Oxbridge Applicants for 2017

[HamletsSister]

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

Anyone else?

Well then that does sound quite heavy Carl!

One of my DDs was extremely ill too through Y12 OhTheRoses, so I completely understand what you mean by beyond your wildest dreams. Very good luck to her indeed - fingers crossed.

Feel free to borrow my mortificado catchphrase #soproud

Oh well looks like DD was catastrophising as she's through to round three.

Fecking ridiculously long process!!!

Well, if anyone is allowed to be a drama queen ... well done her!

Am home, been to a school concert, dd (poor sod) sang, both exhausted and I've been to Sainos. DH has just texted wondering what's for dinner

Well, well done Carl's dd - just goes to show when you are the interviewee it is hard to tell how it has gone. Goodbye , I can only put the brazenness down to being new at the game - had I known about the cobbled backwater protocol I would have done it . Saduser - be in no doubt if it had been 2 x an expensive train trip rather than a relatively modest drive Ds wouldn't have been taken either.
Rather a side track but DS is is now applying for vac scheme / holiday job things (from Oxford) Just got his first rejection but as DH said - that's why you apply for more than one. DS being phlegmatic. There's always something isn't there ? Sorry to derail this thread.

I have hear of another 'nailed it' type anecdote fresh from this year.
Candidate x comes out of an interview room and says to other candidates 'that was easy'. Candidate who has already been interviewed by this set of interviewers says 'I actually found it rather hard' (science subject). Candidate x then says 'you should n't be applying for this subject then'.
I don't think violence ensued but it would have been a close call if I had been the other candidate.

Unbelievable, if I were an Oxbridge tutor, I don't think I'd like to teach that candidate! DC and friends say they haven't met any students in their college and science subject, awarded a place last year, who behave like that. They are all very helpful towards each other, which is lovely.

Well my 'nailed it' DS has just arrived home and taken up position on the sofa, x-box controller in hand as though he'd been x-box deprived all term (but Fifa 15 was muddled up in his laundry....) and has asked interviewee DS how he got on in the second interview and when interviewee DS said the tutors were poker faced thugs, 'nailed it' DS said oh well you never can tell how it went. A week is a long time....

Goodbyestranger I think your interviewee DS should be awarded a place just for the 'poker-faced thugs' description. I can see that being the new style Oxford USP since gentle academia is so passé.

Seconding Users comments about the other interviewees. DS met some really nice people, in his experience there were no "nailed it" or undermining comments. Whatever the outcome, he says he has experienced a memorable three days. (DS back from interviews and said they were challenging - what was expected - but not unpleasant.)

DA has said very little other than the other applicants were 'alright'. Oh how he paints a vivid picture.

DD says she met one boy who spent the whole time asking her what grades she got at GCSE and what marks she got at AS. Each time she answered, he confirmed that he'd done better.

She said ' mate if this is your best chirpse then you'll die a virgin' .

Brilliant riposte!

The only thing DD said about her fellow interviewees was that she didn't chat to anyone doing her subject, and that one lad showed her a picture of his fluffy white puppy, so that was nice.

Showing pictures of fluffy puppy = good chirpse .

DS is now bezzie mates with the people he met during his three days. They are planning a summer reunion in Paris .

I think it is Oxford offers a week today (11th) and not sure about Cambridge, but around then. DS is totally calm but DH and I are both worrying that he will be fairly upset if he doesn't get in, or get an offer. Also, worried that if he does they will ask him to defer (he is not even 17 until spring, Scottish system) and he will get bored at home for a year but will be a bit young for standard gap year stuff.

Fortunately, we have had plenty to keep us busy but the waiting is getting harder, as it gets closer. It is such a long shot (1/3 chances of an offer after interview) but.......

We keep trying to avoid the issue but we're all thinking, "This time next week .................."

I know of one dc who has already had an offer !

How? Already. Where from?

I think with camb, some colleges send an email either 11th or 12th but others (inc the one DD applied to) its a letter so she's expecting to hear thur or fri.

For Oxford I understand it is prescribed:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/decisions?wssl=1
Not sure about Cambridge though.
Wishing all MNers and your DC's all best though!

Thanks.

Gin helps, but had too much NY so am medicating with tea and chocolate.

Not sure how anyone can get an offer from Oxford before the 11th? DS hasn't mentioned the 11th although I'm becoming conscious that an offer would limit the long pricey rail journeys to offer days at his other unis, which apart from Manchester, he hasn't seen (well he saw Durham five years ago so would almost certainly want to go again). DS will be at school and his college notifies by e-mail, which he can't access at school. I'd far rather have post, at least that has the potential to give away the contents short of opening it up (big letters are good).

Thicker letters enclosing small booklet are also good :)