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Help-wadham!!!

I am from a state school and am applying to Oxford to do ppp. I was going to apply to Wadham because 70% of the students are from state schools and the college is really laid back, which would suit me brilliantly! However, I just read in an Oxbridge Admissions booklet that the colleges with high numbers of state school students are less likely to want to take on more state school students; people from state schools would be better off applying to a public school dominated college who need to admit more state school students!

I'm so confused! Any help on this matter would be great!

Also, I got full marks on 7 out of 12 of my AS modules. Do you think it would be important for my referee to point this out in my reference or would it be enough just to say that I got high As in all of the modules? Do most people get full marks in the majority of their AS level modules or would this make me stand out?

Reply 1

Athena

6

ali123

I am from a state school and am applying to Oxford to do ppp. I was going to apply to Wadham because 70% of the students are from state schools and the college is really laid back, which would suit me brilliantly! However, I just read in an Oxbridge Admissions booklet that the colleges with high numbers of state school students are less likely to want to take on more state school students; people from state schools would be better off applying to a public school dominated college who need to admit more state school students!

I'm so confused! Any help on this matter would be great!

Also, I got full marks on 7 out of 12 of my AS modules. Do you think it would be important for my referee to point this out in my reference or would it be enough just to say that I got high As in all of the modules? Do most people get full marks in the majority of their AS level modules or would this make me stand out?

If you like Wadham, just apply - they may not take all state applicants, but you could be one of those 70%! I am :biggrin:

That said, if you like of the "posher" colleges, then apply there - wherever you think you'd be happy living.

Although Wadham is a queen among colleges :wink:

(Thanks Phonicsdude)

Reply 2

Morbo

17

ali123

Also, I got full marks on 7 out of 12 of my AS modules. Do you think it would be important for my referee to point this out in my reference or would it be enough just to say that I got high As in all of the modules? Do most people get full marks in the majority of their AS level modules or would this make me stand out?

No, that's awesome. Make sure that they know you got that because Oxford don't receive UMS scores.

Reply 3

Huw Davies

11

Definitely worth getting your referee to mention.

http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/adstats.pdf

This document has percentages for state\private school pupils as well as the success rate for each: there doesn't seem to be much correlation between relative chance of success and percentage attending, either way.

If it's the professional Oxbridge Admissions outfit, I'd take it with a pinch of salt. It doesn't sound like anything the university would say. OA have a profitable line of work and dropping in things like this makes it seem as if they have special knowledge, hopefully getting you to purchase one of their expensive packages.

Reply 4

tenjon

8

Athena

Although Wadham is a queen among colleges :wink:

(Thanks Phonicsdude)

lol, hadn't seen that before! :biggrin:

Definitely go for Wadham if you like the look of it. Generally applicants are advised on this forum (rightly) not to pander to admissions statistics, and this is certainly the case here.

I wouldn't worry about the argument that colleges with strong state-school numbers such as Wadham are less likely to take on more state-schoolers. I would imagine that the admissions statistics for Wadham (69.9% applicants from state schools, 65.2% offers to state-schoolers) are explained by the fact that slightly weaker state-school applicants might be especially attracted to Wadham by it's student-body makeup and perhaps think that they might therefore get an easier ride.

With your AS results, however, I wouldn't worry about it. Congratulations on them, definitely get them mentioned in your reference and/or personal statement, and good luck!

Reply 5

kizer

15

^^ That gap between applications and offers for state schoolers is actually less than the average gap across Oxford. So Wadham is pretty good in that respect.

Reply 6

Huw Davies

11

Forgot to add a quip in my earlier post: Wadham is beyond help :wink:

Reply 7

RosieS

Hooray! Come to Wadham!

I was in a very similar situation last year, wanting a college with lots of state schoolers and a relaxed attitude.

My teachers told me I HAD to mention the number of full mark AS papers I got in my personal statement...it made me feel kinda like I was boasting so maybe it would be better to get your referee to mention them instead. But definitely put it in, it's so much better than scraping As, so it should definitely make a difference.

Good luck! :biggrin:

Hopefully see you next year!

Reply 8

ali123

OP

Hey everyone!

Thankyou all for your replies! I have decided to go for it and apply to Wadham and I'm going to get my tutor to put my grades in my reference! Cheers again!

Love Ali.

Help-wadham!!!

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