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

Both interviews done, thank goodness! He's feeling elated that it's done and he feels like he did his best. He's going to take the afternoon off then start preparing for biology and physics tests this week 😂. DH and I are thankful the wifi held up!

@ par05
My DD had her English Literature interview and said she the same about the first vs second one. She really enjoyed the second but felt like crying after the first!

Well done to all those who have got through their interviews. Good luck to those still in process.

I love all the talk about dogs and husbands (and siblings). DD will be fine at school this week, but if she has another interview next week it will be at home. I will have to instruct DH to go for a walk, and DD1 to move downstairs, as her bedroom is next door to DD's. Also we have a VERY loud cat.... I know, you think it is not as bad as a dog..... but this particular cat is a 5Kg part Bengal, and if he wants to go in a room, he yells and yells and yells, and bangs against the door until you relent. Will definitely have to remove him. As an aside, he loves delivery men and the postie, and particularly food delivery men, and always goes to say hello and what have you got for me!

Yes it's 12th January, a date that's etched on my brain!

My dd is upstairs interviewing as we speak. Her room is the loft room and we're all staying downstairs so nice and quiet for her. I'm so nervous for her!

Ds just finished, he had 2 this morning. First one was a mixed bag, one of the interviewers was 'like a robot', no banter and no feedback. Ds is quite a chatty boy so finds it difficult when others don't want to chat with him!

Second interview better and he felt he answered the questions well. He's now disappeared to play on his PS, he's not going back to school today and I don't blame him.

As for me, I'm so relieved there were no tech issues and ds seems fairly happy! Onward to January....

Good luck to those still to interview.

Well done to your ds @Vargas

Everyone seems to have both interviews on the same day. Dd's second one is Thursday so the stress can be prolonged!

@pourmeanotherglass
Yes, ds was told in his email from the college that there would be something in his Inbox half an hour before.

I tried to eavesdrop but couldn't hear anything through the door... Ds says he had to show his passport and move laptop around to show that room was empty!

@pourmeanotherglass yes when dd had the interview email it was written in there about having a piece of literature to read through 30 mins before interview.
@HollyJollyDillydolly yep totally mixed reviews on both interviews ! Hopefully both done well 🤞

Dd has just emerged from her History interview not happy at all She thinks it went badly and she won't get in. She didn't want to talk about any of the questions. I tried to reassure her that people have got in even when they thought they had done badly at interview.

Upset for her, I wanted her to feel positive.

Well done to those who have got through it today. Dd sent a brief text from school to say she didn't know how it had gone, I won't know more til she gets home. I felt so anxious today at work. It's just wait and see now I guess, and probably prudent to remind her that her first choice was UCL who she's still waiting to hear from.
Good luck all those still to go.

@bendmeoverbackwards she probably has done much better that she thinks. The interviewer gives nothing away very straight face! It's a massive achievement getting this far as I keep telling my dd what will be will be. Its soooo hard though seeing them upset.

@bendmeoverbackwards

Dd has just emerged from her History interview not happy at all She thinks it went badly and she won't get in. She didn't want to talk about any of the questions. I tried to reassure her that people have got in even when they thought they had done badly at interview.

I think my dd will be like this when she gets back. It's so hard isn't it? Lots of tlc for your dd @bendmeoverbackwards

bendmeoverbackwards is there a second interview or is that one her only one?

She has her second one on Thursday

Are lots of people being asked to wave their camera around to show that the room is empty? Not sure whether that will work with our set up

DD had her second and possibly final interview today (we’ll find out if she has a third one on Friday). She thought it went better than yesterday’s but only marginally - enjoyed the questions a lot but really struggled answering a couple and had to pause for a while/be prompted apparently. They were both very friendly but the interview ended about 7 minutes early because they finished the questions and she can’t tell if that’s a good or bad thing? Anyway, she’s fairly sure she hasn’t gotten in now but she did come out both interviews laughing about the chosen topics so she seems to be in good spirits at least. She’s being strangely positive about not getting in - I think she’s trying to pre-emptively come to terms with a redirection so she doesn’t have to deal with those emotions mid-mocks in Jan.

@bendmeoverbackwards I’m sure your DD has done a lot better than she thinks she has. Fingers crossed for her and best of luck to all those still to do interviews - it’s such a nervewracking experience for them (and us)! Lots of chocolate tonight sounds like a plan!

@Revengeofthepangolins DD (Oxford) wasn’t asked in either of her interviews to show her surroundings though her friends applying to Cambridge were.

So many interviews done today. @bendmeoverbackwards I am sure it’s wasn't as bad as it felt. I think it’s very difficult to gauge. Hopefully she will feel happier about her second one - it seems quite a few have a difficult first interview. Good luck to her

Dds first interview was yesterday - the mfl part of her degree. It was in English which she was surprised about. They asked a few things from her personal statement . She didn't think it was terrible but not great either . She was at school with the head of year lurking outside.

Interview 2 tomorrow .

🤞for all the lovely dcs on this thread

Good luck to all dc doing interviews this afternoon.. gosh it’s stressful for them.. they are amazing kids

Phew, both interviews done and DD seems fairly upbeat. She felt it was very formal and not like her practice interviews, but I reminded her that the interviews had been described as chilly on Mumsnet.

@bendmeoverbackwards you really feel for them, don’t you. It’ll be that interviewer’s style to give candidates a real grilling

Those who are worried about noise at home - noise cancelling headphones

Thank you all.

Dd said she was going to call a neighbour who went to Oxford herself and has been a great support to dd. Hopefully she'll feel a bit better.

Well done to everyone who had interviews today, fingers crossed for them all.