Oxbridge Interviewees for 2021 Entry - The Journey Continues - Thread 5

[Baaaahhhhh]

New Thread from old one:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4088426-Oxbridge-Aspirants-2021-New-Thread-4

I’m here. Also trying to distract myself unsuccessfully. DS is up in the study. DH taking shelter in the kitchen with instructions not to be on the WiFi that I fear he’s ignoring. Deathly silence as DS reads his language piece. Dog has been sent out with the dog walker. He’s a terrier with a passionate hatred of delivery drivers and postmen.

Same here! Have turned off wifi on all devices, am more nervous than dd I think, she was emailed a pieces off work to annotate 30 mins before interview so has been getting on with that and interview at 10.30 😬

Second interview reading just started here.

DS said the first interview was tough but they were very friendly and he feels he didn’t say enough ‘intelligently’ but after a cup of sweet tea and a chocolate biscuit, he’s back to it.

Thanks for the new thread @Baaaahhhhh

Good luck to everyone with interviews today. Dd's is at 1.30pm today, she's upstairs doing some last minute prep and getting ready. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the wifi to be reliable!

Snap @par05.

Good work @Crikeyblimey.

I can hear the mumble of voices upstairs. He seems quite animated from this distance.

@Crikeyblimey same here, have just had the tea and quick chat, now he's back upstairs- second interview in half an hour.

@Tenpastseven good plan!! I have a JRT who shares that passionate hatred but is also an utter coward so mainly winds up the beagle then runs and hides

Gosh all these interviews happening now!

Does it really help with the wifi if you turn off other devices?

Mutley-type dog and staffie cross (sometimes very cross) here - will be removing them for an hour to be on the safe side.

Also banning sibling live-streaming/tank battles/lengthy online chats with distant friends.

Not much we can do about neighbours’ building works though.

Dh and I were planning to go to the pub for dd's interviews but ds is now having to self-isolate so we're thinking we might have to drag him across the fields (we won't see a soul) for 2 hours. Dd says he can stay if he's quiet but he's not the quietest of souls at any time (although as he won't be allowed anywhere near the internet, maybe he could just snooze!)

Good luck to all those DC interviewing today.

I think a lot of the stress for me comes from knowing that this is something that they really have to tackle on their own. We can support, encourage, console, give hugs and cups of tea but at the end of the day, the application process belongs to them whether they are successful or redirected.

I’m taking comfort that I couldn’t help DD if I tried - I don’t know any of this stuff!

But she’s been so fired up about it after a few weeks of wider reading, so whatever the outcome, it really feels like she’s itching to get to university now.

FlyingSquid - yes! DS so wants to move on and begin his studies. He loves history very much and will talk endlessly to anyone about it, so clearly he needs to find his people at uni.

Well interview no1 is done. He says the interviewer was friendly and he thinks he did his best but he's really not sure how he's done. He says it's hard to gage. My adrenaline levels are slowly regulating again and he's heading off to school.

Thinking of those still plugging away and those with afternoon slots.

@bendmeoverbackwards I'm not sure but I do it any way incase wifi goes slower or glitches, I was on the laptop the other day and my ds was watching something on prime and laptop wifi would not connect so I might be over panicking but not taking no chances.

Still hasn't come out of her room 🥴

Dd's getting jittery now. She just wants to do it. She seems well prepared so I've encouraged her to relax until the interview time.

Good luck to your dd! Ok so she has finished phew.. first interview the interviewers were very poker faced straight into her poem annotations, she said it was ok couldn't quite tell. The 2nd interview she enjoyed much more, said it was more relaxed and a bit more fun, so now another waiting game begins 🙈 good luck to everyone 🤞

Well done to your dd @par05 what subject is that for? Nice when it's over and done with.

DS currently interviewing now! Do we know what date the results come out in Jan?

Thank you @@bendmeoverbackwards she has applied to study English literature.
I'm not sure what days but think towards mid/end of January .

@Pumpkintopf @pepperaunt DS also has 2 x 25 min interviews for NatSci. First one is in 15 minutes, second one an hour later. He has gone off to have a quick shave!! Cat and husband have been banished from the home office for the duration. @ClarasZoo 25 January for Cambridge (I think)

I think it's the 12th January that offers/redirections are sent out.

Good vibes to all of you with home interviews ongoing or imminent. I don't think I'd cope with that particular drama. DD will be at school for hers, unless there's a need to isolate of course, but that's not until next week, so I'm having a couple of days off the pacing.

Gosh I'm glad DD will be doing hers at school. Not sure I could cope with the added stress if she was at home. You never know whether you should make yourself completely scarce or be around in case of technical difficulties (like I could help!) How on earth do you fight the urge to eavesdrop 😆.
Nevertheless I am anxious, as tomorrow she will have a full day of lessons followed by last interview of the day. Can imagine both the interviewers and DD will be a bit brain frazzled by that time.

(Oops. 12th January is for Oxford, and I may even have pulled it out of thin air.)

Those of you emailed things to read half an hour before the interview - had you been told in advance that that was going to happen so that you knew to check your email?