Oxbridge 2020 (6)

[Justneedatemporaryname]

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

There's ALWAYS one or two of the 'Nailed It' variety ! Don't know whether it's done intentionally to psych-out others, immaturity, total lack of emotional/ social intelligence - or simply prat-ish behaviour. I agree with Fingernail - can't imagine any interviewer being remotely impressed with that.
Hoghgyni - urgh, that's horrible for her the replaying thing - hoping very much it actually went a lot better than she thought and able to put it out of her mind. Best of luck to her.

Some students do unfortunately like to “put off” other students or act very, very confident which is a shame. Like I said very few students leave thinking it went well but it’s possible for a student to leave thinking they’ve done enough to get an offer. If that makes any sense. I suppose if you’ve had quite a lot of coaching or experience with oxbridge, you’d sort of know if you’ve performed well.

bpisok and hoghygni hope the interviews went better than your DDs think, and that they can just forget about it all now and enjoy Christmas. Hopefully there is truth in what everyone on here says, that if they think it went terribly that might mean it's gone well.

Not sure what subjects your DDs were applying for but I think it must be so difficult for any of them to know how they've done really, especially in the more 'talky' subjects. Fingers crossed for them both.

I've heard twice now (from an admissions tutor on TSR and from an admissions tutor who went to DD's school to do a talk) that they more or less know whether they want you before you get there. You're put into quintiles according to strength before interview. Most of the time the interview just confirms what they already know. I think this is why a student's perception of how the interview went tends to have no correlation with whether they achieve an offer or not.

So the people who think they've done badly but get an offer actually might have done, and the one's who think they smashed it but don't get an offer probably did do well but it wasn't enough to make up for other weaknesses in the application.

I've heard twice now (from an admissions tutor on TSR and from an admissions tutor who went to DD's school to do a talk) that they more or less know whether they want you before you get there. You're put into quintiles according to strength before interview.

I’m not sure if I agree this is true tbh. There are always strong students with strong stats (admission tests, exam results etc) who don’t get in and students with weaker stats who do get in.

First interview for DS, he seemed a bit down about it afterwards, but I was trying hard to convince myself with the line that it's meant to be hard, if you think it was easy that's not a good sign etc. He's now come out of his next interview (second college) sounding much more upbeat, seemed to feel he got a positive response from interviewers. So, I'll have to adjust my post-hoc rationalisation for convincing myself that it's all going to be fine.

Basically, until 15 January, who can say whether it went well?

Admissions tutors would say it if it wasn't true. The one on TSR outlined how they process the applications.
Of course there are always outliers who probably had an outstanding interview that made up for weaker performance elsewhere or vice versa.

*wouldn't

Good luck DadDadDad!

Put it all out of your minds now. He's done all he can!

@Justneedatemporaryname , that’s really interesting. Is there a link for those of us still waiting for interviews to start and fretting-time to fill?

God - I feel the "nailed it" people don't deserve to get in just for being horrible. DS is replaying too - if he's anything like me he will have thought about all he could have said afterwards and be kicking himself.

DD in her second interview right now. The first was ok, she said, but she is not sure she got a chance to shine. This subject interview she is expecting to be much harder. She has been listening to podcasts on her subject between interviews to get her into the right frame of mind.

Of course, her feelings and ours are complicated by the fact that she has decided she doesn't really want to go to Cambridge, and that we are not sure it is the right place for her... I desperately want her to get an offer just for her own satisfaction but also realise that it would just make things harder for her if she is sure it is not where she will be happiest.

I'm consoling myself that at least it is all over in about 15 minutes and there won't be anything else she can do (or fail to do). And I squeezed in a visit to Fitzbillies so that was lovely. Such a lot of anxious looking mothers and children, looking just like me and DD - a wave if that was any of you!

Just wanted to say chin-up to those who don’t think it went well. DD felt her first one went well and picked up positive looks etc between the interviewers but then had a disaster in the second one. After working through an equation over about 4 sheets of flip pad the interviewer looked down his nose and said “you do realise you could have simplified it in the second line”. She managed “well I do now - thank you”. Cried all the way home as she had also overheard “why do they keep sending us ones that can’t do maths” just before she went in and assumed she fell into that category! But she got in so who knows what they are looking for...

chitchattery your poor DD! I'm hoping she bounces back soon.

I'm contemplating Cambridge rush hour and the motorway and wondering if we will ever get home tonight. Still have to pack the car with the clobber DS is bringing home and then manoeuvre our way out of town. It's really not a city for cars.

DH and DS on way to Kings Cross now. They plan to recce their walking route from the Travellodge this evening!

DS looking to get train from Oxford to Paddington (then on to Cambridge) - be aware there's been an incident at Slough that's resulted in cancellations and delays on that line.

@Justneedatemporaryname is that Oxford or Cambridge . I really hope that’s not the case because 3 days off school at a critical time , the cost of getting to an interview plus the whole emotional investment just to confirm what they already know , especially when 2/3 get rejected post interview is s bit much frankly .

Ds has been asked to stay tonight , if there are train problems that’s probably for the best because he would have been doing a similar route to DadDads ds only Liverpool Street not Kings X

I've heard nothing from DS since Monday lunchtime. He had 2nd interview in the afternoon and 3rd this morning. Due to be released tomorrow afternoon. No idea what they've been doing during free time. He's on the bus so I'm glad he doesn't have to worry about train problems! And then we can forget all about it until the 14th Jan

Peaseblossom22 Cambridge. I believe interview is quite a big factor at Oxford.

Almost worse if it’s Cambridge because they interview so many

I honestly doubt it’s 100% true ( not suggesting the admission tutor was lying at all but maybe didn’t fully explain it etc).

What would be the point in interviews if they “knew” who they wanted?

Justneed - if it works like you say, I would rather DS hadn't been dragged over from France just to confirm he was marginal.