First from Oxford!?

Does a first class degree from Oxford + decent EC's basically guarantee admission to any graduate/postgrad school in the world?

Reply 1

RogueTrader

I would hope so, considering how hard one would have had to work in order to achieve that.

Reply 2

the_alba

Nothing is guaranteed, obviously. Depends on references and various support materials - don't know what EC's are so sorry if that's what you meant! Plenty of people with firsts from Oxford don't get in to Master's and DPhil courses at Oxford. I know people who've failed to get into Cambridge with their Oxford firsts. So don't take it for granted.

Reply 3

the_alba

PS. American universities would be easier to crack though, as they're generally Oxford-besotted.

Reply 4

F1 fanatic

thebuddhistguy

Does a first class degree from Oxford + decent EC's basically guarantee admission to any graduate/postgrad school in the world?

A first class degree does not guarentee you anything. It all depends on what you are applying for and what else you have to offer.

Reply 5

thebuddhistguy

the alba, why do you think those people were rejected after getting firsts from Oxford?

And by EC's I meant extra-curricular, meaning activites, such as joining clubs/societies/sports.

Reply 6

F1 fanatic

thebuddhistguy

the alba, why do you think those people were rejected after getting firsts from Oxford?

And by EC's I meant extra-curricular, meaning activites, such as joining clubs/societies/sports.

A first does not seal your future for life. One could spend every waking hour doing work and easily get a first, but is this as good as someone who got a high 2-1 and was an active member of the college and is an all round nice person? Besides, I'm a firm believer that to an extent everyone starts at the bottom of the ladder post degree, but it is hoped that those with a better degree and/or classification will move up the latter somewhat faster.

Reply 7

Knogle

F1 fanatic

A first class degree does not guarentee you anything. It all depends on what you are applying for and what else you have to offer.

Amen. Hundreds of others will be holding 1sts from Oxbridge... the key is to further distinguish yourself through things like related work experience, glowing references, and so on. A 1st will bring you to do the door though... your other achievements will help you walk through it. :smile:

Reply 8

the_alba

thebuddhistguy

the alba, why do you think those people were rejected after getting firsts from Oxford?

And by EC's I meant extra-curricular, meaning activites, such as joining clubs/societies/sports.

Well, as Knogle just said, a good percentage of Oxford undergrads DO get firsts, so other things have to be considered - a lot rests on references and your personal statement / thesis proposal etc. Also obviously if you scrape a first, your position won't be as strong as someone with a really high first.

As for being an active member of societies, college life etc. - all that helps for jobs, but in my experience doesn't count for much if you're wanting to do academic postgrad work.

Reply 9

zoraster

No. not quite. It won't assure you admission into top US law schools (which are graduate schools), but I don't think that many Oxford students try and pursue that as an option anyway.