Oxbridge 2020 (6)

[Justneedatemporaryname]

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

I'm not sure. I guess we'll see today.

By standard I meant they get told either before or on arrival, as with Medicine?

@sandybayley My DS is also loving the catering - he’s gone from preferring self catering to wanting to be fully catered wherever he ends up!

The catering I saw was distinctly reminiscent of boarding school dinners in mid 1980s, just with more green beans.

@goodbyestranger - I don't think so. DS1 was told he'd have two interviews at his college when he arrived and he might get one elsewhere today or tomorrow. He hasn't heard yet.

Is it just the boys who are obsessed with the food?

sandybayley I only get told about the food when I ask and even then it's just "fine", which I guess is at least a variation on the "ok" for the interview! I'm hoping details maybe more forthcoming once he gets home, but I'm not holding my breath! Just hoping he's saving up his daily word quota to use in the interviews!

@sandybailey my DD also loved the food. Got more than she could eat (had an exam just after lunch) and a takeaway box. Surely that's against the rules for a buffet when you've got a free meal voucher! 😂

It's hard to cook interesting and fresh meals for one. She likes a variety and having a hot veggie dish plus veg and a salad bar (and treacle sponge with custard!) was irresistible.

May need to pack elastic waistbands with this on tap (and heard the brunch is amazing). Haven't seen the catering up close at the other unis (yet).

DS has just texted to say his final interview at second college has been moved from mid morning (now-ish) to mid afternoon. Not sure why.

@Hoghgyni My DS had guinea fowl on Sunday night - he didn’t know what it was 😂

I find GF tastes like the chickens we used to raise when I was growing up. Nice.

@DietCocoaBreak - wow, they are pushing the boat out serving guinea fowl to candidates.

DS1 had baked potato and beans for lunch. He was pleased.

I do like all the food updates from the lads

...perhaps Unis shouldn't bother putting course content on their websites but should put a menu up instead 😁

DD had venison stew!

This is my DC's Oxford college menu with a wide selection of food, Prices attached.

And a photo of what he chose.

@Aurea - you brought him up well to love his 🥕 🥕 🥕

Well 3 interviews down now and no horror stories for ds. He has had a nice time, met nice people, food has been fine, interviews 'ok', nothing unexpected. The only thing he complained about was the lack of a proper oven in the shared kitchen

Long may that continue @HuaShan . All 'good' and 'nice' with DS1. Can you tell he's a STEM boy?

I haven't heard anything about facilities at all. Not sure DS1 would consider cooking facilities when he's being fed like a King.

Interviews finish tommorow. Massive well done to all the DC who have done interviews.

DD has just returned from her medicine interviews. She seems rather concerned about the interviewers looking at each other as she finishes answering or is talking. She doesn’t feel like she’s gotten an offer but that’s ok as she’s gotten an offer to study medicine at Bristol! So so pleased for her.

DS enjoyed his interviews and seems rather convinced he’s gotten an offer which I suppose is fair enough. I just don’t want him to be crushed if he’s proven wrong.

Like I said well done to all the DC!

DS1 is back now and all four interviews seem to have gone quite well. He's applying for joint honours and one subject went far better than the other, but the challenging one is famously tough and he did his best.

Ad DS2 has just a moment ago had an offer - his first! - from his second choice uni so we are all very relieved and may have opened some bubbly.

I put up the tree today too, so Christmas is finally here. I only have one more day of work and a work Christmas lunch and then down time until new year (I work part time.) Does anyone else feel sudden release of energy and a lifting of stress now all the interviews are done?

Very very good luck to all DC on this thread, whether at Oxbridge or elsewhere. I am sure they will all thrive.

I asked him and he said yes, definitely, @HugoSpritz - he loves both subjects and he really loves Oxford so studying one subject there would trump studying both at Durham or St Andrews. I got the impression one subject went very well. the interviewer remembered him from open day - they share a niche interest within this subject and spent a fair amount of the interview discussing it. Also, DS had Oxford access to online journals he couldn;t otherwise access and read the most recent one while he was there that happened to have controversial ground breaking research in it so they discussed that too. Sounds pretty idyllic as an interview. An exchange of passionate shared interest. But the others far less so. He applied to that college because of the tutor, so I am glad they met again, But the other interviews were more run of the mill not-sure-how-it-wents.