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.

It does seem as if the pooling process has changed this year then, or been abandoned?? Or maybe it will happen without additional interviews? It does seem odd that so few are being asked to further interviews.

DD said they had a message on the board tonight that all the applicants for her subject are free to leave after their second interview. Not one of them has been pooled! Does this sound right to people? Why would this be? I am baffled.

Coleoptera this is really annoying when it happens - you put in so much work into something and then you are not even asked about it! How bizarre! I am so stressed with one child’s application, not sure how you are managing with two! I think I’ll try to completely forget about this now until January and try and enjoy the holidays! Hope you manage to do the same.

Coleoptera my DD was not asked anything on the PS either at neither interview. Hers was a very academic one also full of lots of extra reading and activities. She is not annoyed about it, though. She did not put in so much effort into writing it ( did two drafts only, it took her less than a week to prepare). Maybe they were looking to obtain different information from the applicants this year.

For History you'd expect to hear about pooling tomorrow morning, possibly later tonight. The tutors have their meetings round about now.

Puzzledmum it's exactly right for Biology. They don't pool in the same way as History, Law etc. Interviews at two colleges and no more is just what happens.

Puzzledmum it's not really new for this year, the lack of discussion about things said on the personal statement. Some tutors in some subjects in some colleges will discuss parts of a personal statement but it seems far more common not to mention it - the idea is to level the playing field as far as possible. I think DD1 (Law) was asked about a sport, merely as a two second ice breaker, DD2 was asked in detail about the stuff on hers, but the tutor said he found the stuff she'd done (for History) particularly unusual and interesting, DD3 (Law) was asked about a particular very political court case she'd sat in on and mentioned, DS1 (Medicine) was asked which cake he'd recommend at the cafe he worked in, DS2 was asked nothing about it at all, DS3 and DS4 had a glancing reference each to their areas of particular interest, but no lengthy discussion. It's probably good to avoid dwelling on the subjects that have been pre-rehearsed and that the applicant knows best. That would be far too easy.

Thank you goodbyestranger! That is really good to know! We just wait and see now.

To be fair DS1 managed to kill quite a bit of time with the cake question :)

Goodbyestranger that is interesting about the PS but I am not very surprised to be honest. As you said, no need to go over pre-rehearsed answers etc. So it is done now for me, I think I can relax for a bit. I take my hat out to you, 7 children all in Oxbridge, that is admirable on its own right!

Have you got seven children all at Oxford goodbyestranger?!

In DD1’s first interview she was asked about which countries she’d competed in and her proudest moment but the rest of her personal statement was totally academic so the man was basically picking it apart and getting her to expand on a lot of the points, and then taking it to various related areas/topics. She said it felt like a “how you think” test that could have been duplicated for any subject. The other 3 haven’t mentioned PS at all (but have mentioned submitted work).

7 children goodbyestranger did/do they all go to Oxford?

goodbyestranger, you can level with us. The children who went to Cambridge - you’ve disowned them, haven’t you?

I have eight DC in total and we do as a family have a very good hit rate yes. Certainly way in excess of SPGS, Eton and Westminster :)

But I tend to only disclose colleges etc once they've left, or it would a bit intrusive.

That would be treachery Hingle .

8 children Goodbyestranger !!! You amazing human being!

Pandas though your DD sounds eccentric and cool I do wonder if it is the 'bravado' of someone who really does want an offer. I have known this before and it is a self protection thing. The longer interview was a promising start in my opinion and I am sure the tutors would not have wanted to waste their time. I hope your DD does get an offer, although I perfectly understand that she may decide to turn it down. It is a shame though if she really feels total disdain for the process. I hope your DD is happy wherever she ends up.

Oh my gosh goodbyestranger you should write a book. We’d all buy it! (I also have a large family but if one or two get in I’ll be delighted.)

I would generally agree but the reason I don’t think it’s just bravado/a face is because she’s always very open about what she wants - competing at a high level in a sport where your performance can be totally ruined and medal hopes dashed in a split second (she faced that at a European event recently and was devastated), she’s very used to disappointment and rejection. She will openly declare her commitment to a goal - even if it’s unrealistic (ie she’s actually taking a gap year to see if she can make the Tokyo 2020 team on full training). She was also openly ambitious with GCSE grades and made clear the result she was disappointed with. She’s quite expressive re emotions.

It’s actually quite normal behaviour for her too - she is just a bit bonkers, and she doesn’t really adjust for formal situations (ie quoted the Spice Girls in one of her RE GCSE papers, walked into a cameraman at a competition and exclaimed “Jesus wept!”... luckily for her it was only broascast in Ukraine).

I’m absolutely in awe goodbyestranger - what a huge family.

Thank you for the very generous words but in fact very much not in the teeniest bit amazing. Off to make a maccy cheese ( a Linda McCartney maccy cheese so a bona fide maccy cheese - highly recommended).

Agree Hubble.

Oops, cross post.

Well she certainly sounds both very talented and interesting pandasandpeas so she can't go far wrong.

Durham is very beautiful, arguably more so than Oxford. If it's a struggle with losing the sport, it might be a win win with Durham.

Agree - loved Durham.

Well Goodbyestranger I think you're amazing and have a very kind, generous heart with all your advice......

I would genuinely be uncomfortable with my Dd telling me a tutor was 'lapping it up', in terms of her input. I'm sorry, that's my honest view. Maybe it's just wording though. DN is at Durham and had a difficult first term or two settling, but he is high functioning SEN, so not a surprise that this was the case - he doesn't find social interaction the easiest; he's in his second year and has found his friends now. Friends have their DS there, who started this year and loved it from the start. It's a beautiful city and I'm sure your Dd would have a fab time pandas.

Coleoptrera I was wondering how your DT was doing, I'm sorry the O2 issues came into play today of all days. And I'm sorry about the interviews, for both DT, mock or real. You've a lot on doing this by yourself. Soon be over, one week today and then everyone can switch off over Christmas anyway. It's a good attitude, I'm sure your dc will thrive wherever they go.

My own DS1 has actually text today ready to come home. First term at university. He's not been home and has settled into the life far more easily than I could have imagined (he's a quiet soul). I'm by no means a clingy parent but I'll be glad to greet him and accompanying washing, empty fridge and mess!!

I second Aurea - you certainly put all your experience to good use!

It probably was just turn of phrase justanothermile - I know what she meant. She’s doing a really weird subject and she hasn’t previously studied the subject she was being interviewed for, so she meant she feels the interviewer didn’t seem to notice that she didn’t have a clue what she was on about (she may be wrong... I guess we’ll find out!). She likes to joke about her subject because it’s a) very out there b) generally considered to be pretty pointless. It not being a “real degree” is a constant point of banter among her friends. Her and the geographers are the butt of all jokes apparently!

It must be lovely to have your DS back - is that an earlier finish to term than most? I don’t think any of my nieces/family friends or DD’s friends from the year above are back yet, except for her Cambridge friend.

coleopatra I must say I really don’t envy you having two at once (not to mention the cost of two at once!). Are their subjects similar? At least they went for different unis, but I’m guessing you’d rather two rejections came in than one acceptance one rejection? (With the ideal obviously being two offers).