Oxbridge is heavy - think about what you&#x27;re getting into

thomasjtl

i'm hoping the tutorial/supervision system will mean that if there is a really difficult topic, you at least won't be washed away and entirely left behind. It's a lot easier to discuss difficulties when it's just you and the tutor. Am i right in thinking this, or are tutes fairly regimented?

Hey, can only speak from a history student perspective, but that's what I've found, yeah. Mine are all one-on-one so clearly it's easier to address specific issues of your own than if you have a supervision with several people, but even, from what I hear from my Natsci and mathmo friends, then your own questions will still be answered. Especially if the supervisions are one-on-one, you can direct the flow of discussion by doing so, and all my supervisors so far have given me plenty of time to highlight any problems I've had, and talk them through, so you should be fine. :smile:

Reply 46

White_redrose

Cexy

In response to the OP - it's not all about the work. That's one aspect, but for most people it's not dominant. For me it's all about coasting to the 2.1 and finding other aspects of my life to fill the time. Horses for courses.

Exactly. It all depends on your outlook I think, and what classification you are aiming for/realistically capable of, on how work-heavy Oxbridge is. Most people find time to do plenty of extracurricular, I only know a few people who are so driven by the thought of getting a first that work takes over. Most find a (usually, bar the weekly essay crisis) happy medium, so potential applicants and offer-holders, don't be too scared by some of the posts in this thread!

Reply 47

Nutter

14

We basically take solace in each other's insecurity, and the fact that simply beacuse so many others before us have felt exactly the same way, yet gone on to clinch good honours at the end of their degree.

Oxbridge have very high completion rates - check the Times Online rankings for FACTUAL data on this (they quote other sources, but I know it's there).

Reply 48

toto8462

9

kellywood_5

Having been offered and firmly accepted a place at Cambridge, I quite often feel scared that, if I meet my offer and go there, both the workload and the difficulty level will be too much for me and I won't be able to hack it. But I'm sure 99% of offer holders feel exactly the same way, and if we were all put off going because of fears we couldn't cope, Oxbridge would have no students!

Agreed. At the open day, one of the students taking us on a tour of Johns said that those that get offers all think that it will be impossible before they get there. "Its natural to have a few misconceptions..."

Also, do you not think that to some extent the interview process is there to test your ability to cope? (that is, unless you lied you way through all of your interviews, saying you play 15 musical instruments to the highest level and have climbed Everest every summer since you were 6). Essentially, interviews test your ability to think and your ability to cope.

Have a bit of self confidence...

Reply 49

Cexy

bluex

Reply 50

bluefuture

Cexy

You're an idiot, and you'll always be an idiot, Oxford degree or not. I genuinely hope that you drop out in your first year because that would be such excellent poetic justice, and it actually makes me slightly sad that it probably won't happen.

Why is bluefuture an idiot? York is a second class citizen in the international university league.

As usual blue is harsh but true.

How dare you wish me to drop out. I despise you so much and your sanctimonious, very uncexy manor.

Reply 51

Ethereal

19

However, someone will go far further with a degree from York and a nice personality than someone with a degree from Oxbridge and a horrible personality.

The most important thing about being intelligent or talented is realising it doesn't make you above any one else. You clearly have this lesson still to learn.

By the way, refering to oneself in the third person can indicate psychiatric distress :wink:

Reply 52

Your so naive. If you met me in person you would never guess I was bluefuture, believe me.

I am only openly ruthless and honest on this site.

Yes being more intelligent does make you above others. Ask allymcb2.

Also don't be so arrogant too assume the tutors made a mistake in picking me.

Reply 53

sixthirtythree

i spy a future union hack in bluefuture...a tenner says he'll be snapped up for michaelmas seccies - peter's is good at that, if nothing else :p:

Reply 54

Chumbaniya

17

Of course it's a heavy workload, but with so many good applicants to choose from they won't give offers to anyone who they don't think will be able to keep up with their course.

bluefuture

I wouldn't go to York if you paid me.

Who wants a second rate degree from a second rate university?

I'd be interested to know how you arrive at the conclusion that being less academically sucessful equates to being "second rate". If someone got a better grade than you in an exam, does that make you a second rate pupil? Are you also implying that all of York's academics are second rate? I hope that, were I to get the place at Cambridge I'm applying for, my world-view would not become so warped as to believe education outside Oxbridge is pointless.

Reply 55

bikerx23

If people here are of so little assistance, and never give any assistance, why did you have to make these threads?

Does PhysPhil require more work than Physics?
Oxford Student Exchanges?
Change from Physics to Phys and philosophy?
AAB post A-level Physics applicant to Oxf.

Quite clearly you are the one who is "too stupid to find things in a prospectus or online".

There is nothing wrong about being proud of your achievement, but being idiotic in relation to it really degrades the image of your degree - Also, considering you haven't even spent a day in Oxford education, or even higher education thus far, you are in a pathetically weak situation to talk about these issues.

Reply 56

bikerx23

If people here are of so little assistance, and never give any assistance, why did you have to make these threads?

Does PhysPhil require more work than Physics?
Oxford Student Exchanges?
Change from Physics to Phys and philosophy?
AAB post A-level Physics applicant to Oxf.

Quite clearly you are the one who is "too stupid to find things in a prospectus or online".

There is nothing wrong about being proud of your achievement, but being idiotic in relation to it really degrades the image of your degree - Also, considering you haven't even spent a day in Oxford education, or even higher education thus far, you are in a pathetically weak situation to talk about these issues.

None of that assistance helped me. Only www.oxbridge-admissions.com.

Reply 57

Chumbaniya

17

bluefuture

Yes being more intelligent does make you above others.

Above others in what? Intelligence? So people who are more intelligent are above others in intelligence. That's just a truism. Are you implying that intelligent people are more valuable than less intelligent people? If you really want to be "Ruthless and honest" (read: Ruthless and conceited) I suggest you back up some of the things you're saying.

Reply 58

bikerx23

bluefuture

None of that assistance helped me. Only www.oxbridge-admissions.com.

you

Cheers! bekaboo, you just saved me from making a right arse of myself.
I think i will read a few more philsophy books, and do what you say!

you

thanks for the advice, i dont think they do ask for ums scores actually but they probably will question me still about the B since they will work out how close i really was across both alevels! the truth is it was only fp3 which went badly (which will be retaken), across all other papers it was relatively boderline, i will have to explain this to them. i as u say i will really have to prove myself on the maths test. i currently have a place at imperial for Bsc phy, and theory but i would really like to try oxford and nobody wants AAB on their CV now do they!

no, ofcourse not...

Reply 59