[Oh my Ms. Coffey]

Dont email general admissions, I found them to be useless. Originally I got the reply that they would not consider transfer students (Yet their website accepts foundation, access and what not, which you would have to transfer/leave university with to even apply to Oxford in the first place).

I found emailing the admissions director of the individual department to be much more useful, however dont expect a fast reply.


I only got my semester 1 foundation results in late February so I was limited to the universities I could apply to as I was past the UCAS deadline.

My application was fuelled more by my reference written by the programme director at Loughborough, I dont have predicted grades. My reference mentioned my average grade and how this related to most other students who take the programme and how my results are some of the highest they have recorded.

I do not know how the international student process works or how UCAS works for you.


There is more information here http://www.southampton.ac.uk/foundat...faqs.shtml#Q26

[anyone_can_fly]

(Original post by AlexanderTheGreat)
Hello there,

I am thinking about applying to Oxford in the next academic year should my Highers go well this year.

I was just wondering if you, or if you know of anyone, who has applied to, and gained entry to, Oxford having sat Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.

Here are my questions:

Oxford's requirements are AAB or AA at Advanced Higher for what I wish to study, History and Politics. However, it does say they wish for those grades to be "supplemented" by AAAAB or AAAAA at Higher level. Does it really matter what one gets at Higher level since Oxford are really concerned with what we're predicted to get, or have, at Advanced Higher. Say, for example, if I were to have AABBB and be predicted to get AA at Advanced Higher, do you think I'd stand a chance?

If you got into Oxford having sat Scottish Examinations, what did you achieve and what do/did you study?

I will of course e-mail Oxford's admissions to ask too, but I'd be very grateful for your input whoever you are!

All the best!

Alexander.

To see what applicants in the 2012 admissions cycle got, have a look at our stalking page. I got in with AAAAB at Higher (inc A in AH maths a year early) and was predicted AAA in my AHs, but obviously haven't got my results yet. Hopefully I'll be studying maths - my offer's AAB, but as it includes the A I got last year I should be OK.

If they're asking for AAAAB at Higher, they want AAAAB at Higher. If you have extenuating circumstances then they will be taken into account and they may accept lower grades. Also, Oxford wants you to have three AHs unless your school won't let you (in which case it should be mentioned in your reference and you should take an extra Higher).

The other point is that if you can only get AABBB when trying your hardest, then will you be able to manage the work at Oxford? If you didn't work as hard as you could have it's different, and if you do well in the entrance test it may cancel out bad grades.

Don't worry about what grades you may or may not have got - in August you can see for yourself whether you've got a problem.

Best of luck in applying!

[qwertyuiop1993]

(Original post by Oh my Ms. Coffey)
Dont email general admissions, I found them to be useless. Originally I got the reply that they would not consider transfer students (Yet their website accepts foundation, access and what not, which you would have to transfer/leave university with to even apply to Oxford in the first place).

I found emailing the admissions director of the individual department to be much more useful, however dont expect a fast reply.


I only got my semester 1 foundation results in late February so I was limited to the universities I could apply to as I was past the UCAS deadline.

My application was fuelled more by my reference written by the programme director at Loughborough, I dont have predicted grades. My reference mentioned my average grade and how this related to most other students who take the programme and how my results are some of the highest they have recorded.

I do not know how the international student process works or how UCAS works for you.


There is more information here http://www.southampton.ac.uk/foundat...faqs.shtml#Q26

They don't accept transfer students in the sense that you can't do one year at another university and then the second at Oxford. Starting a degree at Oxford from scratch after a foundation course doesn't really count as a 'transfer' strictly speaking.

[Oh my Ms. Coffey]

(Original post by qwertyuiop1993)
They don't accept transfer students in the sense that you can't do one year at another university and then the second at Oxford. Starting a degree at Oxford from scratch after a foundation course doesn't really count as a 'transfer' strictly speaking.

Some of the admissions I emailed gave the impression that they would not consider an application because the foundation year is based around the assumption that you will progress at that university, not apply to another.

[HeroicGlaedr]

(Original post by Oh my Ms. Coffey)
Some of the admissions I emailed gave the impression that they would not consider an application because the foundation year is based around the assumption that you will progress at that university, not apply to another.

I wrote off to the department of Economics to clarify this question about whether they accept students from FP's. Will take a while though, I guess, until I get a response.

As far as I know the University of Warwick supports FP Students with their applications to Undergraduate courses at other Universities. I found this on the HEFP website:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/hefp/prospective/faq/

It says that applications will be completed between november and december, which is too late for Ox. Will probably have to engage my tutor to support me in beforehand .

Regards

[HeroicGlaedr]

I received the following response upon enquiry:

"Thank you for your enquiry about studying Economics & Management at Oxford. I am asking the Undergraduates Admissions Office to advise you, as all applications to Oxford are dealt with by them. It may be that you would qualify as a 'mature student' in which case you may find the information at the following links to be useful:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/under...ture_students/
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/under...nal_quals.html"

I have not yet received any response from the Admissions Office. Will try to contact the colleges to which I would like to apply separately to see if I can get some clearer info..

Will post back as soon as I know more.

EDIT:

I've received a positive response from the Admissions Office (although I had to attempt twice until they gave me what I was looking for).
They think that the FP would enable me to make a competitive application to Ox. The only thing I must look out for is that the FP covers all
Maths content at A-Level (which I think it does, but I'll check this out too..) and the English Language Requirement for foreigners.

Regards

[abi1995]

Hi, i am in year 12 at the moment and lots of my teachers and family etc have been saying to apply for Oxford to study a Mathematics degree. Although, I dont know whether I have a realistic chance of getting an offer so am just asking for opinions.

I am from a ordinary comprehensive school in Plymouth and our school has never had anyone go to 'Oxbridge' before.

Here are what I hope to get in my A levels:
Maths - A*
Chemistry - A/A*
Physics - A
Spanish (AS) - B/C
Further Maths (AS) - A

I am just thinking because I only do further maths at AS level would that put me at a disadvantage because my school has only brought further maths in after our maths class persuaded the school to offer it, otherwise I would have done the full a level.

Also, I am not very good at talking in front of people so if i were to get an interview, I dont know how well it would go, especially if the interviews are as hard as everyone says they are.

Any help would be great!

[myfriendSQRT(-1)]

(Original post by abi1995)
Hi, i am in year 12 at the moment and lots of my teachers and family etc have been saying to apply for Oxford to study a Mathematics degree. Although, I dont know whether I have a realistic chance of getting an offer so am just asking for opinions.

I am from a ordinary comprehensive school in Plymouth and our school has never had anyone go to 'Oxbridge' before.

Here are what I hope to get in my A levels:
Maths - A*
Chemistry - A/A*
Physics - A
Spanish (AS) - B/C
Further Maths (AS) - A

I am just thinking because I only do further maths at AS level would that put me at a disadvantage because my school has only brought further maths in after our maths class persuaded the school to offer it, otherwise I would have done the full a level.

Also, I am not very good at talking in front of people so if i were to get an interview, I dont know how well it would go, especially if the interviews are as hard as everyone says they are.

Any help would be great!

I believe they do require Further Maths as an A level, but they should be entirely accommodating if you explain that the opportunity wasn't afforded to you to study the whole A level. Based on your grades at the moment, you definitely be in with a great chance if you do well in the MAT and interviews. I think it is the MAT (maths aptitude test) rather than the STEP that you sit for oxford. Try and get as much practice in as possible for the interview and MAT! Maybe try and get a maths teacher to coach you for them?
Best of luck!

[abi1995]

(Original post by Giant)
With those grades in your top 3/4 A Levels, you stand a very real chance to get accepted. Just develop your interest by reading books etc, write a quality personal statement and don't mess up your interview and STEP paper and you're in

Yeah ive started reading A Mathematicians Apology and have ordered some more books off of Amazon

Do you know if they expect you to do exceptionally well on the STEP papers and aptitude tests because ive looked at them and they are ridiculously hard i think!

Also, i know neither of them are easy to get into but do you think Oxford or Cambridge will be easier to get into because at Oxford you have to take the aptitude test in October/November whereas at Cambridge you take it in June which would give me more time to prepare?

[abi1995]

(Original post by myfriendSQRT(-1))
I believe they do require Further Maths as an A level, but they should be entirely accommodating if you explain that the opportunity wasn't afforded to you to study the whole A level. Based on your grades at the moment, you definitely be in with a great chance if you do well in the MAT and interviews. I think it is the MAT (maths aptitude test) rather than the STEP that you sit for oxford. Try and get as much practice in as possible for the interview and MAT! Maybe try and get a maths teacher to coach you for them?
Best of luck!

Yeah, oxford is A*A*A and cambridge is A*AA so i dont know whether to try for cambridge instead?

IM SO CONFUSED haha

[myfriendSQRT(-1)]

(Original post by abi1995)
Yeah, oxford is A*A*A and cambridge is A*AA so i dont know whether to try for cambridge instead?

IM SO CONFUSED haha

Well depends what your modular scores are like. Cambridge will ask for your modular scores for your subjects, so if you score very high A's at AS. ie for maths would be 95%+ in modules, Cambridge might be worth a look. But it comes down to personal preference. Maybe it's worth emailing both universities explaining your situation, and seeing whether not having a full a level in further maths would disadvantage your application in any way. You could also visit to see which you preferred?
Assuring the university that you would study the A2 further maths work over the summer before entry may help your case?

[hialice]

(Original post by abi1995)
Yeah, oxford is A*A*A and cambridge is A*AA so i dont know whether to try for cambridge instead?

IM SO CONFUSED haha

Cambridge give out lower offers as they require STEP as a part of their offers whereas for Oxford you need to do well on MAT to even get an interview but after that STEP isn't required as a part of their offers (but I believe they suggest you do it anyway for 'fun'/to keep up your 'mathematical interests?')

-I'm hoping to apply to Cambridge for maths (woo)

[abi1995]

(Original post by myfriendSQRT(-1))
Well depends what your modular scores are like. Cambridge will ask for your modular scores for your subjects, so if you score very high A's at AS. ie for maths would be 95%+ in modules, Cambridge might be worth a look. But it comes down to personal preference. Maybe it's worth emailing both universities explaining your situation, and seeing whether not having a full a level in further maths would disadvantage your application in any way. You could also visit to see which you preferred?
Assuring the university that you would study the A2 further maths work over the summer before entry may help your case?

Well at the moment i only have my core 1 result which was 98% with full UMS marks and am waiting for my core 2 and decision 1 grades i have been to oxford for a subject taster day which they had to pick the best in the country which makes me lean towards oxford more as they have already accepted me once sort of. Yeah emailing them is a good idea actually, didnt think of that! thanks

[abi1995]

(Original post by hialice)
Cambridge give out lower offers as they require STEP as a part of their offers whereas for Oxford you need to do well on MAT to even get an interview but after that STEP isn't required as a part of their offers (but I believe they suggest you do it anyway for 'fun'/to keep up your 'mathematical interests?')

-I'm hoping to apply to Cambridge for maths (woo)

Oh thats cool, what are you predicteed and what subjects do you take?

Would you say STEP is harder than the MAT?

[Flyteryder]

(Original post by abi1995)
Yeah emailing them is a good idea actually, didnt think of that! thanks

I'd ring up the admissions department rather than emailing. You'll get a much quicker response and you'll be able to ask them other questions you may forget in the email, or think of after you've sent the email.

[hialice]

(Original post by abi1995)
Oh thats cool, what are you predicteed and what subjects do you take?

Would you say STEP is harder than the MAT?

I do Maths, further maths, chemistry and art
I've done A level maths this year which I'm predicted A* for
And then i'm predicted AA for chemistry and art
We then do the whole of further maths a level next year
(I'm also planning on picking up physics as next year and dropping art..)

STEP and the MAT are very different, MAT is similar to the senior maths challenges? If you've ever done any of them and requires a lot of logical thinking whereas STEP is based on a level maths and further maths syllabus' and is ridiculously hard but apparently once you practice it becomes easier which i'm hoping is true!!

[abi1995]

(Original post by hialice)
I do Maths, further maths, chemistry and art
I've done A level maths this year which I'm predicted A* for
And then i'm predicted AA for chemistry and art
We then do the whole of further maths a level next year
(I'm also planning on picking up physics as next year and dropping art..)

STEP and the MAT are very different, MAT is similar to the senior maths challenges? If you've ever done any of them and requires a lot of logical thinking whereas STEP is based on a level maths and further maths syllabus' and is ridiculously hard but apparently once you practice it becomes easier which i'm hoping is true!!

Youve done a whole a level in a year!! WOW

So would you say that the STEP paper questions are more likely to be similar each year rather than the MAT questions because the Maths A level questions are so predictable?

[AishaTara]

your subject options are fine. Try doing further maths to full A2 to be on the safe side.

[abi1995]

(Original post by AishaTara)
your subject options are fine. Try doing further maths to full A2 to be on the safe side.

i cant unless i stay on for year 14 which i dont really want to do

[hialice]

(Original post by abi1995)
Youve done a whole a level in a year!! WOW

So would you say that the STEP paper questions are more likely to be similar each year rather than the MAT questions because the Maths A level questions are so predictable?

Not similar questions, just incredibly challenging - I wouldn't say they were predictable, perhaps the actual maths needed to answer the questions doesn't vary just the scariness of the questions and 'getting started'
http://www.admissionstests.cambridge...st+Preparation

they have past papers on there ^ step I is supposedly the easiest followed by step II and step III

http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/prospectiv...specimen-tests
if you scroll down they have specimen papers for the MAT
I've chosen Cambridge as I preferred it to Oxford and Cambridge like high UMS and *hopefully* my UMS will be good!