Oxbridge 2025

[SnowFairy2000]

Let's start the journey here !!!

Honestly think that if you're not getting in, then emotionally it's probably best to be out as early as possible and plan for your other universities. The six week wait between interview and decision is horrible, and it's even worse if you miss your offer come August (as 50% of Maths acceptances do) given the emotional investment you've put in by then.

A slightly niche question for the hive mind: my DS is hoping to study a dual degree at Oxford - History & English. If she is lucky enough to progress she faces two interviews. My question is, would one interview be for English and one for History or would both subjects be discussed at both interviews? Many thanks.

Single malt or blended @PhotoDad ?!

And I reluctantly agree with you @tortoise18 - better now than later. I remember one lad I knew who just missed his Cambridge offer on results day and was in bits. He then went off to UCL and had a ball so it all works out in the end.

A joint school would normally involve a separate interview for each subject and be run by tutors from that subject.

DC may also be asked (potentially pre interview) if they would consider for a place in the single honours school if they couldn’t get one in the joint school, so should think about this. Whatever they answer won’t affect their chances of getting in for the joint degree so they should be honest!

(But ultimately it is up to the college so this isn’t a hard and fast guarantee. I’ve never come across people not doing it that way though.)

@somewhereinsomerset my DC2 is second year at Oxford doing join honours - 2 different MFLs. They had two separate interviews, one for each subject, in their first choice college. Then the next week were picked up by another college and had a single interview with tutors from both subjects. That is where they ended up and much enjoy it.

Dc got rejected pre interview today for economics 😓 good advice about ‘getting out now’ and perhaps a gentler Christmas ahead. 4 a*s predicted, amazing PS (said by external teacher), fantastic super curriculars, all 9s…
where else has your dc applied @Coldilocks ?
be good to get the tmua results back.

I"m sorry to hear that @drench, but I'd agree - best to know sooner rather than later. Wish him the best of luck. With an amazing application like his he's going to do brilliantly elsewhere.

I’m sorry to hear that @Drench . How have they taken it? My DS’ choices are:Cambridge, Imperial, Bath, Birmingham and Southampton.

I spoke to a school mum a few weeks ago whose eldest has 4 A* and is the most extraordinarily gifted musician. They were rejected from Oxford and Imperial but is having the best time at Durham reading Maths. I was astonished that the music was a side hustle and not a degree option which goes to show that even the brightest, most well-rounded (with extra strings to their bow (sorry)) candidates are not what the colleges are looking for at that particular time.

What are your DC’s other options? I’m sure they’ll succeed and at least the pressure is off now and they can enjoy the rest of sixth form.

I'm sorry, @drench. Obviously disappointing but I hope that there are other plans in place.

@Coldilocks thank you. They’re actually feeling better this evening. I think it’ll be hard having to tell teachers etc though. Giving them lots of tlc this evening!
dc feels like they could have spent longer practicing the tmua…
I’m secretly worried about their other choices, lse & Warwick as they also look at the tmua. Dc wanted to choose and didn’t want a safe option 🤷🏼‍♀️ so the other two are at Andrew’s & ucl 😬
hope your dc has better luck!🍀

@PhotoDad maybe the plan will be get the 4 a*s in the bag and apply differently with grades in hand and a good old gap year even if it is a mathsy subject?! They’re so self motivated I’m sure they’d keep their maths up! Idk I don’t like this stress definitely having a little g&t tonight!

dc wasn’t contextual either. But was state school.

My bright and keen DC has just heard they've not got an interview for C. It's hard seeing him so very disappointed after putting so much hard work into the process. DH and I had worries about how well he'd fit in there as a Scottish state school boy so we were quite ambivalent. But we've not told him any of this. I suppose it's better that he heard now rather than further down the line. Still, I'm sad for him. He's just not used to 'failing' at things. 😔 Good luck to everyone else's DC still in the running. ☘️

Sorry to read this @boobashka - their pain is our pain, isn’t it? Well, I suppose the waiting and the anxiety is over and your DS can now focus on mocks and A levels.

Sorry too @boobashka it’s rubbish 💐

Sorry to hear that, @boobashka.

Sorry to hear of the disappointments this evening. It's really tough when they have put so much into it. Hard for the parents, too x

So sorry to read the posts this evening. They sound like amazing young people and must be heart breaking for them and hard for parents to see too.

Sorry to all of you whose children have had bad news. I hope they feel better soon and embrace their bright futures.

Commiserations to those who have received bad news. It's such a brutal process.

My D1 graduated last year with a degree in History and English. Her interviews were in person. I think she had history first, and then two English, one was to discuss an unseen poem. In her history interview she was asked if she'd like to be considered for single honours and ...she thought it was a trick question, so said no (!!). In her English interview they explained that there was only one place for History and English, so would she want to be considered for single honours if she didn't get it. This time she said yes! She had to stay for a couple of days in case she would be sent to another college for interview, but in the event she wasn't.

Thank you so much for this. When did they stop doing the in person interviews? I'll tell her to say yes to that "trick" question if it arises (if she even gets an interview!). Most importantly, would you say your D1 enjoyed the course and enjoyed the university?

Really sorry @boobashka. It’s a very tough process. Any dc who is applying is by definition an outstanding candidate and - as one with a successful and unsuccessful dc - I do believe it all just comes down to luck but that’s very hard for kids who’ve been told (with reason) hard work will be rewarded to accept. They will have an amazing time elsewhere 💐

They stopped in person interviews during the pandemic, though I think some colleges may be doing them again.
Yes she loved her subjects and is applying for a masters for next year. Doing any joint can be a bit of a nightmare sorting out the timetable, but I think she's glad she chose the subjects she did.

My daughter has heard today that she has an interview to study geography at Cambridge. Very exciting times, and rather unexpected too because she has social anxiety (is possibly neurodiverse) and it's been a struggle for her to attend sixth form at times because of this. But she works incredibly hard and already has a really good second choice, so hopefully that helps to reduce the pressure a little.

Congratulations to your daughter @Bookridden