WHY GO ON AN OXBRIDGE OPEN DAY?

Cambridge

Weary from all those exams and unsure if an Oxford or Cambridge  Open Day is really worth the bother? Well, it is, and not just for students still wondering if either university will really suit (or want) them. Even those dead keen on a degree course there still have much to learn: what Oxbridge offers and expects may be quite different what you thought. By finding this out three months before the October 15th application deadline you can much improve your chances of a place.

Coming face-to-face with the sheer beauty of the two towns can be both an advantage and a distraction. Both have palatial old buildings and lush formal gardens which will seem far less scary if you don't encounter them first at the actual interview. So, even if you have booked yourself into an event (not all require booking), it  can seem worth spending most of your time taking selfies outside 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 yet. Be brave and ask for personal advice. Which book, journal or website could help you at this stage? Is there a similar course more suited to your ambitions or abilities? There might even be a master class or online talk designed to deepen your understanding. Are there any course-geared skills you could be honing in the meantime?

Try to think whether you have any burning questions before travelling up. Getting answers  at this stage matters 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.

As a result, students willing to slightly curtail their sight-seeing can pick from an increasingly large  menu of subject tasters, library tours, lab visits  and lectures, depending on the course. If an event does not include a Q&A session, it's fine to approach one of the speakers directly at the end. What you'll find out is likely to inspire you to work hard towards an impressive application.

If the sheer amount of information given has left you feel swamped, it's worth asking one of the friendly Oxbridge student volunteers about their own course. What is it they like best about it? Does it match any of your own interests? What did they do to prepare, and what are their Oxbridge friends studying? A subject you never considered before may turn out to be just up your street.

Sixth formers feeling encumbered in this quest by their accompanying parents can usually send them off to separate events. There they will be able to not just discuss the perils of young people leaving home but also to explore the financial side. As fees everywhere are now worrying high and the real cost of an Oxbridge course is quite hard to calculate, being told about the substantial  Oxbridge grants available can be reassuring.

This should leave you free to spend some time chatting to sixth formers from other schools, Don't worry about their accents. You'll discover that prospective Oxbridge applicants come from all over the country and the world. Some are certain to share your enthusiasm for geography, French literature or maths. Chances are that they, too, like Ed Sheeran. 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. Also be aware that even two equally beautiful colleges can have rather different entrance standards. So, try to keep an open mind until you have consulted a teacher or done some research. You´ll find lots more tips on Open Days and colleges, as well as detailed preparation checklist, in OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.