The Oxford 2012 Results Day Discussion Thread

Last time was fun... not that it was particularly TSRy. It was just very... me

I've just managed to rate about three posts in this thread! It's very unusual!

I wish that when you got PRSOM you could still rate posts, but without it giving rep. (Like liking something on fb!)

My class are really immature, they kept shouting stuff like "get Snape out of Azkaban!" and "Where's Harry?", I don't really think that they could even follow the film, one boy even asked "why aren't they using magic in this film, they do in the others?"

Lol, awkward, my step-mother's family are connected to the UVF. Small world.

Ah the Old Testament we have to learn a lot of prophecies from Jewish scripture for our New Testament Theology paper, namely references from Psalms and Isaiah, but also some of the Jewish laws from Deutronomy and Leviticus...and some random verses from Daniel 7:13 about the Son of Man...or something like that...and today we discussed the significance of the Davidic line in reference to Jesus

Hello you wonderful woman! I demand a hot-chocolate-related meet-up in October!

Yeah, like did you see the thread where someone was like, what's so special about going to Oxbridge anyway, and pretty much everyone said something along the lines of "You can lord it over everyone on TSR"...

Well, and so what? I'm not speaking about the Facebook group here, because quite a few people on there seem to be popular, bright people with actual friends and stuff, but I know a fair few of us TSR-lurkers have got lots of crap in the past, right now, or have been bullied just for being nerdy. I am probably the stereotype of a future Oxford student (Ts and Cs apply): I have next to no friends, almost zero social life, a ridiculously high post count on here, spent my entire childhood reading instead of developing social skills, met my boyfriend on an internet forum instead of at a party, never get invited to said parties, but when I do, turn invitations down, don't drink, spend all day in the library instead of the common room, and adore my subject to the extent that I correct my teachers, analyse grammar while I speak, actually get excited about arguments with my boyfriend because I always learn new words when we fight, and read more German books than English ones. I realise this does not make me any better than the slightly more normal people who have also got offers, but I think I can speak for a few people here when I say that being able to say "I got into Oxford" makes up for the years of loneliness, of being intimidated and put down by people, for being purposely ignored yet again as all your friends get invited somewhere and it's only you that doesn't, for being treated like a basket case at the supermarket where you work, where most people your age will probably stay there forever.

But really, you can't say "I'm going to Oxford" with your head held high, can you? Unless you want to look like an arrogant prick. Because if you answer "Oxford" when people our age ask where you're going, you either have to answer defensively or very quickly and hope they didn't hear. And either you get "Oh right well I know like so many people going to Oxford or Cambridge this year" (Translation: "Don't think that you're special, nerd. You're not."), "Aren't they charging like the 9000 pound fees? Uni's a bit of a waste of money" (Translation: "You mug paying for a fancy education when I can be making money"), "They're so snobby though" ("You won't fit in"), "Aren't the suicide rates the highest there?" ("Let me put you down a bit more and impress on you how you're going to fail miserably while thinking you're special"), "Aren't places like LSE and UCL just as good now?" ("Again, don't even try thinking you're special."), and my personal favourite, "Oh did you see that amazing letter that that girl sent? You know, the rejection letter. That was hilarious - so well written, I found it so funny and really brave." ("Now you're just boring and conformist by not rejecting them. THE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT MAN AND YOU'RE PART OF IT.")

These are mainly from my work colleagues. People in my year at college are quite nice. I'm now treated like part of the furniture, like the batty old aunt at Christmas, but I've also had some really patronising responses from adults too.

When people say "OMG you must be so smart!" what on earth are you meant to say to that!?!?

The whole school seems to know me as "that girl who took advanced higher maths in fifth year", so Oxford isn't really adding anything. The main reaction up here is "you must have lots of money, then", which you can laugh off and say that you'll just be massively in debt.

The best reactions I've had are hugs, especially when other people seem as excited as you are. My physics teacher was also pretty awesome - I think she'd managed to tell half the teachers in the school by the end of break!

I'd also like an answer to "OMG you must be so smart". Anyone have any suggestions?

I teaching assist* an S1 history class a few times a week, and since January, I've been christened Oxford boy, and every five minutes one of them asks me if I'm gonna join the rowing team, or if I'm gonna meet the prime minister, or wear a suit to bed, or marry harry potter...

(*is that the correct phrase?)

Whenever people say "OMG you must be so smart!" to me, I reply with "No, I just work hard..."

This is meant to be all quasi-inspirational (anyone can do it if they try, believe in yourself etc) but I have a feeling it annoys people even more than if I just said: "I know, I have more highers than your entire (Int 1) Maths class..."

It's an impossible situation. Whatever I say I sound either arrogant, dismissive or ungrateful!

(First world problems!!!)

I can't use that one because I don't always work hard - only when I need to or it's interesting (ruling out most of AH stats, for example). Our school's not that bad, I don't think it's got around so much. I suppose I can always point people the way of the girl taking 4 AHs with an offer for Medicine from Cambridge.

Anyway, are you going to marry Harry Potter?

"This is my friend. This is my other friend. This is my online friend. This is my other other friend." And then we had that casual sign in case anyone else turned up. And then you LEFT and I had to exaggerate my Scottish accent to avoid being mocked by Northerners!

I don't work half as hard as people think I do. I've kind of cultivated this image of being a workaholic so I can get out of doing things by saying 'homework' when in reality I'm watching Dr Who and eating nachos

I don't work half as hard as people think I do. I've kind of cultivated this image of being a workaholic so I can get out of doing things by saying 'homework' when in reality I'm watching Dr Who and eating nachos.

Ahhh but Maths > Medicine.

and, if only I was a year older and already at Oxford, and it coulda been Hermione...

Reading this thread makes me so excited about October! I hope everyone at Oxford is as awesome as the people on here...

(although maybe you should be slightly less awesome, as you are causing me to procrastinate )

My leaving was a little unfortunate Good job there won't be any more of those pesky interview things in the future!

x

I got something about accomodation from Keble already, but I guess it depends on the college

Would you happen to know if others have as well/ mind going into a little detail about what it said?

Yeah, I figured that would be the case- and also that they might wait until the UCAS deadline so they could mass-mail to everyone who had "firm"ed or "insurance"d them....

Worth panicking over?

wooo, finally got 5 offers and firmed Oxford and I FEEL GOOD NANA NA NANANA NA

You're right, some (most?) colleges wait until after A-level results. No need to panic - unless you've heard that your college has sent information to everyone else and not you!

wooo, finally got 5 offers and firmed Oxford and I FEEL GOOD NANA NA NANANA NA

Congratulations. It's a great feeling, isn't it...