WHAT IS HAPPENING ABOUT THE OXBRIDGE OPEN DAYS?

Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

Eager to attend an Oxford or Cambridge Open Day? While these lively and very useful events tend to be   oversubscribed, teachers have  reported that their reformatting into virtual visits due to Covid-19 has put off some students. Others, though, are likely to welcome the change as creating a more familiar and less scary version of the student-don encounter.

What this year's virtual visitors need to know is that all the key Open Day elements have been retained. This means that staff will still offer detailed advice on  costs, grants, applications, courses, entry requirements and student life. Cambridge says it will cover owevthese topics now mainly through webinars, mini-docs, data sheets or talks. Academics will also still offer some individual advice at O&As. The Oxford Open Days programme is yet to be finalised but is fairly certain to run along similar lines.

As for colleges, each university will offer you a virtual tour of some quite stunning buildings.  Students keen to know about the key role colleges play in student selection, though, should also read the College chapter in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES, which explains the two universities' admission process in helpful detail. 

Meanwhile, though, the most crucial thing Oxbridge hopefuls can do is register right away to  make sure they don't miss out, as even some online events seem to have limited places. Cambridge will send you a virtual access ticket once you are on its list. Its Open Day programme is limited to Year 12s,  mature (aged 21+) students and teacher-led school groups An interested parent or carer can also virtually tag along.

Oxford is still finalising the dates and formats in which it will introduce prospective applicants to what it has to offer and what will be expected of them. Meanwhile, it asks anyone interested to subscribe to its free newsletter, so  they can be kept informed about its emerging programme of events. These are fairly certain to cover topics similar to the Cambridge ones but likely to be spread out over a longer period.

Can't wait? Eager applicants may now want to go (or go back) to this year's online Oxford or Cambridge prospectus, so they can firm up their choices before seeking further advice during Q&As. Asking which areas of Maths are worth focusing on for an Economics course or whether you can do Post-Colonial Studies as part of your English course is absolutely fine. You can even ask a subject expert how to choose between her course and another appealing one. On the other hand, asking an academic whether you will have your own bathroom at her college will just make you look spoilt.

Virtual events are not perfect. There are a  couple of things this year's applicants will miss out on: the chance to meet students from other schools at talks or just pottering around town is one. Picking the brains of the Open Day Volunteers, current Oxbridge students who often have great off-the-record advice on their own course or college, is another. On the other hand, a Virtual Open Day spares you that expensive train or coach journey, or that tense drive up with a parent who keeps reminding you of the event's importance. So, enjoy your inspiring, colourful virtual day out...