OXBRIDGE APPLICATIONS (the company): Useful/less?

On this basis We should also stop recruitment agencies giving interview advice, or CV help... we should stop any help in the marketplace that people pay for

Your "disgrace" comment wasn't about Oxbridge Applications, it was about the case of the unimpressive candidate/father/president/dinner etc.

Which is fair enough. What I don't get is how you can then point out that the American system is worse, whilst simultaneously claiming that it is impossible to affect these things.

I wouldn't be so against it if (as already mentioned) Oxford & Cambridge had tried so hard to stop money being a factor in admissions! I value education very highly, I just think it's a shame things have got this far! Hypocritical as it maybe, I think there is a difference between getting something spell checked/re-worded (whatever) and paying a nominal fee than paying hundreds (or more!) to give such an advantage!
On the whole I don't think appying to university should be in the 'market place', that being enevitable doesn't justify it; in my opinion anyway! (Just as yours & others will be in your opinion)
Even if the people using these services would have received offers anyway; it's still exploiting things!

The American system is worse, because their common application is much more vulnerable to exploitation by people who know the system (because it permits submitting additional materials). In addition, whereas here Oxbridge Services or whatever it's called charge £700 for a few days worth of advice, in the US people pay up to $35,000 for a two year long programme which includes advice on which subjects to study, which activities to take etc.

My "disgrace" comment was to do with the fact that US unis are so unashamed of their favoritism towards alumni that they make their policy towards them public despite repeated studies showing alumni students are far less able than their counterparts admitted on merit.

Like I said, many of us wish it wasn't there, but it is and there's nothing which can be done to remove it.

Btw, say you graduate from university and you can't find a job, and these guys offer you a high wage? Would you turn it down? It's hardly arms-dealing is it?

You use this forum. It gives you access to dozens of Oxbridge students and/or graduates, who answer questions, provide information you may not have otherwise considered, and through Private Messages occasionally give very specific advice. This will place you at an advantage over candidates unaware of it.

Of course, you don't have to pay for it. However, you have probably made a considerable investment of time to the forum, which you could conceivably have used working at a pub or whatever, earning the money to pay for this course (certain facets of which, apparently, cost well under £100).

You don't feel guilty about using it because it is a resource you discovered and you are making use of it. This Oxbridge Admissiosn is not that different. I agree it would be preferable if it weren't there; but given that it is I think it's extremely sensible to use it if you think it's useful (whether it is I have no idea - I'd imagine it varies between candidates though).

I do work in a pub (£3.80/hour), I will be handing in my notice this coming Friday so I can force myself into revision and maintain my life outside of school! (The Goytre Arms if you're interested...good food...far too expensive, lol!)

Yes, no doubt.

I was questioning your statement that "it cannot be helped".

In both cases, it can. Obviously, in the US, by abolishing official privilege for alumni for a start. In the UK, for example, centralising the Oxbridge admissions process would have prevented that girl you mentioned getting in.

I went through Oxbridge Admissions and am now studying NatSci. The consultants and mentors were very good and they knew what they were talking about. However I didn't enjoy the process that much.

It's a good job you're quitting because that is seriously bad pay! I get 4.98 an hour for cleaning.

(apologies for off-topicness)

I agree it sucks! Since I turned 18 I work on the bar quite a bit but they didn't put me up to a bar wage (all of £4.20!) I like the people too much to moan, that's my problem I think! There isn't that much work around where I live I have a 10-15min car journey to get there as it is! I work with my school mates, ach I will miss it! ('saddo' as my sister calls me!)
(I apologise too!)

Would I be right in guessing that they concentrate more on highlighting what you have achieved than on deceiving admissions tutors in thinking you are a better candidate than you are?

Also, this may not be relevant to you, but were some of the people who used it people who struggled a bit with confidence and just required a bit of reassurance to make sure they could do themselves justice?