Oxford Law University

Hi all,

I was just wondering if I wanted to apply to oxford university, I already know they want straight A's in A levels but what about IGCSE? what if you got low IGCSE'S and straight A's in A levels?

I mean low is like from C-B average.

Do they still accept you if you give them an excellent interview? and including that you will have had taken hard subjects like History, English Lit, French in A levels ( are really those subjects considered very well for top universities? that what I have been told... )

Thanks.

Getting Bs and Cs in your GCSEs would be exceptionally low for Oxbridge. Realistically, most Oxbridge candidates have six A* at GCSE and four As at A-level as an absolute minimum. There are a lot of people from comprehensives with below-Oxbridge-average GCSEs but exceptionally good A-levels, however, but I think Bs and Cs are really pushing it.

I think you'd need to give Oxford an exceptionally good reason to take you if you have poor GCSEs. We are talking things that show really really exceptional aptitude (writing a book on law before you start...) and/or really exceptional AS-levels (i.e. 100% UMS or thereabouts in all your subjects), simply getting A grades at A-level and doing a good interview is not going to be enough.

Oxbridge?? you mean Oxford?

I know that there will be much applicants with more subjects ...etc like more outstanding, but I am sure they gave someone a chance in Law there?? Like it's not about doing something to show them your capable of, they will let's say ''test'' you in the first term, and if you are capable to get excellent grades then isn't this showing them? Or they would need more then that?

Basically I think it lowers your chances considerably. It's not impossible or out of the question, but it means you would stand a much lower chance than most applicants (who themselves would never have a 'high chance' of getting in - no one does!)

You would stand a greater chance of getting an interview if you applied to Cambridge, as they interview a high proportion of their law applicants.

Oxford/Cambridge, I think.



I agree, although I think it's important to stress that getting an interview is only part of the process! As I understand it, Cambridge seems to place a greater emphasis on number crunching and statistics than Oxford does (it asks for all of your UMS scores for A Level) so that may be something to bear in mind.

Having said that, if you do extremely well at A Level and have extenuating circumstances to explain why you didn't perform as well as you could have at GCSE, they should take that into account.

Oxbridge?? you mean Oxford?

I know that there will be much applicants with more subjects ...etc like more outstanding, but I am sure they gave someone a chance in Law there?? Like it's not about doing something to show them your capable of, they will let's say ''test'' you in the first term, and if you are capable to get excellent grades then isn't this showing them? Or they would need more then that?

Although it's the 1st best university in UK, people don't prioritize Cambridge because they have a feeling on how soo much applicants get in there that yours get rejected...

Oxford maybe a little less.

Yes I do have a big and satisfying explanation on why I have performed so low in my grades. And you telling me that they take into account that's weird usually they won't believe what students are saying since it can be all lie...etc

How can you share your opinion if you have sent first your grades to the universities? They can reject you even before interviewing you....

We can't expect less from top universities on how they do there admission procedure, but I did get an idea on how it goes.

For example if I go to Oxford tutorial college, and do my A levels there and achieve straight A's....etc does this college help me get to oxford university since they are a part of that but specialized in sixth form? I got an offer there and I did tell them why my IGCSE were low...etc and we have made a deal to achieve a one year A level course and I was thinking if they can actually help me to go to university there, some people say that as a private candidate it is tougher to get in those universities since they don't have good backgrounds of there surrounding of teachers....etc

Oh really?? I looked it as an advantage if they were part of the oxford college to go the university ... I guess it's fake then.

I understand, but I am trying to find the best education possible so I wouldn't fail as I will only have one chance in an intensive one year and I can't mess it up since the least grade to expect is A's...
It's also a question of finance, as I am currently in egypt, private tutor here tends to be cheaper, but since I am going to start A levels, they don't have qualified tutors for English Lit + History + French, so I have to go somewhere in Europe, so far switzerland charges 65£ per hour, when I made the calculations, it was cheaper then oxford tutorial college at about 6000£ but haven't included accommodations...etc while in Switzerland I have free accommodations including food...etc as I will be living with my father and I would be working part time.

Do you guys think I should go to switzerland or to the sixth form college?
( Just wanted to ask that question at the same time you guys were helping me :P )

I think the system in Britain is very different to in some foreign countries. Going to an A Level college in Oxford will NOT make it more likely you will get a place at Oxford University. I know in some countries, such as Japan, going to a high school or college affiliated with the University will help you to secure admission, but this is not the way it works in Britain. This is because the vast majority of our universities (including Oxford University) are public institutions. I believe only a small number of UK universities are privately-operated / for-profit (e.g. the University of Buckingham and BPP University College).

These tutorial colleges in Oxford (and Cambridge for that matter) are being clever and trading on the ignorance of those who do not understand the system - usually foreigners. They can call themselves 'Oxford' or 'Cambridge' because those are the cities in which they operate - NOT because they are anything to do with the universities. It is just perhaps unfortunate in this instance that the words Oxford and Cambridge are also synonymous with the universities that are also based in those cities.

There is an A Level college in Oxford called King's College, Oxford which has nothing to do with the University whatsoever (yet trades off the confusion caused from there being a King's College as part of the University of Cambridge). Similarly, in Oxford there is also an A Level college called St Clare's, Oxford. This is being similarly crafty in naming itself to appear as if it were an Oxford college, when in fact it most definitely isn't.

I have a friend at one of the language colleges from Portugal/Polynesia, and he said that although he knows it is not part of the University, he likes having it on his CV because people in his home countries don't really understand the difference.

Do not fall into the marketing trap!

As a rule of thumb, I believe that Oxford are concerned more with GCSEs whereas Cambridge prefer you to have particularly high UMS marks at A-Level. That said, both institutions do prefer a good number of A*s at GCSE. It is also worth keeping in mind the fact that Cambridge interview a significantly greater percentage of their applicants which can mean that a weaker GCSE student has their chance to impress.

However, I do know a chap who has got an offer fro Cambridge who did not get the best GCSE grades. He is, however, sitting a lot of A-Levels and has outstanding predictions. TimmonaPortella or something like that (I cannot remember the exact username).

Also, Oxford do the LNAT and Cambridge do not. I think that I can safely say that I would not have received an offer from Oxford for that very reason seeing as I got only a bit over average. Besides, the CLT is way more fun .

Out of curiosity, why do you personally prefer Oxford over Cambridge?

I have emailed them and they did tell me they don't have particular grades for an applicant but they did say that most of the students have A* - A's ...etc but I told them I had an issue during my IGCSE...etc and they told me to write it in the personal statement in UCAS, and that also I need to get 3 A's and that they are looking for essay subjects for Law... and the subjects which I am best at, though I am still thinking to take English Lit - History + french since I got low IGCSE with that subjects I can at least shine abit since they did tell me that they take personal problems into account and that they may do exceptions.

You know personally, alot of people dreams of going to Cambridge university...etc and everybody wants to go there, I want to go somewhere different, especially that my late grandfather liked that university since he wrote an accountant book and oxford did appreciate that book and gave him an official copyright...etc so from that moment I always had oxford in mind, though if I get to be in Cambridge instead it doesn't matter they are both the top.

I need a little advice from you guys please : as I will be finishing my IGCSE's in June, I have thought to take an intensive 1 year A level course, since I lost a year in grade 10 where I didn't do my Igcse's and in year 11 I failed 3 subjects due to school problems...etc and now I am retaking them, though as you know I can't afford to go below A's in A level, and the subjects I am taking are quite tough. Do you consider going for a one year intensive course? or you would rather do a 1 year and a half course ...etc like finish in 2012 November or 2013 January? I am sure I can pass french easily without putting much effort, including Eng Lit, though history will be the one which is going to hold me most since I like it but not much ... and this subject is very strong towards admission entry so ill have to give my best... what do you guys consider?

By all means apply, but without sounding like a part-pooper I would be very cautious.

You have to understand that Law, above and beyond the vast majority of other undergraduate degrees, is highly competitive for entry. Your UCAS application only allows 5 university choices. With Cs and Bs in your IGCSEs your chances are not 'good' or 'high'. I would venture so far as to say they were 'below average' chances. So you should think very carefully before making your university choices. In the event that you do not gain admission to Oxford University, it is by no means certain that you will gain entry to any of your other choices - all of the top law schools will be looking for majority As and A*s at GCSE level.

If you really do want to try it then go for it, but be aware your chances are not healthy. I do wish you good luck though.

(I have tried to be realistic rather than pessimistic in this post.)

I totally understand, but I have no time to resit them and I won't resit them anyways, but in those 5 universities, I think I would choose Oxford and cambridge then I would choose 3 other in a more lower like in the top 10's...etc I am sure they will make exceptions. Or at least I can be in contact with them and convince them since this works sometimes.

I totally understand, but I have no time to resit them and I won't resit them anyways, but in those 5 universities, I think I would choose Oxford and cambridge then I would choose 3 other in a more lower like in the top 10's...etc I am sure they will make exceptions. Or at least I can be in contact with them and convince them since this works sometimes.