Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 4

[Lightsabre]

New thread as our dc start the rollercoaster ride of interviews.

@Pleasealexa he is doing them at home as the school suggested it would probably be difficult to do at school (noise/disturbance, it’s a large comprehensive school). I hope our WiFi behaves!

We’re disappointed not to be interviewed at a second O college. Heard that, because all successful applicants are benchmarked across all colleges - in order to maintain the standard - if you’re not invited for second college interview you won’t be getting an offer. Does anyone know of successful applicants who were not interviewed by a second college?

@MommaZenZone that really isn’t the case - second interviews (or third or fourth in some cases) happen for lots of reasons; not having one means that you could get an offer, not an offer, or an offer at a different college that hasn’t interviewed you, but they don’t need an extra interview to decide these things.

TenSheds any of the colleges represented could be considering an offer, or an offer for either one of the subjects as opposed to joint. Although tbf it sounds as though your DD has done extremely well - as in 'smashed it' - so more likely to be a standardisation interview with all those colleges involved.

MommaZenZone masses of interviewees are not interviewed elsewhere because they've made the cut at their college of choice/ allocation. That was certainly the case with most of my DC although one was interviewed elsewhere and then got an offer from his college of choice (History).

Goodness I didn't realise the process was so different between Oxford and Cambridge! I guess the second college (third or whatever) act like C's pool system?
Despite interviews now over for my DD it hasn't stopped her obsessing about percentages interviewed, then offered or then pooled, then fished! Plus every once in a while she goes 'oh no' with a grimace as she remembers some detail from her interviews! It's like ptsd!
Must have been very different back in the day. My late husband was first in his family to go to uni and had no help at all from his parents - they barely even knew he was applying! Got himself into Oxford though. He'd be chuffed his daughter has an opportunity to apply to Cambridge (interestingly two of his four children did not go to uni).

Good luck to all interviewees this week!!

DD has been true to her word and has literally not mentioned the C word since her interview on Thursday. It has well and truly fallen off her radar now. She has both English and History coursework due in this week (that she’s been given extended deadline for) so has had to switch her focus to that. She’s just done with this term and is limping along till next Thursday when they finish.

Well the deadline has passed and there is no pooling email. So we’re either a flat no or a flat yes 🤞

Anyone’s DC applying to Trinity Dublin? It!: being considered here…

@RIPMatthewperry - we visited Trinity Dublin open day and spoke to the admissions. DC loved the vibe but I wasn’t too keen on the process for applying. Happy to chat with you on DM about what we were told, if that helps

Second O interview today then another interview tomorrow with a second college.

Still trying to understand the second college invite and what it all means!

DC staying very chilled all things considered!

I wouldn't overthink the second college thing. As others have said, you can get an offer from the first college, the second or neither.

The only irritating thing is that the student can specifically pick, say, a large edge of town college with lots on that course, and then be offered a place at somewhere small and central -- or vice versa.

Poor DD has just discovered she has a Classics interview too with the same second college later this afternoon - 'technical difficulties' meant candidates didn't receive the invites on Friday! On the plus side I think this most likely means she is being considered by this college, is felt to have potential and she's being given a thorough review (nice to have a glimmer of understanding even if the eventual outcome is a rejection). At this point she is seeing the funny side at the craziness and prolonged nature of it all. In an odd way it's making her more relaxed, to just go in and give it her best shot.
I think it might be a wine night.

No 2nd interviews here. DS will be a bit disappointed as he felt his very narrow 1st interview which just asked about an unseen source didn’t go well for him. He’d have liked an opportunity to discuss the topics of his essay and mentioned on his PS too, as most seem to have been able to do. But it is what it is.

Here, although we know nothing is certain until 9 Jan and that surprises happen every year in all directions, we are all working on the basis it’s g pretty certainly a ‘no’ and will be focused on forthcoming mocks and thinking about other unis and courses - looking ahead. 9 Jan will still be a bit disappointing for DS but I don’t think it will be soul destroying. He’s moving on now really. And I’m glad to say that although he didn’t feel he had a good interview experience really, he’s enormously proud of having got this far when he didn’t think he would, and knows he got a lot out of prepping etc. And we feel the same…it was always going to be a long shot and we saw getting an interview or finally a place as all bonuses to be enjoyed if they came, but not expected or to be devastated by if they didn’t. Really think it’s the end of the road for us, but I’m sure people will say you just cannot know…but in his case, we think we do. And that is fine.

Hoping all those with 1st interviews this week feel they get a good go, and those called for 2nd interviews fell they get to do themselves justice. After that, what can anyone do but accept it’s out of their hands and wait. There will be good things ahead for all these talented and able young people and having a go at this process is part of life’s rich tapestry and all of them have added some further threads to their own over this term. There might be some scars and regrets or sadnesses, but hopefully it will have built them up and helped them in different ways, regardless of outcome.

And to the parents on these threads - your support of your teens and engagement with this process, and no doubt other important things in their lives - well, how fortunate these kids are, no matter what their background is. I hope we all have some sense of being proud too of whatever small role we have played in helping them along the way to get here. We will all be there for them in Jan whatever the outcome and beyond that too. I think that’s more important than we or they could probably know.

A Classics interview as well is definitely a positive thing TenSheds.

DS’s first Maths interview didn’t go well as he was too stressed and panicky during it as he started to go down the wrong path with the first problem and needed lots of prompts to complete that one and the other problems. He says they are questions he could have dealt with with ease under normal circumstances. He’s very deflated.

Lovely sentiments @WombatChocolate
Our YP are indeed a fortunate and talented bunch whatever January brings.

Lurking (rooting), having gone through this a few years back, though DD was unsuccessful post interview. HTH with any queries from those considering back up apps alongside UCAS to Ireland; DD in Y2 at TCD.

We didn’t find it overly complicated, the real negatives aside from no access to SF was timing of offers vs UK and the CAO points system is favoured towards their domestic Education system unless your DC are studying/have 4 A levels to compete.

But it’s a straightforward points ranking per course, no PS or profile adjustments so it can be an alternative for those interested alongside UK options.

@ealingwestmum how do they compare a 6 subject leaving certificate with 3/4 subject A levels?
6 subject leaving can get up to 645 points I think.
Do they pro-rata the A levels results?

@RIPMatthewperry - my mum went to Trinity! Back in the 1940s though and she died years ago so no use! Fantastic place though (and I wonder if she was a pioneer as can't imagine many women went back then, though I know they admitted women from 1904).

Unfortunately not Shellfish, which is why the high demand STEM courses can be uncompetitive vs UK system. You gain an extra 25 points if you’ve studied A Maths/FM achieving >C grade but the 4th subject doesn’t accrue the same points as the first 3 A levels. I think it’s 625 as the max points achievable, not including medicine/VM etc.

It’s more accessible for humanities but there are still a fair few Brits that are there on the Maths/Comp science/Economics type courses with high CAO points. Offers are all awarded against the current year’s results; previous points range is purely a guide, based on previous year’s results.

Thank you @WombatChocolate, really lovely sentiments and you've put into words exactly how ds and I are feeling. We can't know exactly what has happened until the 9th but are mentally moving on (although there is still lots of Oxbridge talk at school due to interviews this week). Ds has had enough of it all now.

Apologies, presenting grade E (not C) and above in A maths/FM and pure gains extra 25. Which means a UK student can achieve 625 if sitting 4 A levels and maths with top grades.

Lovely post @WombatChocolate , I assume DS hasn't got a second interview either, as he hasn't let me know he has!

Agree all of our DC will go onto amazing things.

@MonsterSister, this is what happened to DD: she applied to St Catz and was interviewed there with a second interview at St Anne's. After the (in person) interviews she slightly regretted not having had the insight/confidence to apply to one of the well known ancient colleges. She was very happy to get an open offer in January (underwritten by St Catz) and was then completely amazed on A Level results day to be allocated a place at an old central college.

Thanks @ealingwestmum I was wrong when I said 645 points, the maximum you can get from leaving is also 625.