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Higher education

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

Oxbridge applicants 2018

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/08/2017 08:54

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 Confused

OP posts:
itinerant · 04/12/2017 16:29

P.s. he also got asked the “why oxford?” question. Says he can’t remember his reply.

Hubble25 · 04/12/2017 16:33

Thank you Hingle he is being well looked after and adores Univ.

Hubble25 · 04/12/2017 16:35

One this evening and one tomorrow. Hope went well for your DS.

Hubble25 · 04/12/2017 16:50

Sorry itinerant crossed messages. I have read a lot to suggest that candidates are poor judges of their interviews. I'm sure yours has done well.

RaindropsAndSparkles · 04/12/2017 17:08

DD should be finished. She's been there since 9.15. I imagine she'll be exhausted x

HesMyLobster · 04/12/2017 18:37

Oh my goodness, my heart is in my mouth reading all these updates!
I feel for them all so much.
Hopefully the interviewers can see past any silly mistakes etc and put them down to nerves - they must have seen it all many times before.

Well Done to all the Cambridge interviewee dc who have finished now - time to relax and celebrate that it's done, and what an achievement!

And I hope the Oxford dc manage a good nights sleep ready for whatever tomorrow brings. DD will be joining them in the morning!

HingleMcCringleberry · 04/12/2017 19:54

Hubble, I would hope the interviewer had the presence of mind to either choose one of the questions on the reverse side to get your DS to talk through in a tutorial style, or junked it all and went on a different line of questioning.

He's applying for PPE, is that right? Did that mean 3 separate interviews? I had to do couple of philosophy interviews for my course when I was applying - they were terrific fun: hypothetical questions, no right answer, just chew the fat with the interviewer(s). Hopefully your DS felt the same - they're called interviews but (in my admittedly rather focussed experience) they're really more like conversations.

itinerant, on the 'why oxford?' question, the intent of that (as I'm sure you appreciate) is to offer up a soft serve to ease you in to the interview, before the meaty bit: it's definitely not intended to be some sort of litmus test of 'is this person saying the right thing, do they want it enough?' I'm sure whatever your DS said was sensible enough - and will not be the difference between acceptance and failure.

On a broader note, as I'm sure has been hashed through already in this thread - the tutors are not looking for answer to their questions that are going to blow their minds. They're looking for inquisitive, curious minds, and teachability - basically, I've got to teach this person, potentially for 3 or 4 years. Are the both of us going to get something from the experience? If you make a mistake in your answer, were your thought processes rational? If your DC have engaged with their interviewers, then they can feel they've done themselves justice, however they felt it went with respect to answering questions 'correctly'.

Good luck for tomorrow all - Lobster, I'll be thinking of your classicist, hope it goes well!

itinerant · 04/12/2017 19:59

Kind words all, thank you. I think it’s fair to say that it’s difficult to know how well you’ve done at the time and just try and enjoy the experience. I keep reassuring DS that nerves are normal!

marmiteloversunite · 04/12/2017 20:13

Quick update from us. The first interview this morning which included sight reading was very difficult but DD muddled through after asking for a bit of help. This evening she had to talk about a piece of music and discuss an article. She was buzzing afterwards and felt it went really well. She now has an interview for a different college tomorrow and her musical piece on Wednesday morning.

They have fixed the radiator in her room and she has some Sainsbury's fleecy pjs to wear tonight. Relieved to get through today!!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/12/2017 20:24

Another parent of an interview survivor reporting back. Dd is pretty knackered. She did enjoy it and seems to be relieved that it was all quite straightforward. It really was 'do the maths, talk about the maths' Hooray!

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/12/2017 20:25

ps. We need a new thread asap.

OP posts:
voilets · 04/12/2017 20:28

so exciting to hear about all your DC's interviews.

DD has an all day experience tomorrow at Cambridge. Fingers crossed. DH is driving her down now - they'll stay in a hotel we booked. She starts early.

Good luck all! Here's hoping they keep their nerve and feel confident

HermanMerman · 04/12/2017 20:34

Hubble - I had an interview at Oxbridge where i had a short test beforehand. In the interview they said “and on the other side of the paper, the questions you didn’t answer....” and proceeded to be very nice about it. I got in.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 04/12/2017 20:44

Voulets are your dh and dd staying in a city centre hotel? If they are out if town they need to allowits of time to drive in in rush hour tomorrow. Good luck to her.

Paoaya I wish I'd read this thread this morning as I'd have given you details of much better coffee shops than you find in the Grand Arcade. Hopefully your dd will be successful and you'll be having many more trips to Cambridge and exploring the little side streets and independent cafes!

toomanytolist · 04/12/2017 20:46

DD said she forgot a really basic physics equation in one of her interviews today, said her brain just froze with nerves. She said the interviewers were helpful and just gently hinted until she got it. I hope that's a good thing - I assume they're looking for more than just recall of basic stuff and understand nerves.

So much luck to everyone to come this week!

voilets · 04/12/2017 20:47

Ibis by station. College suggested how long to allow. Half hour they said.

BugsyStar30 · 04/12/2017 20:50

DS at Cambridge today - brief text to say the exam went 'really great'. Two interviews tomorrow. Obviously I am far more stressed about it all than he is!!!

voilets · 04/12/2017 20:52

Toomany - hope they allow for nerves. They must be used to it and will take whole interview and application into account. Best of luck to your DD

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/12/2017 20:54

I made a new thread but my phone won't make a link. Can someone link please

OP posts:
EmmaGrundyForPM · 04/12/2017 20:56

Voilets that will be fine. Which college?

marmiteloversunite · 04/12/2017 21:15

Yes it does! Grin

Hubble25 · 04/12/2017 21:18

Thank you for all your kind reassurances about interview 1. Unfortunately interview 2 (Philosophy) went really badly for him and it is as much as I can do to raise his spirits for tomorrow. He is not one for false modesty and if he says it was bad then it really was. :(

itinerant · 04/12/2017 21:33

Ah Hubble we have had the same with economics. Basically he failed to answer what even I can see was a fairly simple question. But everything is easier with hindsight.
It’s so hard to see them deflated isn’t it? I’ve spent the evening sending DS pictures of the dog when I’m supposed to be catching up on work! Only advice I can give is to put today behind him, focus on the next interviews, and have faith that the interviews are just one part of the process. Hope he sleeps well x

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