Send teenager 400 miles to Oxbridge interview by herself ?

tygr

Cambridge is a nice town and I'm sure she'll be fine. I went to my Cambridge uni interview and stayed overnight in college on my own when I was a green and shy 17 year old several years ago. I think having my Mum with me probably would have made me more nervous! The interviewers are used to nervous teenagers too so should help her feel at ease

Loads of luck to her. If she gets in, it's a great place to study
x

Kira000

I did the opposite, and went all the way from London to Edinburgh for a uni interview- also to Leeds,Durham, Cardiff, Bath and Birmingham for either interviews or open days or both!!! All done alone. By the time i got to do my Cambridge interview,after a few open days, i was well set! The first one was a bit daunting i admit, but it was an adventure, and it did give me confidence in my ability to go out there and cope with things by myself! Plus chances are she will meet other candidates while she is there, and socialising with them is part of the experience. If she has parent/s in tow, she is more likely to feel unable to join in, and more left out..
By all means, as the previous poster said, sit down and help her plan out her journey, changes, packing etc but then take a deep breath, tell her you believe in her, and send her off with confidence!

juno

My daddy went with me to my Cambridge interview, and he was just in the way really. Once she's actually there everything else will be sorted out - there are other interviewees, and enough staff to sort out any problems. They'd even organised activities such as bowling if anyone wanted to go!

claire16c

I went to some uni open days with my parents and others with my friends - for example for Leeds I went by train with a friend as she was going on her open day the day before mine, but then for Manchester my parents wanted to come so they could stay there for a shopping weekend and visit friends who live there, and then nottingham was a midweek one but a friends mum had the day off work and could drive us.

I didnt have any interviews though it was just a load of students and parents wandering around the buildings and listening to a few talks. I think if I was having an interview, in some ways having my parents there would have made me more nervous, as my mum likes to be every where 5 hours early and panics which makes me panic, Id rather just get on with it on my own!

Im sure shell be fine and like others have said shell be going there in what a year? So it would be like a practise run if she gets in. I suppose because you are in Scotland they are a year younger than the rest of the students?

make_me_wise

Let her go by herself. In years to come she will look back and see it as a bit of a right of passage, that she went out there and won that place at uni, without anyone holding her hand.

cannyscot_2

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I would go with her. My DS has gone up to Uni this year. We took him to all his interviews, but then left him to it. He was about the only one who didn't take his parents with him into the university, let alone make his own way to the interview.

I did all my Uni interviews by myself wasn't taken to any of them as did my DH, but obviously things are different now.

Oh bum -I have done it now! Booked the flights so we are stuck with the decision.

I thought it was just here in the back of beyond that they didn't let their precious cargos out of their sight.

I know she wants to go to Cambridge but on the other hand if it isn't right for her it isn't right. I will talk her through her nerves on the phone if need be. She kind of has to prove to them she isn't too young anyway so if they see she came herself maybe that will prove it!

Thanks all you really helped especially all the young people -nice of you to help an old worrier!

scottishchick27

I can see why you were precautious Cannyscot, I'd be the same if it was my DD going all that way on her own and then not being there to help her overcome any fears. As you say though, you'll have her on the phone at anytime and it will be good experience for her. X

Tish_P

Well done! It's the right decision, I think - she can see how she really feels about the place without being influenced by your reaction. And the interviewers will be VERY used to nervous candidates! Good luck to her, I'm sure she'll do you proud.

[Deleted User]

Please give her the list of instructions mentioned on previous page.., including zombie attack.., will be just the right thing to make her laugh.

I've just found these instructions for defence against a zombie attack

3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.

lol. BTW this is the point at which my son would give me a pitying look wondering yet again if I've lost it because parents aren't supposed to be sillier than they are!

Oldernotwiser

cannyscot wrote: »

I just worry that we reduce her chances of getting in by her being agitated/nervous/unsure by the time she gets there.

If she can manage to slip into the interview that she's come all that way independently, she may well enhance her chance of getting in!