Oxbridge applications 2023 mutual support thread

[Riverpebble]

A new, friendly thread.

I'm burning with curiosity here too but also not asking.

Definitely best plan to just wait and see and not ask despite huge level of self control needed!!!!

Oh I didn’t know Oxford interviews would be coming through yet I thought it was later this month. Now I’ll be on the hop and trying not to ask DD to check her emails!

she did TSA and it was only on 2nd so I wasn’t expecting anything soon.

DD applied for Biochemistry at O and they advised all applications are considered at faculty level. They rank them based on score of UCAS form then invite top ~300 for interview. They are scored on their 2 interviews then added to score from form and top 100 made offers so the college they apply to is irrelevant in terms of likelihood of offer for that subject.

Well done to all who have received offers and interview confirmations already and best of luck to those waiting to hear!

My DD received an email from Cambridge last night inviting her for an assessment at the end of November and an interview at the beginning of December.

It's only a very, very small number of subjects at Oxford which send out interviews in the middle of November - those with no pre-tests such as Biology - all the subjects with pre-tests come out later on in the month.

Thankyou @Firefox1066 and @goodbyestranger.

I was going to name check all the others tiptoeing around teenagers but it's clearly all of us. How we have evolved through the parenting years.

I am very mindful that my teens are 17 & 15 and I need to allow them privacy and room to be independent and in control of their life. So much of parenting in the early years is about gathering a lot of information and putting stuff in place behind the scenes so swimming/music/sport/friends are set up for success.

I don't miss the daily nursery bulletins with how many wet nappies they'd experienced.

It's being reported on TSR that Oxford interviews for Biology, Biochemistry, Earth Sciences and Music are now being received but only from certain colleges.

Where is that sparkles? I can't see anything on the forums.

It's on University of Oxford 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread and on the first post there is a responser tracker spreadsheet for interviews.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7187135

Yes those are the subjects sparkles. Occasionally Law can come a bit ahead of the main slew and Medicine has a single named day for release of invites.

Ooh, hours of fun on this!

I'm addicted to it!

I’ve looked at the one for Cambridge too- interesting! On the Cambridge forum it’s also saying that parents must use a different section for them and not interfere with the applicants’ section- apparently last year parents were very intrusive and unruly!!

Hi sorry just dipping in again, but just wanted to mention to @madcattersteaparty or anyone else whose DC has a social sciences source-based interview (where the source is sent to them beforehand) that, for the first question, they are quite likely to want them to summarise the article. So, if there's time, may be worth them just writing down a very brief set of 'main points'. Also, look at the context of the article (when was it written, by whom and for what purpose). I know this sounds obvious, but it can be tricky under time pressure. Apart from that, in source-based interviews, they are basically trying to simulate a tutorial. They are not expecting 'right' answers (often there will be no such thing). They are more interested in their engagement really. It's definitely ok to take a view on something in the article. Just wanted to mention this in case it may possibly help anyone. Also, there are lots of videos on YouTube with tutors talking about interviews, etc.

Thank you @fudgeroo that is really helpful

You tube links for interview advice or examples in general sounds useful- any specific links anyone recommends?

@Peanutcookiecup on You Tube there are mock interviews from the Oxford colleges on differing specific subjects. If you look up Jesus college, those are really good videos.

I've come on here to have a moment of smugness with you lot. I dialled up Mumsnet in 2003 to work out what to buy for a forth coming baby and here we are on the fucking Oxbridge thread!!!

In real life I'm extremely limited to who I can talk to about this application - competitiveness, ideas above her station, that kind of thing.

State sixth form in the south west, only three have applied and DD is not sure one has any chance.
i cant believe she's gone for it, as she discussed her grades this morning she was so confident, so sure. She's driving the class in every subject, organised, back ground reading - am I right in thinking those are the kids Oxbridge want? we're in such a naïve bubble here.

Her second choice uni is actually my favourite - more modern course, less pressure, etc so its a win/win whatever happens.

I just thought I'd drop an over excited post before anyone gets rejected, whilst they are all flying high with possibilities because by even applying they are marked out as some hard working, clever, kids.

Congratulations to all those who have started to get interview invites. Dd is waiting to hear from Oxford but as they only received the TSA results yesterday we are expecting a weeks wait. Interesting seeing the student rooms spreadsheet filling up - exciting times.
Dd received an offer from her second choice last night and was over the moon. Takes the pressure off a bit now.
Thanks for the info on the you tube videos. Will get her to check them out.

some very strange input of information on that tracker: the student plans to study Medicine with general studies, media and earth science with predicted CCD. Oxford requirement - chemistry is mandatory and predicted not low then A star, AA. And the person's status is not contextual but private school.
taking the tracker with a pinch of salt.

First proper offer in today from Warwick Uni!

Catching up on all the messages. Congrats to all with offers and interview invites. We'll done to the dc and the parents.
We are still waiting to hear from Cambridge. Meanwhile he has offers from Warwick and Bristol for maths and physics. He is very happy with this but also a little nervous that he hasn't heard from Cambridge yet. I'm trying my best to reassure him.

@Letitgoagain well done to you DS. My son is also waiting for Cambridge (engineering) but from what I understand (limited I admit!) is that most of the students that are currently being contacted are those who aren't required to sit or haven't sat an entrance exam for Cambridge yet? Those who have sat an exam in the last month will be called 7-10 days before an interview if they get that far. My son got an email few weeks ago from Cambridge saying they'll be interviewing from 5th - 14th Dec and if they not been contacted by end of November they are unfortunately unsuccessful. My DS has received an offer from Southampton which he is very happy with so we will see.

Thanks @mumofthree22. The entrance test for maths is next year. It's a test of nerves this waiting!