Those with Oxbridge offers - how are you feeling?

[Kersey]

I appreciate this is a great position to be in as my son has a Cambridge offer for history
when we were waiting for the offer it was ‘you have done your best and I’m
so proud’ which I sincerely meant. Now he has an offer I have such anxiety he won’t get the grades. He’s so happy that I can’t bear the thought of it not happening, I can’t help comparing it to having a winning lottery ticket and losing it.
we aren’t rich at all, , he’s state school and he’s worked so hard and it’s all he wants.
anyone else in a similar position? (State or private)

There is a thread for those with offers, you may get more responses there.

Oxbridge 2023 support; it's offer month. Good luck all. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4715136-oxbridge-2023-support-its-offer-month-good-luck-all

@Kersey in exactly the same situation as you and feeling exactly the same.

DD is now at Oxford, but I can relate to how you're feeling, OP. We had a nail biting time right up until results day, as we knew that the crucial third A she needed (in a subject with no direct relevance to her degree subject) was by no means a "done deal". One piece of advice I would give you is to discuss DS's insurance choices with him in some detail to make sure he properly focuses on the question of where he actually wants to be for three years if he doesn't get into Cambridge. It's all too easy for students to get so focussed on their first choice that the insurance choice becomes a bit of a box ticking exercise.

I remember the feeling of the run up to 25thJan. Trying not to think about it or talk about it, bracing myself for disappointment, then daring to think of what if she does get an offer....it was such roller coaster. Then the offer, then discovering she was pooled, and how lucky that she was somehow fished. All the elements of luck in the process. Then the offer letter officially came, and I couldn't help but excitedly delve into the rabbit hole of finding out all there is to know about the college and accommodation etc.. Oh, and the potential for shopping. Looking into gowns, formal dresses, ball gowns, shoes... I was living my Cambridge dream vicariously through dd, until dh and dd told me to snap out of it, constantly reminding that she's got to hit the (very challenging) grades first.

This roller coaster is not over yet until August....

@Kersey I know exactly what you mean with those feelings. Dd applied several years ago, I was obviously supportive but not convinced the odds were good (a course which is v competitive everywhere so adding Oxbridge to the equation made it even worse). We were thrilled she got an interview and then pleasantly surprised she got an offer. I had a terrible feeling that because she had been so fortunate, some really bad luck would befall our family to counterbalance this…

When I read the Oxbridge threads every year, I am always concerned that those with offers assume they will make the grades & actually go there.

In DD’s case that did not happen (by the tiniest of margins - less than 0.5% in one subject- which still irks!)

As others have said, if all the focus is on the firm choice (Oxbridge or elsewhere) there is an adjustment to do on the day for student & parent. Luckily Dd loved her insurance & it was probably a better option academically & professionally for her.

Best of luck to your Ds & I hope he has a backup plan he would be happy with.