Oxbridge applicants 2026??

[Justlurkingmostly]

Is there a thread for this year’s applicants - I can’t seem to find with a search. Thanks for signposting 🙏

My ds had his interview for maths at Cambridge yesterday. He said it did not go well. The maths was too hard.

He may have found it hard but that’s fine. Everyone will find it hard. He can relax now 🙂. Good luck to him for results in Jan.

So, DS had both interviews yesterday.

One was total car crash by his account; one of the interviewers (head of department) queried how a point he made was relevant, he got confused about a graph.

The second interview was better, but not sure if it will be enough.

I'm so sad for him

For anyone who doesn't think their interviews have gone well, DD was the same a few years ago, she hated the on-line format, and just didn't get going. She knew she wouldn't get an offer.

But..... She has just spent the last year doing her Masters at Oxford, so she did get there in the end! And spent a fabulous year holed up in the Bod. All is not lost.

DS has just got timings for next Mon & Tue Oxford, essentially maths interviews, for Comp Sci, at chosen college. He’s been allocated a secondary college too but no news on interview date for that. Hope all waiting for dates hear soon, and sending best to those in the throes of it. I feel a bit like we’re in the calm before the storm now… and it’s getting a bit real.. DS still plodding on looking chilled..

DC has times for Mon and Tues next week for Maths. Be glad to get next week over with. Went through it last year too. I get far more nervous and anxious than they do.

Someone posted this graph last year I think. There is little correlation between how you think your interview went and your chances of an interview

Sorry here is graph. It’s from the student room

He may have done better than he thinks and he doesn’t know how all the others found it.
But, I know how you feel having gone through it last year. I felt the same as you.
DC this year is a more chilled character and just always thinks it is what it is.
Good luck for results in Jan.

Both interviews for MML at Cambridge done in person yesterday. It was a very long day as his second interview ended at 6.00 pm, then we had a long drive home. He said everyone was lovely (professors, students and candidates whom he talked with lots) and he loved every minute of it!
Now it’s over I feel like I’m twiddling my thumbs!
Absolute best of luck to everyone yet to have their interviews. I am so proud of my boy just for getting to this stage and seeing it through on the day! You are all amazing in my books!

Two down! Hoping that's it. DD feels better about today's interview, the interviewers were friendlier and she felt she performed better. Cross fingers she doesn't get called for any more. She is absolutely exhausted and might take the day off school tomorrow. I am just thankful that so far she has avoided the illnesses that seem to be hitting a lot of her friends...

Interview with second college was today; she says the vibe was very different. They were much more interested in her Latin proficiency than the first college and had her translate and discuss a passage. She's not sure if that means anything or if they're just covering ground the other college didn't.

But either way, I suppose that's it until January! We're off to France this weekend so DC2 can meet her potential gap year au pair family in Paris. DCs 1 and 3 will come along to do some holiday shopping and just have a little minibreak, so hopefully we can relax and not worry about uni things for a spell.

I don’t really understand what that graph is saying. Would anyone be able to explain?

I don’t think it helped that I said interview when I meant offer.

and it’s not my graph so this how I read it and I probably won’t explain it very well.

But there was no correlation between how they thought the interview went and whether they got an offer or not.

so of the students who said interview went brilliantly , half got an offer and half didn’t. And the score profile is very similar for those who got an offer in green and those who didn’t get an offer in red.

in short. You can’t really read anything into how you think the interview went

i know my DS thought it went badly but he got in.

That’s super interesting, thank you!

DS’s first two slots confirmed so he is happy! Monday and Tuesday like several others of you. Going to be a tense weekend. Well done to those who have finished up today - time to relax

DD’s interviews are done. English. Huge relief all round. She felt they went ok. Not a total disaster but not counting her chickens either.

Well done, now relax and enjoy Christmas.
Good luck for Jan results.

Thank you @Llangewydd57 and same to you!
And good luck to all those with upcoming interviews.
Does anyone know the date in January that our DC will find out (for Cambridge)?

My understanding is that 14 January is the date but not sure if this is course/uni specific?

It would make sense if it was the UCAs date as all offers would be from this date, so not exclusively Oxbridge.

So envy with those who had interviews in person. It would be so much nicer to have that option and mind would definitely choose in person one. Indeed, interviews can be 2 ways. In my daughter’s mock interview she was told not to be too rush in solving the problem. Solving it nicely and take the time that she allowed and explain it clearly would be better. However, thats the theory if she could solve them at all. Philosophy is her favourite subject but very worried about the interview too. Its a completely different sort. Yeah, and there are times and dates for the chosen college but not yet for the 2nd and it will be next week indeed. Cant wait for it to be over!!!

I think each college has the info on the website. The college DD's applied to says 28th Jan.

Thanks @WhereAreWeNowand @ilovemydogandmrobama2
I’ve had a look at her chosen college site and it says ‘end of January’. Quite a long wait!

Just back from DS2's in-person interviews at Cambridge (Engineering). He seems fairly happy with how they went but is mostly just relieved to have them over and done with.

Whatever happens from now on, I'm very proud of what he's done so far and the attitude he's done it with. Wherever he ends up will be the right place for him.

Yes, Cambridge are always at the end of Jan and Oxford are much earlier.