Oxford super/extracurricals

You don't need any extracurriculars to get into Oxford, they're not something Oxford will really consider in any depth when assessing your application. You should focus much more on your grades and reading a lot around the subject you intend to apply for.

well surely they have some importance ? if 2 students have identical scores on exam but one has extracurriculars while the other doesnt, its clear who's most likely to get it. plus how do you prove that you've read around the subject ?

I aspire to study law at Oxford and my teachers recommended that I make sure my extra/supercurricals are up to the standard alongside the grade needed.
here are my supercurriculars

I've given a ted talk which was posted on the official YouTube channel with 37.8 million subcrisber
im head student and in charge of student council in my school
iv participate in 3 model United Nations where I won best delegate each time
ive done a European youth parliament and qualified to nationals
ive played piano for 10 years
im helping with the law paperwork with the construction of an orphanage in Africa
im taking a law course over the summer given by Harvard

is that enough ? if not what else could I do ?

I doubt many people who get in have extracurriculars and they are absolutely not part of any serious consideration by admissions tutors. Also, identical score exams isn't the deciding factor, everyone who passes the grade required will then be called to interview and it is your performance in this final stage which will determine whether you're given an offer, not how many extracurriculars you've racked up, especially extracurriculars that aren't at all related to your subject. And it goes without saying that having a tonne of extracurriculars doesn't at all mean you'll be more suited to studying at Oxford than someone who doesn't, that's why the interview is so important. I think @Oxford Mum who is very experienced with Oxford admissions can confirm much of what I say. In regards to reading around your subject, it's not about proving it. It's about being well read which will give you a higher chance of performing well at interview, especially if you're thrown curveballs and the like. Moreover, you can mention the extra reading/research in your PS.

I agree with this. They have plenty of other information to use in assessing candidates outside of your personal statement. Also, there is an important difference between supercurricular and extracurricular activities. Oxford generally don't care about non-academic pursuits like playing the piano. Your personal statement should be showing the tutors that you're passionate about the subject you're applying for, not random unrelated activities.

I agree with this. They have plenty of other information to use in assessing candidates outside of your personal statement. Also, there is an important difference between supercurricular and extracurricular activities. Oxford generally don't care about non-academic pursuits like playing the piano. Your personal statement should be showing the tutors that you're passionate about the subject you're applying for, not random unrelated activities.

thank you everyone for commenting I really appreciate the help since you guys seem a lot more experienced then I am maybe you guys could shine some light on my dilemma.

I take a total of 4 A levels : Psychology , French, Politics and English lit
ive done an accelerated course for French meaning that I passed both the A1 and A2 within the same year and got an A in my A1 and expected an A* the 17th
for psychology on the other hand , ive scored a B on the AS paper.
politics and English I can only take next year meaning that I cant use those results to apply for school in October
I was told that I can apply with my predicted grades for politics and English (both As) which would meet the requirement to apply

now my worry is my B in psychology . do you guys think that it could lower my chances even if I get an A predicted by then end of next year ??

I aspire to study law at Oxford and my teachers recommended that I make sure my extra/supercurricals are up to the standard alongside the grade needed.
here are my supercurriculars

I've given a ted talk which was posted on the official YouTube channel with 37.8 million subcrisber
im head student and in charge of student council in my school
iv participate in 3 model United Nations where I won best delegate each time
ive done a European youth parliament and qualified to nationals
ive played piano for 10 years
im helping with the law paperwork with the construction of an orphanage in Africa
im taking a law course over the summer given by Harvard

is that enough ? if not what else could I do ?

well surely they have some importance ? if 2 students have identical scores on exam but one has extracurriculars while the other doesnt, its clear who's most likely to get it. plus how do you prove that you've read around the subject ?

Participating at the European youth parliament is useful (my younger son did this and went to Lithuania for the finals) and the model United Nations etc is great. However it sounds like a bit of a tick box exercise.

You will need to go off and do some independent research on an aspect of law that interests you. Be active in your learning. Also if you are from the uk, you can go to a magistrate’s or county court - just make sure you dress smartly. Provide yourself with an internal commentary- what are your opinions of the evidence- which questions would you ask? What was the turning point in the case? If you were the judge/barrister, would you have done things differently?

It is very very important to practice the law admissions test, the lnat. Time yourself, look at the answers and develop a strategy. Without a good result you will not progress beyond the first stage.

I used to know an Oxford law student, who said the important thing (for the interviews) is to be good at logic. When you are at the interview do not be intimidated by the tutors into agreeing with everything they say but form your own opinions and what is more explain why you have come to this conclusion using either logic or evidence from a text you may be given.

I do have an Oxford demystified ( and a Cambridge one) for law, so please bear with me and I will post it soon.

Also I would advise you to keep your feet on the ground and be realistic. There is massive competition for places and only so much space. I have received many messages from people on TSR desperate to get in for law. I would apply for other good law schools as well and learn to love those choices, too.

On the other hand as my elder son says “someone has to get in, and it might as well be me”

The b at as level is irrelevant. Both my children got a b at as level and it didn’t stop either of them getting into Oxford

do you mind sharing what other graders they got ? Congratulation to them you must be very proud !

Thank you so much Oxford Mum and everyone for commenting I feel so much better now. so grateful for this platform honeslty!!!!

Both sons got A*AA at a level.
Elder son (German) exceeded his offer
Younger son (medicine) only just made his offer of A*AA.

and so one of them got a B in one of their A level ? So the B didn't matter? sorry for repeating myself a bunch of people are telling me two different answers. half are saying that it wont matter cause they only look at 3 grades while the others seem certain that because they can see all your results a grade lower then an A will drastically affect your chances even if your not applying with that specific subject.

He got a B in his AS level, not his A2 level.

I agree with this. They have plenty of other information to use in assessing candidates outside of your personal statement. Also, there is an important difference between supercurricular and extracurricular activities. Oxford generally don't care about non-academic pursuits like playing the piano. Your personal statement should be showing the tutors that you're passionate about the subject you're applying for, not random unrelated activities.