Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 3

[Lightsabre]

New thread as Part 2 about to fill.

*others

Didn't know that, thanks, it's one one of my DN's is waiting on!

Yes that's right. Alternative would be Econ at C but he ruled that out as he's not doing further maths.

He's very excited, I'm very nervous!

He's done really well to get an interview, they make a huge cut for PPE.

I can understand your nerves!

I’ve never contributed to this thread before because it felt so far out of my experience but I have read and learned a lot. I have a DC at a sink comp that has never had a student go to Oxbridge who decided last year to apply to do PPE at O. He did it all himself, with no prep on how to do the personal statement apart from a staff member who advised him on what sort of things universities look for in applications. I had to arrange the TSA sittings for him in London because the school wasn’t able to help with it. Anyway, he has just found out he’s got an interview and we are both beyond shocked. I’m not for one minute expecting him to get a place, but so proud of him for getting an interview. Wishing good luck to everyone else who has DC waiting to hear.

@zen1 that is amazing! Congratulations to your son. It sounds like he really deserves this opportunity - hope the interview goes well!

Congrats on all the interviews. DD is not back yet. Zen I was in exactly same position as your son when I applied albeit for Economics at Cambridge, school said not to bother as noone got in from there. Got in as first person from my comp and they sent a handwritten letter to Head of school telling them how awful their school was 😂The Head was weirdly really proud of that letter and called me in and said he had never had a handwritten letter from Cambridge, it just insulted him but he seemed not to care. He's done well to get an interview.

Good luck to him @zen1

@zen1 well done to your DS, that's brilliant!!

Best of luck with the interview - there is a lot of online guidance worth looking at if he's not already seen it.

‘The Head was weirdly really proud of that letter and called me in and said he had never had a handwritten letter from Cambridge, it just insulted him but he seemed not to care.’

This made me laugh! How did it insult him?

Big well done to all the interviews coming out.

Thank you for all the well-wishes! @WobblyLondoner good luck to your DS too! We’ll definitely have to look online for interview tips and guidance. He had an email from O a week or so ago saying that if he was shortlisted , they recommend him signing up for some sort of interview advice session they are running next week so he will do that.

@Silkiefloof , I was encouraged by your story (and the letter to the head from Cambridge is hilarious, especially as the reason for sending it seemed lost on him!). It’s good to know people do get interviews / places even if they’ve had no specific prep or advice or any input from school.

So exciting seeing the interview decisions coming in. Congratulations and good luck to everyone who's heard so far. Hang in there everyone else, the wait will be over soon. One way or another, we'll survive!

Addgif It was a long time ago so I can't remember exactly but it was a really long either one or two pages of A4 handwritten letter from the admissions tutor and the Head read it out to me and said himself that it was just telling him how awful him and his school were but he was so happy as he never had a handwritten letter from Cambridge and I think he said he was going to put it on display in his room. 🤔It said something like Silkie is an excellent candidate and you are lucky to have someone like Silkie at your school but you clearly aren't looking after Silkie properly. Staff at your school have discouraged Silkie from applying when she is exactly what we want and this is awful of your teachers and as Head you are responsible and failing pupils. As you clearly are incapable of looking after Silkie properly I will continue to write to her until she starts here. And he sent me several handwritten letters afterwards to check everything was OK. It was lovely after a school that really had not cared.

Not sure if E&M are out yet. DD is not back until 10.30pm. Think they may not be out still.

Well done @zen1 DS and fingers crossed for other PPEers still waiting 🤞

Amazing to see all the invites starting to come through. I am trying to distract myself until my DD hears and prepare for whatever the outcome. It's hard not to get invested when everyone keeps telling her she will be fine and not to worry (state school and family and friends not really understanding how competitive the process is!)

@zen1 congratulations - fabulous news.

i remember my teacher saying when he got an interview for Oxford they used to send them a telegram!

@Panicmode1
That's funny - DS2 is most worried about small talk - ASD - definitely doesn't do small talk.

😁 he will be fine. DS says he is in a minority of the engineering cohort because he doesn't have an ASD diagnosis (tho has traits!). He was just taken aback that after introductions, they went straight into problems and equations, there were no pleasantries, so I thought it worth warning people!

Sorry- I'm late to the chat! have read back a few pages just now but will need to catch up thoroughly. DS has applied to study Physics at Oxford, predicted 4A*'s, state school. Trying not to get hopes up as you all know chances of getting in are infinitesimally small. I am mostly dismissive and focusing on his other choices (He has an interview at Lancaster next week, has had an offer from Southampton, and waiting to hear from Durham and Exeter) whilst inwardly dreaming how wonderful it would be... He is trying not to raise hopes but he jumps every time he gets an email!
One of his best friends made a late bid to apply to O to do chemistry (persuaded by DS and other friend who has applied to do Maths) said friend found out today he has an interview. Son doesn't know when he will hear if he has an interview- he's thinking anytime in the 2 weeks leading upto interviews which start 7th Dec- has anyone heard?

@Pretendingitsnobigdeal its tough isn’t it? DD is also waiting to hear about Physics at O. I’m expecting we’ll hear something in the next few days, as interviews are supposed to start on the 6th.

In the meantime, DD has 2 other unis who want interviews - at the moment both on the same day (the 6th!) which could also be an Oxford interview day. These have come as something of a surprise as nothing about interviews was mentioned at the Open days we attended in the summer.

Well done on all the interviews! It's depressing that some state schools are still not encouraging their bright students to apply. My DS had the same, one teacher said he wasn't 'right' for Cambridge. He's not had any interview prep from his school, bar a mock interview which was about his hobbies and interests, so no help for a Cambridge interview!

@Panicmode1 Physics interviews are the same as engineering , no small talk at all in my DD's, the most was one question about her EPQ in her third interview, otherwise they were all "hello now solve this sum".

Congratulations to all the DC with interviews! Lovely news!

Best of luck to him. You never know! He clearly has a lot of commitment and get up and go so it might just work out for him. I was sort of similar myself almost 40 years ago with Oxford PPE. My comp had sent people to Oxbridge but not many. I set my heart on one of what was in many ways one of the better more academic and prestigious colleges. The school told me to apply to one of the "lesser" colleges to increase my chances. I ignored them and got in. Crossing my fingers for your son.

Fingers crossed for your DD too! - yes Lancaster interview was a surprise too- no mention of it in the information he received (didn't go to the open day as wasn't on his radar back then). Hopefully the Uni's will offer alternatives- they must surely be aware there'll be clashes...
Congrats to all those with interviews!