HOW TO BEST USE AN OXBRIDGE OPEN DAY

Clare College, Cambridge, Fellows' Garden

An Open Day at Oxford or Cambridge is a feast for the eyes.  Both towns have palatial old buildings, dreamy college quads and lush gardens. So, even if you have booked yourself into an event, it can be tempting to spend most of your time taking selfies in front of the tourist sites, or to roam the streets until each member of your group has found their perfect turreted college.  A student who has arrived alone, or from a not Oxbridge-geared school, may feel a bit intimidated and want to leave straight after the official part.

The thing to remember at this point is that you’re mainly there to suss out your course. So, don’t rush off too fast. Be brave and ask for specific advice, given the chance. Which course-related book or journal might be most helpful to you? Does the university offer a master class or online subject talks? It’s worth thinking whether you have any burning questions before travelling up.

Trying to get answers does matter because many Oxbridge dons admit that what characterises successful applicants is not just natural brightness but also  a willingness to engage with external (non-school) sources already in Year 12. This makes the transition to a challenging Oxbridge course much less painful for both tutor and tutee.

In this spirit, Oxbridge has this year laid on an unprecedented number of course-geared events. Some can help you to finalise your course choice, others to discover books, talks or websites that prepare you for the real thing. Students willing to slightly curtail their sight-seeing can pick from a menu of subject tasters, library tours, lab visits  and formal lectures, depending on the course. Some but not all are followed by Q&As.  

As the financial side of an Oxbridge course can be quite hard to calculate, events may also include a very useful student finance talk on costs and (very importantly!) grants. Some events offer advice on the application process and post-Oxbridge careers. At others, you may have to bring up such topics yourself.

What you'll find out is likely to inspire you to work hard towards a successful application, even if bits of information still leave you stumped.  If you’re starting to have doubts about your course choice, don’t just walk out either. Instead, talk to the friendly Oxbridge student volunteers about their course. What do they like best about it? Does it match any of your own interests?

While parents discuss the perils of young people living away from home with the student welfare officer, spend a little time chatting to sixth formers from other schools, whatever their accent. You will discover that prospective Oxbridge applicants come from all over the country and the world. Some are certain to share your enthusiasm for geography, materials science or maths. Chances are that they, too, like Tinie Tempah. This could be the start of a life-long friendship.

 

Meanwhile, relax if you find that a prospective applicant has read utterly obscure books or done a Mandarin course in Beijing. Most admissions tutors accept that there are other, cheaper ways in which a smart, hard-working student can prove their ability. 

 Above all, don't make college choice the sole focus of your visit: you may well be allocated a college other than the stunning one you picked. Even if you aren't, two equally beautiful colleges can have quite different entrance standards or student preferences. So, try to keep an open mind until you have consulted a teacher or done some research. You´ll find more guidance on Open Days and colleges, as well as detailed preparation checklist, in the new edition of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.