Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

[Baaaahhhhh]

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

New Thread !

But any recent graduate will know what a tutorial/ supervision is like, and be able to replicate it.

Irma, I see your point, but I wouldn’t worry too much. At this point, all the DC have the relevant grades (otherwise they wouldn’t even be applying). As this is a given, I would argue the biggest advantage for any of them from here on in, is having an engaged and informed parent behind them (as you obviously are). This is worth 50 times anything any school can do.

DS goes to a state school and has been accepted on the interview prep session. He found out about it through an email that was sent out to potential Oxford applicants who had attended an online open day. He had to get his school's support to apply for the interview session, which they were happy to do.

I'm not as on the ball as I thought and didn't scroll down to the bottom of an e mail received in October .

"Remote Interview Workshops: Applications are now open for Remote Interview Workshops. Run by Oxford colleges and departments and taking place in November, the workshops will give advice and guidance to shortlisted applicants on what to expect and how to prepare for online interviews. Limited places are available and open to state school students."

IrmaFayLear. I am here to help you on a lovely sunny day..... and am intervening "Step away from the TSR"

(I will try to follow my own recommendation, and am now going out for a walk).

Yup, that was the one calculatorqueen - they didn't exactly make it easy to see did they.

@calculatorqueen how can those on the interview workshops be 'shortlisted applicants' already??

@quest1on if you want to look at a particular Student Room thread, you can usually get there through google (eg. Google 'student room oxford 2021' or suchlike. I lurk there to try and get the general vibe, but you have to have a strong stomach for lots of emojis, acronyms and 'ahahaha's

kitnkaboodle The workshops aren't for shortlisted candidates - they are taking place before anyone is likely to find out whether they get an interview or not.

Yes I had a look this morning and it was all “ahhaha” about anything and everything from the US election to unis. Can’t be doing with it

Yes I thought the same about shortlisted but I have simply copied it direct from the e mail.

Maybe what they meant to say was that the workshops will be of use to candidates should they have the incredible fortune to be shortlisted!

My dd didn’t receive that about interview workshops in her email and she goes to a low performing state school and won’t be receiving any help from them. Starting to think she has no chance, feel so unprepared.

Last year there were specifically targeted students, it wasn't a general offer.

@Baaaahhhhh

This is what you need bendmeoverbackwards

www.history.ox.ac.uk/admissions-facts-and-figures

The percentages change as the process goes along....

Why doesn't this mention the personal statement or school reference? They must have some bearing surely?

I hadn’t thought of trying to organise a mock interview for DD before we know if she gets called for interview.
I did find out that a nearby international school don’t have anyone applying for the same course as DD this year so the teacher there who advises on U.K. applications has said she will talk to DD. Hopefully she will know someone who can do a mock interview if DD gets called for one.

I'm agog at people being able to organise mock interviews, or schools organising them! Surely a really beneficial mock interview can only be done with someone with vast knowledge of the subject in question? So you'd need to have a handy subject expert available! Or, God forbid, schools get the wrong end of the stick and use the mock interview to erroneously quiz the student about their hobbies, their Gold DofE award and why they chose Cambridge over Oxford ... I'm genuinely intrigued by how schools set these up.

DD is going through all her written work to decide what to submit with school today. Not sure what she will pick but hoping school will advise her appropriately. Good to hear she can use an extract from her EPQ if needed - in fact that may be the answer. I've suggested she call the Oxford college in question to double check they are happy with whatever she wants to choose.
She said the HAT went ok. Liked the source but thought the question was one of the hardest compared to the practice ones she did. Overall felt she did herself justice (even though she can't remember a single thing she wrote) so fingers crossed it is enough for an interview. She's realistic about the odds on getting an offer but I think secretly would at least like to get to interview stage.
With respect to some students getting interview practice, it's not something I feel is necessary to get worked up about. DD is at an independent school so doesn't qualify. However there are loads of mock interviews on Youtube to watch so really plenty of source material to give you an idea what you are likely to face. She should get one practice interview at school with someone - no idea who - might be a volunteer parent if they can find one for her subject or a teacher. Other than that, the help she has received from school has been basic. Her Oxbridge tutor didn't even bother to give feedback on her personal statement until the day it was due in (despite having it for 3 weeks) and by then it was too late to make any major amendments. She has had no feedback on practice HAT papers. Not all private school pupils are tutored or groomed. I'm just proud that she's put in so much effort and her application is undoubtably from her. She's an incredibly bright, self motivated girl with a passion for her subject and will thrive wherever she ends up.

She's an incredibly bright, self motivated girl with a passion for her subject and will thrive wherever she ends up. Hear, hear, to all our DC.

I'm genuinely intrigued by how schools set these up

DD1 and DD2, different schools, both send annual "please help" emails to all parents. Not specifically for Oxbridge, but for anything useful that parents think they may be able to offer the school. DH nor I have anything useful to offer, but DD1 went into DD2's school to give a presentation to sixth formers on her subject at uni. They really connected with her because she is the right age. It was really interesting to note that several 6th formers then applied to do her subject at uni, when it wasn't on the radar before.

bendmeoverbackwards Why doesn't this mention the personal statement or school reference? They must have some bearing surely?

I "think", because I remember seeing it somewhere, that the PS and reference are particularly useful for all the borderline cases. As I think I mentioned before, you always have the definite yes, and definite no, but in the middle are all the fantastic and worthy candidates that somehow have to be sorted.

The tests and interview are the most important - I think!

The personal statement is useful as a talking point in interviews, but it’s obviously not clear how much input someone has had in writing it. The school reference will obviously be absolutely wonderful for every candidate!

Thank you @Baaaahhhhh

Dd seems to think that the HAT is more to wheedle out those who aren't suitable for the course. Bearing in mind that around 74% of applicants are interviewed for AMA do you think she is right?

Baaa - I realise that monk was for History at Oxford and DS not applying for either, but I am surprised that initial decisions are 50% GCSE and 50% admissions test.

So the predicted grades count for nothing then?

I thought it was the other way round as people say , “oh nobody cares about GCSEs.”

I'd never heard of the interview coaching sessions. I don't think DD has either, but she wouldn't necessarily have mentioned them. Her school haven't been a lot of help, in spite of being a reasonably good comprehensive. To be honest, it was seeing how she forged ahead when left to her own devices from March onwards that spurred her on to apply, so there's been no long term strategy on her part. She knows what her chances of getting a place are, but her philosophy is that she's as good as pretty much anyone who does get a place, so why not give it a shot?

I'm genuinely intrigued by how schools set these up.

Areas have an Oxford and a Cambridge link college (ours are Hertford and Emmanuel, respectively). So possibly with advice from their outreach teams?

But as a pp has said, there are lots of (official and 'unofficial') Oxbridge interview videos on YouTube- I would be surprised if many applicants hadn't thought to have a look on there. Just quizzed DS2 as to whether he would have done (in case the answer was, Urgh, NO! YouTube is for old people) and he said that he would have looked, but I would never apply in the first place for somewhere that wanted to interview me...

Just checking in on the new thread. DD has applied for Earth Sciences so no exam. Lots of her friends are applying for Medical school or Maths so stress levels are high.

Good luck to everyone.