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 .

@Flyonawalk thanks. It just all seems to take sooooo long.

Just in - DD has an interview at Oxford for Modern Languages -

Email says the exact timing hasn't been determined and they will come back to her. It sounds as though the scheduling is causing them challenges, I suppose with languages and all the joint honours there are almost infinite combinations.

@Juja Great news! Congratulations to her.

I hope everyone else gets their interview news very soon.

Hmm. Ds's Tmua results aren't what the Internet tells me is Cambridge level (5.9, 6.1). Interesting that he's still got an interview but I guess makes him much less likely to get an offer, unless he metaphorically catches fire when being taught 1:1.

@PermanentTemporary He’s still in the game. He wouldn’t be interviewed unless the tutors had a real interest in considering him.

Yes PT, keep encouraging him as they don't interview the ones who are out of contention.

I feel I've got an unusual issue with DS. I'm not sure he deserves a place - he's so lazy and bare mins about it all. There is a lot of rolled eyes when I suggest he rereads (or is it even reads?) the books on his personal statement or does any interview preparation. He's been very strategic about his application and I don't know whether this strategising will continue to pay off, but when people talk of their children's dedication and passion, I feel out of synch.

Mind you, neither DH or I were passionate about our subjects nor in any other way exceptional so maybe it's OK. There is something to be said for pragmatism.

Great news on your DD’s interview Juja

Hi everyone, I have been a long time lurker while I didn´t have a confirmation regarding my 4 DDs interviews (mom of quadruplets struggle!).

All of them applied to different subjects, and is the first time anyone in the family will atend University, so we will be really proud no matter where they atend.

DD1 is the only one who applied to C. Will have an interview for Law at Clare (she originally applied to Trinity).

DD2, 3 and 4 applied to O. DD2 has recieved an interview invitation from Lincoln for PPE, while DD3 for Biochemistry at Quenn´s and DD4 for Earth Sciences at St. Anne´s.

Absolutely @valleyofthedollymix - with children who we have our own doubts about for this, we just have to trust the process and hope it's not too traumatic. If he's less invested he shouldn't be too hurt if it turns out not to be for him, and we just don't know how they are when not with us! I know I showed no signs of being on fire with interest in history to many adults around me but actually I was,.at least compared to a lot of other children my age.

Bloody hell Frankl! Do you get a fees discount??

What lovely news Frankl! Welcome, and very well done to all 4.

Sorry Frankl what a dumb response. What an amazing family and they have all done so well.

@PermanentTemporary

Bloody hell Frankl! Do you get a fees discount??

yes, we will have full studens loans for the 4 of them... and have been saving since DH and I married. Also, they all have part time jobs during holidays and babysit during the school year, so they have a few savings of their own as well!

Well done to your girls Frank. I couldn’t have managed twins let alone triplets or quads. Here’s hoping that the interviews all convert to offers!

@Valleyofthedollymix never fear, it takes all sorts, and this thread only has a tiny minority of applicants and certainly not a cross section. My eldest two DC sound similar to your DS in their approach and attitude and they are both now at Oxford and Cambridge respectively, DD2, my current applicant, is much much keener but that is no guarantee she’ll be successful.

@Frankl these threads have had twins before but never quads AFAIK. How amazing! Best of luck to your DDs!

I must say you’re brave naming colleges as well as subjects with such a distinctive family. Do all the girls go to the same school? Out of interest, is it a grammar a comp or an independent?

Also all credit for the quads doing such a range of subjects. pant jog is very very impressive on that score too.

Thank you all for your kind responses!

@goodbyestranger all go to different schools, but on scholarships

Very kind of you @goodbyestranger but I think it’s proof that nature rather than nurture wins out — as they’ve all had exactly the same “school” experience until at least 15.

Are there four independents all within striking distance? I assume you must be in London! Otherwise - thinking of where my DC went to school - the school run would have taken the whole school day ( no public transport available). Out of (more) interest, all they all at co-ed schools or are some or all at single sex?

Yes I agree about nature pantjog. My eight all went to the same school right through to Y13 (secondary school bus stopped at our kitchen door: ideal :)).

@Eightytwenty

Belated good luck for today! Any news yet, or is too early?

Thanks @ealingwestmumand @Flyonawalk - it is such a stressful time for them all, knowing they would be wise to prepare but not knowing if they have an interview or when. At the same time juggling the rest of school work, timed assessments and the rest of life etc.

Two years my DS went into his Oxford Interview knowing he had an offers from Durham and Edinburgh. For my DD she has only heard from one other Uni (her 4th choice) with an offer so it is harder to say "I'll try my best but if it doesn't happen I've already got an offer of somewhere I really want to go to.

Do other parents think other Uni's are being a bit slower getting offers out this year - maybe nervous of over offering before 15th Jan deadline?

The journey has just ended for us. DD completely dejected and doing the why did I bother? Have told her all the above (though she’s not ready to hear it) but I do think she would have been perfect for Oxford-her supra curriculars are off the charts and she is so passionate about her subject. I wonder whether if she had been allowed to put her extracurricular activities on her personal statement it would have helped? Her college tutor struck it out, but she is post grade 8 on two instruments and is at Royal Conservatoire as well…and she had nothing on her application form.
Well done to everyone else but will bow out now. One of her other choices is so desperate for her they have downgraded her offer from 3xA to 3xB and her first choice of accommodation if she gets an A in her EPQ.