By Charlotte Avery
First of all, congratulations on making it to interview! That alone is a massive achievement of you should feel so proud of yourself.
The wait between interviews and decisions has now begun. As soon as I left my last interview, everything suddenly felt out of my hands and time seemed to slow down. For most Oxford applicants, studying at the University has been a dream for a long time, years for some, so how do you hold on for the last few weeks when your fate feels out of your control?
1. Distract yourself. Whether that is doing some exercise, reading something for fun, or re-watching your favourite TV show for the fifteenth time, spending time thinking about something unrelated to your application helps the time to pass quicker, as it no longer feels as if you’re watching the seconds pass.
2. Try not to dwell too much on your interviews. It is tempting to spend hours picking apart every part of your interview, attempting to find every fault in your performance. There is nothing to gain from this. Plus, it is important to remember that tutors aren’t looking for perfection in interviews, just potential, so one slip up on a translation or mislabelling a diagram won’t have cost you a place.
3. Have fun over the festive period. Make gingerbread, drive around and look at Christmas lights, you’ve earnt some fun after all the hard work you’ve put into your applications and college work over that last term.
4. Talk to those close to you. Those around you will have seen you go through the entire application process up until now. Talking to someone else about your worries rather than bottling up your feelings can help you to ease the stress.
5. Spend some time on college work. Regardless of the decision in January, you will be aiming for some amazing grades, so it’s important not to let your worries about the outcome consume you to the point that it takes over your life. Remember that your grades are for you and use that as motivation rather than what you think you’ll need for potential offers.
6. Take some time to focus on yourself. Do whatever makes you feel the most relaxed. Self-care is so important to ensure that you stay happy during such a stressful time. Set aside some time out over the holidays to do some mindfulness or whatever else makes you feel calmer.
Most importantly, remember that you are not defined by the outcome. Applying to Oxford in the first place says so much about your determination and your passion for your subject, and whatever happens on the 12th January, the qualities that have made you successful up until now have not changed.
Best of luck!!!!