WHAT NEXT IF YOU'RE AIMING FOR OXBRIDGE?

Are you a Year 12 student whose teacher has suggested you apply to Oxbridge? Great, but  note that this is not just a compliment: it’s also  a call to action. There is extra work to be done during this busy exam year if you want to actually get in.
 

Step one is to pick the right course. A school subject like French may be the obvious answer, but there are plenty of other exciting courses which your A-levels may qualify you for.  So, a careful read through the course descriptions found in the Oxford or Cambridge prospectus matters now.
 

Do also check out the section on course-related careers. With well paid graduate jobs in many fields becoming scarce, a huge number of students now dream of getting a City job via Oxbridge economics, for instance. This has led to a sharp drop in the success rate.  The prospectus will tell you that quite a few high achievers in banking and finance have degrees in history, maths or a commercially useful language.
 

Next, check whether you qualify for one of the free Oxbridge summer schools, which give priority to state school students from non-university or disadvantaged backgrounds.  Attendance will deepen your subject grasp and much improve your admission chances.  Registration for Oxford closes on February 24^th and for Cambridge on March 10^th, but don’t leave it to the last minute; you will have to supply numerous bits of information.
 

If you don’t qualify, try to at least attend an Oxbridge Open Day. Booking is now open for College Open Days at Cambridge, which focus on the sciences, maths or the Law. Cambridge Departmental Open Days, which are course-specific, start in February. Oxford Open Days only start in July and are not listed yet, so keep checking.
 

Do also explore the academic tasters run by other members of the Russell Group. While degree courses of the same name offered by different universities won’t be identical, they are likely to have a common core, especially in the sciences. The University of London has just put an impressive list of local taster courses online, and others will soon follow. For nationwide taster days, click here.
 

With a few taster sessions under your belt, you can now embark on the second stage of Oxbridge preparation, which is subject-geared reading. Nervous about that? You will find a range of books that will gently introduce you to academic thought listed in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.