Oxbridge 2025

[SnowFairy2000]

Let's start the journey here !!!

I find it exciting but definitely not life or death. She has a great alternative that will suit her really well. It’s just pretty cool to be in the position of applying at all.

I hope he gets a look in as well, it sounds like he's worked hard. How has he been "brave" though? Does he have an illness or disability? (I am not being sarcastic, this is a genuine question).

Same here. Approach has been throw his hatin the ring see how far he gets. Has other really very interesting and exciting options already in the bag. If the interview pans out fine .... if not he is happy that it was one of 5 great options.

He is approaching it as they either like his 'thinking style' or they dont ie is he compatible to the C experience or not. He is (top) grades in hand so has less to prove and feels under less pressure. He would like the opportunity to study under the tutorial system but knows that a place either way will have zero impact on his future career opportunities. He also is appreciative that he is applying in his gap year and not under the pressure he was a year ago when interview would have clashed with x2 NEA deadlines.

No illness or disability but brave for reasons already given. I don't want to be part of changing this thread into something less supportive than what was intended so I'll not engage further if you don't understand. Best of luck to your son .

I think because an Oxbridge application is so much work, it's hard not to get invested in it. (And, as parents, we're generally trying to keep our own anxieties/hopes/fears/investment away from our kids, hence the usefulness of this thread.)
I'm really aware that DD might well have a better time elsewhere. I went to Oxford and have many great memories, but also found college/Oxford quite claustrophobic at times. And I think she'll definitely embrace the benefits of going somewhere else if she doesn't get in, though of course the rejection will sting. (Oxbridge applicants by and large don't have a lot of experience of academic 'failure'.) The difficulty specific to medicine is that she won't have any other offers by the time the Oxford decision comes, so she won't be in a position to get excited about the alternatives.
Anyway, the good news is she has an interview!!

Well done to your DD @maybemedmum! Agree, it is hard not to get invested when the process is a lot more involved than other applications. I was very much on the fence at the start of this (not that it's up to me anyway!), but now just worry about her disappointment. Still think she would be just as happy, or happier, elsewhere, but I feel like that's a concern for another day. Luckily she has been busy at work and parties this weekend, so possibly hasn't clocked that she might hear today.

Thanks @ColouringPencils . Did you DD apply for medicine too, or did she go for something else in the end? Either way, I hope she gets some good news soon!

Hi have just been lurking so far but am in similar position to many here, DC waiting on interview news, while 2 best schoolfriends already have their invites, & is so stressed, can barely concentrate on routine coursework.
I felt moved to respond to @maybemedmum . . Exactly that, we are stressed along with them but have years of practice in concealment . . The older they get, the harder this is to pull off! They see through us now in ways they did not aged 5, 10 or even 15!
And sometimes I wonder if the stress is worth it, because I too think my DC would possibly have a better time, quite likely achieve better, elsewhere.
But yes, the rejection will hurt!
However - best of luck all round.

Any thoughts on what would be reasonable adjustments for Oxford psychology interview for dc with inattentive adhd? DC gets rest breaks but not extra time in exams…not sure if there is anything that would be sensible to ask for?

(edited to say no interview offer yet college asking for info from all applicants)

Meanwhile, other children at the same school with less stellar grades and predictions are getting interviews, so it's a bit of a mystery.

Same subject or different ones?

We are also waiting to hear about a possible Psychology interview. Has the inattentive adhd been mentioned up front in the application or reference? I would hope it would be flagged to the tutors interviewing if it is on the application. If not I would contact the admissions people at the college directly to ask.

Yes it’s on the teacher reference I believe….yes I think something to the admissions dept to say that the interviewers need to be reminded that dc might need slightly more structure to any questions would be sensible…just have to get dc to do it!

I would definitely check with the admissions people, but I would be wary of telling them in any way how to handle it (either you or DC). I'm sure they have adjustments they use that have been approved across the board, etc. for all interviewees with ADHD / variations.

Agreed except they have asked what adjustments dc needs which suggested they want feedback…will get dc to talk to school/learning support about what to say!

Ah sorry - I missed your edited addition to the post about that - !
go for it!

At this stage, since you don’t know what an interview would comprise, perhaps your dc could just complete the form to say exactly what you have said above, and just say that they don’t yet know what, if any adjustment they may need . My dc has considerable exam access arrangements, including 50% extra time. This time last year they received the same “tell us what adaptations you might need at interview” form from the college as you mention. They filled it in with all their needs, although they didn’t yet know what the interview would involve. For instance, if an interview has pre-reading, then those who get extra time will be emailed it proportionally earlier. However, when it came to it, my dc’s interview had no pre-reading and they did not need to write anything during it. So they actually didn’t need (or have) any adjustment at all.
However, better to mention it now, even if you don’t know whether anything will needed or not?

The SENCO at school filled out the form for DD based on the access arrangements she has at school. This is for C

@DorotheaDiamond have you seen the videos Oxford have produced with the existing tutors talking about what happens and then doing a sample interview with an actual student? It might be worth having a look at that to see how the questions are worded. I have to say I found their responses to answers really underwhelming "ok, right, thanks" pretty much summed it up. Anyway that's not relevant. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbZhg1_xWyWSAtCPmxP9_tcINywtbAl8i

Thanks all!

And . . We have an interview! DC so visibly relaxed.
Of course, still a way to go but I think the main relief right now has been keeping pace with his mates. They were all practising interview technique in school last week, the same day his two besties got their invites from other colleges/faculties.
I can hear them all sniggering together online right now. One happy 17 yr old - for time being at least.
All best everyone, it really is a tense time.

@marytuda congratulations. Hope it goes well.

Big congratulations to those who recieved interview notifications today.

🍾💐 @marytuda!

Adding on to the life and death thing, I must admit I roll my eyes a bit when parents describe applying to Oxbridge as “brutal,”
I can’t see it’s any different to applying to any other course (apart from an earlier deadline).

I wonder when parents say it’s brutal they mean:
Need to do supra-curricular activities? This is no different to other uni courses.
Have an interview? So do lots of other courses.
Might not get a place? No different. The disappointment of rejection is just great on other courses.
Take into account any elevation in grades that have been gained by going to private or grammar school? Not sure, maybe it’s this one.

DS applied to do physio at 5 non RG universities. It’s a highly competitive course. He needed to do lots of supra-curricular activities. He had 5 in person interviews with a panel and he also had to do a group activity which was observed. It was just as rigorous as the Oxbridge process DD is currently doing.

I think “brutal” is a real overstatement.

"Brutal" is an overstatement of course, but I think when parents have been using that word it's specifically for Cambridge maths (not something my DC is applying for) where even in they "get in" in the incredibly challenging January round, fully half of them are knocked out in August by "failing" STEP papers that Cambridge themself mark and control. That's after seven months of thinking they're going to Cambridge then suddenly having to go somewhere else a few weeks later. It's not war, but it's different to and more psychologically challenging than the regular UCAS experience imo.