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

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Original poster

Oxbridge Interview Luggage

38 replies

doglover · 30/11/2016 11:05

DD has an Oxford interview next week and is unsure what to carry her stuff in. She's definitely there for one night but may be required for three. We've talked about an interview outfit - she may need to take a couple more blouses - and will wear jeans/jumper for travel etc. Do people take a small suitcase / rucksack / squashy bag? Any advice welcome :)

OP posts:

Whynotnowbaby · 30/11/2016 11:09

I would take one of those little wheely cases that are designed to be the right size for airline hand luggage (but actually have quite a big capacity). For my own interview (a vv long time ago...) I took a large squashy sports bag style thing which was a complete pain as I had to carry it quite a lot (too mean to get a taxi so walked from station!) things may be different now.

timeforabrewnow · 30/11/2016 11:09

How about an Oxford bag? They're quite good.

tygr · 30/11/2016 11:13

Hmm. When I had my Oxbridge interview I went on the train and stayed in college the night before. I don't remember lugging my luggage to the interview itself so I wonder if I was allowed use of the room until after the interview or was able to leave a bag with the porters' lodge during it.

I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take big bags into the interviews themselves. Maybe check out whether she can leave stuff in the room she's staying in and then it doesn't really matter does it?

BasiliskStare · 30/11/2016 11:17

DS took a squashy holdall/ bag, his friend had a rucksack , and when we delivered him I also saw people with those little pull along cabin size suitcases. So - all of the above! Depends only on her outfit and her attitude to creases I would say ( I think you can guess DS's )

BasiliskStare · 30/11/2016 11:19

He certainly didn't have take the bag into the interview - it went straight to his room.

mummytime · 30/11/2016 11:24

She should certainly be able to leave her bag in the porter's lodge even if she doesn't retain her room. Porters are very used to looking after luggage (students, conference guests, alumni etc. etc.).
If she's not out at St Hugh's she should be pretty easily be able to walk from the station to college - and if she gets lost just ask someone.

bojorojo · 30/11/2016 11:25

You leave any luggage in the room they offer you. It is yours until you leave. Take a cabin size wheelie case. Some of the colleges are a real hike from the station, so consider a taxi. The taxi of Mum and Dad is best though. The Park and Ride is the best way to access central Oxford. Car parking in the centre is usually full near Christmas.

I think DD wore a shirt and trousers for interview! I can't remember but - do not take a blouse that gets creased when packed. A top such as a pullover would be fine so long as it is reasonably smart and not a sloppy oversized one. Pair with trousers and loafers. Wear what she feels comfortable in and travels well.

They usually say 3 days is a possibility but it is unlikely for the majority but they built it in in case a student goes on to be interviewed at another college.

Chaotica · 30/11/2016 11:29

Anything would do. It's unlikely the bag would need to go near the interview room and if it does, that will be because the interview has been called at the last minute and the interviewers will be quite understanding. As far as outfits go, that doesn't matter either: whatever your DD is comfortable in (although, depending upon the college, Oxford can be bitterly cold at this time of year). (Although dressing as though you're trying to seduce the interviewers is a bad plan -- it happens, not because of the applicants I suspect, but because some Oxbridge coaching recommends it )

bojorojo · 30/11/2016 11:53

Gosh - stockings and suspenders! I bet that wows the female professors!

SueDunome · 30/11/2016 11:58

ds did this last year. Your dd doesn't need an interview outfit, jeans and warm (even Christmas) jumpers were the order of the day - as instructed in the interview invitation notes.
Amy holdall or suitcase will do - just don't take too much.
Good luck

SueDunome · 30/11/2016 11:58

*Any

Chaotica · 30/11/2016 12:08

Bojorojo it did! There was a last minute female stand-in interviewer who was very impressed. (The way it was spotted was that the students suspected of it were changing between interviews, from skimpy dresses to suits, according to the interviewers' marital status, it seemed. Poor applicants I'm sure it wasn't their idea.)

This is a more specific version of the strategy of 'preparing a really clever question for the interviewer which exactly fits their research'... Which is a terrible idea in case who is doing the interviews gets changed. That is very common too though.

bojorojo · 01/12/2016 12:04

Gosh - Chaotica. That is such a waste of time - the mind boggles with the complexity of it all. My DD must have been woefully underprepared then!

Mondegreens · 01/12/2016 12:12

No one will give two hoots what she is wearing to interview - people should wear what they feel comfortable and confident in, not some adult-sponsored idea of Grown Up Clothes. Nothing that shows visible nerves-related sweat patches would be my only recommendation! Even if the room isn't accessible for the full period she's there, or DD is shuttling between colleges for interviews, the porters' lodge will look after luggage, which should be whatever she can comfortably pull or carry.

irregularegular · 01/12/2016 12:16

Whatever is easiest. Personally I would have thought a small wheely bag, but that's what I take for all trips.

It really, really, really does not matter what they wear for interview. Casual dress is advised, but smart dress won't be held against you. It is absolutely not what we are looking at all.

Provided the candidates don't smell I really don't care or notice.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 01/12/2016 12:18

Yes, no one cares what she's wearing.

Not that it matters, but for St Hugh's and indeed LMH, the quickest route to the train station is not by the main roads, but through Jericho and over the footbridge, which takes you along the canal. You can find it on the map.

irregularegular · 01/12/2016 12:18

When I was interviewed (years ago) I wore a fairly short skirt which I discovered tended to ride up when sat in a low, squashy chair. I don't recommend that. You want to be comfortable and not self conscious.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 01/12/2016 12:22

Yes to comfortable and not self conscious. But it's quite personal what that means - it comfortable for you is an oversized pullover (or doc martens or piercings or, indeed, a completely formal suit), I really doubt anyone would really even notice. I am trying to remember what applicants wore last year and literally the only thing I can call to mind is the dress one girl was wearing, which she kept tugging at because she clearly wasn't comfortable in it.

Interviewers won't all be wearing suits, either.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 01/12/2016 12:22

Just a thought...a blouse with a smartish v neck jumper over the top would get round the creased blouse issue, and is maybe a little smarter than a jumper.

bojorojo · 01/12/2016 12:24

So fishnet stockings it is then! The Oxbridge coaching has the right idea - wear what you want.

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2016 12:36

Sports holdall.

horsemadmom · 01/12/2016 15:54

Bring extra knickers! Last year, DD went up on Sunday and had 2 interviews on Monday. Then another on Tuesday (all at her chosen college). Others were interviewed at the second colleges that afternoon. Tuesday evening, DD was called for an interview at another college on Wednesday afternoon- which seemed more like a chat with tutors from that college and another college whose name she didn't quite take in. Did that and then was asked to stay overnight just in case. She wasn't released until Thursday and she was the last to leave by 24 hrs. Her offer came from her original college.

myoriginal3 · 01/12/2016 15:58

Pack a travel iron. Just put a towel on the bed.

ShesGottaTicket2Ride · 01/12/2016 21:55

Perhaps she'll need a Lady in Waiting quipped my dh.....

instructions from college for my dc's interview: do NOT purchase a new suit... wear what's comfortable.

Those professors/lecturers are interviewing young minds - not clothing.

BasiliskStare · 01/12/2016 22:28

sports holdall (small) as per goodbye is exactly what DS took. shirts , jumpers and chinos. Comfortable would be his advice.

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