Oxford Applicants 2016 Entry & Interview chat

I'm applying for Chinese. My difficulty is making it sound enthusiastic but also intelligent. I am great at lots of descriptive, vibrant waffle, but that won't get me into Oxford :,)
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The most unnerving task in the history of unnerving tasks


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i'm just worried about results day aswell...

i'm just worried about results day aswell...

i'm just worried about results day aswell...

What exam board do you do Mandarin with?

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This is so misleading!!!! I "only" achieved 2A*'s and 6A's at GCSE and yet have a place to study at Oxford in October. There is NO USE applying to a university based upon rumours which suggest that they look more closely at GCSEs... bear in mind that Oxford have the benefit of additional admissions tests so they look at much more than your GCSEs which are surpassed in the main by your A-Level results / predictions. Sorry for my tone but I really wouldn't limit yourself because of what you have heard! Goodluck!

CIE

When choosing a college, is it worth playing the numbers game and working out which college take more students from state/private schools, have the lowest application numbers etc? I think, if I apply, I'll just apply to the one I liked the best when I visited

I'm sure this is silly but I'm a tiny bit worried

Do you think it might be a problem if none of the books I refer to in the PS are from any of the suggested reading lists for my course?

I'm sure this is silly but I'm a tiny bit worried

Do you think it might be a problem if none of the books I refer to in the PS are from any of the suggested reading lists for my course?

When choosing a college, is it worth playing the numbers game and working out which college take more students from state/private schools, have the lowest application numbers etc? I think, if I apply, I'll just apply to the one I liked the best when I visited

No, it shouldn't be. I think you should just be able to explain what you've read and how it's relevant in your subject area

That's what I'm hoping for anyway

Not an issue at all. Tutors will want to see evidence of your own interest in the subject, everybody will probably have read one or two from the reading list so it's difficult to stand out when you're just talking about books which were given to you. Personally think it's better to find your own books and talk about what you enjoyed.

I only gave a cursory mention in my PS to one book on the suggested list.

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Thing is, I haven't read any of the books on the reading list. I just wanted to follow my own interests but now I'm starting to regret my decision...

Btw, if I recall correctly it was you who recommended me to read Kofi Annan's Interventions a while back wasn't it? I absolutely adored it! I thought it was brilliant, thank you very much.

My thoughts exactly, thanks!

What course are you applying for btw?

Honestly don't worry at all, I only read one and doubt it made any difference to my application. Most of those books on the reading list are only introductory texts.

No problem, glad you enjoyed it! I'm annoyed I hadn't read it before I applied or I definitely would have talked about it!

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