Oxford Demystified - Chapter 1 - Should I apply?
Am I the type of person who should apply to Oxford?
Scroll to see replies
OXFORD DEMYSTIFIED – BY OXFORD MUM
CAVEAT: READING THIS BOOK DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE AT OXFORD
THESE IDEAS ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE APPLYING
Am I the type of person who should apply to Oxford?
When I was in my teens, I dreamed of going to Oxford. At the time, I attended a small independent school, and was in the top set for French and German. To my chagrin, almost everyone else in my class won a place at Oxford except me.
From time to time, they would disappear upstairs for special Oxbridge lessons. Often I would try to guess what they were talking about, and wished I was there. Over the years, I wondered why I was not singled out for a similar, special destiny. I felt almost cheated.
Then, several decades later, my elder son went up to Oxford for German, and I realised why. I was terrible at literature (which forms a large part of the Oxford French and German degrees) and got stressed every time I had to write an essay. I also disliked debate. In a group discussion I would shrink into a corner, hoping the tutor would not notice me. At Oxford you will be in a very small tutorial group, and will have to continuously defend your view to your tute partner(s) and your tutor. How I would have hated that!
Compare this to a remark made by the former Rector of Exeter College, Dame Frances Cairncross, on the occasion of its 700th anniversary. “The best thing”, she said, “about Oxford is the individual attention you receive from world class tutors”. Therefore, I guess, whether you are suited to the environment will depend on your own point of view.
In short, despite my obvious love for Oxford, it would, ironically, have been a huge mistake to have applied there.
Even if I had got in, I would have been miserable, despite the beautiful surroundings and posh balls. Sometimes I think the tourists have the best of both worlds, admiring the buildings without the essay crises.
If you’re just applying to Oxford because you fancy yourself in a gown, or want to brag about where you’re going to your mates, you have your priorities wrong. It is important to remember, when choosing a university, that the course is king. If Cardiff offers your dream course, and the mere thought of the Oxford equivalent fills you with foreboding, it would be much more sensible to head to Wales instead.
CAVEAT: READING THIS BOOK DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE AT OXFORD
THESE IDEAS ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE APPLYING
Am I the type of person who should apply to Oxford?
When I was in my teens, I dreamed of going to Oxford. At the time, I attended a small independent school, and was in the top set for French and German. To my chagrin, almost everyone else in my class won a place at Oxford except me.
From time to time, they would disappear upstairs for special Oxbridge lessons. Often I would try to guess what they were talking about, and wished I was there. Over the years, I wondered why I was not singled out for a similar, special destiny. I felt almost cheated.
Then, several decades later, my elder son went up to Oxford for German, and I realised why. I was terrible at literature (which forms a large part of the Oxford French and German degrees) and got stressed every time I had to write an essay. I also disliked debate. In a group discussion I would shrink into a corner, hoping the tutor would not notice me. At Oxford you will be in a very small tutorial group, and will have to continuously defend your view to your tute partner(s) and your tutor. How I would have hated that!
Compare this to a remark made by the former Rector of Exeter College, Dame Frances Cairncross, on the occasion of its 700th anniversary. “The best thing”, she said, “about Oxford is the individual attention you receive from world class tutors”. Therefore, I guess, whether you are suited to the environment will depend on your own point of view.
In short, despite my obvious love for Oxford, it would, ironically, have been a huge mistake to have applied there.
Even if I had got in, I would have been miserable, despite the beautiful surroundings and posh balls. Sometimes I think the tourists have the best of both worlds, admiring the buildings without the essay crises.
If you’re just applying to Oxford because you fancy yourself in a gown, or want to brag about where you’re going to your mates, you have your priorities wrong. It is important to remember, when choosing a university, that the course is king. If Cardiff offers your dream course, and the mere thought of the Oxford equivalent fills you with foreboding, it would be much more sensible to head to Wales instead.
On the other hand, maybe you are apprehensive about applying, because you feel the odds are overwhelmingly against you. This should not be a reason to shy away from putting Oxford down on your UCAS form, especially if you love the course, are hard working and are on target to attain the required grades (see individual Oxford subject web pages).
Here, Oxford echoes what I have just typed, on their uplifting web page, Oxford is for You:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/student-life/oxford-you
I saw some carrier bags in Sainsburys the other day. They featured Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds. Her amazing quote was
“Be fearless. Swim against the tide”.
Great advice to any Oxford prospective candidate. Don’t worry what anyone else is doing, just keep going and keep working towards your dream.
And then there are the close knit colleges (cosy or suffocating?) and the rapid pace of the Oxford courses. There will be many, many essays, and more nights spent in the library than in clubs. Sometimes it is hard to keep up. It is easy to become overwhelmed, especially if you fall ill, or if your nerves are suffering from the relentless pressure.
Both issues are touched upon in this Cherwell article.
https://cherwell.org/2017/02/08/debate-does-oxford-foster-a-sense-of-community/
My own son fell ill with appendicitis during the first term at Oxford. He was actually hospitalised and had to undergo an operation. His college and his fellow students were very supportive and even went to hospital to fetch him back! When he arrived in his room, he was greeted by yet more friends, who had ordered him takeaway pizza so he didn’t have to cook on his first night back. He was sent back to convalesce for a week with me, and was reassured he didn’t have to rusticate (repeat the year).
My son is a medic, so the thought of catching up was daunting. Nonetheless, the medics in the year above and the other first years sent him their notes. He was soon back, and is still doing very well (now at the end of his second year).
To help you settle in, you will be assigned a College Mum and Dad from the year above (at least one of whom is studying your subject). You will also need to propose to a College wife/husband (my elder son still has his “engagement ring”). The following year you will then automatically become an instant parent yourself. Your parents will cook you a meal in the first week, and will be there as a friend if you have any problems.
There is also the chaplain (who, at Exeter College, is particularly supportive and has been kind and helpful to us). Each college will have welfare reps as well, plus the junior dean. The former junior dean at Oriel was also a person my son could happily have confided in, should he have ever felt the need.
https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/life-oriel/living-oriel/health-and-welfare
If you are still concerned about the pressure aspect, speak to your parents (who know you best), and your teachers, who are familiar with the way you work. Although everything is overwhelming at first, many people perfect a system to help them cope.
Others, however do not find it so easy to adjust. Again, it depends on the kind of person you are.
Here, Oxford echoes what I have just typed, on their uplifting web page, Oxford is for You:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/student-life/oxford-you
I saw some carrier bags in Sainsburys the other day. They featured Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds. Her amazing quote was
“Be fearless. Swim against the tide”.
Great advice to any Oxford prospective candidate. Don’t worry what anyone else is doing, just keep going and keep working towards your dream.
And then there are the close knit colleges (cosy or suffocating?) and the rapid pace of the Oxford courses. There will be many, many essays, and more nights spent in the library than in clubs. Sometimes it is hard to keep up. It is easy to become overwhelmed, especially if you fall ill, or if your nerves are suffering from the relentless pressure.
Both issues are touched upon in this Cherwell article.
https://cherwell.org/2017/02/08/debate-does-oxford-foster-a-sense-of-community/
My own son fell ill with appendicitis during the first term at Oxford. He was actually hospitalised and had to undergo an operation. His college and his fellow students were very supportive and even went to hospital to fetch him back! When he arrived in his room, he was greeted by yet more friends, who had ordered him takeaway pizza so he didn’t have to cook on his first night back. He was sent back to convalesce for a week with me, and was reassured he didn’t have to rusticate (repeat the year).
My son is a medic, so the thought of catching up was daunting. Nonetheless, the medics in the year above and the other first years sent him their notes. He was soon back, and is still doing very well (now at the end of his second year).
To help you settle in, you will be assigned a College Mum and Dad from the year above (at least one of whom is studying your subject). You will also need to propose to a College wife/husband (my elder son still has his “engagement ring”). The following year you will then automatically become an instant parent yourself. Your parents will cook you a meal in the first week, and will be there as a friend if you have any problems.
There is also the chaplain (who, at Exeter College, is particularly supportive and has been kind and helpful to us). Each college will have welfare reps as well, plus the junior dean. The former junior dean at Oriel was also a person my son could happily have confided in, should he have ever felt the need.
https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/life-oriel/living-oriel/health-and-welfare
If you are still concerned about the pressure aspect, speak to your parents (who know you best), and your teachers, who are familiar with the way you work. Although everything is overwhelming at first, many people perfect a system to help them cope.
Others, however do not find it so easy to adjust. Again, it depends on the kind of person you are.
(edited 3 years ago)
Some aspects of Oxford degrees will seem like anathema to practical people. Who, for instance, will ever need Roman law, or medieval German in real life?
My forte at school was French and German language, so I would have been better off applying for a degree in translating from Aston University.
I would not have thought my elder son (also a linguist) would have been keen on the medieval German, but he told me that by the end he was quite good at it, and received a lot of support from the tutor.
If you have not been put off so far, and are determined to apply to Oxford, you may wish to know if you are the Oxford “type”. The wonderful thing is, there isn’t a “type” at all. You can be blond, brunette, short, tall, any shape you like. Your background simply doesn’t matter.
A…. my elder son, had friends from the Orkney Islands to New Zealand. I love to hear all the different languages spoken in Oxford’s historic, cobbled streets.
Have a look at the latest Oxford prospectus, and see if it is for you.
http://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/UGP%202020%20what%20you%20make%20it%20%28hyperlinks%291.pdf
Tolerance is key. Oxford is a relatively safe place to come out as gay. Each college will have its own LGBT representative, and in June the rainbow flag will fly proudly from the college turrets.
http://www.oulgbtq.org/
Disabled access: speak to your chosen college about accessibility. Please see further information below.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability?wssl=1
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability/eligibility?wssl=1
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/applicants-with-disabilities?wssl=1
All religions are welcomed.
https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/religionandbelief/
https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/religionandbelief/faithsocietiesgroupsorreligiouscentres/
Students at each end of the political spectrum can enjoy debating in the Oxford Union, one of the toughest sparring arenas in the world.
https://www.oxford-union.org/
My forte at school was French and German language, so I would have been better off applying for a degree in translating from Aston University.
I would not have thought my elder son (also a linguist) would have been keen on the medieval German, but he told me that by the end he was quite good at it, and received a lot of support from the tutor.
If you have not been put off so far, and are determined to apply to Oxford, you may wish to know if you are the Oxford “type”. The wonderful thing is, there isn’t a “type” at all. You can be blond, brunette, short, tall, any shape you like. Your background simply doesn’t matter.
A…. my elder son, had friends from the Orkney Islands to New Zealand. I love to hear all the different languages spoken in Oxford’s historic, cobbled streets.
Have a look at the latest Oxford prospectus, and see if it is for you.
http://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/UGP%202020%20what%20you%20make%20it%20%28hyperlinks%291.pdf
Tolerance is key. Oxford is a relatively safe place to come out as gay. Each college will have its own LGBT representative, and in June the rainbow flag will fly proudly from the college turrets.
http://www.oulgbtq.org/
Disabled access: speak to your chosen college about accessibility. Please see further information below.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability?wssl=1
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability/eligibility?wssl=1
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/applicants-with-disabilities?wssl=1
All religions are welcomed.
https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/religionandbelief/
https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/religionandbelief/faithsocietiesgroupsorreligiouscentres/
Students at each end of the political spectrum can enjoy debating in the Oxford Union, one of the toughest sparring arenas in the world.
https://www.oxford-union.org/
Discover the many societies and sports clubs available at Oxford:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs?wssl=1
In short, Oxford allows you to be yourself, whoever you are.
One thing you will not be judged on is your appearance. Hollywood this is not. My favourite thing about Oxford is that it is not superficial. No one cares if you are not a supermodel and don’t dye your hair blonde. All anyone is bothered about is your brain and what you do with it.
Once you have reached Oxford, there are many ways to expand your intellectual horizons, and the wise will grasp the opportunities available to them. By all means go to the free lectures and the classical concerts.
https://www.concert-diary.com/?f_City=Oxford
http://www.ox.ac.uk/events-list
Do not miss the dazzling Ashmolean, the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. Keep abreast of the latest exhibitions. I will never forget seeing some beautiful Van Goghs, as well as some thought provoking modern art on the ground floor.
https://www.ashmolean.org/
The Pitt Rivers museum (University of Oxford’s archaeological and anthropological collections) is also well worth a visit.
https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/
Relax in the botanic gardens
https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/
Go punting (colleges have their own punts)
https://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/punting
Stroll along Christchurch meadow
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visiting-christ-church/meadow
Take part in the traditions
https://medium.com/@OxfordGradStudy/eight-oxford-traditions-from-the-centuries-old-to-the-surprisingly-new-d04491011dd7
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs?wssl=1
In short, Oxford allows you to be yourself, whoever you are.
One thing you will not be judged on is your appearance. Hollywood this is not. My favourite thing about Oxford is that it is not superficial. No one cares if you are not a supermodel and don’t dye your hair blonde. All anyone is bothered about is your brain and what you do with it.
Once you have reached Oxford, there are many ways to expand your intellectual horizons, and the wise will grasp the opportunities available to them. By all means go to the free lectures and the classical concerts.
https://www.concert-diary.com/?f_City=Oxford
http://www.ox.ac.uk/events-list
Do not miss the dazzling Ashmolean, the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. Keep abreast of the latest exhibitions. I will never forget seeing some beautiful Van Goghs, as well as some thought provoking modern art on the ground floor.
https://www.ashmolean.org/
The Pitt Rivers museum (University of Oxford’s archaeological and anthropological collections) is also well worth a visit.
https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/
Relax in the botanic gardens
https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/
Go punting (colleges have their own punts)
https://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/punting
Stroll along Christchurch meadow
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visiting-christ-church/meadow
Take part in the traditions
https://medium.com/@OxfordGradStudy/eight-oxford-traditions-from-the-centuries-old-to-the-surprisingly-new-d04491011dd7
Let’s not forget some of the quirky, independent shops
https://www.scriptum.co.uk/
https://www.the-cakeshop.co.uk/?
gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8ofgiZLc4gIVCrftCh1nJQorEAAYASAAEgJ9BfD_BwE#utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Oxford
https://thevintagefair.com/event/lou-lous-oxford-vintage-fair-9/
You may need the Ballroom Emporium if you want to make an elegant entrance at an Oxford ball (situated past the Magdalen Bridge, which is commonly referred to as “a bridge too far”).
https://www.ballroomemporium.co.uk/prom-dress
The High has plenty of fascinating, unusual shops. Here is a detailed guide for the dedicated shopaholic.
http://www.highstreetuk.com/oxford/
http://independentoxford.com/the-best-independent-shops-in-oxford/
Parents and students alike will love the attractive shops in the Covered Market
http://oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk/traders
We use it regularly, for A…’s haircuts (he always waits until we meet in Oxford, because he knows Mum will pay!)
Brown’s café, with its 1960’s style décor, has been used as a location for an Endeavour episode. They make a mean cooked breakfast, too.
A…. can recommend Pieminister, too.
And ladies, this is my favourite shop in Oxford, Ansari. Check out the decorative purses. Mine is in salmon pink with a picture of a cake shop on the front. Everyone who sees it goes into raptures about it. Warning: this shop is very dangerous for your bank balance.
https://www.instagram.com/ansariboutique/?hl=en
If you’re feeling flush, and want something classic yet stylish:
https://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/
https://www.scriptum.co.uk/
https://www.the-cakeshop.co.uk/?
gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8ofgiZLc4gIVCrftCh1nJQorEAAYASAAEgJ9BfD_BwE#utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Oxford
https://thevintagefair.com/event/lou-lous-oxford-vintage-fair-9/
You may need the Ballroom Emporium if you want to make an elegant entrance at an Oxford ball (situated past the Magdalen Bridge, which is commonly referred to as “a bridge too far”).
https://www.ballroomemporium.co.uk/prom-dress
The High has plenty of fascinating, unusual shops. Here is a detailed guide for the dedicated shopaholic.
http://www.highstreetuk.com/oxford/
http://independentoxford.com/the-best-independent-shops-in-oxford/
Parents and students alike will love the attractive shops in the Covered Market
http://oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk/traders
We use it regularly, for A…’s haircuts (he always waits until we meet in Oxford, because he knows Mum will pay!)
Brown’s café, with its 1960’s style décor, has been used as a location for an Endeavour episode. They make a mean cooked breakfast, too.
A…. can recommend Pieminister, too.
And ladies, this is my favourite shop in Oxford, Ansari. Check out the decorative purses. Mine is in salmon pink with a picture of a cake shop on the front. Everyone who sees it goes into raptures about it. Warning: this shop is very dangerous for your bank balance.
https://www.instagram.com/ansariboutique/?hl=en
If you’re feeling flush, and want something classic yet stylish:
https://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/
I really, really wish I could report on the dazzling array of amazing restaurants in Oxford. Unfortunately this is not possible, as we always end up going to exactly the same pub every time.
Yes, for people watching (I once saw a matriculand drinking old Rosie from his shoe), graduations, taking first time visitors, there is only one place to go. The Turf Tavern. Why are there so many matriculands and graduates there? It is handily the closest pub to the Sheldonian, where matriculations and graduations take place. The Turf is notoriously hard to find, (which is probably a good thing) because otherwise it would be even more packed than it actually is, despite the recent interior extension.
We tend to go about 12 noon to ensure we can secure a table.
Reportedly the second oldest pub in Oxford (after The Bear), we are not the only people who have frequented this legendary establishment. Episodes of Morse and Lewis have been filmed here.
Past guests have included my son’s rector, Dame Frances Cairncross (spotted enjoying a drink in the sunshine on one of its two outside patios), Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Kingsley (star of Ghandi), Bob Hawke (past Australian prime minister), Bill Clinton (who famously “didn’t inhale” on the outside patio), Stephen Hawking, novelist Thomas Hardy, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemingway and the cast of Harry Potter (according to the review below, didn’t know that!)
I have to admit I am addicted to the sausages and mash.
My children always ask for a pint of Old Rosie. According to the attached Wikipedia article, Thomas Hardy, in his novel Jude the Obscure, based a story about a fictitious pub “The Lamb and Flag” (the name of an actual pub in Oxford, too!) on the Turf Tavern. It was haunted by a ghost called “Old Rosie”. Bet I can guess what Hardy’s been drinking at the Turf!
https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-turf-tavern-oxford-pub-1661763
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Tavern
Make sure you meet the experts in your chosen field or go and see the celebrities speaking at the Oxford Union. You can socialise like crazy or haunt the libraries. It’s entirely your choice, your personal Oxford.
There are eccentrics and geniuses (but you don’t have to be a genius to get a place). My elder son could look out of his window and see naked cyclists, male belly dancers, people in 18th century costumes, TV presenters, Endeavour actors,
https://morseandlewisandendeavour.com/category/endeavour-locations/
and even Rowan Atkinson popping into Blackwells book shop.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/21/interview-with-a-bookstore-blackwells-in-oxford
Yes, for people watching (I once saw a matriculand drinking old Rosie from his shoe), graduations, taking first time visitors, there is only one place to go. The Turf Tavern. Why are there so many matriculands and graduates there? It is handily the closest pub to the Sheldonian, where matriculations and graduations take place. The Turf is notoriously hard to find, (which is probably a good thing) because otherwise it would be even more packed than it actually is, despite the recent interior extension.
We tend to go about 12 noon to ensure we can secure a table.
Reportedly the second oldest pub in Oxford (after The Bear), we are not the only people who have frequented this legendary establishment. Episodes of Morse and Lewis have been filmed here.
Past guests have included my son’s rector, Dame Frances Cairncross (spotted enjoying a drink in the sunshine on one of its two outside patios), Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Kingsley (star of Ghandi), Bob Hawke (past Australian prime minister), Bill Clinton (who famously “didn’t inhale” on the outside patio), Stephen Hawking, novelist Thomas Hardy, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemingway and the cast of Harry Potter (according to the review below, didn’t know that!)
I have to admit I am addicted to the sausages and mash.
My children always ask for a pint of Old Rosie. According to the attached Wikipedia article, Thomas Hardy, in his novel Jude the Obscure, based a story about a fictitious pub “The Lamb and Flag” (the name of an actual pub in Oxford, too!) on the Turf Tavern. It was haunted by a ghost called “Old Rosie”. Bet I can guess what Hardy’s been drinking at the Turf!
https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-turf-tavern-oxford-pub-1661763
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Tavern
Make sure you meet the experts in your chosen field or go and see the celebrities speaking at the Oxford Union. You can socialise like crazy or haunt the libraries. It’s entirely your choice, your personal Oxford.
There are eccentrics and geniuses (but you don’t have to be a genius to get a place). My elder son could look out of his window and see naked cyclists, male belly dancers, people in 18th century costumes, TV presenters, Endeavour actors,
https://morseandlewisandendeavour.com/category/endeavour-locations/
and even Rowan Atkinson popping into Blackwells book shop.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/21/interview-with-a-bookstore-blackwells-in-oxford
The beating heart of Oxford is the collegiate system.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/a-z-of-colleges?wssl=1
Your college is your family, and within a short time you will feel you really, really belong. No matter how homesick you may feel at first, you will soon be referring to Oxford as “going home”, which will infuriate your parents! As soon as I land in my younger son’s porter’s lodge, I am greeted with a cheery “welcome back.” Immediately I can see the attraction for him.
Even when you have left Oxford, you will leave a little piece of your heart behind in your college. Before you know it, you will become an enthusiastic participant in the alumni events and annual balls. Watch out, though, those balls can be a strain on the wallet:
https://cherwell.org/2015/05/29/are-college-balls-really-worth-the-money/
Many grateful alumni, who are well aware that their college made them the success they are today, donate money for future generations. Those right at the top of the tree have been known to give millions of pounds.
https://www.facebook.com/jesus.alumni/photos/this-years-telethon-has-had-a-brilliant-2-weeks-so-far-our-team-of-student-calle/1835674973123739/
There are no hard and fast rules about Oxford types. All I know is that my sons were always asking me questions, had an amazing imagination, were interested in many random intellectual facts and never had to be dragged kicking and screaming into a library. Yet I am describing my own family. You might be completely different from this and still get into Oxford.
The one thing that really, really doesn’t matter (even though you think it might) is the type of school you went to. Once you reach Oxford, regardless of your college, you are on a level playing field with everyone else. If you work hard, you can still come top of the year. And if you are willing to extend the hand of friendship to anybody, whatever their background, you are going to fit in. I promise you that.
One word of warning, though. You may have published your first novel at the age of 14, attended the best school in the world, or found a cure for a rare disease, but never, ever, think you are too good for Oxford.
Most of you will be trembling with fear at the prospect of the interview, but don’t worry. Please don’t put on a special act, or try to be “posh”. The tutors just want you to be yourself, as it will be yourself they will be teaching for the next three years. I can remember my younger son saying that his medical interview was the “hardest bloody interview in Oxford” and after the first five minutes “I proceeded to make a fool of myself”.
In contrast, you may come across the over-confident types who come out of the interview, punching the air and saying “aced it!” Don’t let them put you off. If they dismiss the questions as too easy, they are missing a trick. Maybe their superior education makes them think they can answer anything and impress the tutors, so jump in too quickly with their answers. Do not fall into this trap. The questions are not designed to be easy. Often there is no wrong or right answer. You just need to keep calm and give it your best guess, giving evidence for what you say. Those who think they are so clever they can talk over the tutors, be arrogant and not listen carefully to them, will not win any prizes. Neither will those who are prickly and cannot take criticism.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/a-z-of-colleges?wssl=1
Your college is your family, and within a short time you will feel you really, really belong. No matter how homesick you may feel at first, you will soon be referring to Oxford as “going home”, which will infuriate your parents! As soon as I land in my younger son’s porter’s lodge, I am greeted with a cheery “welcome back.” Immediately I can see the attraction for him.
Even when you have left Oxford, you will leave a little piece of your heart behind in your college. Before you know it, you will become an enthusiastic participant in the alumni events and annual balls. Watch out, though, those balls can be a strain on the wallet:
https://cherwell.org/2015/05/29/are-college-balls-really-worth-the-money/
Many grateful alumni, who are well aware that their college made them the success they are today, donate money for future generations. Those right at the top of the tree have been known to give millions of pounds.
https://www.facebook.com/jesus.alumni/photos/this-years-telethon-has-had-a-brilliant-2-weeks-so-far-our-team-of-student-calle/1835674973123739/
There are no hard and fast rules about Oxford types. All I know is that my sons were always asking me questions, had an amazing imagination, were interested in many random intellectual facts and never had to be dragged kicking and screaming into a library. Yet I am describing my own family. You might be completely different from this and still get into Oxford.
The one thing that really, really doesn’t matter (even though you think it might) is the type of school you went to. Once you reach Oxford, regardless of your college, you are on a level playing field with everyone else. If you work hard, you can still come top of the year. And if you are willing to extend the hand of friendship to anybody, whatever their background, you are going to fit in. I promise you that.
One word of warning, though. You may have published your first novel at the age of 14, attended the best school in the world, or found a cure for a rare disease, but never, ever, think you are too good for Oxford.
Most of you will be trembling with fear at the prospect of the interview, but don’t worry. Please don’t put on a special act, or try to be “posh”. The tutors just want you to be yourself, as it will be yourself they will be teaching for the next three years. I can remember my younger son saying that his medical interview was the “hardest bloody interview in Oxford” and after the first five minutes “I proceeded to make a fool of myself”.
In contrast, you may come across the over-confident types who come out of the interview, punching the air and saying “aced it!” Don’t let them put you off. If they dismiss the questions as too easy, they are missing a trick. Maybe their superior education makes them think they can answer anything and impress the tutors, so jump in too quickly with their answers. Do not fall into this trap. The questions are not designed to be easy. Often there is no wrong or right answer. You just need to keep calm and give it your best guess, giving evidence for what you say. Those who think they are so clever they can talk over the tutors, be arrogant and not listen carefully to them, will not win any prizes. Neither will those who are prickly and cannot take criticism.
Don’t take my word for this. Listen to Josh Tulloch and Vee Kativhu from Lady Margaret Hall (Youtube video, “Oxford ACS University College tag”)
Josh: The people who came out of the interview saying “Wow that was amazing” – they’re not here!
Vee: Who wants to teach someone who knows it all? They want you to come in with a fresh mind, willing to learn. “I don’t know the answers but I am willing to find out”.
Josh: “I would love to learn. Please teach me.”
Now that’s a winning attitude!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfll3Sh8GBA&list=PL-YIls1UVCDGPq7-7LcF80m1B08M7wbzJ&index=2
The tutors have devoted their whole adult lives to their craft and deserve our unreserved respect. Even in the long vac, they will be flying all over the world or writing another book. Their fame and reputation has spread far wider than Oxford’s dreaming spires. You, as a student, will need to put yourself in the tutors’ hands, note everything they say, take the knowledge you are given and develop it in your own way. After you have completed a piece of work, you and your tute partner will have to read out your essay and it will be discussed by all of you. You cannot just make sweeping statements without any hard evidence, or flounce out of the room just because someone disagrees with you.
But let’s get back to the positives. I greatly admire the “trailblazers”, people who are the first at their school to attend Oxford. They probably think this is no big deal, but they will inspire everyone at their school to aim for the top, for generations to come. One such trailblazer at my younger son’s college was performing a stand-up routine with the Oxford Imps (Oxford comedy equivalent to the Footlights) within the first term, to great acclaim.
https://www.oxfordimps.com/
“But will the public school types accept me?” you ask. Well, put it this way, my son shares a set with someone who went to one of the top 9 public schools in Britain. And does he care that my son is from a single parent family and lives in a semi, with a rather overgrown garden? Does he heck.
So if you think you can get into Oxford, go for it. For those who dare, the door’s open.
Josh: The people who came out of the interview saying “Wow that was amazing” – they’re not here!
Vee: Who wants to teach someone who knows it all? They want you to come in with a fresh mind, willing to learn. “I don’t know the answers but I am willing to find out”.
Josh: “I would love to learn. Please teach me.”
Now that’s a winning attitude!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfll3Sh8GBA&list=PL-YIls1UVCDGPq7-7LcF80m1B08M7wbzJ&index=2
The tutors have devoted their whole adult lives to their craft and deserve our unreserved respect. Even in the long vac, they will be flying all over the world or writing another book. Their fame and reputation has spread far wider than Oxford’s dreaming spires. You, as a student, will need to put yourself in the tutors’ hands, note everything they say, take the knowledge you are given and develop it in your own way. After you have completed a piece of work, you and your tute partner will have to read out your essay and it will be discussed by all of you. You cannot just make sweeping statements without any hard evidence, or flounce out of the room just because someone disagrees with you.
But let’s get back to the positives. I greatly admire the “trailblazers”, people who are the first at their school to attend Oxford. They probably think this is no big deal, but they will inspire everyone at their school to aim for the top, for generations to come. One such trailblazer at my younger son’s college was performing a stand-up routine with the Oxford Imps (Oxford comedy equivalent to the Footlights) within the first term, to great acclaim.
https://www.oxfordimps.com/
“But will the public school types accept me?” you ask. Well, put it this way, my son shares a set with someone who went to one of the top 9 public schools in Britain. And does he care that my son is from a single parent family and lives in a semi, with a rather overgrown garden? Does he heck.
So if you think you can get into Oxford, go for it. For those who dare, the door’s open.
@Oxford Mum you’re like the gift that keeps giving. Thank you! This was an amazing read!
To my friends who’re applying this year and anyone who’s going to apply in the future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that Oxford is not an elite institute. (Yes, there are reportedly underground societies for the rich, but they’re underground, you get the idea).
As an international, I thought that Oxford was the place where people whose grandparents are peers in the House of Lords and who have tons in their banks get in. Go to Oxford at all if you can, even if you go solo, there’s no harm. (I came to GB on my own, I think you can manage a six hour train ride to Oxford.) You’ll find it to be a very friendly city, the people are helpful and you’ll never be more than a couple of feet away from a pub or a fast food place or a restaurant (don’t drink though, kids. It’s illegal).
To my friends who’re applying this year and anyone who’s going to apply in the future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that Oxford is not an elite institute. (Yes, there are reportedly underground societies for the rich, but they’re underground, you get the idea).
As an international, I thought that Oxford was the place where people whose grandparents are peers in the House of Lords and who have tons in their banks get in. Go to Oxford at all if you can, even if you go solo, there’s no harm. (I came to GB on my own, I think you can manage a six hour train ride to Oxford.) You’ll find it to be a very friendly city, the people are helpful and you’ll never be more than a couple of feet away from a pub or a fast food place or a restaurant (don’t drink though, kids. It’s illegal).
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by advocatingheriot
@Oxford Mum you’re like the gift that keeps giving. Thank you! This was an amazing read!
To my friends who’re applying this year and anyone who’s going to apply in the future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that Oxford is not an elite institute. (Yes, there are reportedly underground societies for the rich, but they’re underground, you get the idea).
As an international, I thought that Oxford was the place where people whose grandparents are peers in the House of Lords and who have tons in their banks get in. Go to Oxford at all if you can, even if you go solo, there’s no harm. (I came to GB on my own, I think you can manage a six hour train ride to Oxford.) You’ll find it to be a very friendly city, the people are helpful and you’ll never be more than a couple of feet away from a pub or a fast food place or a restaurant (don’t drink though, kids. It’s illegal).
To my friends who’re applying this year and anyone who’s going to apply in the future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that Oxford is not an elite institute. (Yes, there are reportedly underground societies for the rich, but they’re underground, you get the idea).
As an international, I thought that Oxford was the place where people whose grandparents are peers in the House of Lords and who have tons in their banks get in. Go to Oxford at all if you can, even if you go solo, there’s no harm. (I came to GB on my own, I think you can manage a six hour train ride to Oxford.) You’ll find it to be a very friendly city, the people are helpful and you’ll never be more than a couple of feet away from a pub or a fast food place or a restaurant (don’t drink though, kids. It’s illegal).
Hi Heriot!
I am so very happy that you have got the message about Oxford not being elitist. Every day I have to answer threads where Oxford prospectives are put off because they think everyone is rich and will look down on them.
When my elder child went up to Oxford, we were all so shocked at how welcoming everyone was and the great things he had learnt. It was all so completely different from how we imagined. If I wasn't so impressed with Oxford, and thought state school students would be looked down on, I would have never have written Oxford Demystified.
The most famous "underground" society, the Bullingdon, had only one member the last time I looked. The film, "The Riot Club" was terrible publicity for them.
I hope you, and others, enjoyed some of the details of the iconic shops we have enjoyed during the years.
When lockdown is lifted, you can bet your bottom dollar this is where I will be visiting first.
One of the best threads I've ever read! I'm going to give it a go in '22! Would you mind sharing what extra curriculars your son did for his medical entry? Thanks!! x
(edited 4 years ago)
That’s lovely to hear, daisy! I will post my son’s chapter on medicine and also my own with all the resources etc. Will do it tomorrow. Feeling a bit down at the moment as just found out elder son lost his job, so your post cheered me right up @turquoisedaisy
Original post by turquoisedaisy
One of the best threads I've ever read! I'm going to give it a go in '22! Would you mind sharing what extra curriculars your son did for his medical entry? Thanks!! x
OK, Daisy, so I have caught up with you at last!
Here's the chapter of Oxford Demystified that I wrote, talking about the extra curriculars my son did to get into Oxford medical school:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6019726
And here is the chapter my son wrote, telling us all about the application process from his point of view, and also his thoughts on the course:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6044384
I know there is nothing you can do over the summer as far as work experience goes, but neither can anyone else! What I need you to do now is think of an aspect of medicine you are interested in, and read about that in great depth. That way your PS will be more eye catching. Or you can do the general reading I speak of in my chapter.
Also, if you go to state school, take a look at the chapter about state school schemes, as hopefully if they find a vaccine you will have those choices again next year.
In fact, I will give you the link to the entire book, as it gives so many signposts and suggestions about how you can make the most of your Oxford application:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6100480
I know a place at Oxford medical school might seem like an impossibility right now. Read about my encounter with the professor at the beginning of my chapter and see how dejected I was at first. Then note how, with a lot of hard word and dedication, we made it happen. My son only came top in science in his year once in his entire school career, but when it came to medicine he had astonishing drive. That is what you need rather than being some genius.
I wish you the very best of luck xx
@turquoisedaisy
I cannot thank you enough for this @Oxford Mum !
You’re more than welcome. A number of state school Oxford medics have told me those chapters helped them get in, so let’s hope they are lucky for you.
Original post by turquoisedaisy
One of the best threads I've ever read! I'm going to give it a go in '22! Would you mind sharing what extra curriculars your son did for his medical entry? Thanks!! x
Having gone what we went through this year (only deciding to apply to Oxford for the 2020 intake last September - just over a month before the BMAT!), I would recommend you get the "BMAT questions book" to start getting familiar with the questions, time pressure etc
Exactly, e’s dad! I wish your daughter all the joy of Oxford medical school in September! Not a good day for me, as shower just broken ... think I am just about due for some good karma
Original post by Oxford Mum
To help you settle in, you will be assigned a College Mum and Dad from the year above (at least one of whom is studying your subject). You will also need to propose to a College wife/husband (my elder son still has his “engagement ring”). The following year you will then automatically become an instant parent yourself. Your parents will cook you a meal in the first week, and will be there as a friend if you have any problems.
Do you know if this happens at Cambridge too? And is it at all colleges?
Yes, it is a Cambridge thing as well
https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/news/college-families
Yes, every college has them. You will be the exception to the rule if you weren't someone's Mum or Dad in the second year. My son had to adopt another "child" in the second year, as their Dad basically never left his room.
Wait til you are a "grandparent" in 3rd/4th year. You'll feel positively ancient!
https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/news/college-families
Yes, every college has them. You will be the exception to the rule if you weren't someone's Mum or Dad in the second year. My son had to adopt another "child" in the second year, as their Dad basically never left his room.
Wait til you are a "grandparent" in 3rd/4th year. You'll feel positively ancient!
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Oxbridge applicants for modern languages - 2025 entry (applying in 2024)
- Does Oxford mind if your supercurriculars are to do with Cambridge?
- Oxbridge Medicine Extracurriculars
- Oxford super/extracurricals
- Oxford Demystified - Engineering
- Cambridge Demystified - Law
- Oxford Demystified – Physics and Philosophy
- Oxford Demystified - Law and Spanish Law
- Which university, Oxford or Cambridge cares more about GCSE grades?
- How To Get An Oxford Engineering Offer: Index
- Geography: Oxford or Cambridge?
- what does cambridge actually want from a medical applicant?
- Oxford medical school application
- Oxford University: Your Guide to Oxford Interviews
- PPL at Oxford
- Oxford personal statement
- studying medicine at oxford
- University of Oxford 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread
- University of Oxford 2025 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread
- University of Oxford 2024 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 week ago
The fate of my Oxford applications is in the hands of my teacherLast reply 1 week ago
Oxbridge applicants for modern languages - 2025 entry (applying in 2024)Last reply 1 week ago
CMV: One should be allowed to apply to both Oxford and Camrbdige for undergrad
