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.

Hubble - absolutely! Completely agree!

Felt a bit bruised on here last year. Hope people hang on lurking or joining thread because the overall info is so useful.
Is so worrying knowing if our DC will fit in. Have a DS with ASD type difficulties and a DD who is a social butterfly but nervous around her studies. Like most, both have found their way.

Rianna DD2 said that there was one "very posh" young man who had never visited Cambridge before and she felt he looked down his nose at her. Even though my kids were born & raised in the SW, DH and I are northerners so the kids have picked up northern vowels. DD2 is also a good mimic so she probably accentuated her northern roots. This chap was very surprised that the others had visited on open days - apparently his school didn't recommend it...!

This chap was very surprised that the others had visited on open days - apparently his school didn't recommend it...!

Well, of course if he gets an offer, he'll make it his firm, no question, so no need to form any opinion of the place in advance - ?

Don't fret about it Oldandgold. We can all sometimes feel uncomfortable with others, for whatever reason. Your DD will come across passionate people in her own subject and conversation will flow more easily. Respect for intellect will outweigh other concerns I am sure.

A university is much bigger than a school, oldandgold, so there's a better chance of finding their own tribe(s) - within college, and/or dept and/or sports and other societies.

It does sound as though your DD is particularly unique in being at a high level in sport not done at the uni, old.

I’m so curious to know which sport old but understand if you’d rather not say.

Old it does seem to be that perhaps Oxford is not the place for her. Why did she choose to apply if you don't mind me asking?? Sometimes people feel that if they are capable they should apply but it really is not for everyone. From your posts it would seem she doesn't like very much about it at all and that is fine

DD had a bit of a 'moment' this morning, ostensibly about her eyebrows (😂), but far more due to being exhausted after last week and a very long term - plus a touch of pressure she can put on herself to give her best all the time. This is the first time she's reacted this way to the pressure of the whole Y13 and university application process, but I'm glad it came out.

This was genuinely the first time on a Monday I could actually drive her to school luckily, so we had a few extra minutes for her to calm herself and us to chat.

Roll on the end of term!

Malbecfan we didn’t do open mornings either -also advice from school .
Old and gold (?) I think it was : don’t worry about the ‘odd’ comment . I wasn’t offended and have ‘odd ‘ children too .

Old sounds like deferred entry is a good idea for your DD. Representing GB must be a real thrill!

For our particular situation, for both DC, the open days were massively useful. Some courses that appeared excellent on paper just didn't suit when explained in real life and a couple of universities didn't have the correct 'feel' - I liken that to buying a house, it looks amazing in the photos but you just don't get the vibe!

DD has one offer day planned, for March - this would be for her second choice university and for the one place we haven't visited but a course she's extremely interested in. This is also making the vast assumption that her application is successful for Oxford. Which brings me to a question - if she did get an offer in January, can she wait until the end of March until firming, much like to standard UCAS process?

puzzled. It sounds like your DD's experience of the interview process and Oxford wasn't positive in some areas, so maybe she we be able to take a balanced view overall about her best and most pragmatic options - for her whole life, rather than just the academic aspect?

oldandgold our school allows only two days absence for open days and doesn't especially rate them, on the grounds that students lose too much time, often tend to get sold on a particular place and can acquire tunnel vision which has pitfalls all of its own. The websites are excellent these days. Mine did no open days prior to applying except for the school run Oxford one in late June. I'm not sure that approach is hugely unusual.

It does sound as though giving up her sport would cause your DD difficulties, because you described how tense she got in her days away and she certainly seemed to get crosser than most DC presented with similar situations (livid with an over running interview, passive aggressive answers to questions etc). That doesn't bode well. And as you say, it's her main thing really.

Justanothermile she can wait as long as she likes, consistent with UCAS procedure, but most offer letters do also politely request that an offeree not intending to take up their place lets them know, and declines it, so that they can offer it to the next on their list. It would be very mean not to comply (not in any way suggesting your DD wouldn't - just a general comment).

Justanothermile - i think you are confusing my DD with someone elses's. :)
Mine certainly had a very positive experience at the interviews and is very keen to go to Oxford, if she is lucky enough to be offered a place :)

oldandgold I think, to be fair, it is a fairly unusual reaction, although understandable if you're suddenly deprived of training - one unhealthy aspect of competitive sport; the dependency on physical training.

I'm still curious about why she had her famous teammate's named hoodie in her packing. And why she chose to wear his hoodie to the interview. Or did I get that wrong (too lazy to scroll back :)).

Did you say Durham had facilities, or some nearby? Durham for her course is pretty good. If she were to tick the best uni for her course combined with the best sports facilities for her which would it be?