Oxbridge Applicants for 2017

[HamletsSister]

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

Anyone else?

Significantly cheaper for us Rhoda and driving avoids two changes of train with a high likelihood of missed connections.Also, like Carl, I wanted to drive. I've always done it and particularly with the older ones it gave three hours alone together which for them was relatively rare (longer then three hours for DS3 since I crashed the car).

Perhaps its more 'at that age they should be capable of getting themselves to an interview, if logistically possible' ? (logistics including cost and how much school time lost)

Cross post with 615 - yes, in our case the journey is vile. This isn't an important public transport rite of passage and if I was anywhere on the Southern Rail Network at the moment....

Dragon getting a lift doesn't mean the DC in question isn't capable! The same DC has recently got all the way to the frozen north for an interview at Manchester and back in a day (a very, very long day) so he would have been quite capable. Foe Manchester I couldn't do it, for Oxford I could and it made sense to do so also I wanted to (Manchester, not so much :)). There will be lots of DC/ parents in that boat - no shame in it and often much advantage.

I gave DS a lift to his interview. Worse, I gave him a hug outside the porter's lodge. He is ruined for life . We live in hope that him getting the train back may have slightly mitigated the damage...

Good luck to DD for this morning Carl.

Same here, Basilisk! I was staying in the Travelodge (Black Friday 25% off!) and taking the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping whilst ds was being tortured. I was charging along the pavement with my mind on buying those elusive "different" presents which no one has ever seen on the internet and... there was ds! I gave him a massive hug . We exchanged two sentences then carried on in opposite directions!

'getting a lift doesn't mean the DC in question isn't capable! '

Yes, quite so.

Of course, going to some of the interviews etc alone can be a good experience for those who've simply never had cause to travel solo by train/coach before. (let alone the kids who I'm frankly in awe of who are doing flights! ).

I did a hug too Basilisk, although I did it in a cobbled passage around the corner from the college - I'm clearly less brazen than you!

Yes good luck on the RADA front!

All depends on circumstances. Offered dd choice of lift as train journey would have taken longer. And for me it's good chance to spend some time with her which I don't get much of now (shared between weekly boarding and boyfriend) But have to admit happier to take her because I know she is perfectly capable of going in her own and doesn't need to get used to line travelling before uni

Had planned to throw her out outside the college till she read that parents welcome to spend the morning in the college coffee shop (which I am doing). Just made sure I didn't go anywhere near registration with her😀

I would have loved to go up with DD for her interview, but really couldn't afford to. For me it would have just been a lovely trip away, rather than any concerns I had she wouldn't manage the journey. However, she also said she would rather go alone, probably to spare me having to struggle to find the money for the petrol or hotel. Or maybe she knows I wouldn't have been able to resist offering last minute advice and being a bit annoying! Anyway, no one lost face and dd enjoyed her trip.
But am a bit jealous to hear about hugs in cobbled passages.

That's nice. I wonder if oxbridge are generally less welcoming of parents on interview days than other places because at the open days - so I've heard, I didn't go - some overly invested parents are in total nightmare helicopter mode? (none of us I'm sure! )

that was an xpost... I was a bit of DH doing most of the various uni visits with DD though I did get to a few open days. I'm pretty sure he wasn't allowed to do any hugging though!

Sadusername sorry to hear that - but if it helps it was only a quick manly hug and it's all rather silly with my boys now since they're a great deal taller than me, so rather mismatched. I was despatched pronto anyhow and didn't see him at all after that. On the financial front for me, it was a no-brainer (thankfully), which is the point I made several posts back - that side of things can be decisive, as you say.

Or maybe cos Cambridge is just one day - and wondering if we got directed to the coffee shop to keep over keen parents away from the interview area - it did also suggest you might want to say your good byes at the porters lodge 😀😀

Smiling at at least three nervous looking dads as we speak

Manchester held parent sessions whilst the interviews were being held. Again maybe it was to occupy the parents as the interviews were just held in the afternoon. Me, I didn't attend them I saw it as an opportunity to shop and have my hair done in English! Although other applicants were surprised that dd flew in from Europe and that her parent wasn't in the building and she had to walk the 25 minutes back to the hotel by herself!

Called to third int. tomorrow which we believe means "hmm, borderline". But she's enjoyed it and it has ben an experience. Just had dinner - walking back to college together then I'll hop on a bus to my hotel

Thanks for good wishes on the RADA front.

DD said the whole experience was 'horrible' in contrast to the first round which she hugely enjoyed.

She felt her pieces went well but the interview was awful. Mum, she said, I basically talked them out of offering me a place in the next round.

Worse than Oxford, said I.
Much.

Oh, poor girl but you never know. It's a huge challenge for them all and so brilliant they are all giving it a go.

Aren't the pieces at RADA far more significant than the interview though? Isn't the interview more of a hello how's your father? (that's a question - I'm clueless about the content. The only girl I've known to apply didn't get a place in the end).

Which subject Roses? Apologies if you've said this earlier.

goodbye the audition pieces are important. Certainly if they're not tip top, you've no chance.

But the interviews also hold a lot of sway.

Because of the few places available, and the ludicrous competition for those places, they're very keen to get the right people. Not right in the sense of 'can you act' but right as in, will you thrive in this absurdly intense three years.

Yesterday's interview was very personal with the panel ( particularly the chair, dubbed by DD as Cold Heart) picking apart applicants' motivation, resilience, acquiescence to the process etc.

Basically, you're grilled and pressed on whether your personality is up to it/right for it.

Archaeology and anthropology. I hadn't said except in a pm to another poster. I guess it's almost over now and the fat lady will sing in January.

They've don their best, given it as much as they can give and it now sits in the laps of the Dons. DD was so ill 18 months ago I feared she wouldn't finish 6th form. For her to have got this far is beyond her and our wildest dreams.