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 .

Great news @printmeanicephoto - another Cambridge engineering interview. My DS's is on Dec 9th - yours? Congrats to all and how nerve-wracking for those still waiting! This year I kept away from the TSR spreadsheet and have decided that ignorance is bliss!

I may have got the wrong end of the stick on some previous comments, but, I for one really do want to see students with interests such as playing football, rowing, hockey, whatever their thing is, still get into Oxbridge, even if they play no part in the process. I doubt that DD will keep up her several weekly swimming hours, or her current musical commitments inside and outside of school. They may not have any impact on her offer success, but they do add huge weight to her mental well being and widening of friendship groups, as well as a whole host of skills such as juggling workload and time management.

Why would students with plenty of interests beyond their subject not get in?

My DD runs several hours each week and is continuing to do while at Cambridge and is representing them now also. I think the previous comments may have said don't mention extracurriculars too much on personal statement. It definitely helps with all aspects you mentioned @ealingwestmum

How would all the orchestras and choirs and all the sports teams etc etc etc etc survive if all students simply studied?

@Letsgoforaskip thank you for posting that letter. I think it's incredibly important to emphasise that these things do not mean that you can't go on to succeed in what you do next. I'm incredibly proud of DS getting an interview at Cambridge, not least because he is a grammar school 'reject' - didn't even get close, despite it being blindingly obvious how bright he is. Even if he doesn't get in to Cambridge, I hope he now understands that it's not the be all and end all. So yes, 'wasn't selected' (their loss) rather than failed is the way to go

@TheresACrackInEverything and @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango
Thank you 🙂

Oh this process is so hideous! We have heard nothing yet but the refresh button is probably going to explode

Yy that extracurricular activity doesn’t stop you getting in at all, it’s just that in times past, (eg when I applied to uni!), a PS was ‘all about how great you are’ and would probably have a section on ‘why I want to study this subject’, and then the rest of it would be about great things you’ve done, such as sport/music/drama.

Oxbridge don’t use those things as part of their selection process, but the reality of Oxbridge is that many if not all of the students are musically gifted, sporty, and involved in all sorts of extracurricular activities at the highest levels.

(obviously not every student is all of those things - but the orchestras are full of gifted musicians, the choirs are packed with amazing singers, the drama clubs put on incredible productions, the sports teams have top-notch athletes etc etc. There’s certainly no need to worry about people not having those extra-curricular opportunities or interests).

@goodbyestranger

Why would students with plenty of interests beyond their subject not get in?

Precisely Goodbyestranger. It was in response to the comment below, which as I said, I could have misunderstood. I just wanted prospective parents/students to recognise that whether your wider interests do or don't play a part in defining your course choice, they can still contribute to uni life (not just at oxbridge).

Agree that they are irrelevant to a PS today other than briefly, if at all.

Simply that if you dedicate all your spare hours to football it doesn't help you get into Oxbridge

I disgree ealingwestmum. I think an argument could be made out for the tactical skills which come with football helping at interview, in tutorials and particularly in exams. They certainly helped some of my own DC.

Each time I come to the thread it has moved on so much. Thinking of everyone who has received news either way so far. Hopefully for those still waiting you'll hear very soon 🤞

DS has an interview at Oxford for PPE, although he's not yet been told the exact date. College have arranged a mock interview for him this week. At home we're supporting as much as we can in our limited capacity (I'm fine with economics as that was my degree but philosophy is a bit of a challenge!)

Not in dispute at all Goodbye. Totally different to listing a list of all the great things you’ve done, coining BilberryBaggins’ words. I’m trying to say the same thing as you, clearly not doing it very well!

Great news Whatsthewesrherlike. Hopefully those Oxford invites are going to be plentiful next few days, in addition to the remainder Cambridge.

No dispute at all! But football is a particularly good example of something which teaches skills which are eminently transferable to the exam hall.

Also, schools seem to discourage lists. Apparently you have to link things you like doing to your subject and conclude that everything you do teaches you to be a team player. Ghastly!

Indeed. It’s a sport very much worth defending

DS managed to relate both rugby and playing drums to Maths- tactics and musical notation! He couldn't relate going to every gig he can in any way, so didn't mention it!

I'm consoling myself today with the staff discount I'll get as DS starts his Xmas job at M&S!

The easiest way to shoe-horn them in is to say something like 'I believe I would be well suited to a busy, high-intensity course since I have learned invaluable time-management skills through representing England in the recent Euros championship, whilst simultaneously conducting the orchestra at the last night of the Proms live on BBC1. These activities helped me refine the art of scheduling a busy timetable and prioritising activities so that all are achieved'.

Or something like that.

@BilberryBaggins Love this!!

@5zeds Sorry you’re still waiting. Which subject? It is really hard to not know!

@goodbyestranger

Also, schools seem to discourage lists. Apparently you have to link things you like doing to your subject and conclude that everything you do teaches you to be a team player. Ghastly!

I can't bear the whole 'team player' thing either - it's such a cheap point to make.

It's really no wonder that so many universities don't use the PS at all anymore!

@Flyonawalk biomed I must scroll back (again) and see if anyone else has heard.

@5zeds I just scrolled through the shortlisting spreadsheet on Student Room (they have an Oxford 2022 thread) and didn’t see any biomed interviews. Perhaps they come out at the same time as medicine, which I think is next week? Wishing you and your DC well.