Oxford Cambridge 2021 Thread 6

[Chocomel]

Hopefully this is in the right place?

Hey @Beetlesand, DS is pretty taciturn about the whole thing but DH says he is nervous.

I'm trying to brace for a 'no'- the odds are so long anyway and then this year when they have already said they'll be giving less offers, seems everything is stacked against.

I'm renowned in our family for being the one who expects the best then is blindsided when things don't turn out so am trying to avoid that - but it's making me feel pretty miserable too tbh!

These last few days of waiting are really hard. Would help if some offers came in from his other choices but that seems like it will be delayed as well now with the UCAS deadline extension. Sorry for the doom and gloom!

I’m really trying to keep her spirits up but DD is losing hope because the other girl in her year who’s applying to the same Cambridge course had an interview yesterday at her pooled college.

4 more sleeps now.

Gosh it’s hard isn’t it! I know how you feel Pumpkintopf -it has made me miserable too. It’s not a great time of year for having to keep it all together for everyone is it?!
I do hope some offers from other places come in soon ... it would make such a difference to some of our dcs. Unfortunately, I agree that that later deadline is having an effect this year.
Pepperaunt.. oh that is really hard on your Dd. That must really heighten the stress of it all. Keeping everything crossed for you.
Yes WarmAndco3y 4 more sleeps! . I can’t help but feel it has put Dd off the place a bit .. this process has tarnished it somewhat for her. She was also really quite sad and confused about one of her friends who was redirected from Oxford as it made no sense whatsoever as far as Dd was concerned .
I guess that ( come what may) she ( like me) just needs it to be over now.

Hi there beetlesand I'm really stressed about it but keeping it to myself as I don't want dd to know. She is very nervous about Monday. She won't talk about it but is a naturally smiley glass is half full type of person so is quite happy on the surface. I do know she will be devastated if she doesn't get an offer from C or Durham. She does have 3 offers but isn't thrilled with any of them. I do chat with her though in a positive way about them as I know she knows she will be fine at any one of those 3. I have moments when I feel vaguely optimistic about Monday but then I suddenly realise her chances really are very small. At the moment this vaguely reminds me how I felt waiting 7 years ago to see if she was going to be offered a music scholarhip to her current school. That did have a desired outcome however this is so very different. I've had insomnia the last few nights and I am sure this has contributed to it. Fortunately she doesn't have another friend who has applied to the same college to study the same subject however a fair few school friends have had Oxford offers which if she doesn't get an offer will possibly make it harder for her although she is very excited for all of them

Dd is trying to distract herself I think. She's definitely feeling happier about her second choice than before. She was really worried about how her teachers would react if she didn't get an offer as she felt that they are all assuming she would. Possibly fewer offers reduces that pressure a bit?
But I know that her heart has been set on C for years and I will be so sad for her if she doesn't get an offer.
At the same time, I'm trying to be pragmatic and look at the statistical reality which is normally 1 in 5 offers and 1 in 8 places for her course at her college.
From a selfish point of view, it would be so much cheaper and easier for her to be at Cambridge as well but I'm trying not to dwell on the financial side of it.

@CosmicComfort thanks, I shouldn't have pressed send and felt bad bad ask soon I did. So, apologies - I'm not usually someone looking for confrontation or upset, but this whole process takes a toll.

@LaundryFairy DD's favourite option won't be making offers until mid/end April and the other one said decisions will be sent out at the end of March. Still waiting to hear from her other choice.....

Butterflies in my stomach ....... the wait is horrendous but it keeps the dream alive! It's bad that it's on a Monday as well as during the week I am kept busy at work so able to distract myself

Morning! Oh @Pumpkintopf, I’m exactly the same. And then being blindsided leaves me disorientated and a bit ashamed.

I tried to open a conversation with DS about it last night and he just left the room 🤔. He’s obviously more stressed about it than I thought. His best friend has also applied (diff 6th form, diff subject, diff college) which adds another dimension in the face of rejection.

It does help to hear your voices though all. We are not alone in our flip flopping between tentative optimism and pragmatic pessimism. It’s so aaaaaaaaaagh isn’t it?

PS 🥰 to both @Millylovespuddles and @CosmicComfort

@Tenpastseven yes it really does help - haven't got anyone IRL going through the same thing, this thread is a lifeline tbh.

It’s really good to know I’m not alone on struggling with this.. thanks all
You are right Milly - it certainly takes a toll.

I was trying to be upbeat and almost flippant about it with Dd at first and then I realised this was not helping .. she's not daft and could see right through it.

Hi all. Popping in to extend good luck to all on Monday. I will pop back then to see how your DC's get on. The final wait is always the worst. Get them out for a good long walk in the sunshine and fresh air.

We got an email yesterday confirming school has cancelled mocks. DD not sure how to feel about that. I think it is more pressure in that now they have to continuously perform at the top of their game, and from home.

Did I tell you that as well as Step Dad, my DM also passed away at the end of that Oxford week. I can't remember. It's been quite a couple of weeks for us.

Hi everyone. Trying to stay positive here, but it’s impossible to second-guess anything. I think these intervening weeks between Oxford and Cambridge results have heightened the hype and therefore the stress of the whole thing. DS has seen friends rejected from O while others accepted and it really is so random. I was really hoping he might have had good news from LSE this week, but all he got was a circular letter saying that decisions will be delayed this year. They are obviously waiting for the outcome of this GW consultation and will adjust offers accordingly. I agree the waiting and uncertainty are probably the worst of it. We’ve gone through similar several times - in fact the whole 11 plus malarkey in our part of London is just as bad to be honest - but still, it doesn’t that make the waiting easier.

On a more positive note, at least if A-level results are published in early July, we won’t have that hanging over us all summer!

BWJ - I’m so sorry. My condolences and I wish you all the best.

BWJ . I’m so sorry. What an awful time for you and your family . You have my condolences x

@BigWoollyJumpers so sorry to hear of your DM. What a horrendous time for you 💐

@BigWoollyJumpers - so sorry.

BWJ - what an awful January, so sorry to hear your news

I'm so sorry to hear that @BigWoollyJumpers

@BigWoollyJumpers so sorry to read about your mum. What an ordeal.... Thinking about you and your family

You’ve all described my range of emotions, DS tetchy and now has Covid symptoms. He has his extended essay which he needs to finish off this weekend. It doesn’t help also that we are contending with the 11+ malarkey as well.

@Millylovespuddles and @CosmicComfort thank you both for helping to keep this as a safe space to share our highs and lows during this time.
Roll on Monday....

I'm so sorry @BigWoollyJumpers, that is heartbreaking to hear. 💐. As you know, DD was also redirected and I lost my dad that week too. We also learnt that my mum fractured her back caring for my dad in his final days so I really feel for you.

Sending much love...

Thinking of all you all in the run up to Cambridge results day. It's so hard on you and your dc to be kept waiting for so long...

Despite being rejected by Oxford, we were grateful to be put out of our misery sooner rather than later.

@Jan069

I'm so sorry *@BigWoollyJumpers*, that is heartbreaking to hear. 💐. As you know, DD was also redirected and I lost my dad that week too. We also learnt that my mum fractured her back caring for my dad in his final days so I really feel for you.

Sending much love...

Oh Jano, that's awful, your poor mum. Hope she is getting good care. Lots of extra stress for you too. Much love to you too x