Oxbridge FAQ!

This FAQ aims to cover the main areas of confusion about applying to Oxbridge. It won't answer your every question, and it certainly won't get you in, but hopefully it'll make your life a little easier if you're thinking about applying to Oxbridge.

Once you've read this guide, have a read of our articles:

Applying to Oxbridge
Choosing a College: Oxford
Choosing a College: Cambridge
Oxbridge Interviews
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge

To apply or not to apply?

Why should I apply?
Most people really enjoy their time at Oxbridge. The courses are well put together and brilliantly taught, the extra-curricular opportunities are second to none, and the doors opened for later life are numerous. They're popular universities because most students there have a fun and successful time. If you would too, you should apply.
You should not apply to improve your job prospects, because your parents want you to, or because your head-teacher insists you do. If the course, teaching methods or environment at Oxbridge aren't right for you, you'd be happier and better off elsewhere at another university.

Is there any point in me applying?
Almost definitely yes! If you're predicted or already have A*AA/A*A*A at A-level, you have a chance no matter your previous record. Every year people get in with supposedly 'useless' grades. It'll only take up one of your five choices on the UCAS form, and who knows, you might just get in - 7,000 people do each year! What's more, most applicants do enjoy the application process. It's a chance to challenge yourself, show off what you can do and, at Oxford at least, be put up and fed for free for up to a week!
(note for medics: With only four choices and very competitive entry, you'll have to think more carefully about where to apply).

Are my grades good enough?
If you've come near the top of your school at GCSE/AS/A2, your grades are good enough for Oxbridge. Obviously the better the grades the better your chances, but you do not need outstanding exam grades to get in; they're only one part of the application. For the same reason, even amazing grades aren't in themselves enough to ensure you get an offer.
At the same time, Oxbridge students generally have A*s at GCSE and A*/As at A/AS level in subjects related to their course, and possibly across the board; you should aim to do the same, especially at A-level.
If you have done non-English qualifications, you won't be at a disadvantage! Tutors are familiar with the likes of IGCSEs, Highers, the IB, Abitur and SATs, and apply the same standards whatever course you studied at school. If you're doing a very unusual qualification, it may be worthwhile to get in touch with the college you're applying to just to make sure there aren't misunderstandings.

The actual application process

Choosing a Course:
This is probably the most important choice in your application - your course will be a central feature of university life for three years. If you do not enjoy your course, you will not be happy and you will not do well, and though it may be possible to switch course it's best to get it right first time.
Make sure you consider all the options, as there are subtle variations between courses. Look in detail at the course description online, which will explain what sort of papers you'll take, how much flexibility you'll have, what sort of skills will be required and what sort of facilities will be available.

Oxford or Cambridge?
Since you cannot apply to both (unless you're an organ scholar or a graduate), you'll have to choose one of Oxford or Cambridge. Many people decide based on course preference. This is obviously true for PPE or HSPS applicants, but even if you're applying for a subject both universities offer their courses are likely to differ in significant ways.
A lot of people base their decision on more sentimental grounds. The two towns have different atmospheres, because Oxford is a lot bigger and less dominated by the university, so some people just find they prefer one town to the other. It doesn't have to be some massively rational reason - choose the university where you think you'll be happiest.
Finally, again, choose the right university for you, not anyone else! Parents and friends may provide useful advice, but the final choice is yours.

Choosing College:
See the relevant Cambridge
or Oxford
articles for this

Grades:
You must include all your grades (for every examination you’ve sat, including resits). Be truthful - colleges do ask for certificates and if they found out you lied, they can withdraw your offer!

Personal Statement:
This is less important for Oxbridge than for other universities, but it's still a chance to show your commitment to your course and that you've studied it at a bit of depth. Do your best to explain why you're interested in your course, and to give some evidence that you've done some independent study into it. It is usually recommended that you spend three quarters of your PS focusing on your academic interests and motivations, and the remaining quarter on other activities. Note, however, that neither Oxford nor Cambridge care about the other stuff.
Comments from your personal statements may be used to start off conversation at interview, so make sure you know what you've said in it, and that it's true!
Don't forget that there is a PS Help Service available on TSR.

School reference:
Obviously you won't write this, so there's not too much you can do about it. If there's something you think is important to mention in it, for example if your AS grades were affected by serious illness, ask whoever's in charge of writing it and hopefully they'll include it.

Subject tests:
A lot of subjects now have additional tests, either right before interview or in November. They're very different to A-levels, so it's important to use the online resources (past papers, specifications etc) to familiarise yourself with the format – Oxford's done research and it found marks do go up if you spend 5-10 hours doing this.
Because they're so different to A-levels, tests can be a bit unnerving. The important thing to remember is that just about everyone finds them weird and hard! That's the point of setting them - they test you in ways you've not experienced before. So you just have to do your best.

Submitted written work:
Many subjects now ask for submitted work, although sciences usually don’t. What you send in doesn't particularly matter (if the college has specific requirements, they'll tell you), so long as it shows ability; sending a history essay when you're applying for PPE or a politics essay when you're applying for history are both fine, so long as they're good!
Essays are usually discussed at interview. Make sure you know the topic well, because you're very likely to be asked to explain why you said certain things and have your reasoning challenged. It doesn't matter what position you assume - you can change your mind, say you now realise what you wrote was wrong, or stick to your guns; the important thing is to argue your position properly.

Interviews:
Interviews are a test of whether you can be taught in a tutorial or supervision - no more, no less. They're a mini tutorial, basically. A quick rundown of events in my average tutorial will show why interviews should not be daunting. Typically, I will: drop my pen 12 times; mishear my tutor 4 times; get something completely wrong 5 times; get something partly wrong, 10 times; hesitate or pause to think 20 times. What I'm getting at is that all you have to worry about at interview is learning. Your interviewer will try to get as quickly as possible to an area you don't know much, if anything, about. They may give you a problem you can't do, present a point of view you haven't previously thought about, or just give you information you'd never seen before. Your job is to try to apply this new material. How might you go about solving this problem? How can you change your argument to incorporate the new evidence? The point isn't to get it right, or to be really smooth, or anything like that. It's to finish the tutorial having learned to do something you couldn't do at its start.

If you're nervous about interviews, one way to make yourself more comfortable is getting some experience of the interview atmosphere. Find an adult you don't know too well and get them to ask you some questions, and if possible challenge a few things you say. In terms of environment, that's what the interviews will be like.

Preparing academically for interviews is more complicated. In the immediate run up, make sure your basics are solid. Know the things you've said you know (A-level topics, books in your PS etc) - the risk of messing up simple things like standard integrals or key dates can be minimised by a little revision.

In the long run, you just have to get good at your subject! Anything which makes you think harder about the topics you've studied is good. For maths, I think it's easier, with all those maths challenges/Olympiads books out there. For everyone else, it's a bit more difficult. If you can find some old exam papers (Oxbridge, STEP papers, S-level etc) with questions which are relevant to you, try those. Otherwise, you'll have to stick to books. Try to do reading which makes you look at things differently: either through a whole different approach, or just a different viewpoint to something you've already studied. Either way, get practice at assimilating new information and adapting your viewpoint to it.

To give you an idea of what the interviews are like, Churchill College Cambridge have produced some videos of mock interviews here. If your subject isn’t on there, just search for them as many other colleges have done the same.

The SAQ:
Cambridge requires you to complete a Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) online immediately after applying, which is meant to ensure that they have a full picture of who you are as an applicant, what topics you've studied at A level and your UMS marks (if your A levels were modular). More details about the form can be found here. Oxford doesn’t have this.

Maximising your chance of getting in:

AS/A2 choices:
All A levels are viewed equally, but try to make sure you take subjects relevant to your course where available. The subject requirements for each course can be found here for Cambridge and here for Oxford. Mathematicians are expected to take Further Maths, and it is a benefit for related subjects like Engineering and Physics. Otherwise, taking 4 A levels is unlikely to benefit your application and only 3 are Required – remember, A*A*A* is better than A*AAA, especially if you replace the fourth subject with relevant wider reading or a related EPQ.

Extra-Curricular and Super-Curricular activities:
In general, neither Oxford nor Cambridge care about Extracurriculars activities, unless they’re relevant to your course (e.g. volunteering in a Hospital for Medics). Super-curriculars can be beneficial though, so take part in as many essay competitions, maths challenges and science Olympiads as possible.

Exceptional circumstances:
Tutors take these seriously. If your application has been affected by serious illness, family grievance, school/exam board **** ups etc, that will be taken account of so long as the college is made aware of it. Having your school mention it in your reference is the best way to do this, although Cambridge also has an ECF form. If you’ve already sent your application in, contact the admissions office ASAP and the information can be added to your application.

Useful links:

Oxford Admissions - http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/
Oxford Alternative Prospectus - http://www.ousu.org/prospective-students/ap
Cambridge Admissions - http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions
Cambridge Alternative Prospectus - http://www.applytocambridge.com

(edited 4 years ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 440

JP Schofield

will being a competitive rower set me apart from other candidates or will they just look at grades ?

Reply 441

Doones

Original post

by JP Schofield

will being a competitive rower set me apart from other candidates or will they just look at grades ?

Not for undergrads.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 442

username1865079

Original post

by JP Schofield

will being a competitive rower set me apart from other candidates or will they just look at grades ?

Original post

by jneill

Not for undergrads.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Not for postgrads, either. :wink:

Reply 443

Doones

Original post

by vincrows

Not for postgrads, either. :wink:

Which is probably why the Other Place keeps winning...

Reply 444

username1865079

Original post

by jneill

Which is probably why the Other Place keeps winning...

It's just that their priority seemed to have changed in recent years. They've given up their infutile attempt to compete against Cambridge on university rankings and decided put all their effort on the Thames in stead.

:tongue:

Spoiler

Reply 445

Theloniouss

This guide is now back up to date :woo:

All links working, boring old AS nonsense gone and some slightly out-of-date information corrected.

@04MR17 (tagged because I haven't tagged you enough tonight :lol:

- also this is now ready to be turned into article pending a few possible changes to wording/content (well, maybe))

(edited 4 years ago)

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