Oxbridge applications 2019 (part two).

[Justanothermile]

New thread, I hope it's okay to start one.

Good luck today for those still waiting for interview news, which includes us.

Congratulations to those already with dates.

I would say so yes.

There's information on the invitation email regarding claiming travel expenses, if financial circumstances dictate, subject to certain criteria. Any use?

Can I join you all?

I am late to the discussion because DS only decided on Maths as a degree subject at the end of the summer holidays. It was then a canter to the MAT exam and he's been invited to interview, starting on Sunday!

I suppose like everyone else I am just hoping that DS feels he gives it his best shot in the interviews.

Does anyone know if the colleges provide towels or are they expected to take them? I'm just thinking it's not a hotel so maybe towels, soap etc won't be provided. Also, how much spending money do you think they'll need for drinks, snacks, other necessities?

SpiralArchitect nobody will get turned away for having a cough. She literally can not tell how well she has done! My DS went down the pub to drown his sorrows (literally) and got in.

Bedding and towels will be there. I think that is true for all colleges but should be in your interview information.

Thank you justanothermile! I’ll get DD to check. She definitely didn’t read the email properly - sent me a frantic text this morning about realising she might be needed until Friday. I’m wondering what details she actually did take in...

Zx etc take soap but not bedding . I don't know how much money to give ... good question . My son going to same interview .

Thanks for the prompt replies . I don't think DS got any interview information which mentioned this type of practicalities, just an email saying what days and times he needed to be there.

Hubbleisback that’s very kind of you, but I defer to goodbyestranger - I really wouldn’t know what to do in this situation.

That said - don’t wait until Thursday evening if you’re definitely leaving Friday morning. Talk to the JCR helpers as soon as you are able: they can probably point you to the Senior Tutor who might be able to manage this.

Thanks Hubble - I doubt she'll be convinced of that at the moment though!

I have told her it's a bit like Schrodinger's cat - you're both in and out until Track updates on January 9th...

Yes Hingle good idea - I just shy away from being presumptive - very me.

zxcv123 welcome. I think minimal spending money. They'll be getting three square meals a day in hall and will probably rarely stray outside the college (which will be laying on entertainments in the evenings I think). Maybe just a few quid for (soft?!) drinks in the college bar.

DD says her first interview was "ok and she didn't have a meltdown" which I guess is as positive as can be expected...

panda there's an online form to fill out, here's the link. DD's email does suggest that leaving early would be detrimental to being considered by the other colleges that may wish to interview sadly.

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews

pandas in her invitation email it should have given "must stay until" and "may be required until" times and dates?
They are all at www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews/2018-interview-timetable

If she checks this information and there could be a clash, then it's probably best to tell someone as early as possible, in case alternate arrangements need to be made.

Then go the the practicalities section.

It probably did have all those details, she’s just the queen of skim reading and only taking in the details she wants to take in.

It’s only her third favourite choice and she already has offers from her first and second so she might decide it’s not worth staying. She also has training on the Saturday and she’s already missing 14.5 hours for this interview! Not to mention the whole week of school... My take is it would be a shame to waste all he time/money to throw it away, but I’m not going to get involved. It’ll be up to her ultimately. Hopefully she’s done on Thursday so all this worrying is irrelevant.

Just back from Cambridge after a 4 hour drive home. Firstly am relieved that she hasn’t been broken by the experience.
It was unusual wandering around today lots of children with 1 parent .
The waiting was,I found ,incredibly stressful. The interviews were shorter than I expected and the first was pretty from left field ,dd described it as weird, I would have to agree . That one was impossible to prep for which I guess is how they want to play it.
There seems to be as many different patterns for interview as there are colleges/courses and interviewers. Not that I know much with my 1 child experience and a school with not a tiny number applying, but I do know more than when we started,thanks in part to mumsnet.
On a positive note we found fitzbillies for a post interview snack and would highly recommend.

Should have proof read, her school has a tiny number applying

Hello All, I dropped DD today around 4pm. She is delighted with her room and texted to say it was huge, with a view towards the quad with the Christmas tree all decorated and festive.
She later texted and told me that tomorrow she has no interviews but has 2 scheduled on Thursday. I wonder if there may be a last minute change and they sneak one in tomorrow, would you say that is possible?
To PP - she did not take bedding, but took a towel.
The moment I dropped her and got in the car, I felt getting terribly sick with flu! I must have completely burnt out. Had to stop to get some meds and a ready soup on my way home! I never get sick, feel rotten at the moment, not sure how I’ll make it to work tomorrow and only hope that DD has not got it too!

pandasandpeas I think I can pretty much guess the subject. Given the numbers, I'd expect the whole process to be done and dusted for everyone by Thursday anyway. If it were my own DC, I wouldn't advise them to stick their neck out and make a hoo ha about leaving beforehand, I'd just sit tight, hope they'd say I was released on the Thursday and only go for the special case option as and when asked to stay until Friday. Given that your DD isn't bothered about Oxford it doesn't really matter so much as it would for someone who wants a place - but mine did want to go to Oxford, so my advice to them would reflect not wanting to rock the boat and make special demands etc.

That said, it can be a real pain to have to hang around for days. Lots of people in the same boat though.

Puzzledmum I would say it was not possible and that two on Thursday will be it.

Many thanks goodbyestranger** . I told her to keep an eye on the board, just in case. If not, even better, one more day to go over things I suppose and to enjoy Oxford. The Christmas market was on today and it was lovely!

I’m very envious of those if you with updates from your DCs! My DS has been in Oxford for a day and is laconic to the extreme - I was finally moved to call after receiving nothing but a two word text, just to check he hadn’t fallen apart after his interview this am, only to be told he was off to supper so couldn’t talk and was then going out; must have found some soulmates. He already knows he has a second college interview on Friday - should I read anything into that (very niche language application)? He’s got a cheap return ticket for Friday pm so hope he’s done by then ..