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

MidLifeCrisis sometimes DurhamHistory takes ages with Y14s too, even in normal years and even those with four A*. But it may well also be a more hesitant about putting too much store by the 2020 CAGs.

@Jano69 Gosh - I guess they must have strayed on the strongest candidates then. Congrats to her

@MidLifeCrisis007. Love the image of some boys being oblivious to awkward silences

Ahem. Started, not strayed. Although I guess that works too

Good luck to all who have interviews today 🤞☘️. Hoping they can show off their talents and they have some lovely interviewers. Also try not to dwell on the ones that didn't go to plan. You hear so many who are convinced they mucked it up that then go on to get an offer. Nothing else for DD here after her 2 last week. She said her second interview last Thurs was very very hard with a relentless list of why, why, why to everything she said. DD has absolutely no idea how she did - I think it's just a blur. I'm torn as to how I feel, as would be nice to have another so as not to end on a difficult experience but also she's exhausted. Grappling with school work, coursework deadline on the same day as her interview last week, it has just been relentless. I'm in awe at all of our sons and daughters who have managed to put so much into their applications when U6th school work, mocks etc still go on. It's no wonder DD has had a stress outbreak on her skin this past weekend. We have been re visiting her other choices and waxing lyrical about them in case it's not good news in Jan. She's mainly waiting to hear from Durham now. How lucky @Jano69 DD is to have already heard.

The offer will be about more than grades. There must have been something particularly arresting about the personal statement or reference.

DD4 has just said that there were a group of interviewees at her Oxford interview last year who'd all applied to Durham for History/ Classics and spent a dinner in hall dissing it, pretty much saying they'd applied there on sufferance. She says none are now at her college. It's good to hear that Jano69's DD has a slightly more gracious approach.

Having not got a further interview, and therefore DD's Oxford journey over until offer day, she has been looking more intently at her other offers. Having decided Warwick was her alternative, Exeter is now back in the O alternative. I don't mind either way, wherever she is happy, but the A303 fills me with dread..... especially if they are going to start digging the tunnel....ugh.

@Tenpastseven Yes the 25th is a very long time to wait.

This is my third and final year following the Oxbridge threads. The discussions reassuringly take the same structure year on year - largely supportive with a little squabbling in between. My point is that Cambridge offers usually follow Oxford by one day. That 24 hour period is painful enough so two weeks is going to be very hard indeed.

I like the dinner story goodbye. DD's genuine preference is Durham. But remember she saw her older brother have an awful Cambridge experience a couple of years ago, so perhaps not completely unsurprising. She's seen that same brother have an absolutely wonderful time at Durham mixing in a very able and charismatic cohort.

Are you able to say something about the awful experience @Jano69 for us naive first timers? Anything for us to be aware of?

Apologies to those who have to hear my sorry story again....

But to first timers he simply got an A Star A Star A offer for History at Cambridge. He was more than capable of 3 A Stars but "only 🤣" achieved A Star A A. He recalls panicking in the A Level exams as he wanted Cambridge soooo badly which affected his performance.

He was put in the summer pool on results day and was rejected 36 hours later. It was awful. I think he was the very last candidate to be rejected in the whole system, but I guess someone had to be the last....

@Tenpastseven

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.

Thank you *@Tenpastseven* I’ll tell dd that might happen.

That Cambridge pool system is brutal. At least Oxford beats you with a miserable stick in one go. And waiting till the 25th this year. The process is quite sadistic...

Good luck @bendmeoverbackwards' DD!

@IrmaFayLear and that's precisely why DD chose Oxford over Cambridge. They are definitely the kinder of the two. But you'd expect me to be biased.

I thought your DD was a History rather than languages applicant bendmeoverbackwards, have I got that wrong? Apologies if so.

Thank you. She has just emerged from the first one and wasn’t in tears so that’s something. She thought it went ok but was then worried that it wasn’t awful as it’s supposed to go

Her second one is this afternoon. In between I’ve got to get little dd to a dance exam along with associated stress over hair etc.

looking forward to this week being over

Ds found Cambridge kinder !!!!!

I'm convinced there is a huge element of luck in the whole thing. Apart from the absolute genius candidates who are carried over the threshold on the shoulders of the professors, there is a huge mass of similarly talented applicants who make it to interview. It is then in the lap of the gods whether you gel at interview, whether the questions fall in your favour, and the calibre of applicants at the college you applied to.

Wishing all still interviewing the best.
We are awaiting Durham too.
I’m secretly hoping Cambridge will change their minds about the 25th. Why does it have to be that late?
January is usually a drag anyway! So this would make it seem even longer

@IrmaFayLear I agree whole heartedly.

Bloody hell that IS rough @Jano69. Good to hear he's happy at Durham though. They all do move on in the end don't they (she says clinging on to the hope).

'miserable stick' made me laugh @IrmaFayLear.

Oh you'll need a treat tonight @bendmeoverbackwards- chocolate, wine, gin?

Well that's DS' second one done - DS just said that he has done all that he can and it's out of his hands now. Hopefully we can put it out of our minds for a bit and enjoy Christmas!

Oh I didn't say thank you for sharing that story @Jano69. I appreciate it :)

@Tenpastseven The fact that I can use 🤣 emojis when recalling the awful saga means time does eventually become a healer. As a family, we are much less invested in the Oxbridge process second time round. Haven't told friends or colleagues and barely updating family....

Well done @LaundryFairy, I am getting positive vibes.

Good to hear @Jano69