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.

The waiting is horrible now!!!

I'd just keep reiterating that there are many excellent universities out there Rianna and that he will be happy and successful at these too.

I know, I feel awful for those who haven't yet heard. Fingers crossed.

I hope you hear soon!
Pancake Have a look at www.villierspark.org.uk/ too

If you've not been reallocated for interview and have your first choice college, is this a positive sign, or is it completely random?

Many thanks

No it's not completely random for Law but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's positive, although it's not negative. A lot depends on sheer chance, as to which applicants apply to which college in a given year. Sometimes there's a weird bunching up of strong applicants at a college and in other years that same college may be low on the sorts of applicants they'd usually have.

Well I'd add to that: if it happens that the pool of applicants to, say, Trinity, is especially strong this year in terms of quality and number then to be 'saved' for Trinity by the tutors there is positive. But you simply can't know that ahead of time. It might be that there were only ten good applicants to Trinity this year and that the numbers being interviewed are augmented by even stronger applicants from an enormous pool at, say, Wadham. It just isn't consistent, for whatever reason.

I know a tiny bit about nuffield research placements if that is helpful to any budding scientists/mathematicians.

Thanks goodbyestranger. I think I may be overthinking. I don't know how I'm going to wait until January. Patience isn't my strongest point. 😂

ds was automatically allocated accommodation and meal vouchers. He didn't have to ask. Just as well since we are the opposite side of the country.

Sorry, been missing for a few days. Good luck to all the DCs with interviews coming up. DD2 has her first one tomorrow at York. DH is picking her up from school and driving her up there tonight (heaven only knows what time they'll arrive as it's at least 5 hours from here...) DD is looking forward not only to a day off school, but getting in some interview practice before C-day. Sadly, I have to work so will be looking out for text updates.

However, this weekend I'm heading to pick up DD1 from Cambridge after another busy but fulfilling term. Whilst I don't relish the drive (weather forecast is rubbish) or the packing of the car in the rain, it'll be lovely to have DD1 back again for a few weeks.

In heavens name people, why Are you in the Student Room??? Sorry, but I often read this on MN threads and it gives me the evils.
It's for students. Leave them alone for one second!!
Sorry. I'm sure you have your reasons but really.....

After reading this thread I am glad my Dd didn’t end up applying for Oxbridge. They don’t do the course she wants to do so that conveniently let us off the hook from all this intenseness.

Thanks for that thereallife...

nagaram, for our part, the only intense aspect is the interview invitation process, and I'd say unfathomable rather than intense. Different colleges using different methods to notify students (email or letter), on different dates and different times! No different I think though to checking track regularly for offers from other universities I guess!

Apparently there are still several at dc school yet to hear either way.

I don't think it is particularly intense Nagaram. There's a whole range, just as you'd expect, reflecting all the different personalities. Parents of Oxbridge applicants aren't clones. Also, it's incredibly natural for mothers to want their DC to succeed in whatever it is they want to succeed in, and the fact that it's Oxford or Cambridge doesn't alter that fact.

Also you have to remember that this is a support thread, a release valve - it's where people CAN come to obsess and groan together! And most of the time it's the only place where such intensity is happening - personally, we're laidback about ds's Cambridge application because he loves Manchester and wants to go there, but I remember when dd was applying to Oxford, and I certainly wasn't having these conversations in my normal life, and was keeping it all as relaxed as possible when taking to dd.

If you don’t find it relevant you don’t read it , simples .

why Are you in the Student Room???

Well, some of us hang out over there to see what's what with the universities to which our DC are applying from the student perspective. And to give the occasional bit of grown up, real world advice (Doonesbury is particularly good at this and one of my 'virtual friends' from elsewhere in the ether advises on things mathematical). Definitely not on there as any variety of Doting Mummy.

Oops I meant to say the Oxbridge threads collectively not just ‘this’ thread. Atia agree that mumsnet is good as a release valve so Dds and Dss do not need to listen to our worries. I have experience of a friend’s Ds always expected to go to Cambridge and it not working out once he had got in, devastating the devoted mother, so I suppose I have her voice in my head. Conversely, I think the parents on these threads come over so involved (in a good way) that you realise that bright children without involved parents are at a disadvantage.

Good luck to your Dd today malbec. York is a lovely city. Dd has an unconditional, which I think she'd take if she doesn't get an offer from Oxford, she loved the course and the university was impressive. We don't have a 5 hour drive though!

I feel awful for the ones still waiting LIZS, surely it can't be much later than tomorrow for the poor ones left?

Nagaram I understand your concerns re expectations . But I think this thread won’t give you the whole picture . Of course there might be pushy parents , but they might be everywhere . Only you won’t know the attitude of people on here re their other children and things like that , as it’s a public thread so people won’t tell too much .you also don’t know if it’s the child or the parent who choose the uni . In most cases it will have been the child as it would be hard to get there without self motivation. Ans yes if they ( parents )would not be interested in what their kids do , they would not be here on mumsnet ) For myself there’s a reason I’ve got the time these weeks - I don’t live my child ‘s life .Some people might do . I agree with you that might not always be a good thing - but I doubt a comment on a forum will change that . And yes of course children with parents who are involved have a higher chance of success , look at the statistics of how many children in care go to uni . I think for most people on this thread Oxbridge is very intimidating . It has a different admission proces so that’s why people come here , to understand more about it all . And that’s why they might read any relevant public info on the internet , also on student room .

Rianna yes I agree forums like these are helpful to work out what it’s all about. I am reading this forum as little Dd expressed an interest after older Dd looked into it and it sounded like a lot of extra work just to get your application in. The whole university admissions system seems bad enough at the moment but the Oxbridge threads seem to confirm it can go up to another level of commitment, work and worry for some. I may be on a similar thread again in a few years time but good luck to everyone here.

Nagaram , it’s always a bit nerve wrecking when waiting for exam results etc . The Oxbridge process is different indeed and we ourselves are lucky our school is experienced . I think every child that is very bright and passionate about a subject and would enjoy the teaching style ( different from other uni’s )should give it a go .As long as the choice is not only for the prestige , but for the course and way of teaching .
And of course you put other courses on your ucas application too , as Oxbridge is a bit of a lottery after all . I am sure that if in a few years your daughter wants to give it a go , you will find people here who can help / advice / need to find out themselves . don’t be intimidated, just give it a try ( if she wants to ). You can in time mail the tutors as well and ask them for advice . But of course there’s other options , that’s not the point .
But I have found it tricky as a mum too , to keep a balance between realistic expectations / encouragement. You want to encourage to try for something hard , but protect them from disappointment at the same time .

it sounded like a lot of extra work just to get your application in.

I don't think it is, really. Nothing like the amount of self-motivated work needed to actually do any sort of proper degree tbh.

It’s not extra work . It’s a different proces , it has to been in earlier and there might be extra tests . Really , I think for most people here it’s all new and unknown , that’s why we talk about it . The universities organise lots of things to widen partecipation , like summer schools . Anyone who thinks it could be the right place for their child but their schools don’t have much experience getting students in : have a look at the websites of the universities and get yourself on relevant mailing lists .