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University of Oxford

Oxford

Honestly, am I wasting my time applying to Oxbridge?

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea of whether or not I should give applying to Oxbridge for Postrgad a chance?

Currently studying BSc (Hons) Business & Management at Salford Uni (I know, I know).
Maintained a first throughout first year, finished second year with 75% overall.
Completed a summer internship in first year.
Currently on placement - 6 months as a junior project manager, 6 months on an NHS research project.
Vice Pres of Business Society.

So honestly guys...do I stand a chance?

Thanks in advance,

x :smile:

Reply 1

NukNuk

You won't stand a chance if you don't apply to begin with. Go for it! You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain :smile:

"Self doubt killed more dreams than failure ever did"

Sorry my advice wasn't more specific to you personally.

University of Oxford

Oxford

Reply 2

macromicro

It's not competitive to get into postgrad Oxbridge. If you can meet these requirements you'll have an extremely good chance of an offer:

-1st class
-Strong research statement in line with their department/supervisors
-Good (as opposed to generic) references

For example, at Oxford's business school (which I assume you would be applying to), the offer rate is about 50%. Overall, for all departments it's about 40%. When you exclude all those who applied with 2.2s and 2.1s and/or poor research statements, that rate will shoot up even higher.

Reply 3

tsukurutazaki

Original post by macromicro

It's not competitive to get into postgrad Oxbridge.

I'm sorry but you can't make such a sweeping generalisation when it varies so much from subject to subject.

OP: Definitely go for it. As somebody else said, you have a 0% chance of getting in if you don't apply. But definitely have backup options. Good luck.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 4

macromicro

Original post by tsukurutazaki

I'm sorry but this is delusional, and you can's make such a sweeping generalisation when it varies so much from subject to subject.

Did you purposely ignore the rest of the post which quotes the admission statistics that Oxford publish themselves? How a fact can be delusional I don't know but I sense some psychological projection here.

Reply 5

BarBar124

Not exactly the same case but I was in a similar situation. Was hoping to apply to Cambridge to do Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic if my AS level grades were good enough, which they werent. So I dropped that dream. Then, a few months later, I was in a group chat on facebook with a load of other applicants and this girl messaged saying "omg Cambridge gave me an offer! My grades were well off but they gave me an offer anyway". I was intrigued and asked what her grades were. She said ABBC.

Those were my grades.

Go for it, otherwise you'll regret it just like I do.

Reply 6

Leanney

I'm on track for a 1st atm and I'll definitely be applying to Oxbridge for postgrad if I manage it, so I would advise you to do the same. Nothing to lose, plenty to gain :smile:

Reply 7

Jantaculum

Original post by ldsbabe

No way of telling BUT some general advice:

For postgrad, all aspects of your application will be considered - grades and references (especially if they say 'top in cohort') are very important, as is research proposal or whatever is required by the department. The university that you attend for undergrad is not so important.

With regard to the 'it's not competitive to get into postgrad Oxbridge', that depends what you're comparing it with.
For a course with an incredible international reputation, yes it is very competitive, especially if numbers are limited.
For other courses, it may be slightly less competitive at postgrad than at undergrad.
For courses like mine (specialist, not many people apply, no limits on numbers) then if you meet the required standard - which is high - then you're in - i.e. only competing against yourself.
As a massive generalisation the business courses do tend to attract more applicants and are thus more competitive.

What you should probably do is have a look at the application forms for Oxford and Cambridge, see what they're asking for, identify any areas where you feel you could improve your application and start thinking about it now. You've got a few months to improve your chances.

Reply 8

username2228735

Original post by macromicro

Do you have access to the statistics for the offers given out? I believe the graduate website only publishes applications to number of places available.

Reply 9

macromicro

Original post by Jantaculum

With regard to the 'it's not competitive to get into postgrad Oxbridge', that depends what you're comparing it with.
For a course with an incredible international reputation, yes it is very competitive, especially if numbers are limited.
For other courses, it may be slightly less competitive at postgrad than at undergrad.
For courses like mine (specialist, not many people apply, no limits on numbers) then if you meet the required standard - which is high - then you're in - i.e. only competing against yourself.

Hence why I gave the average for the business school compared to the average for the university overall - both of which are objectively not competitive, even moreso when you remove the percentage who apply with less than 1st class.

As a massive generalisation the business courses do tend to attract more applicants and are thus more competitive.

No, for Oxford the offer rate is 50% for the business school and 40% overall.

For Cambridge, their business school only has one non-professional course and the OP will therefore not be applying there as she can't.

Reply 10

macromicro

Original post by Aceadria

Do you have access to the statistics for the offers given out? I believe the graduate website only publishes applications to number of places available.

http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/admissions-statistics

https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics

Edit: the Oxford ones are only 2013-14 so are slightly different, but if you are after a particular subject's rate for 2015-16 then I can find out for you.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 11

username2228735

Original post by macromicro

http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/admissions-statistics

https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics

Darn, I was hoping for course breakdown (e.g. D.Phil History (Economic and Social) vs D.Phil History) but thank you anyways!

Reply 12

InadequateJusticex

Original post by macromicro

I do not dispute what you're saying, but I find it hard to believe that people actually apply to Oxford with 2.2s? like seriously?

And also are you insinuating that averaging a high 2.1 will mean you can't get in at all? How do you even know if you're on track for a first if you haven't finished the course yet?

Reply 13

macromicro

Original post by InadequateJusticex

I do not dispute what you're saying, but I find it hard to believe that people actually apply to Oxford with 2.2s? like seriously?

Some do, but obviously far fewer than those with a 2.1.

And also are you insinuating that averaging a high 2.1 will mean you can't get in at all?

No, not at all.

How do you even know if you're on track for a first if you haven't finished the course yet?

By averaging a First thus far. If you are applying during your final year of undergrad then admissions will only have your current average and perhaps an expected classification from your referees. If you are averaging 75% then you are on track for a First. Lots of people apply after having a year out, however, so have their classification in hand (though this is likely to change now postgrad loans have been introduced).