The Official "Oxford or Cambridge?" Thread

Yeah I went yesterday. I looked at St Edmund's Hall which was really pretty, Hertford, New, Brasenose -

Catz was the only one where I actually talked to tutors and I really liked them - although the building obviously isn't as nice as other places. I didn't see Trinity - although that's one of the really so-called 'prestigious' ones isn't it? What did you get in for?

And as you mention it, did he flounder and still get in?

Hey sorry to interrupt but I really need help. Basically I'm really stuck between Oxford or Cambridge for studying English Literature. Just wondering if anyone's got advice about which I'm more likely to get an offer from/what it's like being there?

I love the fact that the Oxford course starts earlier, and the historical contexts bits. I also know that it's the best university for English and has the biggest English faculty and some bits of the town I think are really beautiful. Apparently you can also do bits of classical literature in your modules, any more info on this?

However I also like the look of the cambridge course. I like that you can take a module in a foreign language (I would do greek or latin) as part of the course, and the tragedy paper that you take in the third year. I also think that Cambridge as a town is much prettier overall than Oxford- however as my grades aren't all that high i've been advised to apply to a college either out of town, or with less beautiful buildings as I might have more chance of an offer.

I have 9A*'s 2A's (physics and stats) and a B (dance-woops) at GCSE, 4 A's (UMS 192 for latin, 194 for Art, 186 for history but only 184 for English :/) at AS and am predicted 4 A*'s.

ANY advice about which to go for would be sooooo helpful! Thank you!

Hey sorry to interrupt but I really need help. Basically I'm really stuck between Oxford or Cambridge for studying English Literature. Just wondering if anyone's got advice about which I'm more likely to get an offer from/what it's like being there?

I love the fact that the Oxford course starts earlier, and the historical contexts bits. I also know that it's the best university for English and has the biggest English faculty and some bits of the town I think are really beautiful. Apparently you can also do bits of classical literature in your modules, any more info on this?

However I also like the look of the cambridge course. I like that you can take a module in a foreign language (I would do greek or latin) as part of the course, and the tragedy paper that you take in the third year. I also think that Cambridge as a town is much prettier overall than Oxford- however as my grades aren't all that high i've been advised to apply to a college either out of town, or with less beautiful buildings as I might have more chance of an offer.

I have 9A*'s 2A's (physics and stats) and a B (dance-woops) at GCSE, 4 A's (UMS 192 for latin, 194 for Art, 186 for history but only 184 for English :/) at AS and am predicted 4 A*'s.

ANY advice about which to go for would be sooooo helpful! Thank you!

Thanks so much for all of these - SO helpful. One last question - if you get asked a question in interview that you don't know how to answer, what do you do?!

Hey everyone, sorry to interrupt but I was wondering if you could help me. Hello! Basically I'm kind of stuck between applying to Oxford or Cambridge for Eng Lit. Just wondering if anyone's got advice about which I'm more likely to get an offer from/what it's like being there?

I love the fact that the Oxford english course starts earlier, and the historical contexts bits. I also know that it's the best university for English and has the biggest English faculty and some bits of the town I think are really beautiful. Apparently you can also do bits of classical literature in your modules, any more info on this?

However I also like the look of the cambridge course. I like that you can take a module in a foreign language (I would do greek or latin) as part of the course, and the tragedy paper that you take in the third year. I also think that Cambridge as a town is much prettier overall than Oxford- however as my grades aren't all that high i've been advised to apply to a college either out of town, or with less beautiful buildings as I might have more chance of an offer.

I have 9A*'s 2A's (physics and stats) and a B (dance-woops) at GCSE, 4 A's (UMS 192 for latin, 194 for Art, 186 for history but only 184 for English :/) at A2 and am predicted 4 A*'s.

ANY advice about which to go for would be sooooo helpful! Thank you!

I think it is to do with volunteer work, sports you play/practise, anything you do outside school which bascially represents you in a positive light. For instance, if you practise Mixed Martial Arts - if shows that you are active, determined and keen to learn more. If you do volunteer work, then it demonstrates your ability of wanting to gain experience and get ahead. Things as such, I think.

I'm just starting A2 and looking at Oxbridge.

In AS' I got an A (190/200) in History, an A (186/200) in English and an A in Philosophy and an A in Biology. Do Oxford see UMS grades?

GCSE's were A*AAAAAAAB, which I'm aware are not the best grades for Oxford, so would these totally put me out of the race?

Should I look at Cambridge instead, even though they don't do History/Politics which is what I want to do, so I'd have to change my choices and PS to accomodate a single honours course in History, as this is all that Cambridge offer.

I'd be grateful of any advice.

Do not talk about extra-curricular activities if they are not directly related to your chosen course (this is for Oxford and Cambridge mainly).

(Most people mention them in a very short paragraph/line of their Personal Statement for the benefit of other universities...)

Admissions is done primarily on an academic basis - so you could be a crazy person who never goes out but if you're good at whatever you choose to study then you'll be better off than someone who is does loads of extra stuff beyond academic work but who is mediocre academically.

well, oxford place a slightly greater emphasis on gcses, so youd be pretty good there; they'd let dance go... but cambridge place a slightly greater emphasis on AS module scores, where again, youre fairly well set. you shouldnt think you need full marks in everything, if oxbridge were about that then they wouldnt interview at all! basically, go for whichever course, uni and college you prefer based on their merits, and just make sure you can shine in the interview!

well, oxford place a slightly greater emphasis on gcses, so youd be pretty good there; they'd let dance go... but cambridge place a slightly greater emphasis on AS module scores, where again, youre fairly well set. you shouldnt think you need full marks in everything, if oxbridge were about that then they wouldnt interview at all! basically, go for whichever course, uni and college you prefer based on their merits, and just make sure you can shine in the interview!

Hi guys, just a quick question...I'm starting A-levels at the moment - I'm doing Maths, Economics, History and Chemistry and my GCSEs were 9A*s and 2 As and one of those As was in Economics and the course I really want to do is Economics & Management at Oxford - but seeing as Oxford look at GCSEs more, they'd see the A in Economics (I know it's still good but I was really hoping for an A*) and it might not be what they want

And also, E&M is REALLY competitive and the success rate is significantly low so I'm thinking I might not make the cut (depending on what happens in AS) so I was thinking about Cambridge but they only do Economics separately but I've heard that you need Further Maths which I don't have...so I'm a bit indecisive about which uni I should go for...

Any advice helps! Thank youu

Choosing college is not supposed to affect your overall chances of getting in becauses pooling evens it out.

However if you want to maximise your chances of getting in to your original college and avoid the stress of pooling you could go for an all girls college. If you dont want to go to an all girls college then look up admission stats and see which mixed colleges take as opposed to contribute to the pool-perhaps girton & homerton?

Apparently it's quite hard to get pulled out of the pool for English Literature though, because it's such a popular subject. Is that just rumour then?

I always thought Bristol had a few rahs? Just what I've been told..

As well as being about intelligence, grades, passion for the subject, performance at interview etc, I think getting a place at either Oxford or Cambridge involves a fair amount of luck. Therefore I would suggest applying to the one you genuinely prefer.

That said, if you are torn between them, I was told that Oxford look at GCSEs more, and Cambridge look at AS UMS (as only they ask for them). But really don't worry too much about your UMS - they are really good. I got about the same UMS as you (186 for English, which I thought would spell instant rejection) and got an offer from Cam. I did apply to Girton, which you would class as an 'out of town' college - but it's so pretty, and everyone on the freshers' groups seem really welcoming, and it's only a 15 min cycle ride away from town, which would probably be the normal commute for any other university.

I think at Oxford you only get to do classical literature in translation, unless you do joint English and Classics. But at Cam you can do the foreign lit paper and borrow modules from Classics in your third year.

I think Cambridge interview more people than Oxford, which uses the ELAT as a decider.

The pooling system (at both Ox and Cam) is supposed to insure that everyone worthy of an offer gets one, but then I'm not entirely sure this always works in practice.

So just apply where you want to and where you think you'd feel happiest
Good luck

Thanks! Just wondering, are you at Girton now? Do you find you miss out on any of the 'university spirit' so-called because of being out of town?