questions about oxford...

1.

If your EPQ is relevant to the degree you're applying for, then it will help. I know a couple people on my course that talked about their EPQs in their personal statement and interviews because it was relevant. If its not relevant to your degree, though, it won't be much help (they simply don't care that much about extra-curriculars).

2.

Nope, 3 is all you need, though 4 is common too. Doing 5 will just make your life harder and not benefit you much. I did 4 A-levels and had to stretch myself pretty thin, resulting in worse grades. If I could go back I would have done 3 personally. You just need to get good enough grades to meet the requirements, then beyond that its mostly other factors that matter (personal statement, interviews, admissions tests, etc).

3.

Colleges mostly only matter for accommodation, food, finances, etc. The only caveat is that your tutors are specific to your college, so the college you go to will affect what your tutorials are like. If you're worried about this try to ask some people doing your course what their tutorials are like. I would say don't worry too much about it though Just choose which college to apply to based on location, appearance, vibe, funding opportunities, etc. You'll be living here for 4 years so choose one you feel comfortable at and suits you!

4.

Oxford only cares about things that are relevant to your subject. For example, if you write that you play guitar in your chemistry application they probably won't really care. So focus mostly on relevant stuff in your personal statement and just add a couple sentences about other stuff if you have space, to show that you are a well-rounded individual. But don't focus on it beyond that in your application.

5.

GCSEs do matter but I can't say how much. Personally, I think my GCSEs probably helped me because I got really good GCSEs and worse A-level grades. But it's certainly not the most important factor. A-levels, admissions tests, personal statement and interviews matter much more! So don't stress too hard about them (you don't need straight 9s).

6.

It does depend on which tutor is reading your application, but generally Oxford is looking for people who (in addition to being good at their subject) show that they are passionate about their subject. That means you need to demonstrate that you have gone above and beyond to learn about your subject. I'd recommend keeping track of all the extra stuff you do that's relevant. Also, try to show that you have engaged with it on a deeper level, like look at opposing views, go down rabbit holes, actively search for info, etc. It's less about memorising facts and more about understanding the key concepts in your subject, being able to understand new information and being able to logically solve problems using your background knowledge. My tutor said she also tries to select people who are 'individuals', i.e. they are unique, passionate and well-rounded people, but I don't know if that's common with other tutors.