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

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New Thread from old one:

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

Interesting about driving lessons @chopc I thought they would have to stop but it seems there are still things that can still happen in Tier 3. My oldest dd is waiting to take her driving test, we're waiting for a cancellation over the Christmas period but she still wants to continue with lessons in the meantime.

And poor dd has had so many disruptions to her driving lessons what with lockdown and breaking her ankle (twice!) last year.

I’m so sorry for those DC who have had silent interviewers - very poor social skills on the part if the interviewers IMO

I agree, isn't the point to see what the candidates know and how they think? What's the point of maintaining these long silences? They must know the interviewees will be nervous, silences are just going to make them more uncomfortable.

Oh @FlyingSquid and @IrmaFayLear, sorry to hear both your girls were upset. It does seem such a brutal process and a bit of a long ordeal with being called back for interview.

Having had a job interview myself today via Zoom, I can only empathise with our DC. It is not easy at all to 'read the room' or build any sort of rapport especially with a panel of interviewers. It feels really awkward and I think I fluffed it under pressure.

Gosh -silent interviews sound really horrid!!!.
-I’m actually annoyed on your behalf.. there is no need to do that to kids .. it’s just bloody bad manners imo
I hope your dc’s are not too upset

I’ve talked to DD a bit more and she thinks some of the problem was that there were three interviewers, each was quite tiny on her screen and it was hard to tell reactions or whether someone was going to speak.

I suspect that the silences may have been a few seconds while everyone checked who ought to speak next, even if they felt eternal.

She does seem to have said at least some things!

I’m sure you impressed them, @Tenpastseven !

Dd said the connection was lost half-way through, but she didn’t realise, and one of the interviewers was a bit irritable and said they hadn’t heard anything she’d said. That put dd off her stroke and so she started off again, and the person said, “Never mind about that...” It all fizzled out and then dd couldn’t hear them and they just said that’s the end of the interview.

@IrmaFayLear so unfair! They should have rescheduled the interview!

@IrmaFayLear and @FlyingSquid, you just never know. Hang on in there, especially to your DDs. TLC for the girls, and just making sure they are okay with everything else. This is done now, look onwards to mocks and the exams. With a nice pampering Christmas for them.

I share your sentiments Re covid Irma... it seriously is enough now. I have another DC sitting important exams and interviews and it has been such a palaver with all the various changes and alterations.

Re: silent interviewers, one of the four interviewers ds had was fairly silent and he ended up saying 'I hope I never have her teaching me!'. Whereas the other interviewers came across well, so I don't think it's just a technology thing.

And Covid - argh! So frustrating, we had some theatre tickets booked that are now cancelled, very first world problem I know, but something to look forward to, plus I know quite a few people who work in the theatre who must be devastated now. Just brutal for them and so many businesses. Covid can fuck right off now.

Apologies, I have been lurking and not contributing!

Well done to those who secured Oxford interviews with different colleges. That all sounds very positive.

DD wasn't notified of an additional interview for History so I guess that boils down to a simple rejection or offer. She is fairly laid back about it all. She slept well before her interview and was quite chilled as she sat in the Teams waiting room. Who knows whether this sense of calm will be perceived positively or negatively... She will bounce back quite quickly if she gets rejected on the 12th and firm with Durham soon after.

I can't believe Cambridge are making applicants wait until the 25th - it's cruel!

@Jano69 dd will also firm with Durham to secure the lower offer if she gets rejected on 25th. It does seem like a very long wait!

@Jano69 I don't know anyone else who has secured a History offer from Durham so your DC's application must be outstanding ......

Thanks chopc but I'm not sure if it was an outstanding application, more likely well timed as it was submitted well before the mid Oct deadline?

@Beetlesand Sounds like our dc could end up at the same uni!

Shame about the silent interviewers, I suspect some of the tutors are lacking in either interpersonal or technical skills.

I wouldn't expect DD's interviewers to lack technical skills, but some hiccups at the beginning of her interview at the Oxford end certainly threw her off balance, as she couldn't really hear the first question. But she bounced back, and on the whole it sounded like a positive experience. Let's hope tomorrow won't be a stinker. She's also planning on Durham if the interviews go tits-up. So nothing to lose, really.

Curious to know if anyone has had an offer from Durham for history that wasn’t contextual, international or year 14. I don’t think so, but keen to know if the starting gun has fired yet.

DD's Durham history offer wasn't contextual, international or year 14. Not sure why she got an early offer other than she made a very early application.

No response other than acknowledgment from Durham here. DS applied a week or so after Oxbridge application deadline.

DS1 still waiting on Durham for History (very much second choice). He's year 14 so I don't think they're replying to those with grades in hand before this year's A levellers.

In fact he he's only put Oxford and Durham on his UCAS form at this stage. Fingers crossed he won't need to add another 3...or perhaps I'm fantasising again....

His interview (3 on 1) thankfully went without any technical hiccups or awkward silences. Although I suspect boys wouldn't pick up on the latter anyway.

Good luck to all the other DC having second interviews today.

DD struggled a bit with MIRO for maths yesterday, i think my 10 inch tablet is probably a bit small for what she wanted to do, so the interviewer ended up scribing for her.
She seemed a bit negative afterwards, she said she got to most of the answers but needed a bit of prompting in places and thought that she got there slower than she would have done in class without the pressure.
She has another interview with a different college tomorrow, I hope that goes a bit better.

Two interviews for dd today. She’s a bit worried about the second one this afternoon, she’s been given an hour! Don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign or if it’s a mistake?

Oh good luck to those still plugging away. It's endless.

@Jano69 totally cruel. At least on here we can manage two waves of offers and redirections with a little break in between.

Perhaps she'll have a source sent prior to the interview bendmeoverbackwards. An hour is very, very, very long purely for discussion.

Yes good point @goodbyestranger. For languages they had an hour which included half an hour to read the language piece and then half an hour to discuss.