TOD: Unconcluded
It was a pleasure interviewing [redacted] last month. Her performance in interview, as my notes say, was "poised, thoughtful, impressive". She covered a lot of distance with the poem we set her to read, and showed a talent also for philosophical thought. In general, she argued carefully and articulately, and was exactly the original kind of thinker described in your reference. [...] I think what prevented any other colleges from responding to our encouragement was a combination of her Latin scores, which were low (in the bottom fifth of applicants), and her achieved results, which again suggested she might struggle with the intensity of an Oxford degree.
Excuse me for a moment whilst I quietly walk outside, close the door behind me, look upwards, raise my arms to the heavens, and cry out, with both great volume and great intensity, "FUCK MY GCSEs".
Now that that's over with, let's go over this. Essentially, what stopped them from giving me a place was my results so far. Which wouldn't be a problem, if the same thing hadn't led to everywhere else except Reading (and, admittedly, UCL, but only because they decide in, like, March) rejecting me, thus leading me to decide I was going to take an impromptu year out. You can imagine, then, that the past few months haven't been exactly amazing. That, though, is starting to change.
The vast majority of those who read this thing will have at least a passing knowledge of my ClassCiv teacher, and, more to the point, how much I admire him. He does research! And he used to teach Latin at UCL! And he's the one who inspired me to take Classics in the first place! It follows, then (exclamation marks now having been retired for the moment), that I'd at least mention my current situation to him. And, moreover, that I had a temporary solution, if he agreed to my proposition. Not to beat about the bush, then: I asked him whether he needed a research assistant.
Not to beat about the bush: he decided he'd work out a way for him to need a research assistant.
That wouldn't be all I'd do, naturally. This is completely voluntary, and I'm going to need to support myself somehow (especially if, as he suggested, I enrol for a language course at UCL. Those things cost money). So, the current plan is to get some sort of part-time paid work, UCL language classes, volunteer at (for example) the ICLS, and help Boyten with his research in what will have to be, I suppose, my spare time. Which is a pity, considering the prospect of the latter was the original factor that made me decide that taking a year out would actually be preferable.
Still, never mind! He wants me to read his PhD ("I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on it"). And he clearly wants me to work (with/for) him. And... yeah. Things might end up okay. :3
Excuse me for a moment whilst I quietly walk outside, close the door behind me, look upwards, raise my arms to the heavens, and cry out, with both great volume and great intensity, "FUCK MY GCSEs".
Now that that's over with, let's go over this. Essentially, what stopped them from giving me a place was my results so far. Which wouldn't be a problem, if the same thing hadn't led to everywhere else except Reading (and, admittedly, UCL, but only because they decide in, like, March) rejecting me, thus leading me to decide I was going to take an impromptu year out. You can imagine, then, that the past few months haven't been exactly amazing. That, though, is starting to change.
The vast majority of those who read this thing will have at least a passing knowledge of my ClassCiv teacher, and, more to the point, how much I admire him. He does research! And he used to teach Latin at UCL! And he's the one who inspired me to take Classics in the first place! It follows, then (exclamation marks now having been retired for the moment), that I'd at least mention my current situation to him. And, moreover, that I had a temporary solution, if he agreed to my proposition. Not to beat about the bush, then: I asked him whether he needed a research assistant.
Not to beat about the bush: he decided he'd work out a way for him to need a research assistant.
That wouldn't be all I'd do, naturally. This is completely voluntary, and I'm going to need to support myself somehow (especially if, as he suggested, I enrol for a language course at UCL. Those things cost money). So, the current plan is to get some sort of part-time paid work, UCL language classes, volunteer at (for example) the ICLS, and help Boyten with his research in what will have to be, I suppose, my spare time. Which is a pity, considering the prospect of the latter was the original factor that made me decide that taking a year out would actually be preferable.
Still, never mind! He wants me to read his PhD ("I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on it"). And he clearly wants me to work (with/for) him. And... yeah. Things might end up okay. :3