University of Oxford 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread

Hey,

I’m currently in my first year of college and I’m studying BTEC National Extended Diploma In Business, I’m planning to apply for law in September and have a predicted grade of D*DD. My GCSEs aren’t the best 😭 and the main reason for choosing Oxford is coz it’s close to London and it has DDD for it’s BTEC entry requirements.
I hope this is interesting lol I don’t think there are many people studying btecs that apply to Oxford lol

yes we get that quite a lot on here

Convinced this is a joke

Hey!

I'm applying for Physics, not sure which college yet but I love the look of Magdalen

I'm taking chemistry, maths, further maths, and physics but don't have my predicted grades yet. Oxford feels like such a beautiful and friendly city to live in I loved it when I visited, so I might as well apply!

Other unis I'd like to apply to are Imperial, UCL, Warwick and Bath

Hi @azby1098, is there a rule that you must apply to a different college in a different application cycle if you were rejected, especially if it was a pre-interview rejection? Also, is Oxford biased against reapplicants / gap year students and do admissions tutors actively expect more from you as a gap year applicant, e.g. holding you to higher standards in admissions tests and especially interviews, or do you have as much chance as a first-time applicant? Thank you!

Reapplicant here

Applying for modern languages- French and Spanish
college- either magdelen or Lmh
A-levels- French, Spanish, Music, History
additional qualifications- grade 8 violin distinction, grade 5 piano distinction
predicted- 4A*
Gcse- 10 9s
why oxford- for my chosen career path I want to have the best education possible, I was very late starting to apply last year and I regret that
why that college- honestly I just think they look lovely, I wish I had a reason more of substance

state comprehensive

Are you doing AQA French and AQA Spanish? How are your IRP and Speaking?

I am!! honestly I find speaking the hardest out of all 3 papers but I actually really enjoy my IRPs. I'm just nervous about the aspects I can't prepare for. What about you?

So there is no specific rule stating that you HAVE to apply to a different college, but I think it’s incredibly uncommon to reapply to the same college for the following reasons:

If you were rejected pre interview, there’s a chance that shortlisting is not centralised and individual tutors make final decisions. This may mean that, although unlikely, they may remember your application. The same applies for post-interview rejections as if you received an interview, it is likely tutors will be the same after one year and if you are remember some unconscious bias may come through.

Oxford are definitely not biased against gap year applicants, if anything they seem for it for some subjects. For geography and biology for example, if you have already achieved A*AA they automatically shortlist you for interview. This is not the case for every subject though. Being a gap year applicant will not go against you in any way, and if it changes anything it’ll only make you seem stronger.

Interviews/admissions tests wise, they are judging you on the same criteria so it would be unfair for them to assume more of you than another applicant.

I do know that some subjects like Maths/Physics are slightly dubious of gap year applicants as you may not keep up your level of work through your year out, but I don’t think this causes tonnes of problems.

FYI, in none of my interviews was I asked about my gap year, what I’m doing in it or why I took one etc.

Subject applying for ~ Law

I'm also applying to UCL, LSE and Nottingham

Hi I'm Mel:

- I'll be applying to Oxford for Biochemistry this year for 2023 entry and I'm going to apply to St. John's!
- I'm currently studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths (I'm also doing an EPQ but this probably won't be considered by tutors in my application as anything other than supercurricular)
- We haven't had any official predicted grades but I'm confident I could get at least A*A*AA in my A Levels (A*s most likely in Chemistry and Maths)
- At GCSE I got 10 x Grade 9, and 2 x Grade 8 (english lit and french )
- Its a common thing to say, but the main appeal of Oxbridge is obviously the tutorial system - as well as being able to learn from world leaders in their field, surrounded by so many other hugely intelligent students
- John's just seems like a really good fit for me! Relative to other colleges, they have a fairly large Biochemistry Intake per year, and it would be really good to have other people on the course in college. I also really like their sports societies, and I actually ~like~ the honeycomb accommodation?? I've also been considering The Queen's College, and will hopefully visit both (and others) at some point within the next few months.
- In terms of other Unis, I'm definitely going to also apply to Imperial and Sheffield, with UCL and Southampton currently completing my top 5 (although this is likely to be very different come October...)