The Student Room Group

Can I get into Oxford?

Here below is my information, are those applications too ambitious? or can I be even more ambitious?

Profile:
Female, Mainland Chinese nationality, Spanish international school (transferred abroad in Year 6), holds Spanish permanent residency

Intended course:
Law (Personal Statement mainly focused on International Law)


Target universities:
Oxford, LSE (Law, and Anthropology & Law), KCL (Liberal Arts majoring in Law), QMUL


Grades:

AS: A A A A A (Mathematics, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology planning to drop Psychology)

Predicted: A* A* A* A* (school has not yet finalized predictions)

GCSE/IGCSE: 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8

English First Language: 9 with Distinction in Spoken Endorsement (should exempt from IELTS)


Competitions:

2023 UKMT Senior Gold Best in School (did not continue competing after switching to humanities subjects)

John Locke Essay Competition 2025 (Law Q3) Shortlisted

Sir Winston Churchill Young Leaders Public Debating Competition 2024 2nd Place

Other related activities:

Captain of school debate team

Internship in a company’s contracts department

LAMDA Grade 8 Public Speaking Distinction
Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
Here below is my information, are those applications too ambitious? or can I be even more ambitious?

Profile:
Female, Mainland Chinese nationality, Spanish international school (transferred abroad in Year 6), holds Spanish permanent residency

Intended course:
Law (Personal Statement mainly focused on International Law)


Target universities:
Oxford, LSE (Law, and Anthropology & Law), KCL (Liberal Arts majoring in Law), QMUL


Grades:

AS: A A A A A (Mathematics, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology planning to drop Psychology)

Predicted: A* A* A* A* (school has not yet finalized predictions)

GCSE/IGCSE: 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8

English First Language: 9 with Distinction in Spoken Endorsement (should exempt from IELTS)


Competitions:

2023 UKMT Senior Gold Best in School (did not continue competing after switching to humanities subjects)

John Locke Essay Competition 2025 (Law Q3) Shortlisted

Sir Winston Churchill Young Leaders Public Debating Competition 2024 2nd Place

Other related activities:

Captain of school debate team

Internship in a company’s contracts department

LAMDA Grade 8 Public Speaking Distinction

I'm concerned as a would be Oxbridge applicant you aren't able to evaluate such a profile yourself.

You have essentially perfect grades, and some high level relevant extracurricular activities (plus a lot of unrelated high level extracurricular activities).

Clearly on paper you have as much chance as anyone else. Being unable to objectively consider the information available to you and come to a reasoned conclusion seems like a gap for a prospective law student though.

I'm not sure if it's anxiety, or simply being unable to think critically beyond the constraints of a highly structured examination rubric. But two of those three potential explanations would probably be a problem so, might be something to reflect on.

In summary: I'm fairly confident in saying that if you didn't get into Oxbridge after applying, it wouldn't be as a result of your grades. It would be due to analytical skills (or lack thereof) demonstrated in interview and/or submitted work/admissions assessments.

So yes - based on your paper profile you have no reason not to apply :smile: But there may be some deeper issues if you felt the need to ask this in the first place without having the confidence to recognise your excellent track record to date.
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
Here below is my information, are those applications too ambitious? or can I be even more ambitious?
Profile:
Female, Mainland Chinese nationality, Spanish international school (transferred abroad in Year 6), holds Spanish permanent residency
Intended course:
Law (Personal Statement mainly focused on International Law)
Target universities:
Oxford, LSE (Law, and Anthropology & Law), KCL (Liberal Arts majoring in Law), QMUL
Grades:
AS: A A A A A (Mathematics, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology planning to drop Psychology)
Predicted: A* A* A* A* (school has not yet finalized predictions)
GCSE/IGCSE: 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8
English First Language: 9 with Distinction in Spoken Endorsement (should exempt from IELTS)
Competitions:
2023 UKMT Senior Gold Best in School (did not continue competing after switching to humanities subjects)
John Locke Essay Competition 2025 (Law Q3) Shortlisted
Sir Winston Churchill Young Leaders Public Debating Competition 2024 2nd Place
Other related activities:
Captain of school debate team
Internship in a company’s contracts department
LAMDA Grade 8 Public Speaking Distinction
You should definitely apply. From your grades and extra-curriculars, you stand a pretty good chance of getting an interview.

Reply 3

Original post
by artful_lounger
I'm concerned as a would be Oxbridge applicant you aren't able to evaluate such a profile yourself.
You have essentially perfect grades, and some high level relevant extracurricular activities (plus a lot of unrelated high level extracurricular activities).
Clearly on paper you have as much chance as anyone else. Being unable to objectively consider the information available to you and come to a reasoned conclusion seems like a gap for a prospective law student though.
I'm not sure if it's false modesty, crippling anxiety and self-doubt, or simply being unable to think critically beyond the constraints of a highly structured examination rubric. But two of those three potential explanations would probably be a problem so, might be something to reflect on.
In summary: I'm fairly confident in saying that if you didn't get into Oxbridge after applying, it wouldn't be as a result of your grades. It would be due to analytical skills (or lack thereof) demonstrated in interview and/or submitted work/admissions assessments.
So yes - based on your paper profile you have no reason not to apply :smile: But there may be some deeper issues if you felt the need to ask this in the first place without having the confidence to recognise your excellent track record to date.

I don't see your reason for questioning my ability to analyse and evaluate - I posted a question here because I have witnessed people from my school with excellent grades that are at equal level or even better than mine being rejected by oxford, hence I chose to ask a platform that is supposed to be able to offer help and discussions, and by which having members like you, who has far more experience and insight into universities than teachers from my local place for advices.

Reply 4

You meet the minimum requirements so apply.
No one on here can give you the reassurance that you are seeking.
It will now come down to your LNAT score and essay to determine whether you get an interview or not (based on my understanding of reading the law admissions process).
The interview will be the deciding factor, and that depends on the opinion of your interviewers…
Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
I don't see your reason for questioning my ability to analyse and evaluate - I posted a question here because I have witnessed people from my school with excellent grades that are at equal level or even better than mine being rejected by oxford, hence I chose to ask a platform that is supposed to be able to offer help and discussions, and by which having members like you, who has far more experience and insight into universities than teachers from my local place for advices.


As above, if anyone with your profile was rejected, it wasn't because of their academics.

You have an outstanding profile, and accordingly have the same chance of being accepted, or rejected, as every other strong candidate.

Rather than asking "can I get into Oxford?", it might be better to think along the lines of "might I be given serious consideration by Oxford, and therefore is it worth including in my five UCAS choices?", for which the answer is a resounding yes.

Reply 6

Original post
by tinkerbello
You meet the minimum requirements so apply.
No one on here can give you the reassurance that you are seeking.
It will now come down to your LNAT score and essay to determine whether you get an interview or not (based on my understanding of reading the law admissions process).
The interview will be the deciding factor, and that depends on the opinion of your interviewers…


For Oxford specifically - no idea about the others as I’m not interested in attending any of those universities.

Reply 7

Original post
by Admit-One
As above, if anyone with your profile was rejected, it wasn't because of their academics.
You have an outstanding profile, and accordingly have the same chance of being accepted, or rejected, as every other strong candidate.
Rather than asking "can I get into Oxford?", it might be better to think along the lines of "might I be given serious consideration by Oxford, and therefore is it worth including in my five UCAS choices?", for which the answer is a resounding yes.

my idea was simply that a title like "can i get into oxford?" would attract more audience
Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
my idea was simply that a title like "can i get into oxford?" would attract more audience


I appreciate that. It's difficult to give any concrete reassurance, as Oxford have a holistic approach to applications. You are very credible on paper, and sound well motivated, so in that sense you should apply.
Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
my idea was simply that a title like "can i get into oxford?" would attract more audience


However, such a title followed by a thread with someone with perfect grades and a range of activities creates the impression you would not be a competitive applicant, which then may lead others who also have perfectly acceptable profiles for Oxford to think "well if even this person might not get in I may as well not bother".

It creates a negative impact on the wider student community and thus needs to be sharply called out when it is seen so others can begin to recognise their own excellence, even if you cannot.

Reply 10

Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
Here below is my information, are those applications too ambitious? or can I be even more ambitious?
Profile:
Female, Mainland Chinese nationality, Spanish international school (transferred abroad in Year 6), holds Spanish permanent residency
Intended course:
Law (Personal Statement mainly focused on International Law)
Target universities:
Oxford, LSE (Law, and Anthropology & Law), KCL (Liberal Arts majoring in Law), QMUL
Grades:
AS: A A A A A (Mathematics, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology planning to drop Psychology)
Predicted: A* A* A* A* (school has not yet finalized predictions)
GCSE/IGCSE: 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8
English First Language: 9 with Distinction in Spoken Endorsement (should exempt from IELTS)
Competitions:
2023 UKMT Senior Gold Best in School (did not continue competing after switching to humanities subjects)
John Locke Essay Competition 2025 (Law Q3) Shortlisted
Sir Winston Churchill Young Leaders Public Debating Competition 2024 2nd Place
Other related activities:
Captain of school debate team
Internship in a company’s contracts department
LAMDA Grade 8 Public Speaking Distinction
You exceed the entry requirements for all your choices.

However, perhaps you should only apply for Anthropology & Law at the LSE and not the LLB Law degree as well?

Everything else will depend on achieving a high LNAT score of 30 and above. But some LSE and Oxford as well KCL applicants have been accepted with mid 20s to high 20s.

Brasenose College, St. John's College and Teddy Hall might be worth applying to perhaps?

College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus

Reply 11

Original post
by artful_lounger
However, such a title followed by a thread with someone with perfect grades and a range of activities creates the impression you would not be a competitive applicant, which then may lead others who also have perfectly acceptable profiles for Oxford to think "well if even this person might not get in I may as well not bother".
It creates a negative impact on the wider student community and thus needs to be sharply called out when it is seen so others can begin to recognise their own excellence, even if you cannot.

free speech

Reply 12

Original post
by thegeek888
You exceed the entry requirements for all your choices.
However, perhaps you should only apply for Anthropology & Law at the LSE and not the LLB Law degree as well?
Everything else will depend on achieving a high LNAT score of 30 and above. But some LSE and Oxford as well KCL applicants have been accepted with mid 20s to high 20s.
Brasenose College, St. John's College and Teddy Hall might be worth applying to perhaps?
College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus

I am applying for Magdalen, is that ok? tbh I don't really understand why some colleges are more worth applying than others, can you please elaborate?

Reply 13

Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
I am applying for Magdalen, is that ok? tbh I don't really understand why some colleges are more worth applying than others, can you please elaborate?
Magdalen College, Oxford is one of the most popular and oversubscribed colleges for Law. So, don't be surprised if you are interviewed by 2 other colleges as well. More importantly, 40% of October 2025 entry for Law were allocated to different colleges. So, by all means please apply to Magdalen but you might end up somewhere else.
Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
free speech


Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of consequences of that speech among the general public, i.e. it does not require everyone allow you to say anything you want without responding to it or disagreeing with it.

Reply 15

Original post
by lisa_skrrrt_kong
I am applying for Magdalen, is that ok? tbh I don't really understand why some colleges are more worth applying than others, can you please elaborate?


Exactly that. They will all be excellent. Choose based on what suits you, size, location etc. it’s a long time to spend somewhere, best to pick using that criteria than any other.

Reply 16

Original post
by artful_lounger
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of consequences of that speech among the general public, i.e. it does not require everyone allow you to say anything you want without responding to it or disagreeing with it.
What are you even on about? I don't see why do you think it is appropriate to over issue pick over a title of a post as it remains a perfectly sensible title. Not everyone with near perfect grades can get into oxford, and hence has the right to be worried.

Reply 17

Original post
by Anonymous
What are you even on about? I don't see why do you think it is appropriate to over issue pick over a title of a post as it remains a perfectly sensible title. Not everyone with near perfect grades can get into oxford, and hence has the right to be worried.
Oxford, Cambridge, the LSE, UCL, KCL, QMUL, SOAS, Durham, Bristol, York, Warwick, Nottingham, Manchester and Edinburgh reguardly reject perfect grades applicants as they either don't perform well in the LNAT or Interviews or have a weak UCAS Personal Statement. 🙂

Reply 18

Original post
by thegeek888
Oxford, Cambridge, the LSE, UCL, KCL, QMUL, SOAS, Durham, Bristol, York, Warwick, Nottingham, Manchester and Edinburgh reguardly reject perfect grades applicants as they either don't perform well in the LNAT or Interviews or have a weak UCAS Personal Statement. 🙂

yeah, exactly my point. Some times even if you have a good personal statement and interview they still would reject if they don't like the look of you, they have to cut numbers somehow.

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