Oxbridge 2020 (6)

[Justneedatemporaryname]

New thread ready for when the old one gets filled up!

[goodbyestranger]

That's bad luck for your DD bpisok.

[newdeer]

Ds has gone from being over the moon and confident to looking ground down. His history course work is due in on the day of his interview so he feels like he can't relax and focus on the interview prep. He's not got a long way to go with the coursework but I think he just really wanted to focus on Cambridge and juggling the two, along with all the extra Christmassy interruptions at school this week, is making him stressed.

[TeaAndStrumpets]

Ah, thanks goodbye, that's reassuring to know

[MarchingFrogs]

@HugoSpritz, not a Lemsip variety containing paracetamol, one hopes? I think there is an ibuprofen version?

[bpisok]

Thanks all. She seems to be doing an alternating pattern of lemsip, ibuprofen, cough medicine, vitamin C and sleep.

...pretty sure that only the vitamin C and sleep will help but she seems determined!!!

[Hoghgyni]

Newdeer I can relate to that. DD's EPQ is due in by lunchtime on 18th. I think she will be neglecting her other subjects until the Christmas holidays as this and 4 days in Oxford has swallowed up all her time & energy.

[PantTwizzler]

My DD had exactly that coursework/interviews clash last year. Very very stressful for her but it all worked out in the end. I’ve just brought her home. So lovely to have her back. And strange to see her college gearing up for the interviewees. It’s a production line!

As for what they do in the evenings, last year there seemed to be various quizzes, film nights etc. They make a big effort to keep them busy and happy.

[KingscoteStaff]

OK @sandybayley, you have given the fates ideas. After an ‘interesting’ tackle this morning, DS will be attending his interview on Wednesday sporting a cut on the forehead and a blackish eye! Good conversation starter, I guess...

In other news, I finally gave in to curiosity and looked up the A level timetable and it looks as though he has a triple clash!! Morning of 21st May, it looks like he has a 2hr A level paper, a 2 hr PreU paper and a 2.25hr PreU paper!! How on earth is that going to work? I haven’t told him yet in the hope that I’ve got it wrong...

[PantTwizzler]

Sounds like he’ll be going to a teacher’s house overnight Kingscote!

[seedybird]

Thanks PantTwizzler

I have great sympathy for any DC's doing an EPQ - DD did hers in Year 12 and it caused enough stress then, let alone amidst interviews and mocks.

DD also has several "A" Level clashes Kings - it's going to be an interesting time.

In 24 hours, DD will have nicely settled into her room and hung her clothes up (yeah, right! )

[aibutohavethisusername]

DD also has her History coursework due by the end of term and interview this coming week.

[goodbyestranger]

The more people say their DC have history coursework deadlines coming up, the more amazed I am that DD's deadline was the first day of term, with the English deadline hot on its heels.

Glad to hear the first term has gone so well PantTwizzler, esp with the initial reservations about college.

[TerfinUSA99]

Agreed @goodbyestranger! It amazes me that some schools just don't seem to factor it all in. We had UCAS deadline of 13 Sept, EPQ presentation 6 Sept, History coursework 1 Nov.
Mocks are the first week of Jan.
Lots of time to spare for interview stress

[goodbyestranger]

I was more thinking the other way Terfin, of how little time DD had comparitively for c/w! But yes, no clashes here on the interview front other than sports matches missed. Just shoved a packet of Nurofen DD's way to put in her bag, for good luck!

[PantTwizzler]

Thanks goodbye. She loves her college and is clearly really happy there. She really feels as if she’s found her tribe. It’s lovely. What a relief after all the worries along the way.

It’s amazing how many very wealthy students there are. And so many from independent schools. Quite an eye-opener.

[sandybayley]

@KingscoteStaff - ah sorry about that. DS1 emerged unscathed from the match today. I'm going to gently suggest a haircut tomorrow and he's asked for some new PJs. He's easily pleased!

He's in a better mood today now the hangover has gone. We've just been round to see a primary school friend for champagne and cake to mark yet another 18th. Lots of reminiscing about nursery school play dates and soft play birthday parties.

[DadDadDad]

Is anyone experiencing a slight existential giddiness looking ahead to the next week or so? (no I haven't been working as a lifeguard today, just reading the news ).

It's the peculiar combination of the personally significant (DS having an interview that one way or another will have a long-lasting impact on the rest of his life) and the nationally significant (a general election which could mean that binary event of Brexit or not could finally be on track to being settled for better or worse) - the pieces falling into place throughout next year, with the first milestones in January.

I probably need to get my head out my arse and stop over-thinking it.

[Ironoaks]

DadDadDad it will be an eventful week.

I have an exciting opportunity this week with my hobby (the type of event that only happens once every few years). It's on the same day as DS's interview, so at least I'll be too busy that day to feel nervous for him.

[NotEnoughTime]

My DS isn't unwell but he went to bed tonight at 8pm as he is absolutely shattered. He has been working very hard all week-school/course work and interview prep.

We are going to the panto tomorrow afternoon (oh yes we are ) so that should be a couple of hours 'downtime' for him as I think that is very important as well.

Good luck to all our DC heading to interviews.

[littleslummygirl]

Came home to find DD working her way through pile of articles and ready to discuss the divine right of kings. She is having a lie in tomorrow as she thinks nerves may stop her sleeping well until it’s all over. She also imagines she’ll stay up after the election too, after pulling her first all nighter for the last one. We’ve agreed on radio silence between interviews as I reckon she needs to simply get through all three bits without over analysing anything. Happily first one will be with access tutor, though she has been told his room is up a spiral staircase. I’m now worried she’ll fall either up or down some narrow stone steps. Am hoping it’s neither frosty or rainy in Cambridge mid week.

[Unescorted]

All packed & ready to go. They are planning on having lunch somewhere along the way.

Books re-read, drawings slaved over, clothes ironed (unheard of - nerves???), playlist selected, insta up dated, brother squabbled with.... I think she is prepped.

Updates will be via her brother most likely, unless she thinks it is really good or really awful.

Election night is going to be interesting in a Confucian way. There is no way that I will stay awake, our constituency declares late and there is a fair to middling chance of a recount if polls / modelling are correct. I think I will tuck up after the first exit polls come in and get up early in the morning. We move office on the Friday so there will be plenty of scope to chew over the results with colleagues as we work our way through any policy implications & how we will deliver them. My family tolerate my obsessions.

[FingernailNibbler]

Thanks Just

Like unescorted, I have no cool. ! The nibbling continues...

[KaptainKaveman]

Thanks for the new thread. DD seems a bit too relaxed for my liking...interview at C this Wed and everything over in a single day. I'm being a bit of a helicopter at the moment and nagging her like crazy!

In contrast, her friend from another school who's got an interview for History with an MFL at Oxford will be staying there from Wednesday to Saturday . And this is AFTER the pre-interview assessment tests ! I can't really understand why it's so much more gruelling at Oxford seeing as they've already knocked out masses of the competition via the tests.

Anyhow, best of luck all. My dd has asked me if she can miss school on Tues - her reasoning is she's only got one double lesson and they will 'only' be watching the film of the book, so she'd be better off prepping at home. What would you good people do ?

[FingernailNibbler]

Hmm Kaptain Kaveman. Can she do some prep at school before the film then leave? It is a pain to go in for one class. Esp just for a ruddy film. I'd be tempted. Is she travelling Tuesday night or Wednesday morning?

DD has interview Tuesday at C and I thought she might skip Monday for prep and to go up early, but she has MFL class and thought her teacher might have last-min advice. Not sure any pearl of wisdom would make a difference at this juncture!