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Higher education

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Original poster

Oxbridge applications 2023 mutual support thread

889 replies

Riverpebble · 02/11/2022 22:05

A new, friendly thread.

OP posts:
multivac · 07/12/2022 19:51

Turmerictolly · 07/12/2022 19:07

What do you all think of open applications? Ds will be applying next year and I'm just reading about these. Do you think colleges feel an applicant isn't really interested in their specialisms if they make an open application.

We were told categorically that there is no difference between an open application and applying to a specific college, other than expressing an interest in where you want to live (Cambs). The teaching is departmental, not college based - and if you are a good enough candidate - ie in the top number equalling the places available - you will be found a place.

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 10:48

In answer to two questions - no, I honestly don't think an open application makes a blind bit of difference
I personally wouldn't attend an offer holders' day if you've already been to an open day and are sure of your choice. Way too expensive and time consuming.

OnePlusOneEquals · 08/12/2022 11:34

Nerves slowly building in our house now! I think he’ll be fine once it all starts rolling though. Second college has been in touch and informed him of their interview time - not sure if/when they decide if another interview is required or not, but we’ll see if that happens. His interview panel look friendly enough in the pictures on the Oxford website so I hope that bodes well!
Fingers crossed everyone!

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 13:20

DD has been pooled with another interview next week Guessing this means no room for her at her first choice but that's not a big deal as chosen so randomly. Feeling glad this means she is at least up to standard (I would hope anyway ...)

princesdando · 08/12/2022 13:24

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 13:20

DD has been pooled with another interview next week Guessing this means no room for her at her first choice but that's not a big deal as chosen so randomly. Feeling glad this means she is at least up to standard (I would hope anyway ...)

Definitely means she's good enough to still be in the running.

Is this Oxford? And what course if you don't mind me asking?

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 13:26

Oxford and English

usedtobeboss3 · 08/12/2022 13:43

Interviews done here - 'hard, but so good, so much to talk about' was the verdict, so we're hoping that's positive (MML at C). Had to translate something in his ab initio language (which thankfully he has done a fair bit of preparatory work on independently...)

Weird to think he's done all he can now!

FlyingSquid · 08/12/2022 14:54

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 13:20

DD has been pooled with another interview next week Guessing this means no room for her at her first choice but that's not a big deal as chosen so randomly. Feeling glad this means she is at least up to standard (I would hope anyway ...)

She could get an offer from either, or even from a different college. A lot gets discussed after all interviews are done.

Scottishsummer · 08/12/2022 15:10

Codfishermen · 08/12/2022 13:20

DD has been pooled with another interview next week Guessing this means no room for her at her first choice but that's not a big deal as chosen so randomly. Feeling glad this means she is at least up to standard (I would hope anyway ...)

Codfishermen, it may mean something else too - that other colleges are actively vying for her. Don't forget exhibitions and scholarships are awarded this way. DD's friend, also state school, had interviews at three colleges before one of them ''won' her with a scholarship. Nightmare for her at the time but turned out a fantastic outcome.

Juja · 08/12/2022 15:25

@Codfishermen Last year my DD and her friend were both passed onto another colleges for more interview(s) and at both of their additional interviews there was someone from a third college present as well. Both of them received offers, one from the 'second' college and one from the 'third' college. I think last year 28% of those given offers were from a college they hadn't applied for. Oxford seem to make a significant effort - in some subjects anyway - that good candidates get a chance to meet lecturers from other colleges. See it as a positive sign 🙂

glitterhouse · 08/12/2022 15:50

The situation at Oxford sounds better than being pooled at Cambridge because at Cambridge you are just a "file" to tutors from other colleges. And the odds of being pulled out of the pool are 1 in 5 (slightly worse than this for those from independents). At least a Oxford, they get to meet the real person!

glitterhouse · 08/12/2022 16:25

My DD got into Cambridge second time around for HSPS. She applied with 2 A star and an A predicted and an A star in EPQ achieved, plus ten grade 9s at GCSE. The feedback from the first time around (I think we received it in about April) was that she had scored an average of 7/10 in the second interview and this had not not been high enough for a direct offer unfortunately. They said they did see sufficient merit in her application to put it in the pool and were sorry to hear another college has not selected her.

Anyway, the upshot was, she turned down offers at Durham, LSE, UCL and Bristol to have another go (much to my alarm at the time, but what can you do).

The second time round she applied with three A stars achieved and the A star in EPQ and had won two essay prizes by then, plus had some published work and relevant work experience. She applied to a college with more spaces for her subject and a DoS who had some (vague) overlap with her interests. Both interviews went much much better and she felt very positive. The whole application process was much easier second time around and she got an unconditional place in the January. She also had an absolutely brilliant gap year working in Asia - to the extent that even if the hadn't got in second time around, the gap year still would have been worth it. Also the extra year of maturity and having lived abroad and travelled solo means she is a lot less phased at the whole going to uni and the workload etc. Su far she's tending it very much in her stride and really enjoying it. She knows it could have gone either way and just feels very lucky.

So, I just wanted to say, this Oxbridge process does not necessarily need to be a one-shot wonder. Many students there have applied twice, or they just applied post A-levels. Just wanted to mention this - as it's always an option. But also, the very best of luck to everyone! I remember all this well and have another about to go through it next year!

madcattersteaparty · 08/12/2022 18:21

Junior madcatter has done interview. All seemed to go ok, no problems with the zoom or anything. No small talk just straight in, but seems to have been fine! Just got to wait now!

beachcitygirl · 08/12/2022 18:55

Brilliant @Codfishermen 👏🏻 she's definitely viewed as Oxford material. My dd was torn between new College Oxford & newnham for English. Plumped for Cambridge (I preferred Oxford) on a gut instinct.

Fingers crossed she gets a fabulous place x

Original poster
Riverpebble · 08/12/2022 19:03

Da says 'ok' about the interview but he's a man of little words who went to school and did 'nothing' all day until 6th form when they actually decided to teach him something at last 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Riverpebble · 08/12/2022 19:03

Ds not Da of course

OP posts:
PettsWoodParadise · 08/12/2022 19:46

DD's interview yesterday - she was impressed that they used undergraduates to do the technical tests and supply the sources for discussion (even if they had been picked by interviewers). She had originally been booked for one source discussion but then both interviews turned into source discussions and there was very little time for anything else, perhaps five minutes about her PS. All spread through the day.

Nothing too traumatic, no real out of comfort zone, she couldn't print out sources due to location so had to work from screen and perhaps that was less than ideal and meant that one word she didn't know as didn't have the opportunity to easily read and research (and DD has a very extensive vocab anyway) and then had to state that she didn't know meaning of one word in a poem when they wanted her take on that particular sentence. Once know she could then give an opinion.

They were not harsh and said she just had to say if she didn't know the meaning of something, but then they went onto explain lots of words she already knew so was a bit wondering if they got her completely wrong. I said it sounded like it went really well as she had engaged with them and was learning which they wanted to know, but it did sound to me like they mis-understood her one and only area for clarification and then assumed she knew less. Hoping I shouldn't be worried and completely hiding this from DD as she is totally amazing (who doesn't think their child who has got this far isn't amazing???). I remember being an undergraduate and my parents who left school at 14 meant every third word said in lectures to me being alien, meaning I sat in front of the full 20+ volumes of the OED in the library to work things out as the words used were not in the concise edition.

DD has come a long way, but maybe it hasn't quite been enough? I did think she had as her teachers sometimes were amazed where she got ideas and words from and report she has the best vocab and conversational skills in the year (their words, not mine), and this is at a top grammar.

DD did a competition entry for the college she is applying to and totally fell in love with it on prize giving day when she received her certificate. She was showed around and given special treatment so it feels a lot more a wrench to her to think she may not get in after such a journey.

Sorry for the essay but it is a long wait to 25th Jan...

babysteps22 · 08/12/2022 20:07

We seem to be finished here. Not sure if there'll be any further interviews. Second went 'much better' than the first and he really enjoyed it. I don't know if it'll be enough. What a week.

goodbyestranger · 08/12/2022 20:40

Codfishermen, it may mean something else too - that other colleges are actively vying for her. Don't forget exhibitions and scholarships are awarded this way

Scottishsummer with respect, you're talking nonsense. There is no such thing as an exhibition at Oxford any more and scholarships are awarded only after the first year exams or for some subjects (Classics) after the second year exams. What another interview means for this DD is (statistically most likely) that she hasn't made the top cut at her original college but was considered good enough for a place elsewhere, where space is available. It could also mean that she did extremely well and that this forthcoming interview is for standardization, in which case she will get an offer from the original college. But it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with scholarships, nothing at all.

Original poster
Riverpebble · 08/12/2022 21:06

Ds has now said the questions started within 20 seconds or so and it was a half an hour interview

OP posts:
Scottishsummer · 08/12/2022 23:46

goodbyestranger · 08/12/2022 20:40

Codfishermen, it may mean something else too - that other colleges are actively vying for her. Don't forget exhibitions and scholarships are awarded this way

Scottishsummer with respect, you're talking nonsense. There is no such thing as an exhibition at Oxford any more and scholarships are awarded only after the first year exams or for some subjects (Classics) after the second year exams. What another interview means for this DD is (statistically most likely) that she hasn't made the top cut at her original college but was considered good enough for a place elsewhere, where space is available. It could also mean that she did extremely well and that this forthcoming interview is for standardization, in which case she will get an offer from the original college. But it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with scholarships, nothing at all.

Quite right! I am out of date! Apologies to Codfishermen. But still very promising news.
Could you explain about standardisation?

Codfishermen · 09/12/2022 08:39

Thanks for all your lovely encouraging messages - it's nervewracking having to go back into the interview process just when we thought it was all over but it's encouraging to know dd is still at least in the game. I did also wonder about scholarships as even back in my day (C) they were only given out at the end of the first year but I thought maybe O was different ... Anyway, big fingers crossed for dd again and obviously everyone else on here!

Magimus · 09/12/2022 09:58

Can anybody share more about the standardisation interviews. How do they work? Do they expect that you should be getting similar scores for this as your first college interviews? What if some interviews have just gone better or worse than others?

goodbyestranger · 09/12/2022 10:16

An applicant won't know if it's an interview for standardisation or not. They're looking to check that standards are comparable across the colleges.

Codfishermen · 09/12/2022 15:17

Personally I think standardisation is a myth to make ppl feel better! 😁