Oxbridge aspirants part 4......Hold onto your nerves interviews ahead....!

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

Part 4 - A friendly supportive thread for those with DC applying to Oxbridge, its an arduous process to say the least. I suspect we will need some handholding and alcohol for the couple of weeks ahead as our dc have their interviews. For those still waiting to hear I hope news comes soon

I'M HERE! Still a bit excited 😆

Congrats @SandyBayley and everyone else with interviews.

DD also doing interview next week and pre-interview assessment TODAY at home. Have had to dash to Argos to get cable to attach Mac to monitor as questions issued on screen and then need to type answers into separate word doc so two screens preferable. Now need to hope no traffic disasters so she gets home in time. Then keep dog quiet, younger kids out the way... So not stressful at all...much!!!!

Good luck everyone!

Hi everyone - thanks for the new thread @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango good to have the support from other parents. No news on dates of the interview yet.

DD is at a state boarding school and weekly boards so she will probably do interviews at school though last year someone vaping in the loos set off the fire alarm which was rather a nightmare.

Just found out that DS didn't get an interview at Oxford for physics. This was expected but it's still horrible after all that effort. Currently on his bed refusing to go to school as his next lesson is ... physics.

Still hitting refresh here. Jokes about back up plans are wearing thin.

@foodledoff - really sorry to hear that. It might be better to let him not go in. Give him a bit of time to process it?

Also here.

@foodledoff Very sad to hear of his disappointment. Agree with Sandy that he likely needs to be out of lesson

Thanks for the new thread Tango.

I’m sorry to hear your news foodledoff. It must feel brutal the first few days.

@Valleyofthedollymix I mentioned printers. Dd has been told she’ll need to print material 15 mins before the interviews to analyse and discuss. (1 article and 1 piece of music). Presumably if your DC hasn’t been told a printer is needed, it isn’t.

@foodledoff

Just found out that DS didn't get an interview at Oxford for physics. This was expected but it's still horrible after all that effort. Currently on his bed refusing to go to school as his next lesson is ... physics.

Sorry to hear @foodledoff it really is a brutal process

@juja DD has not got a date yet either. Clare college said in email between 6th -17th December and that they would let her know early this week. I am hoping its on one of my days off as I know she will be tears if it goes badly, sods law I will be at work!

So sorry to hear your DS' news @foodleoff.

Thank you for the new thread @Tango

DD also has no date yet. She’ll do the interview at home; her choice as we live very near her school so either option would work. I think I’ll take myself out the house while she does it, as I really don’t want to overhear it!

@foodledoff a completely natural reaction by your DS - 2/3 of those who have interviews will be in exactly the same position in 6 weeks time - it’s really tough for them at the moment. Such a competitive process

@foodledoff - sorry to hear your DS's news. Al least he can move on and doesnt have to wait another 1-2 months re final decision. The majority of our DCs will be rejected in Jan. My DS is becoming too focused on oxbridge and unfortunately the odds are stacked against him getting in. This process is a long one and it is easy for them to forget that there are other amazing universites and where they will not be having to cram all their studies into an 8 week term.

Thanks for your kind words everyone.

Deep down, I know Oxford isn't the right place for him. I studied there in the 80s as did DH and it was brutal - very much sink or swim. Hopefully he'll find somewhere else that will suit him. He already has offers from Bristol and Royal Holloway and is holding out for Durham.

Well done to all with interviews - and good luck!

The 8-week term thing disconcerts me. I look back and think that part of the huge highs and lows I experienced at a similar time to @foodledoff is because everything was just too frantic coupled with the fact that a lot of the people were just too frantic.

I don't know if I'm just deluding myself, but a part of me is genuinely not at all sold on Cambridge and think that DS's second choice would be better for him.

You're being rightly philosophical Foodledoff it just wasn't for him. He'll be buoyed in a few days by the other, great offers. I, too, an not convinced it's right for DS. Still waiting but staying philosophical like you.

Congratulations SandyBayley

DD received the date and time of her first interview at O this afternoon so they seem to be getting organised. All very real now. It will be a busy weekend reviewing all the books in her PS - she has read them but over the last year so a refresh needed.

As to the appropriateness of O the other factor is whether exams suit individual DC as an assessment method. I graduated in the early 90s and some friends really suffered with their degree result being totally dependent on ten days of exams in your third year. One friend had really bad period pains and had her period that week and went from an expected 1st to a 2.22.

@Valleyofthedollymix @foodledoff @Puffalicious I feel the same about DD, she does seem to thrive on studying but would C be too much for her? I don't know the answer to that, can you ever know until they go there? Like you said its sink or swim which does not sound great if you sink.

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Hi everyone delurking to join the crew. I recognise a lot of names from the tense GCSE results wait of 2020, and here we are now - not sure how it's gone so quickly!
DD heard yesterday she has an interview at Oxford next week. It was a very nervous wait so I feel for everyone still refreshing the TSR spreadsheet! Big hugs too for any disappointed DC. No matter how much you try to keep expectations steady and options open, it's hard not to get invested.
This bit is so tough. She wants to do the interviews at home, which I understand. I'll be at work for one then having a Covid booster for the second, which is probably the best place for me! I'm not sure what school will offer in terms of prep - she's had nothing so far. I think she'll struggle, I'm encouraging her just to go for it and que sera etc!

Welcome @LittleLebowski - lovely to have you here.

At some point once we ought to have a re-group and remind ourselves which DC is applying for what and where.

Just been out to buy DD a celebratory cake. DH says we shouldn't celebrate an interview but what does he know 😉

2 years has certainly flown by, great news for your DD LittleLebowski; what course has she applied for?

waves
Not an Oxbridge parent, just someone who had a really fabulous time there reading English (veteran of the TSR threads, etc) - feel free to tag me if I can help in any way, esp humanities/English applicants and any DC applying with disabilities.
Well done to everyone's DC, both those who have received invitations to interview, and those who will shine just as brightly elsewhere.