Page 11 | Oxbridge aspirants part 4......Hold onto your nerves interviews ahead....!

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 2021-11-30T12:17:21+00:00

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 [flowers]

Darbs76 · 04/12/2021 15:00

Thanks @SandyBayley. Yes in January he said. I think we could be waiting a while for St Andrews too. I’m sure he will be ok in a few days, my heart goes out to him though

Storminamu · 04/12/2021 15:27

@Stockpot

I’ve been following the comments on Scottish applicants with interest. I’m picking up that education is very much devolved. The home nations are effectively different countries when it comes to education. The attitude seems to be that each nation’s universities have a duty to applicants from their nation, but other home nations are effectively foreign countries like any other.

My own DD applied to two Scottish universities, I hope this wasn’t a tactical mistake. I think we may have been a bit naive about internal UK politics.

English applicants (and even more so international applicants) to Scottish universities are at an advantage - more likely to get in. That's because the Scottish government pays the fees for Scottish students, and from memory they pay around £4K, whereas an English student pays over £9K. Therefore Scottish universities take the number of Scottish students the government requires them to take, and actively want to give the rest of their places to non-Scottish students. It's apparently very hard for most Scottish candidates to get an offer from St Andrew's, which gets plenty of applications from outside Scotland, and uses its compulsory Scottish quota to take disadvantaged candidates, which ticks boxes (I've seen that they advertise this).

Puffalicious · 04/12/2021 15:47

I'm feeling your pain Darbs76 DS also thought the MAT went well but you never can tell.

Fingers crossed for Imperial or St Andrews You never know, both of ours might end up in Maths together at St As!

Your DS will flourish elsewhere. Big hugs on the cards tonight, some of his favourite food and his choice of movie might be in order. I know you'll be feeling it too, so be kind to yourself (I went to a Xmas Market and Les Mis this week and I'm almost feeling right as rain!)

SandyBayley · 04/12/2021 15:55

@Storminamu - except for medical students! it's much harder for English students to get into Scottish medical schools than Scottish students. Hence why DD didn't bother applying to Edinburgh.

Piggywaspushed · 04/12/2021 16:00

Sorry to hear your news darbs

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/12/2021 16:08

Sorry, @Darbs76. Fingers crossed that his next email is good news.

Innocenta · 04/12/2021 16:10

Really sorry, @Darbs76 - and I hope everyone's DC who are currently disappointed get other offers they are hoping for, very soon.

Such gifted, ambitious kids are destined to excel at any university lucky enough to get them.

Puffalicious · 04/12/2021 16:27

Such gifted, ambitious kids are destined to excel at any university lucky enough to get them Absolutely.

NovaNewt · 04/12/2021 16:31

@Decafcoffee

Thanks *@storminamu* Thankfully she doesn’t have to do the Bachs for her college. She had an assessment last week which went “ok”.

My DD is also applying for music - imagine different college because she is in tears over the Bach this weekend... Will be glad when the interviews are over. She also has Leeds interview on Monday so I think next week will be stressful.

Darbs76 · 04/12/2021 16:32

Thanks all. Yes @Puffalicious imagine if they both end up there! Long way from home for us but it will be DS’s first choice if offered.

Typically he’s wearing the Oxford Uni T-shirt we bought when we visited (we bought something from all of them). I felt so sad for him sitting there in his Oxford T-shirt. He seems ok though, watching something with his dad laughing away. All our kids will be ok, they are so bright and hard working. Their loss, another uni’s gain for sure

Original poster

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 04/12/2021 16:51

@Darbs76

Thanks all. Yes *@Puffalicious* imagine if they both end up there! Long way from home for us but it will be DS’s first choice if offered.

Typically he’s wearing the Oxford Uni T-shirt we bought when we visited (we bought something from all of them). I felt so sad for him sitting there in his Oxford T-shirt. He seems ok though, watching something with his dad laughing away. All our kids will be ok, they are so bright and hard working. Their loss, another uni’s gain for sure

Ah so sorry @Darbs76 it is a bloody harsh process and you are absolutely right just to be in the position to apply they are amongst the best, at the top of their game and I absolutely know DD will ok if she doesnt get into C as will all of our DC. Rejection stings though but it will be short lived and they will move on, it will be many of us in January too

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Puffalicious · 04/12/2021 17:03

Darbs76 a long way for you but a beautiful place with so much around it too. DNiece is at Dundee- 30 mins on the bus from St As- a different feel and a great city, super for visiting.if they do both go you can stop off halfway in Glasgow for a natter!

Juja · 04/12/2021 17:54

@Darbs76 Maths is so so competitive compared with other subjects such as Modern Languages which my daughter applied for so much tougher. Hope your DS feels better too as do you. Inevitably as parents we become invested supporting their journey.

Darbs76 · 04/12/2021 18:41

Thanks so much for the support all. I feel so bad for all our kids who have worked so hard but it wasn’t to be. DS has been unwell too on and off with suspected appendicitis / bowel problem too and still no answers so we really did want to find out what it was before he makes choices as Scotland is a long way from home (he’s got St A and Edinburgh for his insurance, if he gets an offer). He thinks Imperial is out as he’s thinking he did badly on MAT but Warwick is only 2hrs from home, that was his favourite of all the choices and the course is good (MORSE so maths and stats based). I’ll be sticking around to cheer on those who are through

SnapSnapDragon · 04/12/2021 21:13

I'm so sorry to hear of those getting difficult news. If it weren't such an extended and agonising progress it would be much easier for DC (and parents) to shrug it off, but hopefully they'll get there soon: plenty of other fantastic universities.

I wanted to add my voice to those reassuring English applicants about Scottish universities. It's demonstrably easier for English to get offers due to the fees situation, at least in many subjects (sounds like medicine is different). I know this is completely crazy but I know parents in Scotland who have applied using an English address just so their DC can be on a level footing with English students.

Sorry to hijack the Oxbridge thread. To try and add something constructive I thought I'd answer a question about how to help DC with interview prep. DS didn't get much value out of school mock interviews but did find it was useful to speak about his subject with a couple of professors at local universities (in fact, the topics he discussed came up in interview). Also, I googled past interview questions and then dreamed up many more, which we talked through. That was helpful too.

Stockpot · 04/12/2021 21:51

Thanks @SnapSnapDragon. Very reassuring, but seems terribly unfair to Scottish students. I had assumed the free tuition was a boon…the law of unintended consequences.

Thanks for the advice about interview preparation. DD’s is next week and she is convinced that she is a no-hoper. She thinks the rest of her application is weak compared to others, and she won’t be able to do well enough in the interview to make up for it. It seems odd to me that they would interview DC they think are unlikely, but then I suppose they need a few reserves just in case.

This process is stressful on them, and most will have had a lot of success academically so far to get to this point, so the inevitable failure that half of them will face is especially painful. I really do believe disappointments and failures are all part of growing up and developing the resilience that leads to be an effective and successful adult, so this is an experience worth having even if it leads to a rejection. But, supporting a child through this process is a roller coaster. I don’t know about you ladies, but I am feeling fatigued!

Puffalicious · 04/12/2021 23:06

most will have had a lot of success academically so far to get to this point, so the inevitable failure that half of them will face is especially painful. I really do believe disappointments and failures are all part of growing up and developing the resilience that leads to be an effective and successful adult, so this is an experience worth having even if it leads to a rejection

This resonates. DS has never found anything difficult or failed anything- including at sport or music- so maybe that's why it's affected me: because I just presume he'll excel.

Thanks for that.

Letsgoforaskip · 05/12/2021 09:50

@Stockpot your DD should be incredibly proud of herself! Her application has got her an interview. My DS had a meeting with the teacher who guides his state Sixth Form’s early applicants programme and the first thing she said to him was that if you have been given an interview you are a contender. I think with the numbers involved they don’t need to worry about reserves; it’s more the case that they won’t have enough places for many very worthy applicants.

I also totally agree with everyone who says that these kids have the potential to fly wherever they study and that (sadly) resilience is a key life skill. Rejection is always hard to take but I think my DS would be very happy at one of his other choices so we’re trying to see whatever happens as a win!

MillicentFaucet · 05/12/2021 14:29

Has anyone's DC had their interview yet? I think most of them will be happening over the next two weeks.
DS is upstairs researching his two interviewers . His school have put him in touch with an ex-pupil who has just started at the same college he has applied to (different subject though). His interview is Thursday afternoon and as he doesn't have any lessons in the morning he's just going to stay home. I'll be at work but nervously checking my phone in case of technical problems.
Fingers crossed for everyone...

Piggywaspushed · 05/12/2021 14:41

Mine has!

MillicentFaucet · 05/12/2021 15:04

I've just caught up on this thread piggy (probably should have done that before posting) sounds like it was a positive experience for your DS. My lad is still being very laid back about it all but he was chuffed just to get to this stage. I really wish he already had an offer from Bath, he knows that Cambridge is very much a longshot so he thinks of Bath as his first choice.
Anyway, lots of good stuff planned so we can forget about this after the interview. It's his birthday a week after interview then a long weekend in the Lakes, then Christmas, back to Lakes for New Year then back to school for more mocks. Offer day will be here before we know it.

ealingwestmum · 05/12/2021 15:06

I think apart from Piggy’s DS most of our DC are from this week onwards?

DD’s are on Weds. 3 across the day with 2 interviewers each one, and one pre interview reading.

Best of luck to all of them. I want DD, over and above everything else, to try and enjoy them. Challenging I know, but without wanting to sound arrogant, she needs to see if it’s a place she can see herself thriving in, irrespective of outcome in Jan. She has great alternatives; it’s not just all one-sided.

VikingNorthUtsire · 05/12/2021 15:18

DS is next week (13-14) - haven't had times yet. I'm finding this stage far more nerve-wracking than the last one. On the one hand, it feels like it's theirs to achieve now. On the other, it's still a 2 in 3 chance of rejection (for DS's course, not sure whether others are similar) and the other candidates at this stage will all be good.

Original poster

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 05/12/2021 17:19

DD is on Thursday she has two interviews. I have googled her interviewers - 2 Drs and 2 Professors, DD is reluctant to do so though in case she finds in intimidating. Like you @ealingwestmum I would like her to try and enjoy them its a fantastic opportunity and one she may never get again just hope nerves don't get the better of her but i think that will largely depend on what shes asked and how friendly or not they come across. @MillicentFaucet DD had a Bath offer a few weeks ago now and it is also her first choice beyond C so she is very fortunate to have it prior to interview, I hope your DS hears soon I know they are trickling out now.

Best of luck to all of our DC for the week ahead I for one will be glad when its done!

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Innocenta · 05/12/2021 17:32

Just a quick note re: opportunity she may never get again -

A fair few people who weren't offered a place at O or C for their undergraduate course decide to apply for a one-year masters (these flash by at Oxbridge) if they want to do some further study, maybe consider a PhD, or equip themselves with an extra qualification for the CV. It can be an incredibly fun place to spend a year as a postgrad; I have many friends who did this and loved it.

Of course I'm not trying to suggest other institutions don't offer equally strong courses - just that for any DC who particularly want Oxbridge, there's another very viable entry point ahead; it really isn't their last chance.