Oxbridge Applicants for 2017

[HamletsSister]

DS has done his exam (Oxford, History) and written his essay. Now, the waiting begins.......

Anyone else?

With regards to the interviewer's poker face/shoutiness/ grumpiness, do you think it is a tactic or just the personality of the individuals? My dd showed me a couple of mock interviews on YouTube and while the interviewers were not gushing, they did seem to make an effort to put interviewee at ease!

DD2 had two poker faced female tutors at Jesus but to be fair she did say she didn't really enjoy women's history (whereas they both very obviously did). Other than that, all the tutors (thirty three I think, in total) have been reported by the DC as being affable enough to incredibly nice).

Thank you for the positive comments about Warwick for Maths. DS very happy to (hopefully) be going there. Just the small matter of 3A stars now!

DC felt the poker face was more of an interview style that some tutors had, as on arrival they were fine then :)

'Poker face' is often a persona adopted for interviewing. Less cues means that the candidate has to reveal more. IME smiling interviewers are not infrequently quite harsh in their assessments after.

Rejection email tonight. He's disappointed but I think in time will be more philosophical about it. He didn't want to apply originally but was encouraged by his school.

Sorry to hear that Amazing Disgrace.

I posted last year that one of the worst things is the other candidates. Ds had to go in after a boy emerged from the interview room, punched the air and went, "Nailed it!"

Ds was also a bit crushed when a fellow interviewee said they'd had a great interview with the Grumpy Women about feminism in China. Ds had to tell the Grumpy Women he didn't know a great deal about women in China which made them even more grumpy.

+1 RhodaBull!
Takes me back to my own interview 30 years ago. Interviewers running late, so had the 'pleasure' of sitting next to a pompous idiot, who did a fine job in psyching me out (intentional or not) re. the extent of his interview preparation, his outstanding A Level grades, etc. etc.. Coming from a school that didn't even offer a mock interview, it was unnerving.

That being said, he never showed up at that college, so unless he was allocated elsewhere ........

As for my interview, I felt savaged tbh and was convinced I'd be rejected. It was only later that I realised it was nothing of the sort, they were simply challenging me in a way I wasn't used to. I'd advise any candidate to treat it like a tutorial - you've time with some of the best minds around, enjoy it! Don't be afraid to say 'I'm not sure/ don't know, but here's what I think...' They're not looking for a finished product, but someone they can engage with and develop over the next 3-4 years.

Wishing all DCs, whether Oxbridge bound or not, very very best of luck xx

Rejection e mail for dd too (Physics) but her reaction was relief and happiness as she really likes Warwick and her reserve.

Good luck everyone.

That's good then, LittleHoHum. I think some of them feel they should try for oxbridge but it really may not be the best course, either for them or in truth for their subject.

Good luck to your dd, LittleHoHum :). I'm glad she's relieved, and agree with Errol that sometimes it seems to be a 'should' sort of application rather than really wanting to. My own dd1 applied 'because I'd always have wondered'. I wonder whether she's only done in it to be an Oxbridge applicant, and for the potential achievement of getting an interview and/or getting in, rather than for the idea of actually going there. I know her heart is with a different uni, so tbh I would/will be just as happy with a rejection. Right now I'd be bloody delighted to get anything, as Worcester Physics continues to keep her waiting.

Ah - rejection has arrived today. All the best to everyone :)

Bad luck roundandround and all the very best to your DD too.

Same to little LittleHoHum.

Wishing a calm weekend to all those with DCs interviewing next week, I'm taking DD to oxford tuesaday am , then she'll have to train home in whatever day she is released. She's pretty ok , a bit nervous but feels prepared. I hope they don't tear her to shreds...

DS has a huge journey (North of Scotland) to Oxford, so we are having a family weekend en route. He is then heading off alone by train on Monday, overnight with friends, due there Tuesday night.

He is remarkably calm and then has bursts of lecturing me on Historical topics.

DS also off to Oxford on Tuesday. He is a boarder, so is going on the train with some others from his school.

We are going to see him tomorrow evening at a school concert, but I have made the decision to exercise superhuman restraint, and so I'm just going to wish him the best of luck, and not burden him with all the good 'advice' that is building up inside me!

Good luck to everyone.

Any idea how long it takes before the offers/rejections arrive?

Second week of Jan I think - the 11th?

DS has joined some sort of Facebook group for Oxford History and they might meet up. They have formed a sub group after they found a Trump-loving right-winger in the original group.

Apparently, they are all from ordinary schools and got a bit fed up with being "put right" by one or two from more privileged establishments.

Thank you George

Ds is in 2nd yr history. I was on the equivalent of this thread when he was waiting for his results and for Oxford (IIRC) they all came out on the same day which I think was Jan 7th that year. But if it works the same , you will know the date & for DS and his friends it was all the same day. All the very best of luck to him and all others on the thread.

I dropped DD1 off at a local station earlier today for her interview tomorrow (she actually has two).

She has a friend going up, as well, (different course, though) but he would have wanted to tell her how clever he is and all the stuff he knows, all the way there, so she was a bit evasive about which train she was on, so she could avoid him.

She was hoping to do some re-reading, and general freaking out.

DS "en route" too. Actually, holed up in Edinburgh on his own and getting the train tomorrow.

Is it likely that other candidates might try to put him off? He is very calm and told me I am stupid to worry. But I have heard tales and they are all competing.

One of DD's teachers suggested that might happen, Hamlet, but they must all be good, or they wouldn't be there, so your DS is right to be calm. (I don't think I could be, though.)

DD is in the organ scholar's room. It's really big with an en suite and a piano. I suggested maybe it isn't too late for her to learn to play the organ, so she could have the room, but apparently it is.