With February 14th coming up, some of you will be
scouring card shops for the message that perfectly conveys the love you feel
for your Valentine. Let’s hope it works. Whatever the outcome, though, it's
good practice for something prospective Oxbridge applicants must start on now. This is to convey their love for their chosen course.
A card saying “I just adore Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic” won’t
do the trick, but a library card should get you closer. Oxbridge seeks avid
readers and, even if you can afford to buy, a book you need may not be in print
anymore. If your school does not provide a university-geared reading list,
consult a teacher or librarian. Year 12 students should also check the ‘Suggested Reading’ pages of the Oxbridge websites. You'll find lists of inspiring, course-related books which suit both GCSE and A-level students in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.
Listening to a few lectures in your chosen field (ideally in
the flesh, as well as online) may count as further proof that you care. It will
also and more importantly, of course, introduce you to academic speech, ideas and
vocabularies. You’ll find links to local university talks in my January 5th blog, but brief sample
lectures are also included in some Oxbridge Open Days.
In addition, there are year-round, free public lectures held at Cambridge,
as well as at the Cambridge Science Festival
and its annual Festival of Ideas. Oxford, too, offers a wide range of free public lectures, but make sure to register first by email.
Lectures often cover fascinating, original course angles. Oxford's free lecture topic on February 8th is "Killing with computers - the ethics of autonomous and remote controlled weapons".
Visiting historic sites, institutions, exhibitions or performances
that expand your subject grasp is another way to the academic heart. There is brilliant
visual material online, but making an effort to see the real thing also helps. Only
future mathematicians can convincingly demonstrate their subject passion without
ever leaving the net.
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TEACHERS:
Does your school rarely get a student into Oxbridge,
or has it perhaps not yet tried?
How about a staff teach-in on Oxbridge entrance, held at your school,
on the way to maximise able students’ chances?
Starting this term, teach-ins will again be led by
Elfi Pallis, author of tried-and-trusted guide
For details see http://www.tellbooks.com/teach-in.htm
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