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

Thanks for the new thread!

Commiserations to everyone whose DC didn’t get an interview. It’s frustrating not to get the chance.

@Puffalicious I'm sorry to hear your news. Absolutely hold on to "Fit's fur ye..." He's got an amazing set of results already and I'm sure will do equally well in his AHs.

@Puffalicious - really sorry to hear your news, particularly as one of the stalwarts of the threads.

I don't know whether it's been the same for other subjects but DD's medicine email said they'd focussed on BMAT results and disregarded GCSEs (it's normally 50/50). So admissions tests may have been similarly weighted in other subjects?

DS's interview in two days. Annoyingly, he has an economics class test tomorrow so ahs spent all his time prepping for that. I fear he may be too laid back. (which is not actually him at all but he is definitely stoical about things).

Ah thanks @goodbyestranger - as flagged below her GCSEs didn't come into play and it all went on BMAT this year.

Good tip on graph analysis, I'll slip it in. DS1 is still terribly disapproving of her college selection but if it did work out at least they'd be next door (literally!) for 2 years! Great for drop offs...

[quote ACloseMatch]@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango

I'd rather not say which college - it's small I think, and she'd kill me very badly if I said too much.

Two interviews, each with two tutors. Each with a passage to read 45 minutes in advance. All evidence to be destroyed immediately after the interview![/quote]
Thank you for that it gives an idea of what to expect. Much appreciated!

@Horace123 - do not read anything into 2nd and 3rd interviews at Oxford!

DS1 has a 2nd interview at another college and got an offer from his original college. We think (no proof) it was a standardisation interview where they check how other colleges grade the same applicant. Oxford is very fair at making sure the best candidates get shared around the colleges I think.

[quote Eightytwenty]@Puffalicious sorry to hear your news especially as there aren’t so many of us in Scotland. We were told by the director of studies that maths is particularly hard for Scottish students due to the differences in their curriculum. It’s really unfair. They should be able to accommodate all parts of the U.K.[/quote]
I genuinely do think that this has been the reason. That's interesting that you were told that. I reckon once he's finished Adv Highers he'd be more in line with the A level/ Further Maths course. It does seem unfair.

If he decides to take a gap year he may reapply, if not he'll be really happy with one of the other choices and it has the advantage of me having my boy closer to home. We're very close and I'd miss him awfully if I couldn't see him within a few hours. Sad but true

SandyBailey Aclosematch Thankyou. It's been lovely chatting to you all and having this journey together. Good luck all.

So sorry to hear that news Puffalicious. It would be a major flaw if the MAT were set up in a way which unwittingly disadvantaged Scottish applicants.

Ah that's interesting about the BMAT Sandy, although not surprising. Nevertheless your DS's hated college will love the jackpot scores in both sets of public exams. The colleges may say they won't factor the GCSEs in but the tutors will have all the numbers in front of them, and flawless results can't harm at colleges where they have a penchant for.... flawless results.

@goodbyestranger

So sorry to hear that news Puffalicious. It would be a major flaw if the MAT were set up in a way which unwittingly disadvantaged Scottish applicants.

We'll never know if it was that, so remaining philosophical. He's an eternal optimist and will flourish wherever he is.

The college where fun goes to die as DS1 likes to call it 😂

Yes, definitely thinking of that college. Perhaps your DD can shake it up a bit :)

@Puffalicious I'm really sorry to hear that. I know of a few students who haven't got an interview for Mansfield. It's such a tiny college that if they've had even a few students defer entry, that will have a huge impact on next year's places. Good luck to your DS wherever he goes.

Thanks MichaelCaine good to know

I think that Scottish students will inevitably be disadvantaged. A 1 year 6th form, which covers a different syllabus. Only a very small number apply from Scotland, so the test is bound to be based around the A'level syllabuses / (i?).

Argh Puffalicious, sorry to come to the thread this evening to your news.

Sorry @Puffalicious, your son sounds like a lovely lad.

In that case they should mitigate for Scottish applicants. So much for a push for Scottish applicants if this is correct. It's not a shrugging shoulder issue it really matters, if true. I really hope it's not.

SirVixofVixHall and mynameisnotmichaelcaine: well done to your DC!

Thanks ealingwestmum and startoftheyear you're all so very lovely. And he is the loveliest lad. He's up battering his drumkit - taking out his internal disappointment I think and planning starting a band with his mates now the Oxford stress is over and he has a clutch of unconditionals! He us, indeed, the coolest kid I know.

Storm I think you're probably right, to be fair.

goodbyestranger they should really advise applicants to apply after Adv Higher. The STEP is in June which would be an advantage, but he really wasn't keen on Cambridge.

C'est la vie.

Sorry to hear all those who have just missed out. Congratulations to all those who’ve made it to the next round !

DD’s interview is tomorrow. Not sure whether I should be frantically cleaning or drinking wine to take my mind off it. DD has been really good until about half an hour ago. She’s now sitting in the bath trying not to feel overwhelmed.
I’ll be glad when it’s done!

Sorry to hear your news Puffalicious.

I fear you may be right. Oxbridge applications for STEM subjects appear to be near unachievable from
Scotland.

My son's Scottish state school often has one successful applicant a year but all for law, PPE, E &M. There have not been any successful STEM applicants in recent years.

DS2 is hoping to apply for comp sci next year but we are taking precautions and he will have a few sessions with a tutor (from England) before his admissions test as there will be gaps in his knowledge due to differences in the Scottish maths curriculum.

I'm sure your DS will be very happy at his Scottish choices.

Yes but it's not ok Puffalicious. Your DS may be cool or coolish about it but he's clearly super bright so should at least have got an interview and there are or will be others who are not as cool. There's a mismatch between this and the declared push for more Scottish students. Some of the best brains historically have come from Scotland. Are the MAT setters even aware? I don't believe for a moment that tutors at Oxford are xenophobic so there needs to be an explanation.

All the best to your DS Puffalicious.