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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:
MrsBartlet · 08/12/2014 09:30

Good luck everyone!

webwiz · 08/12/2014 15:28

Just had a garbled phone call with DS. He's all done now and he thinks it was ok but there were a few bits that he may have been barking up the wrong tree completely. The written test was an hour long but he thinks he was ok on that but he did change direction part way through and may have contradicted himself Confused. He has now gone to HMV to spend birthday money and I have eaten two packets of crisps in about three seconds (delayed stress reaction!)

Figmentofmyimagination · 08/12/2014 15:59

Hi Webwiz sounds good - was he cambridge or oxford? We're oxford English - two today - one ok and one v bad is all the feedback I've has so far.

Littleham · 08/12/2014 16:07

What a relief for you webwiz. Devouring crisps sounds like a good plan. I'll probably be gnawing at the carpet lining by Wednesday....

webwiz · 08/12/2014 16:07

It was Cambridge English Figment

MrsBartlet · 08/12/2014 16:18

Well done to your ds webwiz - what a relief to have done it!

webwiz · 08/12/2014 16:24

Just glad its done. I can safely say we had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for when DS decided to apply. I consider myself fairly laid back person and DS certainly is but its been very stressful so far. Just need to try and forget about it now and enjoy the run up to Christmas Xmas Smile

Littleham · 08/12/2014 16:33

It is like childbirth.

Better not to know ahead of time!

welshpixie · 08/12/2014 16:47

Had a quick chat with DD, interview went OK, (she sounded much better today, think the worst of the cold is over) she is through the airport security and just waiting for the flight, and can I take some mince pies for her to eat on the train back home?Xmas Hmm

PD6966 · 08/12/2014 16:58

Well done to all DC of webwiz, welshpixie and Figment who gave survived the day! Figment, hope you don't mind me asking, but which college is DD at? DS is currently waiting at Christ Church.

HMF1 · 08/12/2014 17:15

DS was on flight to Stanstead this morning I asked him to let me know when he landed, which he did(I already knew as I had checked arrivals on the website, I am a nervous flyer& was clearly nervous on his behalf) has got room sorted in college & has gone to meet a friend who lives in Cambridge for coffee. I was useless at work today, God knows what I will be like tomorrow.

Roisin · 08/12/2014 17:50

ds enjoyed his interview today (Oxford), but said it was quite tricky and he's no idea whether he did well or not, which seems about par for the course. He has another one tomorrow morning, then wait around until he is released to go home or called for a third interview somewhere.

I've been quite shocked at how involved I feel about it all; normally I'm quite a relaxed person and I know he already has other quality offers in the bag, so there really is no reason to stress, but it's been very firmly on my mind all day, despite a busy day at work.

Figmentofmyimagination · 08/12/2014 18:08

Hi PD I'd rather not say in case I out myself!

What a nightmare though. I feel so tense - and unusually helpless - normally I have zero input, apart from just generally saying supportive things and suggesting great books etc so it's not as if I am used to "fixing things" - but this is probably the first real academic challenge (first of many, no doubt) at which she probably won't succeed.

Roisin · 08/12/2014 18:17

ds's college have 17 candidates for interview... for 3 or 4 places :-o Eek! So the odds are stacked.

PD6966 · 08/12/2014 18:43

Ah, no probs Figment - I know no one else on here, nor anyone else that has applied to Oxford for that matter, so makes no odds to me Wink
I feel a little tense wondering how he'll get on, but nowhere near the tension experienced after the ELAT on the lead up to interview invitations/rejections. I'm just content that he's got the opportunity he wanted and will do his very best - sure the lead up to 7th Jan will be anxiety ridden! What makes an interview seem v bad?

AtiaoftheJulii · 08/12/2014 19:00

Friend from dd's school turned up in Oxford today with an email from her college saying come Mon-Wed, to be told, oh sorry, we've made a mistake, should have been Wed-Fri! They offered for her to stay, but she's fairly close, so she went back to school and they will pay today's travel expenses. Apparently she wasn't the only one!

Dd has packed and is out tonight. Has planned her outfits for each day. I bought her some new pyjamas today, and this Christmas jumper m.newlook.com/shop/womens/knitwear/grey-christmas-penguin-jumper_318758504 for Friday - she was more pleased than I'd thought she might be!

I have an unexpectedly free day tomorrow which is nice because it means I can go with her to the station and wave her off but bad because I won't have any distractions! Thank goodness Wednesday and Thursday are busy.

webwiz · 08/12/2014 19:12

Well this morning DS thought the stress of a Cambridge interview wasn't quite enough so he faffed about so much at home that he missed the train he was aiming for. I had to strongly resist the urge to shout as I didn't think that would send him off in the right frame of mind. He arrived at the interview in a flap with about one second to spare Hmm

webwiz · 08/12/2014 19:13

And Shock at the Oxford mix up!

Raidne · 08/12/2014 19:17

Really shocked at the Oxford mix-up!!

Feeling jealous now of people's dc who have finished or part finished their interviews. Will I be the only one on this thread next week?

AtiaoftheJulii · 08/12/2014 19:47

Argh webwiz! Must remember not to
shout tomorrow morning ...

Raidne yup, once our dc's are over, we'll be buggering off and leaving you to it ... Wink

Littleham · 08/12/2014 19:52

Don't worry Raidne. I'm sure we will still be stressing by then.

History is Tuesday evening until Friday. Am feeling Envy of the people who have finished.

Webwiz - that was a close call. Boys!

cathyandclaire · 08/12/2014 20:47

Well done all who've been there, seen it, done it and survived! I waved a very nervous DD off on the train, she's now settled into her room and quietly panicking about tomorrow while her Mum sits at home quaffing Wine

I'm very proud that she got there and have no expectations, just don't want her to feel upset after the interviews. She said the 2nd year engineer who showed her to her room had never heard of her course, which made her chuckle...she likes to fly under the radar!!

PD, DH went to Christchurch, it's a gorgeous building and he had a wonderful time there. Loads of luck to your DS!

Decorhate · 08/12/2014 21:20

I'll still be here next week Raidne - my dd's interviews are Mon-Tues next week

RandomFriend · 08/12/2014 22:36

DD did her interview today. She said it was very hard. Which is to be expected. She has two more interviews on Wednesday.

Well done to all the parents who survived the suspense of the day!

YogaCats · 08/12/2014 22:51

I'll still be here too, Raidne, my DS's interviews are Mon-Weds next week

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