Oxbridge

Preliminaries

Consult

• Whether thinking of applying to Oxford or Cambridge, please seek out RMG or NDC to discuss your best choice of college

• We will run a coach to Oxford, but the main Cambridge Open Day clashes with the Biology Field Trip

• Please see RMG, who will explain how you can book to visit a Cambridge College

Open Days

• Oxford

• 4th Wednesday in June by coach

• You can usually only book to visit ONE

COLLEGE, but unofficially, you should

have chance to take a look at several

• YOU BOOK direct with that college via the

internet

www.ox.ac.uk • Go to: ox.ac.uk

• Find individual College web site

• E.G: http://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk

• Open days

• Individual booking form

• Usually 4th Wednesday in June

• Submit to the College and follow their

instructions

• Book your place on the coach via KESpay

Why Just ONE College?

• In order to ensure that you get to meet the

right people [and your name registered]

• To allow you to speak to the admissions

tutor who may at some stage accept or

reject your application

• To give you a good, in depth feel for the

place you may spend three, four or six years

What is a college?

It is where you sleep, eat and socialise

The College forms the centre of your University life

Dining Hall JCR College Room

Computing facilities

Selecting

a College

Factors To Consider

• An Academic tutor in your discipline?

• Numbers admitted in your subject?

• Reputation?

• Personal or Family connection?

• Central to town?

• Near to Academic department?

• View from your window?

• Modern sanitation?

• What’s the school’s record with that college??

This is the sort of thing that you are looking for….

Why Oxbridge?

• Courses

• The teaching: personal tutorial/supervisions

• The collegiate system

• Range of students – some seriously bright

people!

• The kudos/networking …

Is it right for you?

• Academic ability really matters: as a very

general guide, 3A grades with top UMS

[>93% in closest A level subject and 90% +

in others]

• 7A* grades at GCSE or thereabouts

• Need to be seen as a serious student of your

subject

• Other interests count but they must be well

developed

• Not the place for all courses.

Oxford or Cambridge?

• What course do you want to do?

• There are some differences between Oxford

and Cambridge. Both very well regarded.

• You MUST read the main prospectus, the

departmental prospectus and the college

prospectus

How do I find out more?

• Prospectus now published

• Look at the web sites

UCAS http://www.ucas.ac.uk/

Oxford http://www.ox.ac.uk/

Cambridge http://www.cam.ac.uk/

A time to do……… • After AS levels you will need to move fast

• If you are a potential choral/organ scholar,

then applications in August! [speak to RMG

and HF]

• Otherwise, final decisions a.s.a.p in new

term [September]

• Applications by end of September

• NB: You should have already ‘shot-gunned’

your college with NDC

What now?

• Begin the process of research NOW

• But be realistic - ‘Dreaming Spires’ are one thing - getting in is another … !

• Remember that PQA is always an option, but the ‘two bites’ approach is not usually successful apply at your peak

•You can make this decision once you know your UMS position

• ‘Deferred entry’ is possibly the hardest

route of all because of the Pool system

&‘Mortgaging’ of places

• Best candidates aren’t speculative – they

apply when everything is in place

When To Apply?

Who succeeds?

• Difficult to predict but no successes below 7A* at GCSE in some years of entry. That said, HAT/ELAT/BMAT etc are extra tests that allow you to prove your potential.

• Remember they’re looking for EXCEPTIONAL students not just well-educated ones & they want independent thinkers

• Be realistic – are you ‘exceptional’ in your year group?

• Don’t give up on dreams – there’s always next year if the AS marks aren’t up to it

How to prepare

• You must be on top of your normal work.

• Read widely around your subject and see

your HoD regularly. It is YOUR

responsibility.

• Gain necessary work experience.

• Get your UCAS form sorted out by July.

• Be prepared to work over the summer.

The U6th Autumn Term

• It will be very hard work to make the top 2% - don’t over commit yourself – put your academic work first.

• A post A level application may make more sense.

• It is a lottery – even the best don’t always make it

• The next slide shows some of the statistical information that is available.

• Look carefully at the tables at the back of the prospectus – ratios and places

Resumé of ‘Which College?’

• Please speak to RMG or NDC on an individual basis about this - we hold information concerning the school’s track record with various colleges over many years

• Not all colleges offer all subjects

• It is not a good idea to have two students from the same school applying for the same course at the same college therefore the school will need to have an over-view

Finally

• Your AS results will be the litmus test

• So, go forth and work your socks off……