Oxbridge Aspirants 2021-New Thread 4

[Baaaahhhhh]

And we are off:

Thread 3 link: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4070531-Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-3

DD had her first interview today. She said it was very mediocre and can't decide if the questions the interviewer (only one of them spoke) asked were prompting her or just follow up questions. She said they didn't respond to anything she said other than with 'okay...' and 'good' a couple of times. She said she didn't say anything 'particularly insightful' but felt that the topic wasn't really something that anything groundbreaking could be said about. Apparently, she tried her best to think out loud and not stop talking but thought she was waffling or bullshitting at quite a few points; she also said that she contradicted herself at a few points (she did point it out though?) and conceded a few of the interviewer's points (not sure if that's a good or bad thing?). Oh well, thank god it's over. Best of luck to everyone this week!!

Just a quick note (and I think everyone here is fine so far!) that DS says they were told they absolutely mustn’t put anything they were asked online.

Well done to your dd @mikeandike

I would hope that the interviewers take into account the strange circumstances this year and that doing virtual interviews is far from ideal! Plus the stress over whether your wifi will behave!

Are they using Zoom or Teams or what?

@bendmeoverbackwards Oxford is using Teams and Cambridge is using Zoom I believe.

Thank you @mikeandike Dd is used to Teams, they use it at school. Her first interview is tomorrow, fingers crossed for our slightly dodgy wifi.

I got nothing from DS until 90 mins after his interview. He said 'it went quite well actually'. That's bad, isn't it? (Totally overthinking) !

Good luck every one, I'm waiting to hear from dd - she said she'd tell me when she got home . Her second interview is Wednesday.

DD had her two today. Said the first one was bad (she hasn’t elaborated), she enjoyed the second one. Least they’re out of the way now and she can attempt to relax a bit.

Nice to hear they went well @Chocomel and @HollyJollyDillydolly

Dd's first one is tomorrow, second one on Thursday. It's going to be a stressful week.

Good to hear from all those who have interviewed today, especially the fellow MFL gang @fabtasticmrpox and @NiamCinnOir.

DS has his first interview in the morning, and he and DH are going to set him up to do it in DH's office and on DH's laptop/screen set up. I'm not entirely sure why and think that is a bit complicated - I'd rather he did it on his tablet that he knows well, but they are going on about angles and propping up and so I'm leaving them to it.

Well I say I'm leaving them to it, but really I'm stressing and worrying internally and trying not to let on. I keep worrying that he'll be getting pinged with notifications from DH's boss or similar through the course of the interview. So another night of ramped up menopausal night sweats and insane fretting ahead then.

@IrmaFayLear

Just must say I did a quick scan of the student room replies and people are reporting the atmosphere in interviews as "chilly" so that adds weight to my thoughts that current interview training is maybe to go for a more formal structure.

Do you have a link, Irma (because what I really need right now is more than one focus for my angst...)?

Oh, god, yes... the thought of dh’s boss suddenly appearing on the screen.... I know nothing about tech and presumably this couldn’t happen

I don’t think I can manage a link on this device but if you go on the Oxford 2021 applicants thread it’s on the last couple of pages. Although some more positive experiences have now been posted!

I suppose it’s difficult to tell, really. Obviously if an interview goes like a dream or it’s an utter disaster you have a clue, but probably most people fall slap bang in the middle. I’m just hoping that dd doesn’t have the misfortune to follow a brilliantly impressive candidate

Thanks, Irma!
The interviewers shouldn't be swayed by the previous candidate. I assume they will be making copious notes in between so that they can compare across the board and know who to accept, who to pool etc.

I still have my fingers crossed for you all.

On Teams even if the boss pops up the people on the other side of the screen can't see it. Also if you click onto the profile picture at the top you can set it to do not disturb which blocks phone calls and emails coming through.

I am not sure second guessing the outcome is possible. DD came out hers saying she had had a natter and they laughed when she hadn't really meant to be that funny. She reported another said they had been grilled.... both now share a staircase. DD continues to have a natter and a laugh and her friend continues to be grilled. Both are doing well.

She wore a hoodie and jeans, others wore suits.

Aw that's a really lovely story @unescorted. I like the thought of not having to second guess.

DS's interview is on zoom rather than teams. I expressed my anxiety to DH who responded in part reassuringly and in part in frustration with me. I really am going to try and leave them to it.

DS has his interview tomorrow on whereby, which was entirely new to all of us - but his college did do an introductory tech support type webinar and we had a practice today so hopefully all will be well - he has an online whiteboard to contend with as well (Cambridge, NatSci)

FINALLY.
Yes, DD has an interview. So I can fret about that now, but at least I only get a few days to do it in.

Excellent news @DahliaMacNamara!!

Most DC seem to have more than one interview, DS says he only has one (single subject degree) - does this sound right?

Yay, Dahlia !

I think it depends on the subject, 321zyx. Perhaps some are longer than others, eg 1x 50 minutes as opposed to 2 x 25 mins.

Thank god zoom/BT didn’t crash this morning!

DD contacted me last night to ask if I was free this afternoon. Met her after her first interview and we went for a good walk before I dropped her back before choir practice. 2nd interview tomorrow. Hers are 2x 25 mins and it sounded like her main impression of todays was it felt very short. Tomorrow's the one where she gets sent something 15 minutes before to read / critique. My impression is she enjoys doing that so ...

Great news Dahlia.

This made me chuckle @Tenpastseven "So another night of ramped up menopausal night sweats and insane fretting ahead then".

That makes two of us!!! But DS's sole interview is on Thursday so that's 3 restless sweaty nights to (not) look forward to for me ....

Best of luck to your DS tomorrow!