Oxbridge Summer Schools?

3

Does anyone have any recommendations for how to find a summer school? I'm planning on applying to Cambridge for linguistics next year, and everything I've seen online has said that a summer school really boosts one's application. I'm also American, so I'm not really sure where to even begin looking. Any help would be greatly appreciated lol

Reply 1

Paralove

21

There won't be one that isn't a private for-profit company if you're international. Don't know what you're reading but it should be the uni website where it clearly says you don't need summer schools. Only a minority (and of UK) students will have one, and they have to meet eligibility criteria as they're to encourage students from less advantaged backgrounds to apply. There are many other ways to engage with your interests in linguistics, and for free!

Reply 2

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

18

Original post

by aer2

Does anyone have any recommendations for how to find a summer school? I'm planning on applying to Cambridge for linguistics next year, and everything I've seen online has said that a summer school really boosts one's application. I'm also American, so I'm not really sure where to even begin looking. Any help would be greatly appreciated lol

I would advise against it. They don't actually boosts one's application much and they are very expensive and usually run for profit. The amount of time and money you would spend with one could easily be spent more usefully, such as through reading around your subject and other relevant supercurriculars. Cambridge don't expect you to spend money on your supercurriculars and they have made great strides to ensure they are accessible. Here is an example list on the Cambridge website: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf (page 28). Note these are only suggestions and you are not in any way expected to use all or even any of these specific ones. I would let your interest guide you.

As a side note, which you may well be aware of already, but applying to UK universities is very different from US universities. Cambridge will only care about supercurriculars* that are directly related to your degree. Sports, music, volunteering, etc. will only have any impact if they are related to Linguistics. Further, the personal statement is very different to a college essay in how it reads, and often reads more like a cover letter or a CV.

Edit: *supercurriculars are similar to extracurriculars but related to your subject, e.g. volunteering in a hospital if you were applying for Medicine.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

Scotney

20

Original post

by aer2

Does anyone have any recommendations for how to find a summer school? I'm planning on applying to Cambridge for linguistics next year, and everything I've seen online has said that a summer school really boosts one's application. I'm also American, so I'm not really sure where to even begin looking. Any help would be greatly appreciated lol

If you are loaded and money no object then I do think there is some value in going.My son went on one for free because a party of Americans pulled out at last minute and the organiser offered the places to poorer pupils who were at good schools He had a great time stayed in Newnham college ,had tutorials with retired academics and took part in debates and discissions as well as touring half of England!
Wonderful prep for Oxford life but NOT necessary at all.

Oxbridge Summer Schools?

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