The Official Oxbridge Rumour Thread

Ive always found this interesting too...

I think there are two main reason for it -

Oxford has a more exclusive feel to it and can be regarded as "posher" and this would obviously attract certain people at public schools.

Also, I think it has something to do with the subjects that they apply for. If top schools were sending more students for subjects like Maths or Sciences, it would probably be turned around somewhat.

And as this is the rumour thread -

I feel that the Arts are subjects where having a top public school background and help from your teaching faculty will help you more than in the sciences where things are a lot more objective. Also your '1 every 5 year genius' from comprehensives seem to produce more scientists/mathmaticians.

All speculation though!

Ah but they're going to be insufferable when they hear that we have about a 50% success rate for Oxford this year. I forsee significant preening on the part of the head of sixth form.

Well as long as more than 2 people from your school applied and you're not the only subject of the preening, I'm sure you'll cope Being the only one to get in and having the teachers preening themselves over just you is never much fun

Well as long as more than 2 people from your school applied and you're not the only subject of the preening, I'm sure you'll cope Being the only one to get in and having the teachers preening themselves over just you is never much fun

Hogwarts is a secondary school.

I realised this when I told my friend!! Gutted!!!



It would've been awesome!!

But Cambridge is basically Hogwarts but with alcohol instead of magic. And bikes instead of broomsticks. And exams instead of mortal peril.

Two people from my school applied. I'm the only one who got in.

I don't mind the History department preening since they are gloriousy excentric and lovely Anyway back to the rumours thing, I got a lovely briefing on what to expect in my interviews from the head of department and her husband and they told me stories of their interviews. Apparently in one of his interviews the tutor had a bird in their room (a hawk I think he said) and it was just sitting on a perch the whole way through. He spent the entire interview half watching to make sure it didn't fly at him.

Have fun with the teachers preening themselves about your offer!

That would seriously freak me out if my tutors had birds in their room during the interviews.

I got told that there would be two chairs. If you sat on one, you'd get an offer. If you sat on the other, you wouldn't. My tutor was so exasperated when I told him bout that rumour!

Have fun with the teachers preening themselves about your offer!

Yeh I got told by my History teacher to always sit on the hard chair if there is a choice between chair and sofa. Apparently it's easier to appear dignified on a chair.

I agree with your History teacher

Also, according to her you shouuldn't accept food or drink because there is no time to consume it and it'd just get awkward if you find you don't like it. She said the same applies to Tutorials. She said one time she accepted tea from a Tutor in the first Tutorial of the year (she hates tea) and so they gave her some every week, which she had to drink to avoid appearing rude

Have fun with the teachers preening themselves about your offer!

-bumps racing = slamming very expensive boats into each other. If you win, you get to burn one of said expensive boats.

And we can win an oar!! (I don't know if you do that sort of stuff at Oxford though). (also, I don't think they ever burn one of their really expensive boats- it's always a really old one).

My favourite bizarre tradition is 'Wrangler Bridge Jumping' where the top third year mathmo (the Senior Wrangler) has to jump off the Mathematical Bridge or designate an hour in a day in which any other Wrangler (mathmo who gets a first) can throw a bucket of water over his head.