Oxbridge Entrance News

EXTRA-CURRICULARS AND OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE

2012-01-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

While reassuring, a recent Guardian feature on the Cambridgeadmissions process has also left some students confused. After observingadmissions tutors from (very state school-oriented) Churchill College pick natural sciencestudents, the paper’s reporter felt that “there is far less interest thanis popularly thought in extra-curricular activity”. However, when medical dons fromvarious colleges were choosing future doctors, extra-curriculars did seemto matter: what swung it for one able student was that he was not just workingin a care home, but had also, uniquely, trained as a special constable.

So, is it OK to focus on school work alone? Well, itdepends.Cambridgedoes not offer points for extra-curriculars assuch (and Oxford says they won’t “compensate for lower academic potential”). Also, colleges keen toattract more good state schoolers tend to care less about them. No maths tutorat Cambridge or Oxford is likely to be swayed by an applicant’s sporting, artistic or even charitableactivities. The outstanding mathematical ability she seeks is not enhanced byplaying cricket. Your time is far better spent solving maths problems. Other science applicants, though, can benefitfrom a science-linked hobby. @oxbridgentrance.

Asfor medicine, a willingness to engage with needy people whilecramming for top science A-levels does help. Medicine is a dirtier, more gut-wrenchingand exhausting business than suggested by “Scrubs”. So, if you want to be a doctor, step into the tough,real world, but relax: not all medicaldons want a trainee special constable. For more detailed medicine advice, see chapter 15 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

OXBRIDGE COURSES: DON'T RUSH YOUR CHOICE

2012-01-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Oxbridge admissions statistics reveal that the number of students applying for thetwo universities' most popular courses has continued to rise. As a result, student success rates forthose courses must necessarily fall. So,if you are irresistibly drawn to the brainy world of Oxford orCambridge, it is best not to make your degree choice quite yet. Find out first whether there is more than one attractive Oxbridge course that's open to you; then check how many applicants per place each of these is likely to get.

Do not just look at your most obvious choices. While your A-level subjects may restrict the number of degree coursesyou qualify for, this does not mean that you can only apply for somethingyou have taken at school. Certain core subjects, if well combined, give you a very widedegree choice indeed. Knowing this can help you avoid (if you so wish) the most over-subscribed courses.

Where should you begin? There is noOxbridge chart which shows you at a glance where specific A-levels could lead, butanother top university, Bristol, does provide such a chart. This is well worth looking at, although the Bristolcourses (and entry rules) are not quite identical to either Oxford or Cambridge ones. For more detailed adviceon how to find the Oxbridge course that is right for you, see chapters 3 to 5 of OxbridgeEntrance.

CHRISTMAS PREP FOR OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE

2011-12-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Know which Oxbridge course you’d like to apply to in future? If so, the Christmas holidays are perfect for some entrance prep. By the spring, you might be far too busy with exams.

It is certainly not enough to have fallen in love with a specific course: you need to cement the relationship. Is your library card up-to-date, so you can borrow something course-related to read over New Year? Have you already put a few relevant books on your Christmas list? The university prospectus may offer recommendations and newspaper reviewers will have lots more, as will chapters 2 and 11 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

Alternatively, would a subscription to an online journal such as Geography Review, Nature, New Scientist, Biological Sciences Review or Student BMJ be of use to you? Students interested in the humanities benefit from the New York Review of Books (or read the LRB). History Today is an easy read and, if you care about politics or economics, the online daily Guardian or the weekly Economist (which have quite different perspectives) will help. How about asking for the DVD of a recent BBC science series, or of Shakespeare’s plays? Combined with a large slice of Christmas cake, each of these will enhance your well deserved break.

OFF TO THE OXBRIDGE INTERVIEW?

2011-12-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

Having received the invite you were hoping for, do you feel more terrified than chuffed? If so, note that an Oxbridge interview (or three) is, above all, a reward for the good work you’ve done. After looking at your grades, UCAS statement, references and perhaps test results, admissions tutors already feel that you might be suited to one of their demanding courses. So, a 100 per cent perfect interview performance is slightly less crucial than students think. Do your best, but don't panic if you stumble over a question or two. You might still get in.

Also keep in mind that although an Oxbridge interview is more formal than a conversation, it is not a test of your social skills. Most questions are likely to draw on knowledge you have gained in class and from your own reading and research (hopefully mentioned in your statement). Others may require you to give your opinion, or to draw logical conclusions from material you are shown. You’ll find Twitter tips specific to your course @oxbridgentrance.

Some basic interview skills, too, will already have been implanted by your school: giving yourself time to think before you reply to a challenging question is one. Answering the question actually asked (rather than the one you would like it to have been) is another. If you can speak in a clear, audible voice instead of mumbling, that’s even better. For more detailed interview advice, read chapters 9-14 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES

OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE RULES FOR MATHS

2011-10-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

A Daily Telegraph report of 24th October revealed that while university applications for 2012 are down by 9 per cent, Oxford and Cambridge have seen the number of applicants drop by a mere 0.8 per cent. Competition will therefore remain fierce, especially for one of the most popular Oxbridge courses, Mathematics. This attracts maths lovers from all over the world, so even an outstanding maths student cannot be sure of a place.

Not all groups of UK students do equally well. Admissions figures for 2010 (the latest available) show that the success rate of Oxford maths applicants from state schools was 16 per cent, but 24.7 per cent for those from private schools. At Cambridge, it was the 17.5 per cent for state school applicants, but 27.7 per cent for those from private schools: a huge gap, even by Oxbridge standards. Students from comprehensives do least well, often because were only able to take AS Further Maths. This is formally acceptable, but makes it harder to display their abilities.

So, how might you get in? The obvious answer is by knowing more maths. A very useful maths site is http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/individual-competitions/senior-challenge/. Another one, http://bit.ly/qzRdca , goes to the papers themselves, with solutions.

OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE VIA STATS

2011-10-18T01:21:00.000-07:00

Planning to relax as your UCAS application is sent and the interview (should you get one) still miles away? Don’t do it: you now need to interact with some figures. With the exception of Music, Languages and English Lit., almost all Oxbridge courses these days have at least a small mathematical element.

So, you might well find yourself being asked to interpret a course-related statistic at your test or interview. Students who did not take a statistics module as part of their Maths course often stumble at this point. You’ll find advice on how to handle stats questions in chapter 10 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

However, if even the sight of a statistical graph makes you shake, you may also need a basic book like STATISTICS FOR DUMMIES. Medical candidates can go a step further and leaf through MEDICAL STATISTICS MADE EASY. Don’t panic if most examples go over your head: the first section is for you and will prove invaluable.

FROM UCAS FORM TO OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE

2011-09-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

Still battling with your personal statement? According to a report in Oxford student paper "Cherwell", one in six Oxbridge candidates may have had expert help with their application. However, don't dispair if your school provides little UCAS guidance or you can't afford to degate the task to a paid expert. You may not be an experienced CV writer, but presumably know all there is to know about your unique, university-geared self. So, don't assume that someone you never met must be better at describing your abilities, interests, hopes and achievements. Chapter 8 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES takes you through all the stages of producing an academically impressive yet honest personal statement.

If you nevertheless go into blind panic when trying to bash out those 47 lines, note that these are not quite as crucial today as a decade ago. Both Oxford and Cambridge dons have complained that too many of the statements they now see are clearly the work of an adult. Consequently, Oxford has let it be known that the information given there is just one among several indicators used to assess a student's talents. Cambridge actually says that there are no marks for a good statement. This does not mean that you can be sloppy about yours, of course: the right contents, presented in a coherent style, will work in your favour. Most importantly, UCAS statements continue to form the basis for many interview questions.

NEW OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE FEES

2011-08-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Worried by the thought of £9,000 tuition fees? Here are some good news for students domiciled in England and starting in 2012 from the financial support details just posted by Oxbridge:

At OXFORD, students with a family income up to £16,000 will only be paying £3,500 in their first year and £6,000 a year thereafter. If your family income is up to £25,000 you may still get more than £1,000 a year off.

Even better, Oxford will be offering first year students with a family income up to £16,000 non-repayable grants of £4,300 and £3,300 a year thereafter. Students with a family income up to £42,600 will qualify for a £1,000 first year bursary year and for £500 a year thereafter.

CAMBRIDGE has a different support scheme for the same group starting in 2012: students from very poor backgrounds or with special circumstances will only pay £3,000 of the £9,000 first year fee.

Cambridge starters with a family income below £25,000 will also receive an annual, non-repayable grant of £3,500. Those with a family income between £25,000 and £42,600 will still get a proportionate amount. In addition, there are some £1,000 grants for students embarking on engineering, science, mathematics or computer science courses.

Further details are on the two universities’ websites, but support details for students domiciled in other regions are yet to be finalised. To assess the financial value of an Oxbridge course, read chapter one of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

TIME TO THINK ABOUT AN OXBRIDGE COLLEGE

2011-08-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

With 19.3 per cent of AS students having scored A-grades this year, competition for next year’s Oxbridge places is likely to be fierce. Are you pleased with your AS results and considering an application? Clear about the course you are aiming for? If so, it’s time to pick a college. Don’t just apply to the one you felt had the most attractive buildings. Picking the college that is right for you can maximise your chances of a place, especially at Cambridge. This is because colleges may vary in terms of the academic standard they expect or have other preferences. You can find out more by reading Chapter 6 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE AND YOUR COLLEGE CHOICE

2011-07-25T03:48:00.001-07:00

Enjoyed the flavour of an Oxbridge Open Day? Students

commonly return not just with renewed enthusiasm for their

chosen course, but also with very firm ideas about college

choice. Having been warmly welcomed at a college or struck by

its beauty, many conclude that this is the one they should be

applying to. However, you would be wise to find out more before

doing so.

While both Oxford and Cambridge stress the similarities among

colleges and Cambridge advises students "do not agonise too

long over choosing a college," there are also quite important

differences. Being unaware of those might even affect your

admissions chances. To find out more, read Chapter 6 of

OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE COSTS UP

2011-01-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

Tuition fees have now been officially raised by the new government, though the cost of an Oxford or Cambridge course starting in 2012 may not be announced until early this March. Almost certainly, both universities will settle on fees of £9,000 a year. To work out whether it's worth paying such a scary amount, read Chapter 1 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

All we know for sure at this point is that no UK students will have to pay tuition fees up-front. Instead, students will be offered loans equal to the new fees, to be repaid in instalments once they have graduated and are earning at least £21,000 a year. There will also be a rise in maintenance grants for Oxford students whose family income is below £42,600, or £60,000 for Cambridge ones. Just how much financial help will be given by the government and the universities may depend on pressure from students, parents and their supporters.

When it comes to academic entry qualifications, there has been only one major change: Oxford, like Cambridge, now expects A-level grades of A*AA. (though not for all of its courses). Admissions tutors for one Oxford course, Mathematics & Philosophy, will even ask for A*A*A. If you are planning to apply this year, do also check whether any A* grade has to be in a specific, course-related A-level subject.

GOOD NEWS ON THE INTERVIEW

2010-11-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

Having handled the various admission stages well so far, the Oxbridge interview is the last hurdle you must jump. If you were told all your life not to talk to strangers or not to argue with important people, being impressive now can be tough. The good news is that the interview process, while not perfect, is improving each year. Interviewers' questions, which once used to cover obscure fields such as sporting prowess, are now firmly focused on academic matters.

So, exploring your degree course and practising to talk competently about your A-level subjects is one key to success. But don't rest on your laurels. What you want to do now is learn some more maths to help with economics, or tackle a pile of science journals, or carefully reread that great history book you scanned ages ago. More detailed interview advice can be found in Chapters 9 to 14 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

After following this advice, rejoice in the news that college choice is slowly becoming less crucial. If the university feels that another college may suit you better than the one you picked, it will send you to be interviewed there. This can much improve your chances.

Friday, 12 November 2010
MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY

These are scary times for students hoping to start a degree course in 2012. The government is proposing to let English universities charge tuition fees of between £6,000 and £9,000 a year from then on. Since fees are currently £3,290, this means the cost of a degree may almost treble. While students will have to pay the fees only once they have left university and are earning £21,000 a year, the prospect of graduating with huge debts will discourage especially first generation applicants.

What reluctant sixth formers should keep in mind is that there will still be an annual maintenance grant of £3,250 for students whose family income is below £42, 600. Also, a new scholarship fund will support the very poorest and brightest. Nevertheless, if the government's proposals become law (which they are not yet) students admitted to top universities like Oxford or Cambridge will certainly pay the highest fees.

So, is it still worth working towards an Oxbridge place in 2012? Before you decide, read Chapter 1 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES. Dealing with a wide range of student concerns, this will tell you what exactly sets the two universities apart and why it could still be worth going there. You may then want to tell our politicians (many of whom got their Oxbridge education for free) just what you think of their selfish proposal.

WHERE SHOULD YOU APPLY?

2010-08-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

Oxford’s announcement that it will continue to ask only for AAA grades from its applicants contrasts with the Cambridge decision to retain its A*AA entry requirement (and perhaps raise it to A*A*A). This suggests that there is now a real difference in the two universities’ admissions policy.
Applications to both have continued to rise, but they are now rising more steeply at Oxford. Students nervous about their ability to achieve the higher A-level grade stipulated by Cambridge may be tempted to follow this trend, but they should be cautious. The picture is not as simple as the news stories suggest.
For a start, the mere existence of A* grades may lead many schools to raise learning standards. So, hard-working, able students should be able to obtain the grade, especially if taught how to answer the new, open-ended questions. They might also want to note that the proportion of state school students admitted to Cambridge in 2009 was still some 5 per cent above that of Oxford. And while Cambridge seeks higher grades, it is not totally inflexible. Almost 100 disadvantaged candidates each year get in with (very) slightly lower grades, a policy which the university says will continue.
Oxford, on the other hand, continues to put greater trust in the interview. This can mean that an articulate, well-read student from a comprehensive that does not focus on guiding its students towards A* grades may be better off applying there. Assuming the course you like is offered by both universities, you have a couple of months to decide which approach may work best for you. Reading OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES will help you decide.

15 July 2010
WHAT IF THE FEES GO UP?
Government plans to change the universities‘ fee structure are worrying many future students. What if university fees rise steeply? Will a degree course in medicine cost twice as much as a degree course in geography? Or will students starting their course now have to pay a “graduate tax” for twenty years?
While any of these things might yet happen, it won't do so right away. Lord Browne, who has been commissioned to look into university funding, will report back to the government in October 2010. Only then will MPs start to debate the issue. Even if they rapidly agree, this is too late to change tuition fees for 2011. Higher education will almost certainly cost more from 2012, but only for students starting out then. Others will be paying the old fees.
Both Oxford and Cambridge have repeatedly made clear that they will continue to offer financial support to poorer students, whatever the changes, so as to ensure that an Oxbridge education is not beyond their reach. For more information, read OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

OXFORD OR CAMBRIDGE?

2010-04-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

Oxford admissions figures for 2009 have just become available. What they show is that the percentage of UK state school students admitted has slightly fallen. 53.9 per cent of UK undergraduates who started at Oxford in October 2009 were from state schools and colleges, 1.5 per cent fewer than the previous year. Cambridge figures for the same year are not yet available, but are thought to be higher.

State school students should not rush to conclude from this that they must therefore only apply to Cambridge. The difference in the proportion of state school students admitted by the two universities has never been huge.

Also, Oxford figures are more promising for 2009 applicants from state schools (as distinct from state school students admitted in 2009). The percentage of Oxford offers to state school students from the UK for entry in 2010 was 56.4 per cent, up from 2009.

Some of the 2009 drop in Oxford’s admissions rate is rumoured to be due to state schoolers increasingly focusing on its most over-subscribed courses, Medicine, Law, PPE and Economics & Management. Oxbridge mentors like myself have been pleased to learn that our comprehensive school students got into Oxford nevertheless. Wise course and college choice is often the decisive factor. Find out more about these from Chapters 5 and 6 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

14th January 2010
HANDLING THE OUTCOME

The aftermath of the interviews can be tough. There is lots of waiting, followed by good or bad news, at least if you are an Oxford candidate. If you applied to Cambridge, you may even have an in-between result, a place in the “pool”. Gathered there are impressive candidates who their chosen college could not take. One fifth of the latter will have been found a place elsewhere at Cambridge by the end of January.

For those of you who have received an offer, it’s party-time, if only for a couple of weeks. Then you must embark on the kind of intensive school work that will generate top grades. As Cambridge continues to demand one A* grade from current A-level students, you may want to check out chapter 3 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

For students left without a place, the main thing is to keep up their spirits. Oxbridge has vastly more clever applicants than it can possibly take, so the fact that you weren’t offer a place does not automatically make you inferior. Another good university may well be delighted to teach you and put you on the path to a brilliant career. Chapter 21 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES helps you to handle this scenario.

1st December 2009
COMPETITION

Oxford has seen a rise of 12 per cent in undergraduate applications this year and applications to Cambridge are up too. Apparently, most of the students who had put Oxbridge on their UCAS form will still be interviewed, but competition is up.

Rather than letting yourself be scared witless by this thought, you should find ways of standing out. It’s nice to have an unusual hobby such as fire-eating, but deepening your engagement with your chosen course subject is the real key to success. This can mean learning more maths to help with economics, keeping up with the relevant science journals or following medicine-related stories in the news. Alternatively, you may want to carefully re-read a history book scanned some time ago. If you’re tackling a new book at this late stage, stick to a few carefully selected chapters. You want to be able to talk competently about a personal but university-linked interest. For advice on how to do this, read chapter 2 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

SHOW HOW SMART YOU ARE

2009-10-09T03:03:00.000-07:00

It’s time to display your achievements and abilities. Once you’ve completed the kind of personal statement that tells admissions tutors what you’ve read, thought about and still want to learn, you can confidently plunge back into A-level work. However, you should also keep in mind the next hurdle ahead, which is the Oxbridge interview.

To make this easier to handle, especially for students from non-Oxbridge oriented schools, Oxford has just released sample interviews in a variety of subjects with added explanations. You can find some of those on the following website: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6866397.ece. Cambridge, meanwhile, offers new video interviews accompanied by a useful commentary on http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/interviews/.

The general message, as ever, is that successful applicants know their subject inside out, are capable of seeing it in a broader context and are willing to consider new ideas. For more detailed guidance, read chapters 9 to 14 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

WHAT TO READ NOW

2009-08-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

This is indeed the height of the holiday season, but also an ideal time to read around your chosen degree subject. A few weeks from now, you may well be swamped by A-level work. Meanwhile, OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES will take you on a tour of new study methods and materials that can turn you into the smart, impressive student all top universities seek. Chapters 2 and 11 will guide you towards subject-specific books.

Paying for these books should also become easier, for the most disadvantaged students at least. The government has just announced that it will be allocating schools an extra £250 this year for each student defined as Gifted & Talented who is also on free school meals.

July 2009

WILL TUITION FEES RISE?

Worried about the cost of an Oxford or Cambridge education? While current tuition fees at both universities are £3,225 a year, much the same as at almost all other universities, this might change in the future. Oxford sources told The Guardian this month that since the actual cost of educating a student at their university was around £10,000, a rise in fees was “almost inevitable”.

However, this will not happen quite yet and students will almost certainly be paying a lesser amount. The earliest possible date for amending tuition fees (a move which needs to be approved by Parliament) is autumn 2011, and it is more likely to be 2012. The new figure talked about is in the region of £5,000. If that still sounds awful to you, keep in mind that Oxbridge is planning to set up a large new fund for student bursaries. Poor but academically able applicants will get substantial support and may not need to pay anything at all. (this changed in 2011, but for the monetary value of an Oxford or Cambridge course, see OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

June 2009

COLLEGE SECRETS

There is no magic formula for picking the right college. However, students planning to apply to Cambridge may appreciate some recent statistics. Following a freedom-of-information request, Cambridge revealed that the success rate of comprehensive school applicants at some of its colleges is almost 30 per cent higher than at others. Rejects sometimes get in nevertheless by being put into a “pool” of candidates and fished out by another college, but it is better to choose well in the first place. The 2009 edition of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES offers more guidance on this.

May 2009

DO PERSONAL STATEMENTS MATTER?

Becoming nervous about what to put into your UCAS personal statement? Calm down, for there is good news. Cambridge admissions head Geoff Parks has just announced that since this piece of writing is too often produced with help from well-educated parents or teachers, it will no longer count towards a student’s assessment. This does not mean it is now of no interest at all: you just won’t get academic brownie points for style or content. However, Cambridge admissions tutors will still carefully read each statement and may well base interview questions on it.

Oxford is taking a different position. Its admissions head, Mike Nicholson has said that he regards the personal statement as "a good way to distinguish the truly gifted, original and inspired.” As a result, it will continue to form part of an Oxford candidate’s assessment. So, keep adding to your pre-university achievements and honing your writing skills. You can find out how in Chapter 8 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

April 2009

NEW CAMBRIDGE LAW TEST

Students considering one of the Oxbridge law courses often try to sweat up on the LNAT, a written law test introduced a few years ago by five top universities. However, Cambridge has just announced that it is dropping the test. Apparently, the university became concerned that the intensive LNAT training offered by some schools was distorting test scores. Their students did very well, over-taking more able but less well prepared candidates. While Oxford will continue to use the LNAT, Cambridge has now adopted a simpler subject test, based on a single, essay-type question.

March 2009

A-LEVELS: THE NEW A* GRADE

Cambridge has just announced that it will expect all A-level students to obtain one of the new A* grades if they are hoping for a place there. Students already working hard to get AAA grades therefore need to adjust their perspective: A* grades are obtained by approaching your A-level subject in a broader, more analytical way than before. Chapter 3 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES explains what this might involve.

January 2009

OXFORD OR CAMBRIDGE?

Unsure whether your chances would be better at Oxford or Cambridge? There is some new information that might help you decide. Student intake statistics used to be almost identical for the two universities, but the ones just released show a change. State school students admitted by Cambridge in 2008 made up 59 per cent of its total undergraduate intake (up from 57 per cent the year before). This figure takes the university almost up to its own target of 60 per cent. At Oxford, on the other hand, state school students made up just 55 per cent of the university’s 2008 intake (up from 53 per cent in the year before).

This does not, of course, mean, that all state school applicants should now pile into Cambridge. The difference, in actual student numbers, remains small, and some Oxford colleges have an excellent record in admitting state school students. Find out more by reading Chapter 6 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

November 2008

SIT IN ON A LECTURE

Would you like to find out how your favourite degree subject is explored at Oxford or Cambridge? You can now do so without leaving your desk. Oxford has just put over 150 hours of free audio and video podcasts online, among them lectures by its most famous academics.

In the spirit of competition, Cambridge almost simultaneously posted 300 podcasts. The university’s offerings include interviews conducted by the historian David Starkey with some of the university’s very own Nobel Prize winners. Starkey also investigates the Cambridge contribution to military code-breaking in WW2. Good stuff to listen to before you embark on your interview!

Still nervous about how to answer interview questions, though? Read chapters 10 to 14 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

October 2008

INTERVIEWS ARE IMPROVING

One of the criticism often levied at the Oxbridge admissions process is that student interviews vary quite so much. Some interviewers are friendly and subject-focused, others gruff and determined to take applicants “out of their comfort zone”. In response, Oxford has announced that all its dons will now undergo training in order to ensure they interview fairly and competently. Exemplary interviewers will be filmed to set an example to others and especially to new lecturers.

Students will be able to watch mock interviews online, but still need to develop their own interview skills. Unsure what this means? Chapters 9 to 13 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES will tell you all there is to know.

WHAT'S YOUR POST CODE?

2008-08-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Getting the exam grades which Oxbridge seeks can be harder if you are poor, as poor students may also attend struggling schools and live in poor housing. Nor can they afford extra books or private lessons. So, new admission rules announced by Oxford this month will give a leg-up to disadvantaged applicants, identified by their postcode. Students seen as academically strong because they have obtained top grades against the odds will definitely be invited for interview. While this does not mean they will be offered a place, it makes life just a little easier. To give yourself the best chance, read OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

TIME TO DO THE BOOKS

2008-07-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

The end of term is for partying, sleeping and then, quickly, drawing up a holiday schedule that will sharpen your understanding of your future course subject. This will make you a more convincing university applicant and can involve visiting historic buildings, academic websites or the local library, depending on the course. In fact, as a record number of students are expected to apply to Oxbridge this year, doing such extra research may be almost essential. Chapter 2 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE offers some detailed research guidance.

If you are still unsure which degree courses to apply for, reading though a virtual stack of university prospectuses until you are clear about the course contents will enable you to decide. You can also access an increasing number of virtual Oxbridge lectures and mock interviews in this way. To get yet more help with course choice, look at Chapter 5 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE.

SAVE PAPER

2008-06-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Good news for students who hate paperwork (are there others?). Both the Cambridge and the Oxford Application form, which all their candidates until this year had to submit in addition to their UCAS form, have now been abolished. To provide the right, Oxbridge-oriented information to UCAS, though, read chapter 8 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

At Oxford, only students who are seeking music awards, or wish to be interviewed overseas, or are graduate applicants for its Accelerated Medical Course need to fill in an extra form. Cambridge, too, only asks for extra forms from a few small groups: students from outside the EU, students seeking music awards and applicants for the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine. Schools can also still fill in the Cambridge Special Access form to alert the university to a disadvantaged student’s circumstances.

NEW WAYS OF MAKING THE GRADE

2008-04-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Potential Oxbridge candidates working towards a top A-level grade can, from this year, gain the newly introduced A* grade, which should mark them out as exceptionally able.

For students about to embark on the A-level stage, the range of qualifications acceptable to Oxbridge has just widened. The Cambridge Pre-U, a two year course which some schools are beginning to offer instead of A-levels, was especially designed to prepare students for academic life. It is expected to be very popular among the admissions tutors of all top universities.

The new diplomas in the sciences, the humanities and languages recently introduced by the government will offer yet another route into higher education. Despite a government suggestion that such a diploma might count for more than an A-level, though, the Oxbridge attitude to the new qualifications is said to be one of “wait-and-see”.

Meanwhile, students determined to aim high would be wise to embark on a bit of self-education alongside their school work. For suggestions, see chapter 2 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

FORMS AND LANGUAGES

2008-03-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

While Oxford candidates are still required to submit a separate Oxford Application Form in addition to their UCAS form, Cambridge rules have changed. UK and EU applicants for courses starting in 2009 only need to submit a UCAS application naming Cambridge as one of their choices.

Acknowledging that students increasingly shun modern languages at school, Cambridge has also changed one of its admission requirements. In future, it will no longer ask all candidates for a foreign language GCSE.

TARGETS AND CHOICES

2008-01-15T03:31:00.000-08:00

If you are a sixth former considering an Oxford or Cambridge application, there is a development you should know about. This is that both are now officially planning to increase their state school intake. While Oxford currently takes 54 per cent of students from state schools, its target is to reach 62 per cent by 2011. Cambridge, which currently takes 57 per cent of students from state schools, has set itself a target of between 60 and 63 per cent for 2011. Although the Institute of Public Policy has questioned whether either university can do so by its chosen date, state school intakes should begin to rise.

This does not mean, as some commentators have claimed, that “the universities now discriminate against public school pupils”. Instead, the new targets are set to produce a more balanced success rate: until 2007, roughly a third of independent school pupils who applied were offered places, but only a quarter of state school students.

Still, success will continue to depend, above all, on your own, well-directed efforts. January is the time to research the huge range of Oxbridge courses available and their entry requirements. Can you think of ways to explore a particular course aspect? Are the AS and A-level subjects you are taking right for the degree course you picked? You might still be able to change, but don’t be too hasty. Unless you are aiming for languages or English Lit., dropping maths is rarely a good idea.
For more detailed advice, look at chapter 3 to 5 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES".

INTERVIEW RULES

2007-11-24T03:27:00.000-08:00

If your grades, personal statement and references fitted the bill, you will by now have received an interview invitation. Starting this year, all Oxford candidates invited are seen by two colleges, the one they picked and another one randomly generated by computer, as mentioned before. The computer’s choice may lead to some odd matches, but being given the chance to impress two different colleges can improve your chances of success. This is especially true if you were horribly nervous at your first college interview.

Cambridge candidates still normally have two interviews at one college. Candidates who do well are put on a shortlist. Once they have left, the college will either make them an offer, conditional on their A-level grades, or put them into the so-called “pool”. This enables another college that might be short of strong candidates to fish them out. Not many pool candidates receive offers, but it is a great achievement to get this far.

To give yourself the best chance of an Oxford or Cambridge place, now read chapters 10 to 14 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

2007-10-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

The most crucial thing, if you’d like to study at Oxbridge, is to actually apply. Having down-loaded the extra forms and wrestled with their personal statement, many students therefore feel that once the October 15th deadline is behind them, they can relax. This is not quite true.

For a start, you can never know too much about your subject, so keep borrowing those books. If there is a standardised test, it’s also a good idea to start practising it. While this will not make you smarter, it will prevent you from feeling paralysed by an unfamiliar format. Most importantly, perhaps, it is time to start thinking about the interview. Don’t tell yourself that you will only do so if Oxbridge invites you up. Quite a few other universities these days choose their student partly on the basis of a chat.

The best preparation is to explain a subject-related problem to an adult who is not your parent or teacher. What you will get out of this is not a perfect solution, but a chance to think aloud. The ideal conversation partner is someone who has very little background knowledge. This will force you to put things clearly and to expand rather more than you would when asked a question in class.

Having worked out from this what your weak points are, you can now work on them by having more conversations and doing more reading. You might also like to do some interview related clothes shopping. Still unsure about the preparations you should make? Worried you might have aimed too high? Nervous about whether you will understand those academic questions? Then it’s time to look at the five short interview chapters in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

CAN YOU BEAT THE BAD NEWS?

2007-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

September was a tough month for state school students planning to apply for Oxbridge. According to a study by the Sutton Trust, a major education charity, one hundred schools, four-fifth of them from the private sector, account for nearly a third of all undergraduates starting at Oxford or Cambridge each year. Moreover, differences in the quality of teaching or in students’ academic aspirations alone could not explain this. After all, the proportion of Oxbridge entrants from the top 30 fee-paying schools was nearly twice as high as that for the best 30 state grammars, despite similar A-level scores.

So, what can you do to beat those statistics? The answer, clearly does not lie in school work alone, though this must be of top quality. The skills, interests and knowledge level Oxbridge (somewhat unrealistically) seeks in all its applicants can be acquired in other, independent ways. Some are subject-specific, and both universities have become better at spelling out what they are looking for on the course website. Knowledge needs to be broad and come from reputable sources (look at the “Read all around it” chapter in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES). Interests need to be pursued with some vigour. What successful Oxbridge applicants have in common is that they have followed this path.

MORE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL

2007-07-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

To put candidates’ achievement into a broader context, Oxford has amended its application form: it now asks schools what proportion of their students achieve top A-level grades and how many receive financial support through the government’s Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme. Students who do well despite attending a struggling school may now come across as more impressive, though the university has stated that they will not be made lower grade offers.

Unlike other universities, Oxford and Cambridge will not be drawing on the family background information to be available from UCAS. Knowing whether a student’s parents went to university is unhelpful, argues Oxford head of admissions Mike Nicholson.

The Oxford Application Support Form, in which candidates’ schools could mention a student’s individual disadvantages, has now been withdrawn. Its Cambridge equivalent, the Cambridge Special Access Scheme Form, though, remains in use. For help with filling in forms, see OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

A COLLEGE PICKED FOR YOU

To make college choice less important, Oxford has made a further change. Although students applying to the university can still only express preference for one college, the university’s computer will randomly pick a second one that will consider them. Students who submit an “open” application, i.e. leave college choice to the university, will have two colleges picked for them.

Having your application considered in two places is likely to improve a student’s odds. However, colleges can vary in terms of academic expectations and individual preferences, as outlined in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE (Tell Books 2007). So, making a good first choice still definitely helps.

IN THE MONEY

While not specifically related to Oxbridge, the recent rise in student maintenance grants will positively affect some of its candidates. While the full, annual grant of £2,800 was until now available only to students with a family income of up to £17,500, that figure has been raised to £25,000 for those starting in 2008. As tuition fees amount to £3,000 per year, this means that recipients will be studying almost for free. Students with a family income of up to £60,000 will still qualify for some grant money.

There are also changes in the repayment terms set for the additional government loans all students are entitled to. Rather than starting to repay the loan straight after they complete their course, graduates will be able to take a “repayment holiday” for up to five years. This will enable them to buy a home or start a family.

Many students are reluctant to consider a university place that would require them to live away from home because of the cost. Local universities, though, may not offer a specific course or may not teach it at a candidate’s academic level. These financial changes could turn even a university 200 miles away into a viable option. Chapters 1 and 2 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES will tell you more about this.

THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

If you are a sixth former, July is for sleeping and making holiday plans. However, August comes sooner than you think and this is when most Oxbridge candidates draft their UCAS personal statement. To do that you need to be quite clear which course(s) you are applying for, which means delving deep into the world of online prospectuses for full details. No two English courses, for example, are the same. For help with course choice, read chapter 5 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.

You also need to start reading more intensively around your subject. So, don’t forget to buy/order/borrow at least one course-related, backpack-size book. Oxbridge admissions tutors expect potential students ”to engage with their university subject” and you won’t find the kind of publication that can help you with this in the Duty Free!