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 🙏

I think this probably means the interviewers do not plan to make an offer due to high numbers of qualified candidates at the college(s) already interviewed for, but they saw lots of potential in her, and forwarded her application to a less oversubscribed college. That's what happened to me 30+ years ago. I applied for a college based on architectural beauty (Magdalen) and was passed on to somewhere a little less gorgeous (Somerville). I found the Somerville dons worked much harder to get the best out of me at interview and had a sense that they wanted me to do well.

I don’t know if this happens, but colleges used to be able to poach applicants by awarding scholarships- if the original choice college wasn't willing to match this the candidate could be pinched by a college they hadn't applied for.

Either way, a third interview suggests they don't think your DD should be turned down for the University or they would just say No. So lots of grounds for optimism- good luck to your DD for Friday.

That does sound like generally positive news. I will report back after the interview but it's good to know she's at least still in the mix.

@ClaireBlunderwood - bear in mind re offer grades, Cambridge can and do offer above the minimum/standard requirements. If they think a student has quite an advantage (academic private school), does an odd combination of subjects or perhaps had a bit of a question mark over them following the interview- grades might be higher.

My DC was offered Astar Astar A for a humanities subject (fortunately they made it!) School said they’d seen a few 4 x Astar offers for engineering and medicine in their time 😱

Another college interview is confusing (and worrying) indeed and whether it was because the applicant isnt as strong(our concerns too). We have 3 interviews scheduled and not yet for another one and there is another college rather than just the one she applied.

Either way, she wants to get in and would go with any college rather than no offer.

Yes absolutely, some colleges (eg Churchill) are explicit about this. Looking at the latest year's statistics Cambridge made 4947 offers and had (not including additions from the summer pool) 3524 acceptances. Which is just over 71% - I think a lot of that comes from all the poor maths ones who don't get the Step.

It's pretty brutal but on the other hand, the A level grade requirements are part of the process. One of mine is applying with grades in hand - she wouldn't have a shot if they weren't at least as high as the required grades (and in fact they probably need to be perfect to have a shot as she's competing against predicted grades).

A star A star A is quite the ask though in humanities as it's so much less predictable. I know a couple of students who are there who haven't got A stars in the subject they're studying.

DS had his interview yesterday, in a nice bright wintry Cambridge. No way of knowing outcome as ever, but main thing is he enjoyed it and felt he did his best so now happy to relax a bit over Xmas and try not to think about it until late Jan. Loads of luck to those with interviews still to come and with all other options.

This can also, conversely, be a quality control thing. Dc has done so well, they are a benchmark for other candidates.

@BridgeovertheriverTest I just asked DC which the third college is, and it's Somerville! May I tell her sbout your experience? I think it would give her a lot of confidence for tomorrow.

Were you very happy there?

DS is in Cambridge today (he went solo by train in the end, stayed in the college last night) with one interview done and one to go mid-afternoon. He has just sent some very factual texts letting us know he got there ok last night / he had breakfast / the first one is done. I'm keen to know how it's all going but the best thing is definitely to leave him in his zone and save discussion for when he gets back home tonight. I hope things go smoothly for all those with interviews still to go, and those with interviews done can manage to put it from our minds until January

Yes, this happened to my DH back in the 90s. The college he applied to asked for 4 As and a 1 at STEP for engineering. He got the grades and then they turned around and said they were oversubscribed and he needed to defer until the following year.

DC1 applied to their second favourite college because their favourite one said that it routinely asks for 3 Astars for their subject, whereas the one they've applied to usually makes 2A star and 1 A offers.

Please do. I was very foolish and nearly turned down the Somerville place because it didn't match my dreamy ideal of a medieval college. Also at that time it was still female-only, which made it more unpopular as an option than it is today. I say 'foolish' because that was the least important aspect of college and in fact Somerville- while lacking some traditions of the early colleges- does have a proud track record of educating clever, independently-minded women (and now men too). I wouldn't be doing the career I'm now in without the courage Somerville bred in me for walking a different path than my peer group.
I had a great Aunt who attended Somerville in 1914-18. I guess 17 year old Bridge associated Somerville with quirky bluestocking spinsterhood, when I had Brideshead Revisited in mind. Told you I was foolish!
I hope your DD has a wonderful experience on Friday and beyond.

@BridgeovertheriverTest That's so poignant; thank you very much.

No pooling for us. Hope this is for a good reason, not a bad reason.

Two interviews down, one very tricky, one good. Last one on Monday. Will be so glad for daughter when this is done with.

DS is 2 down and 2 to go. Seems he is in the minority having 4 interviews.

Surprise interview (very short notice came after normally scheduled interviews were done) and the difference is clear. She's far more positive after this one. She always enjoys talking about her subject, but it's clear this time she enjoyed engaging with the interviewers as well. She says they asked question a way that really let her dive deep ans she felt like they actually wanted her to succeed. This was her first female interviewer, so maybe that helped.

At any rate, we are off to France for the weekend and hopefully now it's DONE.

That sounds brilliant, @temperedolive , I'm so glad. Was this Somerville?

Yes, it was! She's spent the day doing research about Somerville and she says now that's what she's hoping for.

Thanks so much for the kind words. Your advice earlier was much appreciated as well.

Somerville is an awesome college. Great location too, near all the buzz of Jericho and near the new Schwarzman Centre if she is doing Humanities (can’t remember, sorry). Good luck to her.

Hi, I just wondered if anyone has been offered further Classics interviews?

It sounded like applicants were meant to be told by 2pm today if they were going to have any further ones but my DS heard nothing. I am guessing his first choice college either loved him or hated him! :)

Could they still be pooled and offered a place by another college without an interview first? I am guessing no...

They could still be given an open offer without an additional interview but if they have not heard by now they will not have another interview next week.

Ok, thanks for letting me know. It feels like a sudden end to the process! Now I guess we have to distract ourselves until Jan 13th!

Best of luck to everyone.

Good to hear about all your lovely DCs interviews. 🤞 for them all. DC has interviews Mon, Tues and Wed next week and then relax 😀

My nephew was in the first cohort of men to be taken at Somerville and he loved it apart from the fact he is 6' 7" and they put him in a room in the attics where he literally couldn't stand up straight, so they had swap him round to a room with higher ceilings.

Pooling is good - it doesn’t mean that the first college has rejected you, plenty of egs where people have been pooled and then offered at their initial college. DD has also got a second college interview (her 4th!)