Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 4

[Lightsabre]

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

I wonder if state school kids are less likely to apply to the old famous colleges and get reallocated?

Not sure why anyone thinks not getting an interview at another college is a flat no. My friend's son last year didn't get any additional interviews and ended up his first choice studying economics.

@catmomof3 , Cambridge and Oxford do interviews quite differently. It is the norm at the latter to have a single subject interview at the college to which you applied.

Apologies, should have said it is the norm at Cambridge to have a single subject interview at chosen college.

Hmmm... might be the end of the line. DD feels the MFL interview went better (but sounded less challenging) but she was very nervous in the Classics one, was grilled a bit on the extract, and some basic knowledge went AWOL. Both positive and strongly prompting comments from the interviewer. She seems to approach things from an unexpected angle and misses the obvious (gets that from me and DH!) Well, she tried her best and nothing more to do now except wait.

@WombatChocolate lovely sentiments. Wishing all the DC on here the very best as they enter the final furlong.

@ThirdTimeBuyer thank you. As they have to
do 4 A levels, the school’s advice has been that it is a straightforward process to apply to TCD, although one of the Arts subject may not score as many points….it also seems cheaper in terms of tuition fees although they will undoubtedly be offset against cost of travel and cost of living in Dublin. We missed the open day, but an old alumnae says they can help with a tour in the new year. Not sure if it helps, but we are both entitled to Irish Citizenship as one of my Parents was fully Irish, although I am aware that the process is long post-Brexit….I think the reciprocal arrangement between the UK govt and Irish Govt means it costs the same?

@ealingwestmum thanks for any pros or cons you can share of your DC attending TCD? the process does seem more sensible offering once examination results are known.

@ShellfishCellar thanks too for the info re: points.

DD has not been called back for second college interviews so its just wait for 9th Jan now. All the best to those still going through interviews. DD is getting quite inpatient now to know if she has a place or not and think 9th Jan feels like forever. She loved the tutors at her college and they were really kind and nice so I hope she gets an offer.

I'm talking about initial interviews have happened

@WombatChocolate what a beautiful message. Best of luck to your child.

My son's first Oxford interview overran today and the interviewer had to be told to wind it up. I am thinking it is a very good sign? Interview 3 tomorrow... I am nervous, but my son is cool as you like...!

Both DDs overran but DD can talk for England. 😂

Good luck to everyone. We have gone through this three times in this house and possibly one more to come next year.

In our experience with the Cambridge pooling system (and borne out by the stats by the look of it), although the overall offer ratio between state and independent school candidates is broadly similar, independent candidates are less likely to be offered places via the winter pool. For instance, last year it was only 1 in 10, compared to 1 in 5 from the maintained sector. So for independent school candidates, it tends to be offer from the college applied to, it no offer. This was definitely the case at the independent schools mine were at - offers were always from the college applied to and there had been no pool offers for years. So college choice matters more possibly in this situation? At Oxford, it's hard to know what second / third college interviews mean. But at least they get a chance to be considered in person again, rather than as a file in a 'pool.' But overall, it's all very confusing and there's only so much they can do. A lot of it seems to be luck on the day.

Talk to me about maths interviews - was really really tough here 😱😱😱

First question went ok, but second one was a bit of struggle. Made many silly mistakes and needed lots of prompts :( I'm think it's a nerve thing.

My son really enjoyed his computer science interviews today which were basically maths questions. I think prompting is part of the process, especially if it involves some maths that they haven't covered yet....I wouldn't read too much into it

DS was scheduled two interviews for Maths at his first choice college today, and one at another college tomorrow. He turns up for the first interview and is given a problem to work through. A few hours later he turns up for the second interview - at which point he is presented with the very same problem. He explains that he's just done this problem in interview no. 1. The interviewers look very perturbed, look at their spreadsheet, and then say that yes, somehow he was allocated two interviews with Team A interviewers, rather than one with Team A and one with Team B. He's then told to wait while they see whether an interviewer from Team B is available. Half an hour later he gets an email to say there isn't one available now, but might he be able to come tomorrow...?

Stressful or what?! Incompetent or what?! Bear in mind that he was one of those who was heavily disrupted by the MAT tech failure.

DS has got a second interview for e&m. It continues…

Blimey @Heavyeyelids was this an in person interview? Your poor DS, how stressful for him. Is he staying overnight? Sometimes they need to remember the young people are not even 18 yet. It’s a lot.

@notfeelingcreative he’s still in the game though ;-)

@RIPMatthewperry

No, online, so that's one thing I suppose. But really.

Your poor DS @Heavyeyelids - as if it isn't stressful enough for them! Hopefully Team B give him nicer questions than they may have done tomorrow to make up for today's mess.

But how many prompts is too many?

How do they mark the interview questions??

Did everyone get to the answers????

I think running over time is a good thing and probably means the interviewers were enjoying the discussion.

How awful for your dc @Heavyeyelids. Tech messed up for my ds and it leads to them being flustered. Hopefully he's got time to gather his thoughts a bit at least. It doesn't fill you with confidence though when these things happen.

DS was emailed at 4:30 pm for two more interviews tomorrow mid day. Poor boy thought he was done. I think we’ll have to stay home as school won’t manage on such short notice. It is a slog.

@Thatisagreatquestion 100% part of the process because, one of the key things they need to see if whether the kid is teachable. For this to be assessed, they have to take them to the point where "they dont know", after which the tutor can give a bone to see how the DC runs with it.