The Oxford 2012 Results Day Discussion Thread

Cambridge & Oxford have slightly different systems. Oxford has more hurdles to get to the interviews, but takes more of the people who are interviewed (they seem to interview approx. 3x as many people as are offered places). Some people say that the playing field is level once everybody arrives for interviews, but that is chatter by people watching the process- not from the tutors! Still, I think that the interviews tip the balance: it is the chance for you to show, and the tutors to see, what you would be like as a student. The interviews are obviously scary- there's a lot riding on them- but if the tutorial process suits you are likely to find that you find that you enjoy at least some of it. A tutor once told us (at a summer social event, not knowing that there was a future applicant in the group) a story about an absolutely brilliant candidate- amazing marks, amazing PS, amazing recs, amazing everything. After the interview, once the candidate had left the room, the two interviewers showed each other their notes- and both had written "unteachable" in big letters, b/c the person was so certain that they knew everything. The candidate did not get an offer.

Hope that helps

Thanks. That story was quite interesting. I wonder why the tutors thought he was unteachable if had such 'amazing' credentials on paper; perhaps he came across as arrogant.

I can see why people believe that there is a level playing field once at interview because I know of a few people who have got into Oxford with Bs at AS. However, this would be extremely unlikely at Cambridge. What do you think?

I can see why people believe that there is a level playing field once at interview because I know of a few people who have got into Oxford with Bs at AS.