The Official 2018 Oxford Offer Holders' Thread!

We think colleges listen to their students.

An opportunity arose to refit/refurbish the loos and our DB (domestic bursar) decided to act on the JCR (junior common room) suggestion.

Oxford doesn't have a lavatory policy as such - its something for the individual colleges to work out with their UGs and PGs.

Great progress! Your posting made me think about it and realise that pretty much all the toilets in Univ are gender neutral. I think it must be because they're mainly individual ones dotted around the quads and buildings.

Hello! We've missed you on TSR.

That's right - there are facilities on each staircase. These are more 'public' toilets - there are traditional m/f ones and gender neutral ones now.

With the application deadline ever approaching, it is time to get that personal statement in check. Unfortunately, I've had to delay my writing process since I've had to study for my final exams. (International applicant) Now that I'm done with them, I'm fully concentrated on studying for the TSA and writing my PS.

Just wanted to ask some questions to gauge my situation in comparison with other prospective applicants.
How many of you are already done with the PS? Do I still have ample time to get a great PS together? How much time have you others used to write your statements?

With the application deadline ever approaching, it is time to get that personal statement in check. Unfortunately, I've had to delay my writing process since I've had to study for my final exams. (International applicant) Now that I'm done with them, I'm fully concentrated on studying for the TSA and writing my PS.

Just wanted to ask some questions to gauge my situation in comparison with other prospective applicants.
How many of you are already done with the PS? Do I still have ample time to get a great PS together? How much time have you others used to write your statements?

Oxford does not care very much about your personal statement; do not worry about it. You have plenty of time.

I think they do have plenty of time but why would oxford not care about PS?

A lot of applicants have stellar grades (which could be exactly the same as you) and an interesting personal statement would definitely aid chances of interview and a potential offer?

An average personal statement is a disadvantage - of course not an indicator of the entire application but you can not deny it does play a vital factor along side academic achievement, interview and admission tests...

Firstly, some could argue personal statements are not very fair since anyone could write it and some students will get more far more help with it than others.

Secondly, Oxford has far more useful information about a student than their personal statement. Interview being top of the list, then admission tests/grades and only then the personal statement. If someone has a poor P.S but a stellar interview, there is no doubt a tutor will take them in my opinion. If it's the other way round, they will not get in.

I should add that it is probably a little bit more important for the humanities - obviously if you cannot string a sentence together, a tutor is not going to accept you. But anyone who is qualified is going to be able to create an OK personal statement anyway.

My tutors have told me repeatedly that they at most skim over the personal statement (some will not even read). I remember getting told this by tutors from other subjects as well who spoke to me when I applied. Students write good personal statements for other universities, not oxbridge.

I think all in all personal statements can only hinder you, if it's passable/good/great that is fine, only if it's really really bad that could be a hindrance. So I disagree with you that an average personal statement is a disadvantage.

Firstly, some could argue personal statements are not very fair since anyone could write it and some students will get far more help with it than others.

Secondly, Oxford has far more useful information about a student than their personal statement. Interview being top of the list, then admission tests/grades and only then the personal statement. If someone has a poor P.S but a stellar interview, there is no doubt a tutor will take them in my opinion. If it's the other way round, they will not get in.

I should add that it is probably a little bit more important for the humanities - obviously if you cannot string a sentence together, a tutor is not going to accept you. But anyone who is qualified is going to be able to create an OK personal statement anyway.

My tutors have told me repeatedly that they at most skim over the personal statement (some will not even read). I remember getting told this by tutors from other subjects as well who spoke to me when I applied. Students write good personal statements for other universities, not oxbridge.

I think all in all personal statements can only hinder you, if it's passable/good/great that is fine, only if it's really really bad that could be a hindrance. So I disagree with you that an average personal statement is a disadvantage.

Someone who has lots of work experience that they talk about in depth about what they have gained from it is a better candidate than someone who just lists their achievements and strings together a statement. Thoughts?

Nevertheless, I think subjects like Law and Medicine do have to focus on personal statement BEFORE and DURING interview.

Hi guys ! I am actually a French student so as an international student it's difficult to understand the steps I have to do to apply in UK but I'm okay now with that stuff. I will apply for Oxford only and if they don't select me then I will tidy here in Paris. Hope I will have chance

That's true, I forgot to consider those who would have an advantage writing it over others.

Nevertheless, I think subjects like Law and Medicine do have to focus on personal statement BEFORE and DURING interview. You need to show you are not only smart enough and can perform well in interviews (which you can certainly prepare for and some students will pay for coaching...) but have a passion and standout. Being great isn't good enough. You need to beEXCEPTIONAL for Oxbridge seeing as they are the top universities in the WORLD for many league tables.

Someone who has lots of work experience that they talk about in depth about what they have gained from it is a better candidate than someone who just lists their achievements and strings together a statement.

Thoughts?

Hi, I'm not applying to Oxford - but my best friend is. He wants to apply for Chemistry (didn't like NatSci at Cambridge) and has stellar GCSEs and AS grades (A^, 11A*s & A at GCSE, 4As at AS (97,97,100) in Maths) he's predicted A* A* A in Maths, Chemistry and Computer Science respectively. He should perform well in the TSA I (although his common sense isn't great). My worry is that he finds it very hard to show passion about anything :/ Will he still have a chance at getting in?

A side note: He also plays Crown Green Bowling at a high level - & no he isn't Autistic.

It's hard to show passion, especially in Chemistry, which does not have the wealth of popular science books that Physics/Biology possess. The Chemistry interviews are based on problem solving, not proving your interest. A level Chemistry is quite different from degree level Chemistry, so it's difficult to get a sense of a student's interest anyway. Tutors will like that he is good at maths. He definitely has a good chance IMO.