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Is there prejudice/discrimination against Oxbridge applicants?

Can certain things hinder your chances of getting in? Such as unusual hair styles, pierced/stretch ears, tattoos etc..

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Judging by the look of some people in my college, I don't think so. Although it is best to look as normal as possible for the interviews.

Not really :nah:

You're not being very clear. One would get the impression that you're asking whether or not other universities might be biased against people who've applied to Oxbridge, which is pretty silly, needless to say. If you're asking whether Oxbridge dislikes unusual hair styles/piercings/tattoos, etc. then probably the answer would be no, as long as a person doesn't turn out an utter tramp at the interview, and of course as long as he has the proper academic requirements.

Reply 4

tengentoppa

The admissions tutors expect you to look well-groomed and neat, so I would dress normally if I were you.

Reply 5

username878045

Original post by faketitle

The title might have implied that, but the OP was pretty clearly nothing to do with that. :dry:

But yes, I'd like to re-iterate what people have said here - no serious discrimination based on how you look. Just don't look too scruffy; be presentable, like at any interview.

Reply 6

Ravenous

Being Black Caribbean or Arab can be a bit of a hindrance
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/ethnic_origin.html

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 7

Jooooshy

Original post by Ravenous

Being Black Caribbean or Arab can be a bit of a hindrance
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/ethnic_origin.html

And I suppose your luck's in if you're a gypsy..

Reply 8

Frannoooooooo

Original post by faketitle

I was simply asking if an individual with what might be considered as an unconventional appearance might have a disadvantage in the admissions process.

Reply 9

faketitle

Original post by Frannoooooooo

I was simply asking if an individual with what might be considered as an unconventional appearance might have a disadvantage in the admissions process.

Certainly, certainly.

Reply 10

BJack

Original post by tengentoppa

The admissions tutors expect you to look well-groomed and neat, so I would dress normally if I were you.

Well-groomed and neat... normal student... which one will it be? :colondollar:

Reply 11

Colmans

Original post by Ravenous

Being Black Caribbean or Arab can be a bit of a hindrance
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/ethnic_origin.html

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/behind_the_headlines/101307.html
Or not.

Reply 12

Frannoooooooo

Original post by Colmans

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/behind_the_headlines/101307.html
Or not.

Exactly. It's not the fact that they're turning away more black people than white, it's the fact that less black people obtain the necessary grades to get into Oxbridge. I've visited Cambridge on a school trip and seen black students, the whole discriminating against black people thing is just a misinterpretation of the ethnicity statistics.

Reply 13

felamaslen

No, there is no prejudice or discrimination on anything other than academic ability and teach-ability. You could go in looking like Darth Vader and they wouldn't notice.

Reply 14

hogwartian1993

I made a point of dressing especially well for my interviews, but now I'm here I realise that I actually didn't need to. I've seen people and lecturers wearing the most barmy things ever, and nobody even notices. I don't know whether my choice of dress did make a difference or not, but the only advice I'd give, is to stay clean, fresh and tidy. As long as you don't smell and go in with sensible clothing (i.e going in a Manchester City kit wouldn't be a good idea) then I'm sure it'll be fine!

Reply 15

alow

I didn't look particularly smart for my interviews, my hair was a mess.

Got an offer though but both my interviewers were dressed really casually.

Reply 16

NinjaSheep

An admissions tutor told us that it doesn't matter too much. She says they won't discriminate based on appearance, and if you come in and are fantastic in what you know and how you apply it, they won't care. Then again, she said if people come in and don't seem to give across the right mentality dressed like that, they may then think 'he/she's not even bothered to dress smartly'.

Overall, it shouldn't make a difference. My assumption would be that it would just give a slight bias, which may have a minor effect if you're borderline - if I was interviewing someone who was dressed very unconventionally etc, I would probably think that they weren't that bothered about it.

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Reply 17

BJack

Original post by hogwartian1993

I don't think even wearing a City kit would be a particular problem, unless one of your interviewers was a die-hard United fan....

Reply 18

nexttime

Lets not forget, the tutors themselves tend to be a bit of a dishevelled lot.

Reply 19

Wittgenstein56

I went to Cambridge! After a stint working in London, I returned to my native Wales and worked in Cardiff! The bottom line is this. An Oxbridge education is utterly meaningless in Wales! If anything, there is out and out hostility which, I have no doubt, stems from a profound inferiority complex. I’ll give you one example. A chap was appointed as the head of an organisation I worked for. He was educated at Swansea university! As soon as he found out that I went to Cambridge (I’ll spare you the sordid details), he made it quite clear he did not want me there! As it transpired, I decided to move on in any event because I quickly realised that he was a complete buffoon! The moral of the story is that if you’re Welsh and you go to Oxbridge, don’t make the same mistake as I did! Stay in the south of England!!