The Official Cambridge Winter Pool 2013 Thread (includes FAQ and Status Reports)

I totally agree...my friend just found an interview request in his inbox...congrats to him, but this is honestly driving me insane...haven't been able to revise at all

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I would argue against this actually. Only one person per subject per college can be marked as "B" so its incredibly unlikely we all have this status. Also (minerva can shoot me down at a later date if necessary) all decisions have been finalised since Saturday apart from re-interviewed applicants and those marked as "B" status so tutors are no longer looking over applications. Instead it seems far more likely that the reason we haven't heard is nothing more complicated than the fact that colleges are slow at returning the decisions.

I think the 'A' is only used by our preference college during the pooling period. This gives them a chance to hold on to you whilst they look at others in the pool. The preference college must then decide if they want to turn any of their 'A's to an 'O' or 'I'. So basically, at the end of the pooling process (4 Jan), an applicant should either be marked as 'O', 'I' or 'B'. Anyone unmarked is subsequently rejected. That's my interpretation anyway.

I’m the dad of a guy who was placed in the pool last Friday, and has been fished out with an offer recently. I wanted to make my one post on TSR a thank you to all those who have kept him (and me) just about sane since last week, and I guarantee that I’ve read every post in this thread since it started. I’ve rejoiced with everyone who’s had offers, winced with every post informing us of rejection, and kept the knot in my gut for all those who are still waiting to hear.

To all of you, if you ever have a question in job interviews in the next 20 years “Have you ever had a stressful situation in life, and what did you do/how did you cope?” I’m sure that being pooled, no matter what the eventual outcome, would provide you with a good answer to this question and convince the interviewer that you’re worthy of the job!

I’m not saying any more about which College etc, as he’s already posted the info on here, and I don’t want the “oh b****y h**l dad, you’re embarrassing!” But thanks to you all, and especially Miranda, for helping us to keep the faith. Remember, wherever you are, your university years are what you make them. I wasn’t at Oxbridge, and I still keep in touch with friends I made at university many years ago. So, whichever University you end up at, I wish you intellectual satisfaction, a fun time, and fond memories.

I have to apologise to Minerva as in my post above, I referred to her as Miranda. Profuse apologies, Ma'am. My brain has atrophied since Friday, and I'm only a spectator!

Anyone have any experience with phone interviews?? I have one after tomorrow for Trinity, don't know what to expect...

Oh........I could have sworn I clicked it XD as I'm fairly new to this, if you -1 a comment, can you +1 it at a later time? If so, will it cancel out your -1? Bit of a silly question I know....

Yo,

I forgot to say thanks for all the help you've been giving the applicants. Greatly appreciated

Sorry if this was answered elsewhere in the thread, but theoretically speaking, would the news be more likely to come after the reinterviews?

Murray Edwards......I'm guessing you chose Philosophy as your subject judging by your username? :P

Hello fellow english poolee's. Feel the water draining out of the pool

Hey! what college did you apply to??

I mean there's no point despairing until the 14th- if that's the date they give, there's always a chance, however slight, that a college may give you an offer.
I feel like English departments must be disorganised with all their books, folders and papers floating around...

I have! It was for a job but key things are:

•Answer the phone 'formally' and always speak well (that your first impression)
• Have a drink for if your mouth goes dry (not in a bottle)
•Have paper and pen to jot ideas or questions
•Get in a comfy seat in a quiet room away from any siblings or noise
•Make sure you hear everything! It sounds stupid but you can begin to not pay so much attention when there is no-one to look at. (might just be me-I have attention span issues haha)

Hope this helps and let me know how it goes

Also phone interview is probably a good sign, it *could* be less informal and more general, l can't really picture a heated interrogation happening through phone, but nevertheless be prepared for all best of luck! Which course is it?

If you meet certain academic conditions, you can find about them here: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/admissions/handbook/appendices/winterpoolofficers2013.pdf

For A levels if you have a UMS average of 93%+ from your best 3 AS levels then you'll be autopooled, unless you're applying for maths or medicine, and the sciences also just look at science A levels rather than simply the best 3 I believe.

Fellow English applicants, thought you might like this poem!

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse/117/1#!/20594878/0 - thought it kind of describes this whole application business nicely .

Hope we all get places tomorrow, but hey - if the rejections come then it won't ruin our lives!

Are there any medics out there that don't mind posting up there stats? I just want to compare my chances. I am pretty sure that I'll be receiving a rejection sooner rather than later, but I'd rather be content (for now) with believing that there is still a chance (even if remote) that I'll be fished. Cheers.

Have my fellow St. Catz Law poolmates received any offers from the other colleges yet?

So if we don't hear by the 14th, does that mean we have been rejected? How will we international applicants be informed?

Posted from TSR Mobile

If you haven't heard anything by the 14th a rejection is more likely, but an offer just might happen- said Minerva.
i think you should email your college and ask them to email you, that what i've done. they emailed me my pooling letter after i asked them to, so i think you can ask for that.