Oxbridge Aspirants 2022 part 3....Will they or won't they make it to interview? Our Mum nerves are in tatters!

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

New thread for us, lots of lovely support whilst we wait. Some of our lovely DC now have interview dates whilst the rest of us hold our breath and try not to hassle our teens into checking their SPAM folders at least several times per day .

Blimey. I've just found this and am completely out of my depth as DD has just been cracking on and doing things herself. I'm now thinking I should have been more involved!!!
What is HSPS?

.... and MML? What's that?

Human , Social and Political Sciences

Modern and Medieval Languages

HSPS - human, social and political sciences
MML - modern and medieval languages (and linguistics maybe?)

@pantjog

DD has an interview for Music! She heard today. Dates are 6/7/8 December, presumably to allow for interviews at more than one college.

Ah that's fab news how exciting for her.

Nothing here from Clare, getting a little impatient now especially seeing rejections, just wish she knew so she could stop fretting 😭

Well indeed why Piggywaspushed but ouch having the interview stopped dead.

Sorry have name changed. DC has said that she just wishes the college would hurry up and reject her so she can focus on other things! And that if they do offer an interview it'll be a disaster anyway, so...
I then checked on Studentroom and it appears from that that the college haven''t contacted others either. It would have been really helpful to hear before the weekend, so DC could prioritise and stop thinking about it (or start thinking about it more seriously).

@pantjog

DD has an interview for Music! She heard today. Dates are 6/7/8 December, presumably to allow for interviews at more than one college.

Is that for Oxford or Cambridge? My DD is doing music at Cambridge - but I'm afraid she told me very little about the interviews. She was only interviewed at one college though.

Fantastic news @pantjog!

DD has an interview (another HSPSer)! Actually 2. Two readings, each followed by an interview with two people each time. She will be exhausted! She is so excited.

Actually a tiny bit worried about ds and his ps. He mentioned quite a few books he has read, and he HAS read them but some of them 3 years ago now. He could answer things he has alluded to in in ps but if they asked him about some different aspect I don’t know how he would do.

Congratulations to those who've heard today. And @TomelettewithGreggs I do hope things get better for your DD.

@Bogofftosomewherehot I'd say there are a few v knowledgeable parents on this thread (some are teachers so have that extra level) and the rest of us are learning from their expertise 😊

That must be quite common Shadedog. Maybe skim re-read ahead of interview and if there's an awkward question just explain they he read the book some while ago, had flagged up the bit which interested him particularly in his ps, and could they expand on the issue, then he'll repond as best he can. The killer in the Keble situation was that the interviewee just said that she'd intended to get around to reading the book, but hadn't had time (the response: a) if you're interested in reading English at Oxford then you'll need to get thrugh multiple books each week and b) you lied). What you describe is quite different - don't worry!

Sorry, not thrugh :)

Thank you @VikingNorthUtsire and congratulations to all those who have heard about interviews today!

Yes I guess. None of the applicants will have just read all their books at the end of the summer so they are largely in the same boat. Very little opportunity to skim read now as if he does get offered an interview it will be 7-10 dec. he has 3 NEAs due between 3rd and 6th of December and is working flat out on those. I don’t think the interview will get any headspace until he hears something. I will suggest he literally flicks through and thinks about them after NEA hell.
I wonder if keeble girl jus thought it was worth a punt as her alleged reading would have improved her application for other schools who don’t interview, and there was always the chance they wouldn’t ask. Risky business. My nerves would be shot.

Great news on your DD ACloseMatch!

@Acquacup DD has applied to Oxford.

@Piggywaspushed

DS just had his mock interview which he seems quite upbeat about. Got some positive feedback and some helpful advice.

He was wearing a sort of teal fine knit jumper and the guy said he should wear a smarter shirt. Not sure this is right? I mean he could put on his black shirt but then he will look like he is on his way to jazz band/ to wait on tables in a pub.

Been watching thread with interest, DS has interview date. I'm glad someone raised this. We were wondering what to wear and settled on open neck shirt. He did his mock in a shirt and jumper, don't think it got commented on though

I have only just had to buy DS smart shoes and black trousers just to play very occasionally in a Brass Band. Not going out and buying anything for an online interview if I don't have to.

DS has brushed it off (well, I say brushed : I endured a length chat first about inequalities and classism, bless him!)

I'll save buying the posh clothes for if he gets in!!

When I went for my interviews I had a very detailed knowledge of what authors I mentioned in my PS. I still remember the guy saying ' I don't want to know about Hardy and Burns, tell me about something else you have read'... I suspect he knew nothing about Burns

He was a really unpleasant man.

@Piggywaspushed

When I went for my interviews I had a very detailed knowledge of what authors I mentioned in my PS. I still remember the guy saying ' I don't want to know about Hardy and Burns, tell me about something else you have read'... I suspect he knew nothing about Burns

He was a really unpleasant man.

I remember a friend (inner city comp, applying for law at Oxford) telling me that her interview opened with the interviewer saying "So, you're at a state school. Presumably your parents couldn't afford a proper school?"

Fortunately she wasn't rattled and rose to the challenge of arguing and making a case, and got a place. I do hope that wouldn't happen now, even if it was just a tactic! (I know it sounds made up but she told me all about it as soon as she got back and I believe it did happen)

I still remember the clothes I wore at my interview. With embarrassment.

I have to say a friend of mine from a tenant farming background in Yorkshire was treated like absolute shit at a rich college in O by her tutors. Told to go home to her muck heap and stop wasting their time, that kind of thing. I kind of experienced both, supervisors who clearly had zero interest possibly in teaching undergraduates generally, and men* who were just brilliant and pushed me without crushing me or getting personal.

*Didn't have a single female supervisor in 3 years. 1 female lecturer.

Viking that really rattles me that story. DS wouldn't know what to say- he'd be blindsided. I wouldn't want him being amongst such classist arses. I'm appalled.