Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

[Baaaahhhhh]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4016760-Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-2

New Thread !

Scrolling through the TSR Oxford thread this morning, just really interesting. Several US students, never visited UK, applied to the big colleges, Christ Church and Worcester. They are coming because they think it will be fun, and that the fees are lower here (gulp). I must admit I admire their courage, especially when we (mums) worry about not being able to visit unis in our own country, and they are happily applying regardless.

Thank you for the reassurances. It is really helpful to have somewhere to ask as
I tried looking at TSR but got scared off and left so that link was good.
Yes she has applied for combined honours most places, PPE in Oxford.

@Flyonawalk, that is comforting for us too. DS has received 1 offer from Nottingham, which is his 5th choice. We are awaiting Cambridge, Durham, St. Andrews & King’s

Looking at the requirements for tier 3 interviews, I think anyone who is in that category and doesn't have a suitable device needs to be thinking about how to do it now, rather than waiting until they know they have an interview. I noted that there was a comment on the info page that they had already been in touch with some schools to check / assist. If you haven't got a touch screen + stylus, and can't get access to one at your school / former school then I would think the university will have some ideas how to help. I couldn't see obviously where you would ask though. Very glad my daughter has applied for a tier 1 subject ...

Earlier in the term when my daughter was doing choir auditions they made it very clear that they wanted to be contacted by anyone who had difficulties with the requirements (eg video with an accompanist), in order to find a workable solution.

Hi @par05, my DD also applying for English, but to Oxford. She's had offers from Warwick, Exeter and Nottingham, but not from Durham. We were wondering when she might get the results of the ELAT - I guess it will be after Oxford makes it's decision on whether to interview or not

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Just popping on to offer a bit of reassurance re hearing for interviews, specifically Oxford. DS did not hear until very late last year -the usual schedule is 14 days prior to the actual interview date. Some colleges were sending out interview invitations in advance of this for his subject so it was a nail-biting wait - he didn't hear until 30 November!
There will be a schedule of dates on the website.

HuaShan two of my History DC only heard five days before interview. As you say, very college dependent.

It's to be hoped that Tier 3 students would be contacted in plenty of time to organise the kit if it's not already available to them, or they're told to self-isolate so can't go into school for the interview. I think it's a bit much to have kids asking around for help to attend an interview they might not even be offered.

DD had confirmation that her college is looking at her application today - not in the best way, though. Apparently of the three essays she submitted on the portal, she'd managed to duplicate History, so her English lit essay was missing. Not the best impression! The admissions lady commented that she knew that DD hadn't done it purposely; I really hope she meant that! It was an honest mistake and DD sent the missing essay over as soon as she received the email, so hopefully it shows that she had it all ready to go.

A question - where is the info on subject tiers? I'm assuming that Arch and Anth is tier 1, but we all know what assuming does!

@Summer15coming it's here:

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews

Click on 'Technology required', which is the bit they have added recently

Thanks, @kitnkaboodle! It is indeed tier 1!

Just took a trip down memory lane and looked back at when ds applied (gosh, I had an odd user name!) - ah, I remember all the posters....

Anyway, ds received an interview invitation for History on 26 November, so a bit of time to wait yet - aaaaagggh !

Hi @Stitchintimesaves9 my daughters in the same boat, waiting to hear how she did in the admissions test and if she will have interview, she seems to think we should hear by the end of November about it.

DS reports odd interview with Manchester today (for Physics) zoom ,part interview part open day.
They were all told prior to 1 to 1 session that they would, all 40 of them ,be getting an A star AA offer.
The interviewer looked like he did not want to be there and the section where a physics problem was given was complicated by technical glitches

@olliepolly sorry about your DS experience. However he will get an offer for just showing up to the interview?

DD just received a Durham offer so I think they must be sending them out earlier this year!?

Not sure whether that was a question chopc, yes they were all told prior to interview ,when all together, that they were all getting identical offers.

@olliepolly sounds like the interview might have been a bit of a marketing exercise? In which case they possibly should have thought harder about who to chose as ‘interviewer’.

Regarding interview timings, last year DS had his first interview on 16 December. His invitation came through late evening on 8 December! Bearing in mind he had to fly to the U.K. this did not leave much time for planning. I hope everyone is keeping calm during what I know can be a stressful wait for news.

@olliepolly that was a question 🙂

@olliepolly - DS1 got the 'marketing' interview from Manchester last year for Chemistry. To be honest I was a bit annoyed that we spent money on his train fare, at least you didn't have to pay for him to get there! It put him off to be honest which was a shame as the course looked good.

DS1's Durham offer arrived on the same day as his Oxford interview offer last year so Durham isn't always late to offer.

Yes sandybayley, the silver lining in all this is the money saved on travel.
I also think fwiw that the remote oxford interviews, for those lucky enough to get them ,may also be a blessing. Prevents over investment and perhaps makes the disappointment if no offer forthcoming easier to recover from.

That's a really good point, olliepolly - DH and I were just saying last night that it is a shame that the interviewees this year won't get the amazing experience of staying at Oxford and meeting other students and candidates ... but I think that DS would find the let down much harder if he had been there, fell in love with it, and then was rejected.