Oxbridge 2020 (6)

[Justneedatemporaryname]

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

Nothing here (yet!).
Did the email come from the college or the Uni? I assume it was a generic email as opposed to 'we have put you in the pool and this is how it works'.

That must be unnerving! But sounds hopeful if she's still a wanted candidate?

Deliberately not thinking about Oxford, but anyone pooled has already been looked at, so no extra stress at Christmas...what awful timing when people are trying to relax!

DS hasn't received any further emails as far as I know. Happy Christmas to you all...

DS hasn’t received any extra emails either.

Happy Christmas.

Happy Christmas everyone

Email was from college but dd has decided she is a marmite candidate so either acceptance or rejection. Am hoping she doesn’t get pooled as college makes sense accessibility wise. She did have a wobble thinking she might get pooled to one of the grand ones that she found intimidating

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2020. Official decisions 2 weeks today for Oxford and one day after for Cambridge - all seems very real!

Dropping in to say Happy New Year to everyone.

We've had an eventful few days as poor DS1 has had appendicitis. It came on on the 26th and he had it out on the 28th. He's home now but feeling very sorry for himself. I don't think he's been in prolonged genuine pain before and it's been an eye opener for him. He has serious antibiotics and they've caused awful diarrhoea. Only one more day to go of the course though.

He'll be fine and it puts into perspective what's important. His mocks start next Monday and the poor thing hasn't been able to do much in preparation.

DH and I have decided we're assuming a 'no' on the 14th given the odds. Not a defensive strategy, just being realistic.

So very sorry to hear about your DS sandybayley what an awful time for him and so very painful - hopefully the antibiotics will kick in quickly and he'll start to feel a lot better. And a stressful and worrying time for you too. Tell him not to worry about his mocks, it's the real ones that count and he has lots of time before then.

We are taking a similar stance here too - assuming a no and hoping that DS remaining two choices will come in soon (please please!!). As this is a "second time round" for DS - having got his grades already, where we are now I would seriously reconsider ever going down this route again! It would be so much more palatable if he had his other offers in.

In the meantime, wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and a speedy recovery to sandbayley DS.

sandy what a nightmare! At least it’s out now - imagine if that had happened in May or next year when he was away at university!

@KingscoteStaff and@PortusCale - thanks! It's awful seeing him so sad and in real pain. In a way I'd rather he was still in hospital with stronger pain relief.

He did self diagnose so maybe if he'd been at uni he'd have got to A and E. I think it would have been ok.

Best wishes to your DS @sandybayley - I hope he feels better soon. I had appendicitis this year (half way through chemo!) and was in hospital for a week. Kids do bounce back quickly and at least he has got it out of the way now rather than in the middle of exams. I was sent home with oramorph - can your GP give him some stronger pain relief?

sandybayley all good wishes to your DS for a speedy recovery, poor thing.

And Happy New Year to everyone! Whatever else 2020 brings for us all and our children, I hope it brings health and happiness all round.

Sorry your DS has been so ill, @sandybayley. Glad it was caught in time and I wish him a quick recovery. As you say, it puts everything into perspective.

Coleoptera, I often wonder why universities are so slow to give offers to students with grades already achieved. Those decisions should be an easy yes or no.

If anyone who works in admissions could shed light on this. DC also waiting for LSE ( plus UCL and KCL).

Happy new year everyone! This holiday we have been dealing with stinking colds, elderly father ending up in A&E and generally quite a bit of stress all round. But it's been good to have time off work and a relatively normal Christmas without thinking about university admissions. DD got quite stressed at midnight last night, though and I think the fact that starting university is now THIS YEAR is weighing on her mind.

DS has had a restful Christmas break, with a good balance of studying and relaxing.

If it's any consolation, DD was the only one out of all those she met at Oxford interview who had received offers from Durham, York or Warwick for her subject. It must be very frustrating though if you applied so long ago but haven't received any offers yet, whether you have grades in hand or otherwise. The twins are definitely in good company.

Hope pain is manageable and abating Sandybarley.
Always the worst holiday for illness. DD had a mild stomach upset that meant she stayed at home with the oldies on NYE and then I sent her to bed halfway through Dracula last night as she looked shattered and a bit peaky, fortunately on the mend today.
Now we are working out what to do re offer days - all involve long journeys but one is definitely insurance. But we had good discussion re not attempting to have another go if C doesn't work out. Not sure she could do it anyone as she has variety of extra measures that we couldn't replicate out of school.

Grandson still waiting for Durham and Edinburgh - History.

I'm trying to be calm about Oxford. After all, if he gets an offer it means months of worrying in case he misses the grades! Hopefully he will get one of his chosen Universities, they are all very good choices.

I never thought of it like that Tea. At least if my DS doesn't get an offer on the 15th then it puts an end to that worry (and I know it would be a worry). My DS is also waiting to hear back from Durham so hopefully he will hear from them soon.

My friend's DD missed the grades for Oxford last year-she needed AAA and she got A*AB She was devastated (my friend's daughter not my friend) However, she is very happy at Bristol now so it all worked out in the end but it was a horrible and stressful time for her and her parents.

Absolutely, time! It merely makes the road ahead clearer, it's not a failure.

Because Grandson has no organised backing from school ( non-leafy below average comp) he won't be letting anybody down if he goes elsewhere. One other student has applied this year, and it is a very large school. Durham would be fab!

Someone told me about a young relative of theirs who had dreamed of going to Oxford from a young age, and even had pictures on his wall to motivate himself. Wouldn't countenance an alternative. Luckily, they did get in, but imagine if they hadn't?

Far better, surely, to realise there are other excellent universities