Oxbridge applications 2023 mutual support thread

[Riverpebble]

A new, friendly thread.

Mine said the same thing except he thought the biology part went ok and it was the maths part where he ran out of time. I heard a couple of the others coming out saying it was harder than the practice tests too.

DC just got interview at Cambridge for CS. More tests in the form of a CSAT now (but very happy for him to have got so far).

So many offers for interviews coming in now, but I just wish it was next week already for us and we’d know either way!

At the open day I asked the tutor what they look for in the application and he said half the applicants mention sporting achievements and they’re just not interested in that at all (unless it’s relevant obvs). All they care about is showing interest in the subject. Not saying that student did do that, but they really are particular aren’t they!

One of my students has an interview for Engineering at C. He's very happy & excited as his sister is already there. He has a fantastic contextual offer from a highly-regarded place closer to home, so is remarkably laid-back.

Which is all well and good but the PS has to also try and appeal to other unis and some like Durham do value the extra curricular aspects so I think it’s really hard for the students to not mention them at all but be mindful of not using up word count that O and C would prefer used in other ways.

Can I ask which college? I don't think the one our boy was assigned to uses the CSAT but I don't know for sure!

Lots of news now suddenly coming from Dd’s school – a handful of people have interviews for subjects such as biochemistry, others rejected, some at the college they originally applied for some taken up elsewhere. Really feel for all kids going through this

So what's the possible outcome & timescales so I can get my parenting game face on.

Rejection pre interview, letting you know nowish
Invite to interview, first batch
Interview drawn from pool
No interview,no rejection but find out this via UCAS in January.

If you have any interview do you get any answer before Christmas or do you hear in January?

DS has applied for Geography at O, likely to hear today?

everyone who is interviewed will find out either way on the January date (it’s a fixed date but I can’t remember when it is sorry!)

when interviewed by the college that has offered (first choice or any other) any of them can then also be passed to another college for interviews, usually the day after.

We're waiting to hear about an interview at O for ds after he sat the MAT at the beginning of the month.

I think I'm right in saying that if he doesn't get invited for interview then he'll be told in the next few days (and that's the end of his application) rather than having to wait until January to find out but I'd be really grateful for clarification

He has other offers which he's delighted with but I'm looking forward to finding out one way or the other whether we're still "in the system" or not

At O just the first two of your options apply initially.

If he doesn’t get an interview, he’ll be told by email and his application will be over.

Or he could get an interview invitation to his original college, or find that he has been shifted to another one. Some subjects will do interviews at more than one college as standard. Some might call them for another interview at a pooled college after the first round, which will happen in the week or so following the first interview (this is why O candidates sometimes used to spend 2/3 days there, waiting to see if some one else wanted to see them). Then everyone who made it to interview finds out on the same day in Jan.

Sonoption 3 only happens if option 2 did and is really just part of #2, and #4 doesn’t happen.

not sure that makes it much clearer :-)

@Revengeofthepangolins

Thank you so much

That is really helpful

Thankyou @Revengeofthepangolins and everyone else sitting here, waiting to hear.

I'm actually impressed that Oxford don't keep them hanging around messing with their heads. The early application, letting them know if it's an interview no and then offer decision in January is relatively swift.
Love the online interview, we're an overnight stay from Oxford, this way we don't have to ringfence time and DS won't have to emotionally bond with a place before he knows it's more of a possibility.

We have heard a lot from people over the years about Uni and where people originally applied. When you hear that the 50 year old CEO was studious enough to apply when 17 but then went on to succeed elsewhere it does open a window into our teen pasts.

This is the time table of the Oxford interviews:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews/interview-timetable2

Invites for interviews should be sent out at least a week before the interview date.
January 10th 2023 is the date that applicants are told whether they have a place at Oxford for October via UCAS.

CS interview - Trinity Hall, Dec 13th - eep!

Oh that's wonderful! Congratulations to your ds!

Congrats on the interviews and offers. 🎉

Still no news here for Cambridge comp sci interview and also no UCAS offers (Scottish unis).

It's a true test of patience.

Apologies for the ds assumption - no idea why but I thought you had a ds but I could be wrong!

Yes, he's a ds - thank you x

Congratulations to all the DC with interviews as well to those still waiting but with offers from other unis!! Dd still waiting if she gets an interview from O for HS. Has an offer from Manchester but still waiting from UCL and Exeter. She would be happy with both if Oxford is not successful. This wait is unbearable

Hi everybody. De-lurking to say PPE emails coming in now, both rejections and invites. My son got an interview, he is happy.

DD received an interview at Oxford day for PPE. It was the college she applied to.

Geography at O here too 🤞

DS has just been rejected for PPE. I'm not surprised but still more disappointed than I thought! He hasn't applied to any other UK universities so we're out. Good luck to everyone!