Continuation of Oxbridge 2025

[BananasAllofIt]

I for one still have a kid waiting to hear about interviews. Thought I'd carry it over...

DD had her maths (C) yesterday having been notified on 26 Nov, but I understand each college has their own timetable and therefore may not be relevant. Oxford applicants she knows have also been informed. However, because they do notify either way and time is moving on, have they done a thorough check of their spam folder? I might be inclined to ask school for guidance if still no news at this stage. Good luck.

I have one here and they had one language yesterday and should have the other this afternoon. My child said the time flew by so I assume they'll still have lots to talk about on the second interview!

Yes, DS still waiting. Just know it’s next week but no date or time or whether he has one or two interviews.

That sounds really frustrating @Justlurkingmostly Maybe a polite query to the admissions team in case something failed to come through?

Doh just realised your YP has been invited but just don’t have time/date as yet. Speed reading sorry!! Hope they hear v soon and hope it goes well!

DD heard yesterday about the dates/times for two of hers which are happening next week. Still waiting to hear about the last one though.

@Misfitkickedoutonthestreet glad the interview went well and super impressive switching languages mid interview.

My DD - now 2nd year MFL two languages had one language in each interview in the first round then in the second round both languages in the same interview. Some interviews focus more on literature and some on languages. Did they have to comment on poems or text yet. If not maybe that will be in their second interview? Sorry only speculating so not much concrete help I'm afraid -

@Juja thanks for the reply. She did a poem today in both languages (eg two separate poems) and spoke in both languages too - so not sure what's left. She also chatted about her PS. What else could there be? Tomorrow's is shorter too - today was almost an hour, tomorrow 25 minutes.

@Misfitkickedoutonthestreet I've no idea - does seem slightly bizzare - she may be able on the Teams invite see the names of who is interviewing her and at least have an idea of what subject they are...

Your DD sounds very prepared and on the case so I'm sure she will be fine. My DD was cross examined on the books she mentioned in her PS so that's something to be prepared for, just in case.

Let us know how she gets on...

DS1 has two separate interview slots on Monday for Oxford - open application - both are for Pembroke, so is this one interview in two parts or separate interviews?

Are the interviews for Maths?

Mine was also asked about her PS, and about what else she was currently reading and what she thought of it (probably best if the answer isn't Marvel or Twilight, though I believe DD managed to shoehorn a comparison to an Eastenders narrative arc into a second-year essay).

There was an extra bod in at least one interview who we suspect may have been there for moderation purposes, so to speak; and finally there was an interview with a different college.

@GuppytheCat yes my DD in her second round of interviews had someone from another college sitting in for moderation and training... they did say that was the case when doing the introductions.

My DS has just got an email confirming TWO interviews on Monday, both with the same college for the same subject-wasn’t expecting that.

@Gina555 don't worry - that is quite normal - my DS had two separate interviews for the same subject. Again might be worth having a look at the names of the interviewers and see what their academic interests are.

Were they told about the additional person from another college in advance? Did that person ask Qs? Mine has a 3rd person from another college listed for interview on Thurs - was wondering if it was training/moderation or if this was a pooling exercise?

Good piece of advice, thank you.

Eldest DC has interview at Cambridge at chosen college for Vet Med next week. Has offer from Bristol and had two days after applying. Done interview for Liverpool but not heard yet. Has interview with Nottingham next week.

@RunningOverTime @HarrietteVane

The first year of PPE consists of weekly essays for Phil & Pol plus worksheets for Econ & Stats. DD was in the cohort which had their A levels cancelled in March 2020 and still had some maths to go to complete the syllabus. She hadn't taken FM.

She coped with the first year maths, studied a 2nd year maths based econ course but switched to another Phil or Pol course for her finals, then added a wordier Econ paper. She eventually did 4 Pol exams, 3 Phil & 1 Econ. Your DC will have been pushed on their maths today, but everyone finds it challenging. Well done for surviving the experience!

@pandapoop if for Oxford then usually the pooling happens after the first round of interviews and you are then interviewed again but there are numerous permutations. The key is not to get over invested in a particular college.

The other thing is that many colleges don't have their own fellows in each subject but share between colleges so an interviewer may have an email from a different college but be a lecturer at the first choice college. So for instance for student applies to college X for French and German but X's German teaching is done by a fellow from college Y. So it looks from Teams invite that they are being interviewed by college Y but they are not.

Does that make any sense?

Thanks @Juja - not its C where I think only 20% pooled get a separate 2nd interview? The other 80% are just allocated the second college from the pool - is my understanding?

I found some stats which suggested only about 1% of Cambridge pool have second interviews, the rest are re-assigned without further applicant input! This is a big change from "back in the day."

DS was happy with his interview this morning but I haven't had a chance to talk to him properly as he's busy doing something (I lose track...)

My DS had interview for Cambridge yesterday for history. First interview was on a source he was given an hour beforehand. Second interview was with different people and mainly focussed on his PS and other knowledge. I think he actually prefers Bristol to Cambridge and has offer from there so he isn’t too bothered about the outcome

Thats great news for your son @PhotoDad it must be a relief to have that out of the way. Thanks also for that stat.

Cambridge MML in-person interviews bagged and loaded. Now for the SEVEN WEEK WAIT.