Oxbridge and musical instruments.

Sooo I'm just wondering really, but do Oxbridge take into account musical instruments at the high grades (8)? I know they look at academic stuff first, but does a grade 8 boost your app? Also, do they take into account whether you got a distinction, merit or pass?
I've decided to do two 8's this term but dunno how well a pass i'll get.

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Reply 1

BJack

It's not going to help your application. Oxford and Cambridge make offers on an academic basis.

Reply 2

poossum

Yeh it will boost it, I had a grade 8 but i just put it on my personal statement. I wouldn't make it too great an emphasis

Reply 3

Supergrunch

Unless you're applying for some kind of music-based scholarship and/or music, it will make no difference whatsoever.

Reply 4

BrightGirl

Alright, thanks for the quick replies! :smile:

Reply 5

DJkG.1

Yeah, as previous posters have said, unless the course is music-related in some way, musical achievements will not really benefit your application much at all at Oxbridge. Your academic achievements count for almost everything, with extra-curricular activities providing you with just that extra something to add to the typical three A grade prediction you send in your application!

Reply 6

'bob'

it wouldn't hurt if thats what your saying

Reply 7

Helenia

No, it won't hurt, but it won't clinch your place either. You will also be amazed at the number of people here who are "only Grade 8 but rubbish really." :rolleyes:

Reply 8

Derek_the_Sheep

BrightGirl

Sooo I'm just wondering really, but do Oxbridge take into account musical instruments at the high grades (8)?

One tutor (in a subject unrelated to music) told me he looked favourably on applicants who had studied an instrument, as it showed they had application and persistance to a long-term goal. So it might help, but don't expect it to be a clincher.

DtS

Reply 9

RightSaidJames

To quote from a talk we got from the New College Dean when I was looking at Oxford colleges:

"If you tell us that you're such a nerd that when you've finished doing Physics you do more Physics, we're probably going to be quite enthusiastic, but if you can show that, in addition to your excellent academic potential, you enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activity, that's great too."

Says it all, really.

Reply 10

BrightGirl

Helenia

No, it won't hurt, but it won't clinch your place either. You will also be amazed at the number of people here who are "only Grade 8 but rubbish really." :rolleyes:

I can empathise with that TOTALLY.

Reply 11

BrightGirl

Derek_the_Sheep

Hmm thats interesting. Basically it's just a little extra curricular, and it's better to do it than not do it.

Reply 12

The West Wing

No they wont, you only have to meet the admissions tutors to realise instantly how little it matters.

Reply 13

The_Lonely_Goatherd

BrightGirl

Nothing really to add to what others have said about admissions tutors not taking much notice. Two Grade 8s in the same term is a LOT of work: good luck! :smile:

Reply 14

Tariqé

If you enjoy playing music, then you should just do it for enjoyment's sake, and not give a damn whether or not it will improve your application.

Life's not all about getting into Oxbridge :smile:

Reply 15

Dravidian

This is from Stephen Siklos, Professor of maths at Jesus,
"Excellence in some other academic-related activity (music or chess, for example) is sometimes a useful indicator which we might consider if mathematical considerations were not conclusive."
http://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/subjects/mathematics.html

Reply 16

DaveJ

There's also a thing that medicine admissions say, something like "A student who has achieved good grades as well as something worthwhile in extra curricular, such as music or sport, is likely to be more impressive than a student with good grades but nothing else. It shows their current studies do not occupy all of their time."

Reply 17

BrightGirl

The_Lonely_Goatherd

Nothing really to add to what others have said about admissions tutors not taking much notice. Two Grade 8s in the same term is a LOT of work: good luck! :smile:

I know, but I wanna get them out of the way before all the exams in the summer and jan. :frown:

Reply 18

victoire

One of my friends attended the Trinity (Cambridge) open day and told me that when asked about extra curricular stuff in PS one of the tutors said that it's not that they'll give you a distinct advantage over other applicants (because like others have said, admission is on academics alone), but that if they see a PS with none then alarm bells start to ring, so I guess this would apply for music stuff.

Good luck with the exams :smile:

Reply 19

Alexander

I think this is a classic example of where there are contradictory messages coming out of the universities: the overall mantra is that it's entirely down to your attainment and potential at the subject you've applied for, but then you do get various bits and pieces around the edges which say they prefer well-rounded applicants.

In reality, however, the admissions tutors select the applicants whom they think might be in with a chance of getting a first. Extra-curriculars are unlikely to make a difference even in marginal cases.