Oxford Applicants 2016 Entry & Interview chat

You don't need exact ums for Oxford, do you?


Posted from TSR Mobile

Be sure to check out Trinity, it's a beautiful college right in the middle of Oxford - more importantly for Classics, Gail Trimble is a super friendly tutor and really puts you at ease in your interview with her (I believe she always interviews the Literature one, the other interview being Philosophy and Ancient History)!

They never see your UMS, no

Unfortunatley I was stupid enough in Year 9 to stop doing Latin which I wholly regret so I don't have a GCSE in it. Then one of the Latin teachers left so a course couldn't be put on for A Level so I missed out again.

I realised this is a huge problem so I'm going to a Classics summer school to learn some Latin and read some classical literature and if I am chosen, i'll be doing a Classics related EPQ. Furthermore i'm considering learning Latin over the course of the next year before I start the course as long as the universities i'm applying for say it's a good enough idea or they would just prefer me to start from scratch.

As for languages, I find I prefer translations and grammar above actual verbal communication which is where I struggle most with French, so hopefully it will stand me in good stead to start learning a language such as Latin. I hated French before the end of year 11 and didn't really know how to string a sentence together. I revised really hard for the GCSE exam and ended up 1 mark off an A* and now i'm looking towards getting an A at AS Level, so I feel i've made a huge improvement in my proficiency through sheer dedication.

Hopefully I can get accepted onto a Classics course somewhere because i've put everything on the line for this decision when my family wanted me to do maths or physics. I wouldn't want to fail now.

Who on here is from private/ public school - I am, just curious, as one is.

Unfortunatley I was stupid enough in Year 9 to stop doing Latin which I wholly regret so I don't have a GCSE in it. Then one of the Latin teachers left so a course couldn't be put on for A Level so I missed out again.

I realised this is a huge problem so I'm going to a Classics summer school to learn some Latin and read some classical literature and if I am chosen, i'll be doing a Classics related EPQ. Furthermore i'm considering learning Latin over the course of the next year before I start the course as long as the universities i'm applying for say it's a good enough idea or they would just prefer me to start from scratch.

As for languages, I find I prefer translations and grammar above actual verbal communication which is where I struggle most with French, so hopefully it will stand me in good stead to start learning a language such as Latin. I hated French before the end of year 11 and didn't really know how to string a sentence together. I revised really hard for the GCSE exam and ended up 1 mark off an A* and now i'm looking towards getting an A at AS Level, so I feel i've made a huge improvement in my proficiency through sheer dedication.

Hopefully I can get accepted onto a Classics course somewhere because i've put everything on the line for this decision when my family wanted me to do maths or physics. I wouldn't want to fail now.

Wow, I think I would be really nervous even meeting GT, let alone being interviewed by her. Thanks for the heads up - at least I will now be prepared - imagine just walking into the room and seeing her there, a boy could fall apart in such moments....

Thats crazy! 6 A-levels?? What do you take?

Anyway hopefully I'll see you there...

I took Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Further Maths and Information Communication Technology. Taking them easier when you like the courses.

Are you applying for Balliol too? What do you plan to do at Uni?

You know if you tell that story I think it would go down really well. Generally if you could have studied Latin or Greek, but chose not to, it's a pretty bad sign about your commitment to the subject, but clearly you regret the decision, so it could work in your favour.

Which summer school are you thinking of? If you are near London the UCL/KCL course is superb, and they cater for all levels, I've been three times and am going again this year.

This year it is at UCL: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/schools-and-colleges/summerschool

Then of course there is Bryanston, and I understand that there some in the North too.... But you better get your skates on they fill up and if you don't get on one there will be more commitment issues.

But, overall I think you should go for it if you really want it, it will be hard work - but at Oxford, everything is hard work.

Do as much prep as you can!

Good luck.
G D'G

Who on here is from private/ public school - I am, just curious, as one is.

I totally understand that, but I found it strangely comforting that I actually sort of knew her already from university challenge / other videos I found - I got much more nervous going into the second interview where I hadn't met the tutors before. I can assure you she's lovely though so don't be worried at all about meeting her!

GCSE grades: 1A, 10A*, 1A^
AS-Levels: Predicted AAAA for French, Geography, Maths, English Lit. Going to drop Geography for A2.
Course: French
College: Je ne sais pas

Fellow linguist!!
Bonjour!

I go to boarding school. Want to do Law at Brasenose or Christchurch. How about you?


Posted from TSR Mobile