Oxbridge applications 2023 mutual support thread

[Riverpebble]

A new, friendly thread.

Is it just Oxford who do more interviewing if you get pooled? Ds has his Cambridge interview on Monday, just wondering if there’s any chance he might be asked to do another if he’s pooled- how do you know?

Both interviews here were at the same O college which ds applied to.
No idea what that means, if anything,

I found the whole thing completely confusing. However my DD did virtually all the application herself. No mock interviews, no help with PS ( she was embarrassed to even let us read it) and no 'Oxbridge Classes'. The last time someone went to Oxbridge from her school was 5 yrs ago and that was 1 random just like her. They have been brilliant though. The Opportunity Oxford programme is fantastic. It really gives them a head start and builds confidence and belief in their abilities. From my point of view they've got a bloody good, capable and self-motivated student who might not have the polish but has certainly got the ability.

Sorry I meant had not has, it was almost a week ago.

River DS had an assessment and an interview for Cambridge but his friend had 2 interviews for Oxford and no assessment. I think that was the norm for her course.

I got ds to add a bit more enthusiasm into his personal statement eg I am fascinated by etc but other than that it was on him. Sounds like they’re keen to diversify!

Thank you for such an informative- and helpful reply!! Good luck too to your dad and all these clever, motivated kids out there!

I meant to your ds - autocorrect!!!!

Trying not to think about the outcome for DS but 25th January feels light years away!

Two more interviews for DS this week, then it’s a still long (but not as long as the wait for Cambridge) till we hear either way.

Yeah 1 more interview of DS tomorrow at another college and then we are done. It’s O, so the wait is until 10th Jan but that’s gonna feel very very long!

Good luck to all dc (mine included 😀) going in for a second round today! VERY glad with the snow they are not actually in O, or struggling to get there ... Fingers crossed for good broadband connections all round

DD3 interviewed at Oxford during the very heavy snow of 2010. I was there too, collecting an older DC. It was incredibly beautiful but the roads were lethal and the trains were all over the place. Then all the letters with news of offers or otherwise got stuck in the post for days and days....

www.larkinweb.co.uk/gallery/oxford_snow_2010/506-100-web.html#heading

Good luck to everyone with interviews this week!

Tangentially, I wonder if more other unis will start doing interviews again now they can be done remotely? Back in the 70s afaik everywhere did. Snow prevented me getting to mine at Durham and DH at Manchester.

Good luck this week everybody

Good luck to the DCs with interviews this week. The final (ish) hurdle!

DD (History, Oxford) has been given an interview at a different college this week. In truth the college (St Edmunds) sounds amazing and possibly a better fit for hear than Worcester so 🤞

DS has his second college interview this morning, so we are now officially done! He said it was "very tough" and was a little despondent, but I reminded him that he should be proud of his efforts and that we will see what happens come offer day.

Good luck to all DCs and parents for the remaining interviews!

That’s a normal feeling, I’d say, Firefox. DD hated her final interview, having rather enjoyed the previous ones, and it was the second college that offered her a place.

Good luck to all; whatever the outcome, they are very bright students with a lot to offer.

(Though given that my Oxbridge student had seemingly forgotten it goes dark early in winter when planning a snowday meet-up, some of them still have a lot to learn.)

DD enjoyed her third interview today and then rushed out in the garden to make a snowman. She's done all she can and whatever will be, will be ... I'm proud of her for keeping (mainly) cheery throughout.

My grandson had his first interview this afternoon and, after some problems with audio at first, it seems it went smoothly enough - but ‘I’ve no idea how I did’ was his only comment! Next interview at a second college tomorrow morning,

ds has 2 interviews tomorrow pm (cambs). He's decided to do them from home, and it's going to take all my willpower not to eavesdrop!

Good luck with the interviews everyone. It's an opaque process for sure. My eldest just started at C in Sept. The published stats now show that his particular college interviewed 44 for his subject. They made 7 direct offers and two more were successfully taken from the pool by other colleges (the stats don't show how many were actually pooled). But now, only 5 are actually there - and one of these got in last minute in August via the Summer Pool (only available to those who meet certain WP criteria). I can only assume this means 3 out of the 7 made offers did not get the required A star, A, A on results day? Whereas I bet loads (most?) of the 35 who were turned down went in to get at least the minimum grade requirement, if not a full sweep of A stars. So it just shows, this process is far from an exact science. You have to wonder what goes on really.

Last interview today for DS from the 2nd college, it’s been an interesting process for sure! I’ve particularly enjoyed reading about the interviewers themselves, where they’ve studied/lectured and their specialities. It’s fascinating!