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

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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 positive vibes. It was water in her bag (top of bottle not screwed on properly) and it is about 6 weeks old 😬 She's paying for the repair. Not sure what will happen if it can't be fixed....

The cup of coffee incident was not taken for repair until about 3 weeks after said incident. So should be OK. Fingers crossed.

Good luck to all the Oxford people for Tuesday.
I hope that your children get their offers.

Also just to say -
DD (first year at uni) has been home for Christmas. She has met up with lots of friends, about 80% of whom applied to O or C. They are now all over the country and every one of them is happy and enjoying uni. DD went to visit one (who is at dd's insurance choice which we hadn't even seen due to covid) and came home with a "You know, I'd have been happy there too".
I'm sure the same will be able to be said next year of any of your children who are unfortunately disappointed this week.
(I really hope this doesn't come across as insensitive).

@Chilldonaldchill I don’t think that’s insensitive at all.; conversely, it’s very kind and positive.
I know a number of brilliant young people who have not gone beyond the interview stage at Oxford or Cambridge but have gone elsewhere and flourished.
It’s always hard to deal with rejection, especially when you have always been successful but there are other excellent universities. As you say, whichever way this goes, hopefully next year our young people will be pleased with the outcome.

Thanks @Chilldonaldchill and no I don't think it's insensitive either. DH and I are currently planning how to respond to Tuesday's news and what sort of distractions we can put in place if DS doesn't get an offer. Like many other students, the date falls in the middle of DS's mock exams so it's a case of dealing with the news whilst remaining focused on the exams.

It's so easy to think Oxford is the only positive route, especially when so much extra time and energy has gone into the application process but I know it's so far from the truth. It's really reassuring to hear of other students who were where DS is now a year ago who are now happy and thriving at other universities.

Good Luck, All! See on the the side of Tuesday.

@Chilldonaldchill Not insensitive at all. DD and I were chatting last night and she is fully expecting a rejection, hasnt even allowed her thoughts to go down the path of an acceptance. Instead she is really really excited about going to Bath. We have been looking at accommodation and finances, and have the open day coming up, I know she will do well and most likely love wherever she goes. Getting into C or not will not define the rest of her life that is for sure.

I think we all feel the same and are taking the same approach. Especially if our DC are lucky enough to have an offer in at a school that they really like. DD doesn’t expect a Cambridge offer. In fact, she is day dreaming so much about St Andrew’s that I think a C offer would really throw her.

I have mixed feelings about Oxbridge myself. I hear a lot of cautionary tales from parents whose children did not thrive there, felt overwhelmed and … crushed. On the other hand, I think the Socratic method of teaching is far and away the best. Especially for humanities, where it is too easy for an “education” to devolve into being lectured on what the correct opinions are rather than a robust and rigorous exploration of all views. C and O are also some of the world’s strongest brands and having them on your cv isn’t going to hurt. But … however good the external wrapper looks, it’s worthless if the young person inside hasn’t developed to “fill it out.”

I’m trying to trust that the admissions tutors know their stuff, and if she gets an offer, it’s because she can handle it, and if she doesn’t, it’s actually in her best interests. I still worry because it is obvious they don’t always get it right. I’m probably out of step with a lot of other parents, on this, but I think there is more downside and risk for the DC to being accepted when they shouldn’t be and failing to thrive, than being turned down, going to another good university and ending up at the top of the class.

@Stockpot thank you that's a great post and certainly good food for thought ..

Dd waiting for decision from C but I'm thinking this week of those who have applied to O.. have got mocks .. and can see something about TAGs coming up in the news .. that's a lot to take in at any age but especially 18!

What are TAGs?

Teacher Assessed Grades

Admissions tutor Jesus college Oxford posted a video a few days ago re how exactly does Oxford select its students. Sorry not sure how to paste a link! Anyway think it is a good video to watch near to decision day. Good luck everyone waiting to hear tomorrow.

Thanks @mustardpot13 was it this one?

Yes. That's the one!

@Stockpot Beautifully put!

Good Luck to you All. I feel sick.

DS has offers in Maths at Southampton & Manchester. And I say to him, they’ll be happy to have you. Because he’s interviewing them too.

Thanks for highlighting that link its very interesting and that man talks a lot of sense! Also goes to show that accepted or not they are all brilliant to have even got this far and the margins are tiny. They will hopefully go on in life and flourish in their studies / careers wherever they end up.

@mustardpot13, @VikingNorthUtsire thanks so much for sharing that video. I’ll be encouraging DD to watch tonight; I really like the emphasis that it is tiny things which make the difference.

Anxiously counting down the hours now; mostly out of concern for how the decision will affect DD. I know she has excellent alternative options, hopefully she will come to see it that way too.

I know that the Cambridge applicants have a little longer to wait but as DS will find out tomorrow whether he has a place at Oxford or not, this seems like the best time to post this, before we know which way it's gone.

Good luck to ALL the students and families. Congratulations to all those who get a place and commiserations to those who don't make that narrow cut. I've read so many accounts here of clever, interesting, resourceful, hardworking and decent young people. They all deserve the best chances and I am sure they will shine, whether at Oxbridge or elsewhere. Our Covid cohort, cracking on with resilience and determination.

Thank you to all the posters who have shared advice and encouragement. It's been very helpful. We may be back here in a couple of years with DS2 so I can pay back the favour.

@VikingNorthUtsire

I know that the Cambridge applicants have a little longer to wait but as DS will find out tomorrow whether he has a place at Oxford or not, this seems like the best time to post this, before we know which way it's gone.

Good luck to ALL the students and families. Congratulations to all those who get a place and commiserations to those who don't make that narrow cut. I've read so many accounts here of clever, interesting, resourceful, hardworking and decent young people. They all deserve the best chances and I am sure they will shine, whether at Oxbridge or elsewhere. Our Covid cohort, cracking on with resilience and determination.

Thank you to all the posters who have shared advice and encouragement. It's been very helpful. We may be back here in a couple of years with DS2 so I can pay back the favour.

Lovely post and the very best of luck to your DS xxxxx