Oxbridge applicants 2018

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I've hesitated before making this thread as I don't really like the whole making Oxbridge out as a special case when there are lots of amazing universities that are just as good for individual courses. However, it is a different application process with a lot happening by January should they get that far and irl I don't know anyone else's dc applying to talk to them about it. I expect most of us are in that situation. At the moment I rely on dd and the occasional foray into student room to learn what happens next.

So welcome all parents of Oxbridge candidates - a thread to chat over what's to come and to support if our kids find they have to steer in a different direction.

Application forms due in in a few weeks

Oh and it was the late seventies. Both of the guys had really long hair. One just long and straight. The other beardy and bushy and birds-nesty.

Lobster get your daughter to have a teaspoon of set honey morning and evening.* Really helped my daughter with her singing exam this week. Luckily she was almost over last weeks cold. Also try not turning talk unless essential to rest her voice.* Can you tell I am the mother of a singer?!

I really don't know why my posts keep going into Bold!

I wish DS would get an offer from Imperial Risotto! That's where he really wants to go. I'm worried that he may lose out because he applied for the year abroad course. Too late now

A Warwick offer at last!! DS very happy. :)

Rose keep the faith. My DS waited over 2 months to get Warwick offer.

Rose DS is still waiting to hear from Imperial as well. At least the Cambridge prep is a welcome distraction. The living costs of going to a London uni are dreadful though. We live within commute of London but I’m sure he would be happier living away from home. With Imperial I’m not sure we could afford that after the first year. He will only receive the minimum maintenance loan.

Yes, London living expenses worry me too. DS would only get minimum anything. When we went round a 3rd year student said that living was cheaper when he moved out of accommodation. Hope he was telling the truth! Mind you, no offer so it's moot at the moment.

Candidates should wear whatever makes them feel comfortable. I wore a suit for my interviews, as that’s what I wore at school, it’s what I like to wear when I need my game face on, and it gets me in the right frame of mind. It had the added bonus of hiding the rivers of sweat pouring from me! Other people sensibly decide to wear comfy clothes to be at least partially relaxed when chatting with the interviewers.

Hi all,

DS has an interview at St John's College, Oxford for archaeology.
I'm not quite sure what to advise my son in regard to apparel.

He wants to wear wait he usually wears, a vintage woollen jumper, some jeans and a pair of leather 'docs'.

Another idea he had after I told him perhaps he ought to wear a suit-as happened in my day- is to wear some suit trousers with a smart Reiss shirt.

Is it best to dress conservatively or is modern style also O.K.

Rose, why applying one year abroad will make him lose out for Imperial?
I wish him best of luck and believe he will get good news soon. Imperial is known as giving out interviews/offers quite randomly time-wise!

Lady, similar to your DS' case, my DS is lucky to have Imperial as a comfort zone to wait for Oxford interview. Otherwise, with the other choices he was not so in love with, it will drive him crazy waiting, while most of his classmates had got feedback (mostly positive ones!) from Oxbridge already!

He applied for the year abroad because he was really good at languages and wanted to try and keep one of them going. When he got there the others applying for physics with the year abroad had the other language as their mother tongue, or had parents from there, not just GCSE!

veraaloe Congratulations to your son - St Johns is awesome!

I refer you to my comment which directly preceded yours - he should wear whatever he feels comfortable in. Woolly jumper and jeans sounds like a winner to me.

OhYouBadKitten the nicest shops in Cambridge are in Trinity Street, Rose Crescent and in Kings Parade. There's a lovely gallery/craft place on Kings Parade called Primavera - go downstairs to look at their ceramics.

My favourite clothes shop is opposite the side entrance of Great St Marys Church (off the market). It's called Cuckoo.

If you get bored of shopping there are loads of museums in Cambridge.

Good luck to your daughter.

i see, Rose.
but does the admission count your language ability in selecting applicants and giving offer for those "one year abroad program"? seems they should focus on ability on that particular academic subject and just ensure you can handle the local language in the year studying abroad?

So DS has finally succumbed and is lying in bed with a headache and a sore throat. Doses up with paracetamol and fluids. Lots of viruses around but I think the stress makes it worse!

My personal recommendations re a Cambridge trip would be

a) the Fitzwilliam Museum
b) going to a sung service at one of the college chapels. (Evensong is usually in the afternoon)
c) mooching around the market
d) walking by the Cam
e) going over to the Mill Road area. There is a beautiful small cemetery nearby.
f) as is perhaps obvious I don't do smart shops a lot. However there was a lovely shop selling expensive leather bags in Hobson Street

itinerant, is yourson stressed for the PPE interview? mine would love to have that kind of stress! as he is still anxiously waiting for the shortlist decision!
Catz of Oxford seems to be one of the slowest college sending their decisions!!!

nevertheless, wish your son would get well soon!

For anyone in Oxford who likes cemeteries there's an interesting slightly out of the way one at St Cross Church, by the Law library. My DC complain that I'm too interested in cemeteries. Kenneth Grahame is buried here next to his son who dies aged 19, while a student. There are lots of other stones which throw up events and stories too.

died, sorry.

itinerant, I hope a day of mollycoddling helps. Sometimes a duvet day can be enough to set things right again.

I think dad has the right level of nerves for next week. A bit anxious, but not rigid with fear. We are all framing it as a practise supervision, which seems to be what it is (with added scrutiny)

That sounds like a lovely day Anna!

Ds (well, me) freaked a bit about "apparel" for interview, but he wore a jumper, trousers (or newish jeans, can't remember) and a jacket. All courtesy of Primark!

He said no one at all wore a suit. Those with dds having interviews, I have repeatedly heard that it is majorly important to keep warm, as Oxbridge colleges can be cold! So no sleeveless dresses etc. And also check on skirt/dress length. The candidate may be beached in a squashy sofa and won't want to be pulling at a hem to avoid flashing the interviewers - even if it's of the woolly gusset rather than the Basic Instinct variety.

attention fellow parents of traveling interviewees!

One of the weather models has gone a bit bonkers for snow next Thursday and Friday, across northern Wales and a swathe across northern and central England, perhaps as far south as tickling Hampshire,

A week away is a long time in forecasting time, but I thought people might appreciate a heads up.

Hi Risotto. DS tells me you need a B at GCSE for the year abroad. It's me being pessimistic!