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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:
GraceFox · 30/11/2014 21:56

For Cambridge looking at this year's interview stats by college and by subject, on paper now that he's got an interview ds has a 1/6 chance of an offer. Of course that could change if he's pooled. Odds to shorten or lengthen in that event? Not sure.

HMF1 · 30/11/2014 22:31

Haircut is OK DS1 gets his cut regularly. I think my new years resolution needs to be proof read everything before you post! What I meant to say was good luck.

webwiz · 30/11/2014 22:35

1/6 sounds low Grace, is that on the number of applicants rather than number being interviewed?

HMF1 · 30/11/2014 22:36

Don't gotoroehampton he is being interviewed for Nat Sci physical, physics is his real interest although he is also very keen on maths. What about your DC?

Littleham · 01/12/2014 09:15

Thanks everyone for that information. Hope you hear today Molio. Smile

GraceFox · 01/12/2014 09:38

I 'shaved' off a few notional candidates who wouldn't according to cambridge guidelines be interviewed for that particular subject (English) and was left with 1/6 for the chosen college - maybe v slightly better but not anywhere close to 1/3. Sad

Like all of us I want my ds to be happy and settled, doing a course he loves next year. And there are a lot of great institutions out there for all of them. I'm just worried he is likely to be desperately disappointed in January.

webwiz · 01/12/2014 10:32

Is it Pembroke Grace? I don't think they would be logistically able to interview anywhere near 60 candidates for one subject the time scale available so they have probably deselected proportionally more than other colleges.

Original poster
Molio · 01/12/2014 12:23

Thanks Littleham. An invite arrived about an hour ago :) I'm seriously relieved and pleased. Perhaps it's down to your good vibes and those of HocusUcas!

OP posts:
cathyandclaire · 01/12/2014 12:25

Well done Molio, fab news!!

HocusUcas · 01/12/2014 12:46

Molio,
really pleased for you (Oh and your DS of course Smile ) . Worth the wait.

Figmentofmyimagination · 01/12/2014 13:02

Hey Molio that is really great news!

We spent yesterday shopping for "loosely interview-related" attire - well, basically buying stuff in Top Shop and Miss Selfridge - my DD knows a gift horse when she sees one and was quick to point out the need for three outfits over three days. Basically it's all the same stuff as she usually wears, but I was feeling uncharacteristically benevolent and it was nice to have an excuse. Of course she should probably have spent the day actually preparing for the interview.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 01/12/2014 13:10

Phew! Is anyone else still waiting to hear?

Littleham · 01/12/2014 13:21

Great Molio. Smile The three History Musketeers are through!

What a relief. Which college is he going to stay in?

Do they give you a map of the colleges at the interview? Do students wander about looking for the colleges or does someone show them where to go?

GraceFox · 01/12/2014 13:54

Webwiz no it's not Pembroke but still fairly popular. I've spoken to a few rl friends who are on here so I don't want to out him! I suppose my guesstimate of odds is subject too to allocation of open applications elsewhere. I should stop this and just wait for the process to unroll...

AtiaoftheJulii · 01/12/2014 14:31

Oh Molio, so pleased!!!!!!!!!! Well done him :) Now to get down to the serious business of building book barricades, buying clothes and getting haircuts!

(Starting to worry because my dd seems to be doing none of the above. And she's planning on doing her English coursework while she's in Oxford. I think that might be a bit hopeful! Suggested she did some this week but she has 4 or 5 rehearsals, so I don't suppose much else will happen. She had a mock interview last week - got plenty of nice feedback and some useful stuff to work on, so that was very helpful.)

YogaCats · 01/12/2014 16:34

AllMimsy - yes, still waiting to hear about maths at Oxford...

Decorhate · 01/12/2014 16:56

Waiting for medicine here. According to TSR it may be Weds when they send letters/emails

GraceFox · 01/12/2014 17:09

Not much notice, is it, Yoga and Decor ? Shock

RandomFriend · 01/12/2014 17:26

Well done Molio's DS.

DD had a mock interview, which was quite useful. There were some quite tough bits to it, so after the excitement of being invited, she is now quite aware that there is still a long way to go.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 01/12/2014 17:33

Fingers crossed for those still waiting and for those with interviews! I hope Bluestring's daughter is feeling better about things now. This may not be the obvious thread to say so, but there are plenty of other excellent universities/courses in the UK! I myself went to UCL because I didn't meet my conditional offer for Cambridge. No regrets about that at all.

virelai · 01/12/2014 17:38

Congratulations to all those called to interview. As one of the interviewers, it is incredibly useful to read this thread and to hear what the experience seems like from 'the other side'.

Just to say that each college will have lots of undergraduates who stay on after the end of term to act as "JCR helpers". They will provide maps and directions, and in many cases will accompany candidates from A to B if they are called to interview at other colleges - if there is any problem or anything worries your candidates, they should be able to help. The College Porters will also help with maps and directions. The JCR helpers will be around all day and all evening in shifts to provide help and advice, and to help keep candidates entertained and in good spirits whilst they wait around. We provide a sort of 'common room' where candidates can all hang out and drink tea and eat mince pies. We really do try to look after them, as we know how stressful it is.

RandomFriend · 01/12/2014 17:57

virelai thank you for your post - very helpful and nice to hear a view from "the other side". Good to know that the colleges try to look after the candidates - mince pies and tea sound great.

Littleham · 01/12/2014 17:58

Thank you virelai. That is a relief and one less thing to think about. I'll let my daughter know that there will be people to ask / maps and directions.

I agree with you AllMimsy and I'm really glad that my dd really likes her other choices, as I would hate for her to set her heart on one particular place. Any interview experience is going to really useful for them whatever the outcome. I'm going to confine my stressing to this thread and leave any preparation to my dd and the school. I'd only tell her the wrong thing.

Figmentofmyimagination · 01/12/2014 18:04

Hi Virelai thanks for coming on our thread. I'll be first! My DD is planning to wear some nice coloured jeans and a jumper - ie what she normally wears - but on the student room applicants thread, one of the people giving advice (who says he/she has been an interviewer) said something like "stay away from jeans and hoodie". Ok we're probably not talking hoodie here, but I had told her to wear anything she normally wears at the weekend ie jeans and jumper - as long as not "scruffy". Really wouldn't want to go down "smart dress or skirt" route he/she seemed to be implying was the norm. Reassurance would be great.

Raidne · 01/12/2014 18:11

Thank you for posting, virelai. I am glad to hear that they will be looked after!

I am with you, Littleham, I am leaving it to ds and his school. I would be no use to him as I know nothing about chemistry!!