday Littleham. So I'm driving him up on Tuesday, finding somewhere to feed him while DD3 and DS1 and me have a drink (they're both in town for various reasons) and then we'll point him towards the college and go off for a meal. DS3 would be thrilled to get invited to Lincoln for a second interview - he did his Open Day there - but I very, very, very much doubt that would happen. I don't think Lincoln tends to need to bring in outsiders to fill its places for history. Anyhow, I'm just relieved that he's not going head to head with the Littleham and Hocus two!

OP posts:
alreadytaken · 06/12/2014 08:59

the on road parking in Cambridge is limited but if you're willing to walk once you've left the car you can find some.

If your child ends up in the winter pool they have a 1 in 5 chance of being fished and this can be by the college who initially said no if they take a look at the pool and decide you are the best thing in it.

If your child gets a Cambridge offer then unless they are a mathmo they are likely to get their grades and secure their place. Please ignore the ill-informed who try to tell you otherwise. Traditionally most applicants have exceeded their offers, although with the increase in the science requirement there will be more who match, rather than exceed, it. Cambridge is very good at picking out students who get high grades.

Mathmos do have a tough time with STEP and many more offers are made than the places availabe, about two offers per place.

This isnt really the time to talk about racism but funnyperson was right about Oxford, statistics for the popular subjects show a lower applicant/offer ratio than you'd expect. It is not all about subject choice. At Cambridge overall applicant/offer figures are not much different for white/non-white applicants and they are trying to encourage more applicants. This may conceal probems for some ethnic groups.

Look at the overly competitive people on mumsnet and you may worry about what your child may turn into at Oxbridge. I have to keep reminding myself of family members who have been and haven't come out mentally ill. If they dont get a place they will be fine, and possibly better off, elsewhere.

Littleham · 06/12/2014 14:07

Sounds lovely Molio - you must be looking forward to meeting up with your family.

How does the second college allocation work? Do they get allocated one randomly (does she look on the notice board for this)? Or do they get to pick one? Do colleges have linked buddy colleges? Are some colleges less popular?

Original poster
Molio · 06/12/2014 14:36

Nothing is random at that stage Littleham! It seems that there are some well worn paths between certain colleges in certain subjects - so buddy if you like - but it's more likely to be individual tutors with links rather than formal links between colleges as a whole. Your DD will need to keep a close eye on the noticeboard by the porters' lodge. Yes, without a doubt some colleges are less popular generally but there can unexplained ebbs and flows even at the popular colleges. If your DD gets called for a second interview it almost certainly means she's proved herself to be the appropriate standard for an offer. It will mean that she's not a definite no in any case, as they aren't that cruel. It could be that she's so good she's being used to mark the standard at Lincoln this year or it could mean that they're trying to find her a place at an alternative college as she didn't make it into the top ten. No second interview means you're either in to your first choice/ allocated college or you aren't going to get any offer.

Yes I am looking forward to seeing them again very much indeed. I've left the choice of restaurant to them, so it could get expensive :)

OP posts:
Littleham · 06/12/2014 14:52

That's useful - thanks. It does say on the letter that it could be any college and to check the notice board.

I have this image of forty stressed teenagers camping out by the notice board!

AtiaoftheJulii · 06/12/2014 19:33

Probably accurate Littleham Smile

Spent the afternoon with a few Oxbridge academics, and one professor who used to do admissions, but isn't now directly involved with the admin, said he had never known what the mechanism was for sharing out the candidates and choosing the second college! Just interviews whoever he gets Smile For his (smallish) subject, each interview generates a score, the candidates get put roughly into an order based on their two interview scores, and then everyone gets together for a day, goes through their list and decides who's getting in and who's going where. I imagine it gets even more complicated with the larger subjects.

PD6966 · 06/12/2014 21:20

Clothes de(cat)haired, suitcase mostly packed and DS taken himself off to bed early Shock. Off in the morning; will enjoy the day in lovely Oxford and then say cheerio... Hoping DS has a positive and enjoyable experience Smile Best wishes to all x

Roisin · 06/12/2014 21:36

yes, best wishes to all dc at Oxford and Cambridge this week. dh is taking ds1 and dropping him off tomorrow.

He seems quite nervous today. I think I'd be paralysed with fear.

webwiz · 06/12/2014 22:01

DS is 18 today and is out for a drink with DD1(23) who is home for the weekend. I've made her promise to bring him home in one piece but I suppose its taking his mind off monday!

PD6966 · 06/12/2014 22:51

Hoping he's recovered from the mock interview webwiz. Sending birthday wishes and looking forward to hearing positive news after Monday x

webwiz · 06/12/2014 23:06

He's finally put the mock interview behind him PD6966 and had a good chat with DH about how to handle different types of interview questions (DH does a lot of interviewing in his job). I'll be glad when monday is over with and we can get back to some sort of normality Smile

Raidne · 06/12/2014 23:30

Good luck to everyone's dc heading off to Oxford and Cambridge tomorrow and next week!

welshpixie · 07/12/2014 05:01

Good luck to all the DC's for their interviews.Just about to throw DD on the plane, well Dad is taking her to the airport and I can sit at home and worry, can't wait to have her home tomorrow.

Figmentofmyimagination · 07/12/2014 08:28

Birthday wishes Webwiz to your DS. My poor DD has her 18th while she's there. She's a bit cross about it but at least her birthday was a good excuse for a (loosely based) interview wardrobe re-vamp.