oacac oxbridge admissions prep webinar 2015

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY

Oxbridge Admission Prep

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


Supporting prospective Oxbridge applicants

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


Supporting prospective Oxbridge applicants

PANELISTS:

James Boobar American Collegiate Institute, TurkeyDavid Hawkins The International School of Brussels

Malika Ramdas United World College, Singapore

FACILITATORS:

Aaron Andersen The University of British Columbia

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


Why Oxbridge?

• Do they offer what you want to study?• Does this learning style excite you? • Is Oxford or Cambridge a good fit for you?• Are you a good fit for Oxford or Cambridge?

– Tutorials / supervisions– 2:1 or 1:1– Lots of independent study– Sink or swim academics

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


What to consider? Intellectual powerhouses University: College system Your course/subject Teaching Style / Workload Your professors and peers Funding Tradition Colleges Early application

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My Experience - The First WeekMy Experience - The First Week Oxbridge is different:

• Fresher’s Week lasted three days.• 4,000 word essay set on second day• Matriculation on the first Saturday.

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The RoutineThe Routine

• Three terms a year, each eight weeks long.

• Internal college exams (Collections) at the start of each term.

• Exams in the summer term of the first (Prelims) and last (Finals) years, though some subjects do differ).

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY



Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun9 – 11 Readi

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gReadin

gReadin

gTutoria

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11 – 12

Lecture

Reading

Lecture Reading

Recover

Brunch Lunch

1 – 5 Reading

Reading

Reading

Essay writing

Find books

Reading

Chapel Choir

6 – 9.30

Reading

Reading

Reading

Essay writing

Chapel Choir

Reading

Chapel Servic

e9.30 -

11Relax Relax Relax Essay

writingRelax Relax Relax

A student’s typical Oxford week:

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY



Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun9 – 11 Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Free Free11 – 12

Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Brunch Lunch

1 – 5 Labs Tutorial / Reading

Labs Reading Tutorial / Reading

Reading Free

6 – 9.30

Essay writing

Reading Reading Essay writing

Free Reading Free

9.30 - 11

Essay writing

Reading Relax Essay writing

Relax Relax Relax

A scientist’s typical Oxford week:

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How to Prepare StudentsLong Term

• Development of the ‘super-curriculum’: a depth of study in one subject area that goes beyond the confines of the school curriculum:– Reading, and thinking about reading– Research projects– Critical engagement with a subject

• Developing the skills to talk to strangers about academic matters in a confident and coherent manner

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


How to Prepare StudentsMedium Term

• Students self-identify from spring of Grade 11

• HODs given information about super-curricular opportunities, particularly essay prizes run by various colleges

• Students and families given information about the process and the academic level required

• KEY message for parents: you can’t make your child into an Oxbridge kid – if you don’t know what subject they will apply for, then they’re probably not the right type of student to apply

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


How to Prepare StudentsShort Term

• Weekly meetings in Fall Term of Grade 12

• Students responsible for arranging practice interviews and (for Oxford) test papers with faculty. Aim for at least 10 interviews and 3 tests in September and October

• Interviews also with people they don’t know: we combine with two other Brussels schools for an interview evening and also bring in external people to interview students.

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


OXBRIDGE INTERVIEWS

• Where to interview - pros and cons• Purpose of interview - enthusiasm for subject, intellectual

vitality, teachability • Role of Personal Statement • Mock interviews

“Drawing students beyond the edge of their ability”

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Application process UCAS application Cambridge COPA & SAQ forms

(if applying from outside EU or for an organ scholarship)

Personal statements (Cambridge COPA has optional additional personal statement)

Super-curricular activities Tests Written work Interviews

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How do they select? Academic history (GCSE / Grade

10) Current academic performance

(predicted grades) Entrance tests Written work examples Personal statement (academic) References Interview

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Choosing a course

At Oxford, over 50% of applicants apply for the same five courses

1. Economics and Management2. PPE3. Law4. Medicine5. Engineering Science

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Aiding Personal Statement WritingProof and prove…

•Ask the students to find the evidence (and more evidence) to support their “claim” that they are ready for, and enthusiastic about, their chosen course….are you convinced?•Do the sections substantiate and prove the claim that students want to pursue their chosen course at the higher education level?•Ask the student to interrogate the draft: What does this tell me? Is it redundant? •“Beyond the Bells” – demonstration of interest pursued outside of the classroom and curriculum

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


The Good, The Bad, The Ugly….Hints and Warnings

• Over-used first lines and cliché openings• As related to the United States College Essay• Striking the right balance – academic vs

extracurricular• Precise, Academic, Intellectual – don’t be quirky• Watch for “Quotation” happy drafts – tutors are

interested in what the student thinks not what they can quote

• Watch for Word-Dropping & Name-Dropping (especially authors’ names and works)

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


Cambridge - copa• Cambridge Online Preliminary Application

• Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)

• Very early deadline if interview outside Cambridge

• Asked to report SAT scores

• May need to submit a High School Transcript

• Optional Additional Personal Statement

WEBINAR WEDNESDAY


Questions?

oacac oxbridge admissions prep webinar 2015

Education