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Original poster

Oxford interviews and overnight stay

188 replies

bevelino · 16/11/2015 22:44

DD has applied to Oxford university and if she is lucky enough to be offered an interview is worried she may have to stay at the college for up to 3 days by herself. Please could someone let me know how this works? DD has suggested that I travel with her and stay in a b&b so that she can meet me when she has finished her interview(s). Any advice would be gratefully received.

OP posts:

mateysmum · 25/11/2015 22:53

Some Oxford colleges have started sending out interview offers for history. Oriel and St Peter's are 2 who have. DS on tenterhooks for good or ill.

horsemadmom · 25/11/2015 23:13

DD1 has an interview for English at Magdalen. DH will need to drop her early on Sunday due to family commitments. Can she get into her room before 4pm or leave her bags at the porter's lodge? All her friends will have left their colleges the day before. I hate to think of her hauling her case and bag of school work around the city for hours.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/11/2015 06:58

Ring the college and ask, horsemadmom. They're the only people who can give a definitive answer and I'm sure your daughter won't be the only one in this position!

mateysmum · 26/11/2015 07:32

Horse Even if there is a short wait to get into her room, I'm sure she will be able to leave her bag with the lodge. My experience is that colleges do try and be helpful, they really want to make it a good experience for applicants. Sunday is really early for interviews. History has a Tues/Weds start.

horsemadmom · 26/11/2015 07:53

I'll tell DD to ring.
It looks like they'll have an early start to interviews on the Monday so all arriving on Sunday.
Mixture of excitement and dread!

pourmeanotherglass · 26/11/2015 08:05

I did Oxford interviews a lot of years ago. I went on my own, no-one else from my school, and had a fantastic time. One of the girls I met during the interviews kept in touch, and got in as well. I don't remember much being organised, but the common room was open and showing films, and there was food served in the dinner hall. I remember going to the pub with a big group of candidates in the evening.

Molio · 26/11/2015 08:22

horsemadmom the porters at Magdalen are very accommodating. But how much stuff is she bringing for such a short stay?! .

Molio · 26/11/2015 08:23

And fingers crossed for matey - probably today!

RhodaBull · 26/11/2015 08:46

Ds has an interview!!

I couldn't help it and looked at the Student Room and saw that his college had declared at 4pm, and as no word from ds I assumed he hadn't made it.

He breezed in several hours later and mentioned in passing that he'd got an interview . Actually he's being a bit weird. Says it's no big deal and that he'll get rejected after interview anyway as 75% are culled then. I said it was an achievement to get this far and to pass the test, but he just grumped past me on the stairs which is most unlike him.

RhodaBull · 26/11/2015 08:48

Btw, does any more information come from the college? He just has an email that says to report in at 5pm on the x of December. No further details.

Molio · 26/11/2015 08:50

It depends on the subject Rhoda.

Molio · 26/11/2015 08:51

Actually, subject and college.

Molio · 26/11/2015 08:52

Also, well done him! Sounds like he just doesn't want to make a big thing of it in case he doesn't get through - very sensible.

Cherryburn · 26/11/2015 08:54

DD has an interview too! Also found out yesterday Rhoda. She is also playing it down. I think they're insulating themselves against disappointment and trying to manage their own expectations (and in DD's case those of other family members I'm looking at you MIL who may have suggested in the past that she's 'sure to get in' )

MrsUltra · 26/11/2015 09:25

I think they're insulating themselves against disappointment and trying to manage their own expectations
Completely agree - same with DS.

horsemadmom · 26/11/2015 09:41

Hi Molio, the college has told her to be there for as much as 4 days. She'll be bringing her work with her as well. Her school bag alone is quite a load to lug.
Congrats and/or commiserations to all our DCs. One more flaming hoop to jump through and it's over!

irregularegular · 26/11/2015 09:42

Lewknorton is absolutely spot on. It's saved me writing my own reply! Her two points at the end are bascially the two pieces of interview advice that I always give at open days, pre-interview meetings, or two anyone who asks!

irregularegular · 26/11/2015 09:42

'or to anyone who asks'.

Just undermined my credibility as an Oxford admissions tutor!

RhodaBull · 26/11/2015 11:01

lewknoturn - I think the message that is getting through to interviewees is that you must stand your ground, and not be crushed by someone disagreeing with you. Obviously some take this too far, eg: Interviewer: "Good morning." Interviewee: "Good morning? I beg to differ!" etc. I read somewhere that interviewers find some poor victims absolutely paralysed by every word directed at them in case it is a trap, even to the extent worrying about how they should react to the offer of a mint.

mateysmum · 26/11/2015 17:04

DS has not got an interview. He is devastated. In his bedroom, not communicating. He made it hard for himself applying for a history school which takes only 20 in total a year.

Now he is muttering about not bothering with uni at all etc, so looks like we have a difficult few days ahead of us trying to persuade him that there are many other good unis and he should just concentrate on his grades.

Poor boy. I just want to hug him and make it better but he won't let me near him.

Molio · 26/11/2015 17:29

Oh dear mateysmum. That's terrible news. I was really rooting for him because you said it meant so much to him. Poor matey. I won't do cliches but I really am sorry :(

Millymollymama · 26/11/2015 17:49

History is SOOOO competitive! He will come round and enjoy a wonderful few years somewhere else. He is just saying things out of sheer frustration at the moment. He is still has lots to look forward to.

irregularegular · 26/11/2015 19:50

One thing to bear in mind is that the system for allocating first and second interviews, and final places, varies across different subjects at Oxford. So even if you think you have good information about one subject, it doesn't follow that it applies to another.

Having said that, I would be amazed if the "bragging interview" exists for any subject these days, if it ever did. First, it's not really something to brag about. Second, we don't have the time!!!

Good luck to everyone. I know it's stressful, but 99% of interviewers just want to see you at your best and would never be asking trick questions to catch you out. That simply isn't in our interests.

And it goes without saying that you don't need an Oxbridge degree to have a great life!

mateysmum · 26/11/2015 20:05

Thanks Molio. He applied for ancient and modern history and just loved the whole Oxford atmosphere and the course. But que sera, sera. Makes it worse that his "stupid"mother did get in !

Cherryburn · 26/11/2015 20:09

Really sorry to hear that mateysmum. Would he consider taking a gap year and applying post results? Hope he feels better soon-it's tough.

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