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

Is certainly not feeling like a mini heatwave tonight kitten !

it’s certainly not! The beginning of next week will be warmer, later in the week I’m not sure now.

dd is feeling a bit rubbish and under the weather. I’m hoping tlc and an early night will help. I think stress can be a real bugger.

Ha ha Goodbye - perhaps why DS chose to sit next to people not applying for the same subject at dinner. He thought the having someone for his subject doing the "aced it! " thing would not be congenial. Nor indeed the 3 treatises or Olympic level tiddlywinks or rock climbing or the internship at the Whitehouse.

I am a novice at this sort of thing but I think the % accepted vs % applied needs to be taken with a pinch of salt - so some of the less popular course look like they are easier to get into , but then all the people applying are probably good / knowledgable / committed before they start.

Anyway enough - Good luck to all DCs

Still waiting to hear anything from Imperial here too and really wish they would get a move on! DD has Cambridge interview next Tuesday and nerves are mounting, so some good news from Imperial would be such a relief. Not even sure if they will interview or not. Does anyone know - for Biochemistry?

When ds interviewed for History a couple of years ago they had an initial reception where an admissions person told them that there were seven places and there were 40 of them interviewing. Of course some might be picked up by other colleges but the statistics at that point were rather sobering but heartening at the same time - applicants knew that the odds were against them and it was no disgrace to fail to get a place.

Ds was the hapless applicant who had the interviewee before him emerge from the door, punch the air and say, "Nailed it!" He also got the Famous Two Grumpy Women interviewers whose method was to say absolutely nothing in response to answers which left ds a crumbling wreck.

I think between us on MN we've narrowed the FTGW down to a location somewhere in or near Turl St, although they seem to rove about at least three colleges doing their ghastly double act (Balliol, Exeter and Jesus). DD2 encountered them too, although fortunately that was at a curious 'pre' interview, the night she arrived and before the ones at her college of choice. Terrifying those two - be warned. Don't even approach them in a coffee shop.

I think interviewees should be prepared for the "silent treatment" act. There is much talk about the adversarial interview technique where an applicant has to defend their points robustly. But ds (and others, so I read from much haunting of Student Room...) were greatly flummoxed by the method of being asked a question and after replying - nothing. Ds said he was jabbering and didn't know whether he was supposed to go on talking or whether that was it. Apparently it is a known interview technique which is supposed to guard against forming a rapport with certain students.

It's certainly enormously effective in slapping down any rapport.... I've no idea what you're supposed to do with silence but I know very well that it happens. Any suggestions?

She's got an interview!!

Yay fat bottom!!

What are they supposed to do with a silence? Fill it or just smile??

Trying to sort out the missing bits for DD's wardrobe. She seems to have lots of half smartish outfits. Decided against skirts because of the squidgy sofa/flashing your gusset dilemma.

Yay fat bottom!!

What are they supposed to do with a silence? Fill it or just smile??

Trying to sort out the missing bits for DD's wardrobe. She seems to have lots of half smartish outfits. Decided against skirts because of the squidgy sofa/flashing your gusset dilemma.

Well, I suppose with the silence you could say,:

'Does that answer your question or is the some point you'd like me to try and develop further?

or

I can't think of anything more to say in response to that right now. But can I return to that one at the end, if anything more occurs to me?

or

I feel I might be going off the point from your original question, though I personally am very interested in X and/or Y because...

or

Is it okay for me to ask you a question about Q or Z, now that there seems to be apause?

Those are good answers, AnnaMagdalene. I would urge prospective interviewees to practise them! It would take a lot of confidence and self possession in a nervous young person to come up with those on the spur of the moment.

Seconded LadyinCement.

“Is it okay for me to ask you a question about Q or Z, now that there seems to be apause?

I read that as ‘applause’

Badkitten. Lol!! Probably best they don't wait for applause!!

Does anyone know what they actually do with them for three days? DD needs to be there Sunday evening (or very early Monday) and will be there till possibly 6 on Wednesday. Even if they pass her to a couple of different colleges that is a very long time.

Keep them well entertained! Dd got taken out for ice cream, they had a 'pub' quiz, and I can't remember what else on the other evening. She stayed an extra night just because she was allowed, and was very sad to come home!

That sounds great! I think she'll have a fair amount of school work to do, so hope she has a little time to do that as well, but I love the idea of them actually being made to feel welcome. She is slowly warming to the idea of 'going for it'.

DD is very stressed. Cambridge Monday. Oxforddeclined her last year and then she got absolutely stellar A'Levels and decided to try again. Last night was a tearful "I Don't want to be the girl turned down by Oxford and Cambridge. Would help if she had an offer from Durham.

I stayed nearby in Oxford last year for the pp. There were points when she welcomed lunch and dinner with mum. They were very well looked after though and dd did have three interviews but they didn't turn into an offer. She is so much better prepared this year though.

DD has had some MH issues over the last three years but is much recovered since 1w months ago so I am hopeful.

Raindrops I am sure if your DD is able to get interviews at both Oxford and Cambridge then she will definitely get an offer from Durham. Also life is about so much more than an offer from one of two universities.

well, dd has a Cambridge interview first thing Monday (one of two on the same day) and she’s so so nervous, after seeming so chilled initially. She said she didn’t want to go (but has changed her mind back again, she’s changing like the weather. I guess that’s normal. It just be quite intimidating for these teenagers to endure.

dds is Monday too and she is very nervous. It’s horrid, she’s convinced she’s just going to forget how to do maths.

Weather update. It’s ok til mid week, then some chance of snow from mid week, Friday is a day to watch into Saturday. The following week could be tricky too.