EASTER IS THE TIME TO PICK YOUR OXBRIDGE COURSE

Magdalene College, Cambridge

 

Like the challenge of an Oxbridge course, but can't decide which one to pick? If so, set aside a few hours during the Easter break for a recci of this year’s Oxford or Cambridge prospectus. Each of them is full of tempting, well described courses: now is the time to look beyond those familiar from school. Even if you’d never heard of Norse or Archaeology before you might well excel at it later.

 

Attending an Open Day at Oxford or Cambridge  held in July is another step forward. Aim for course-specific  or departmental events, rather than those offering mainly college info. While most of the former need to be booked in advance and some are full by Easter, others are run on a drop-in basis. The friendly undergraduates helping out on Open Days also often have useful advice.

 

While there are also Open Days in September, students who focus on Oxbridge only then tend to have a much poorer success rate. This is because you need to embark on  some course-related reading well before the October application deadline. Summer is the obvious time, but if you nail down your course choice fast, you could start this Easter. Unsure what to read? My best-selling guide, OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES, lists  a range of inspiring, course-specific books and websites.

 

If you cannot make it to any Oxbridge Open Day, subject tasters at other (preferably Russell Group) universities will help you with choices and preparation. While courses of the same name offered by different universities are not quite identical, they are likely to have the same core.  

 

What's crucial next is to double-check the entry requirements of any appealing course, which can be quite detailed. To stand a good chance of an Oxbridge place, you may need to meet every single one. These currently include A-level grade predictions ranging from AAA to A*A*A*, sometimes but not always in specific subjects.

 

The university may also mention an additional school subject (often AS Maths) as  “useful” though you might still get in without it. If a third A-level science or Further Maths is “recommended” your chances of a place are not quite so good. Course applicants without a “highly recommended” or “highly desirable” subject need to know that some 90 per cent of those admitted may have it.

 

Students should also note that while such course rules tend to apply to all colleges at Oxford, some Cambridge colleges have different ones. So, having chosen your course, you may want to click on a few college web pages  to see which AS or A-level grades and subjects they seek. Colleges high up on the Cambridge league tables may have added entry requirements.

 
Remember, too, that even if a course page does not list any required subjects, applicants will still usually need at least two “hard” A-levels to get in. And although you won't need an A-level in Law to study Law, or A-level Economics to study Economics at Cambridge (or Economics & Management at Oxford), their admissions tutors do expect some proof of subject interest, academic ability and hard work.

 

Evidence of good writing skills is also important for these and quite a few other courses. Admissions tutors may therefore wish to see one of your classroom essays. If you don’t have any essay to show, ask your form teacher to set you one well before your application.  

 

Oxford and Cambridge, in short, are on the hunt for more than just cleverness. A wise  applicant, therefore, will steadily build up their course-appropriate skills, qualifications, and interests. Teachers may want to note, however,  that for students from very disadvantaged backgrounds or regions some allowances may be made.

 

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