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.

Justanothermile that's possibly because she knows a bit about anthropology :) And wants to study it :) I can't begin to describe just how obscure the subjects in both sources were. DS2 was on much firmer ground when he was shown a picture in another interview and asked to chat about it. He can chat for England so did a great big long bit of that and it seemed to work. Weird fishing right stuff in some unnamed medieval Nordic country - not his thing quite so much.

DS2's source I've forgotten - equally long and just as obscure (I think the tutors must have a competition to see how weird and outlandish a source each can find). Possibly because my brain scrambled at first sight of it.

Congrats to all who have so far received offers for interview and sorry to those who have not.

I have a question that is not about interview, but hoping there is someone on this thread that might help. Ds will need to take STEP if he has an offer after his Cambridge interview (maths). We have a somewhat unusual (and probably very outing, but I am beyond caring anymore!) situation. He is at a non-selective state 6th form college. There is only a very small cohort taking FM A level and I think he is the only one who will be taking STEP. The FM teacher, although experienced, is.....um....difficult. I have had to go in and make a formal complaint to the head of department and Deputy Head. Which of course went down like a lead balloon to the teacher which led to a completely unacceptable incident in class this week where the teacher shouted at ds and stormed out of the class. Needless to say I was back at the college this morning. No idea what is going to happen going forwards (and I am not convinced "mediation" is going to solve this). However, the biggest issue is that this is the teacher that does STEP prep. Not exactly a viable option in our case.

So.....is there anywhere external I can go to get STEP help for him? He is highly capable and does much on his own. However, STEP feels a "step too far" (trying to put a laugh into what is an otherwise ridiculous situation!). I can get him a tutor but I need to go somewhere highly experienced with STEP.

Oops . This is for Cambridge right ? Maybe ask them ? I do think there’s lots of resources online . Have a look at Step website and see what they suggest ?

I just googled and I think they sound very approachable . Ask them . There’s also courses .

goodbyestranger yes, we were surprised too but it certainly wasn’t an “if you don’t come early your chances are ruined” type of request. I guess if they can give themselves more time it’s better all round. Most of the interviewees had an interview at another college and these were on the Friday afternoon, there is an awful lot of waiting around and they can’t go off exploring because they need to check every hour!

Things do vary between colleges, and even within colleges in different years. So much depends on how a college finds its interviewees. One year when one of my DD's was an interview helper ChristChurch says they couldn't take any of their interviewees at all for a particular subject and please could back ups be sent absolutely asap!

That does sound a very strict college though Bakeandyarn! Every hour?!

Ha! That might just be my (over) diligent DS😂

DD just called - she has got an interview 😃 Although I’m sick with nerves for her already!!

Just caught up on the previous thread and this one. Congratulations to all those who have interview offers and commiserations to those who haven't.

DD has just received her invitation for an English interview at Oxford. They give a time to arrive by, but does anyone know how early can you be? She's been called for the evening before the interviews are due to start...

Do they get the sources in the interview invitations goodbye, again fishing rights in medieval Nordic country wouldn’t be the end of the world from DD’s POV!

STILL no news, so that will be at least Monday. Even Dd is getting pissed off as she wants to prepare. I’ve told her to do all the prep that she can at the stage (which she is doing) and she can do no more than that. She’s gone boxing to get some of her angst out.

Many congratulations to the further interview news. Brilliant stuff.

@SpiralArchitect DD’s e mail says she’s to be there by 5pm on the Sunday - interview for St John’s on Monday and at least one other college.will be there until at least 5pm on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.

No, the sources were released at a set time on the morning they were asked to come to Oxford, so obviously not particularly helpful to those travelling a long way. Still, an advantage to the Westminster/ SPGS crowd (who were there in force)!

Spiral she can arrive any old time and probably leave her bag with the porters but her room may not be available if she arrives early.

Wiifit - maths.org/step/welcome
amsp.org.uk/students/university-admission-tests (used to be the Further Maths Support people, they've expanded)
Don't know how easy it is to find STEP tutors?
There must be people discussing STEP problems on TSR?

Interview invitation arrived this evening.

Thanks @AtiaoftheJulii I knew about that one and I am sure he will make use of it. I was wondering about face to face teaching though (you know, the type his school should be providing!)

Wiifitmama,

I have thought quite a lot about this situation. I think Cambridge do the right thing, all supposition.

I have heard that ~50% of those who get places do NOT meet the STEP offer.

I don't think they just take the next highest STEP candidates, because that would be achieved by just lowering the STEP grade boundaries. Which they do not do. This gives them the wiggle room to chose between interview candidates who had little school support and those that had more school support. STEP can be taught and this wiggle allows candidates from schools that offer little or no help to be treated more fairly.

I think.

Thank you TheFrendo. I have heard the same. Of course, as his mother, and in this ridiculous situation, I am just angry right now. Thankfully, ds is the type of child who will find the resources, teach himself, and do it all anyway. I just feel a bit powerless.

Wiifitmama, so sorry to hear about this. However if as you say DS is the sort of child to press on regardless, then he's already showing the right sort of attitude. My DS had help from school but did the bulk of his STEP preparation from online resources. It is perfectly possible for keen beans to get themselves through this. The thing my DS found most helpful was working through every past paper he could get his hands on. Good luck to your DS.

Wiifitmama, ohYouBadBadKitten is the queen of Step so hopefully she’ll drop in to this thread to give you some pointers.

Good luck to all of your DC with offers and commiserations to those without. DD was going through this last year for NatSci at Cambridge and it is gruelling.

In what way is the teacher difficult?

I think it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the teacher in detail on here. Suffice it to say that he is knowledgable about the subject but has very questionable teaching methods that include leaving the classroom (against school regulations) for long periods of time, leaving the students alone.

Hi Wiifit. Every year plenty of Cambridge mathmos get there having had no STEP prep support: there are loads of resources online, including chat support with Cambridge bids when you get stuck. And actually the process of doing it alone is better preparation for Cambridge course, which requires independent motivation and perseverance when it gets tough. Those who were spoon fed are the ones less likely to thrive once they get there.

Top tip: start serious prep early... Don't wait another 6 weeks til the offer comes through: start a structured programme of STEP prep now and make the most of the Christmas holidays!

Finally delurking on this thread to report that DS and his friend have both got interviews for Maths at Oxford (St. Johns and Keble colleges).

They both also have offers for Warwick, so are going along in the spirit of enjoying 3 nights!! in an Oxford college, all food and accommodation provided.

I was pleased to see that they will pay travel expenses for PP students, but thought it worth highlighting that the whole experience will only cost the travel. (and the catching up on missing three days school!)

As DS is my only, I'm looking to a few nights of not having to cook enormous quantities of protein.

BTW they went to a normal comprehensive for GCSE and are now at a state school for 6th form, as their old school doesn't have one.