Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

It's interesting that you say that about about the research project, do you not do a third-year research project at all then, or is it strictly theoretical work only? I ask because everyone I know is doing some kind of applied work for their project (coincidentally, mine's in medical imaging). My biggest worry about choosing courses is that there's too much choice and they all seem so interesting

Oh we do have a third-year research project! But I think it's rather theoretical than it is at other unis. During our undergrad programme we have to participate in 1 team project (theory only), 1 software-eng. lab (which was about 30k lines of source code but also about 200 pages written work) and 1 "final BSc project" (you can choose whether you would like to focus on programming or theoretical background). At the moment, I'm working on my final project and I chose the more theoretical version; so I will probably end up with about 10k lines of code and about 100 pages plain text.

Anyways, I better stop rambling about comp sci UG degrees since this is a PG-applicants thread

So back to topic: Still waiting for an interview

I'm interested! My extra-curriculars are quite relevant to my subject - I can't say exactly what they all are because I might as well just give my full name, but they are in closely analogous areas. So I'm curious as to how other people are handling/have approached the extra-curriculars issue. I know the usual thing is to say they make no difference, but surely they can, a bit, if they are close enough?

Anyway, I put mine on my CV and summed up the most relevant ones briefly in my SoP (there was a clear link, to show how what I do benefits my academic work). My tutors don't really know much about them, though, only in the most general sense.

It's the distinction between having done the pile of generic internships everyone has to have on their CV nowadays and actually showing a continuous line of interest - I think.

Extracurriculars are a waste of space when listed by the applicant on his/her CV. If you really have done something you think will boost your application, have one of your referees write about it in his letter of recommendation. Otherwise anyone can write on their CV they have been traveling the world building mud huts and that they have started 15 undergraduate societies, so those tend not to taken too seriously.

I wasn't thinking of those sorts of things! I'm applying for English, and mine (well, the ones that got a mention) are all very closely related to literature, criticism, and writing. I'm not saying they'll necessarily help, they may well not, but they're not just random stuff I put down for the sake of it.

Possibly it's not a good thing that I seem to be confessing a lack of philanthropic activities to the internet at large. I have actually done some charitable stuff, but once again it was all writing-linked - no mud huts - and none of that was part of my focus in the CV. My "extra-curriculars" mostly came under publications, actually, though there are some things beyond that.

Hello, I'm struggling with which essay I should submit for my English application (1900-present Mst) and I'd really appreciate some advice.

I'm trying to decide between two essays. My statement of purpose is going to emphasise my interest in the evolution of narrative in the 20th century onwards with a focus on postmodern literary theory.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hello everyone! Another English applicant here - most other TSR people here seem to be going for 1550-1700 , but I'm actually applying for the next strand along, the 1660-1830 MSt.

The application is slowly coming together - a little too slowly for my liking, but there's time yet! I'm wrestling with the statement of purpose at the moment. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice on that front, actually...

I suppose what I'm really struggling with is this: how 'academic' should the statement be? I've picked up that it's meant to be more like a research proposal than anything else, but should you be quoting critics, essays, etc? (So, for example: "I'm particularly interested in what John Doe calls 'the xyz element' in his essay XYZ".) Or is that not necessary (/overly pretentious)? I just can't seem to get a handle on this thing!

Hello everyone! Another English applicant here - most other TSR people here seem to be going for 1550-1700 , but I'm actually applying for the next strand along, the 1660-1830 MSt.

The application is slowly coming together - a little too slowly for my liking, but there's time yet! I'm wrestling with the statement of purpose at the moment. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice on that front, actually...

I suppose what I'm really struggling with is this: how 'academic' should the statement be? I've picked up that it's meant to be more like a research proposal than anything else, but should you be quoting critics, essays, etc? (So, for example: "I'm particularly interested in what John Doe calls 'the xyz element' in his essay XYZ".) Or is that not necessary (/overly pretentious)? I just can't seem to get a handle on this thing!

Thanks, that's helpful, and it's good to see other people are finding it confusing as well! I think I'm just going to refer to a couple of critics whose ideas I find very interesting, and then go on to talk a bit more generally about what I'd like to explore myself... I'm sure the people reading it at Oxford will know roughly what I'm talking about anyway, so I guess there's no need to go overboard with explaining myself?

Hah, I struggled with this a bit as well! And I'm still probably going to ponder over it until I click 'send', but I think I've decided to head back to my old college. Mainly because, although my old tutors don't really specialise in what I want to do, I get on well with them, and I know they'll be supportive of me and give good general advice. Also, this sounds a bit boring, but having had the undergrad experience at Oxford I'm not really very sentimental about colleges anymore: I just want somewhere with good grad accommodation and some chances for funding!

Hi all,

I've just found out that I've been invited to interview for an MSc in learning and teaching at Oxford. It's a part time MSc for people who are already teachers.

I'm just wondering if anyone has been through the interview process for this MSc or has been interviewed for any higher degree in education from either Oxford or Cambridge universities?

I would really like to know what to expect from the interview process and what's involved. If anyone can offer any advice I'd be very grateful.

My interview is on Tuesday 29th Nov by the way, so prompt replies would be very welcome! At this stage I've no idea of what to expect or how to prepare.

Good luck to anyone else applying for next year x

I applied successfully last year with a statement of purpose which named, as far as I can recall, no critics, so it can't be a requirement to have really detailed 'here is the context of my research' sentences. But whether the lack of that sort of thing was a plus, a neutral feature or a negative which they passed over because of good things elsewhere in my application, I've no idea.

Out of curiosity: where would you say they have good postgrad accommodation?

I've heard that the grad rooms at LMH and Somerville are less than good, but that could just be rumour, I've nothing to support that!

Can I ask: was your SOP mostly based around explaining the sort of stuff you'd like to do for your MSt dissertation?