Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

I know it's taboo, but Oxford interviews - has your child heard yet?

98 replies

Dumbledoresgirl · 28/11/2015 20:37

I am getting a little wound up and can't discuss this at home as we have been over it several times already and ds says it is getting to him!

Has your child heard yet re getting an interview at Oxford? My son's best friend was offered an interview yesterday but my son has not heard anything yet (different college, different subject).

I have been snooping in the student room website and am wondering if certain subjects hear before others.

So, if your child has been offered an interview, which subject are they applying for?

Thanks for indulging a nervous mother!

OP posts:
Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 02/12/2015 14:18

disquisitiones fascinating to have the perspective of an 'insider' too. I shall be letting ds read your post. I did try to say that I am only a mum, Physics is as far from my thing as it is possible to be. He will probably read my post and despair of what I wrote.

The only thing I seem to have got right is that ds should have looked beyond initial impressions and considered Southampton more strongly. Even I got the impression that the astro-physics side of things was note-worthy there.

Anyway, too late now. As Durham is on his list and probably top choice if Oxford doesn't work out, I am not going to worry too much about it.

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/12/2015 15:59

I know nothing about physics but as a Londoner was surprised not to see Imperial in the list earlier. Obviously Dumbledoresgirl's son wouldn't be interested if he's ruled London out but is it still a top place for Physics?

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 02/12/2015 16:26

Oops, sorry, when I wrote 'UCL' I meant Imperial. Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 02/12/2015 16:27

And yes, still very much top I think. Higher than Oxbridge if you listen to some sources.

Sorry about earlier mistake. I have no idea why I wrote UCL. Confused

OP posts:
MrsUltra · 02/12/2015 16:28

I was planning to drive ds up and then do a sort of drive-by drop by slinging him out of car outside college with the engine still running.
Same here.
DS heard two weeks go that he had an interview at his chosen college(relief, some of his friends are still waiting to hear Sad but only a couple of days ago which day and which second college).
As I am freelance, had always intended to take the day off and drive him up, and have lunch with an old friend of mine, who will have finished interviewing applicants for a different college, different subject not because he cant find his own way there, but because I spend do little time with him these days...
Oxford is such a small time, easy to drive in and drop him off.
Good luck everyone!!!

MrsUltra · 02/12/2015 16:29

'town', not 'time'

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/12/2015 16:36

Speaking as a UCL alumna, Dumbledoresgirl, I'm clutching my pearls now that the two could get confused! Grin

For those whose offspring will be going by public transport, the Oxford Tube and other coach services are a lot cheaper than the train as a rule and the coach stops at several points in the centre of Oxford. From London (don't know about the rest of the country) it's a turn up and go service, no need to book, luggage space provided, several pickup points and very, very frequent service (every ten minutes all through the day and night).

Good luck to them all!

Interestedininfo · 02/12/2015 17:27

Dumbledoreshirl, disquisitiones thank you so much for really useful perspectives and information from both sides of the fence which will be very helpful input into DC's choices next year. Good luck for all those interviews.

Interestedininfo · 02/12/2015 17:30

I meant Dumbledoresgirl, disquisitiones and others Blush

YetAnotherMum · 03/12/2015 00:28

OP, my DS had a couple of interviews for Physics at Oxford 4 years ago. He found them not too bad at all - one asked him about the part of physics he said that he had enjoyed in his personal statement. I think the other was on something new to him, but he was expecting them to be much worse. He got in to his chosen college & had a great time there.

FordPerfect · 03/12/2015 11:33

DS has an interview. Hoorah!

HocuCrocus · 03/12/2015 11:39

Good news - Ford, worth the wait Smile.

FordPerfect · 03/12/2015 13:50

Thank you. It has been a long few days.

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 03/12/2015 16:07

Gasp0de - sorry about the mix up. Wink As Disquisitones made no comment on UCL, they must be right up there with Imperial - which I don't suppose you will take as a compliment, though it is intended as such. Wink Gosh, I am digging myself in deeper and deeper here. Grin

YetAnotherMum - that sounds very nice and cosy. I can only hope ds's interviews go as well.

FordPerfect - hooray! (as long as he isn't in direct competition with my son Wink) Seriously though, well done your son, and gosh what a terrible strain the last few days must have been.

Molio - all 6! What a brainy family you have!

OP posts:
RhodaBull · 03/12/2015 22:07

Rather banal question after all the astrophysics stuff, but do they need to take towels?

SueDunome · 03/12/2015 22:35

No, they don't need to take towels or bedding. All the info is in a link on the interview invitation email but, if you google the name of the college and December interviews, you might find the pdf online - I did.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/12/2015 22:37

No worries, Dumbledoresgirl! I can be magnanimous about this. UCL is right up there with Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial in the world top ten or twenty or something like that (depending on which league tables you look at) which it wasn't when I was there, as far as I know.

Molio · 04/12/2015 08:14

Rhoda he doesn't need bedding but he might need towels, depending on college. If there's no specific towel info given, I'd put one in - DD1 got caught out. It's a bit hit and miss - some colleges even supply high end shower gels :)

AtiaoftheJulii · 04/12/2015 08:42

Dd took a towel - don't remember her saying she didn't need it. Bedding not needed though.

SueDunome · 04/12/2015 08:54

Oops, sorry - towels seem to vary. ds's college states they don't need them though, so worth checking.

RhodaBull · 04/12/2015 09:19

ds's college has no information. It's not a rich college so maybe that has a bearing on the towel provision! Hope they provide bedding - maybe they get a blanket and a corner to doss down in...

Molio · 04/12/2015 09:30

Rhoda no towels can also come with a big endowment! Better safe than soggy! (Anyhow, he won't have far to carry it if you're determined to drive to the door!).

hellsbells99 · 04/12/2015 23:06

Well done to Ford's DS.
DD has finally got a letter offering an interview here too.....but she is not sure whether to take it yet. She does already really like one of her other choices. She said she will let me know on Sunday!

Molio · 05/12/2015 09:11

Yes best of luck to Ford's DS - well best of luck to all really!

hellsbells why not just go along for the ride? It's an experience, and there'll be other concerts to go to but perhaps not many other Oxford interviews. If she's genuinely not keen and you think it'll stay that way then perhaps that's different but I'm certain I'd encourage mine to go just because the offer is there, in case they changed their minds having been through the process and offered a place.

PurpleGreenAvocado · 05/12/2015 15:23

Grin at a thread with Ford Prefect and a question about towels!

Swipe left for the next trending thread