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Oxbridge Guide Your guide to applying to Oxford and Cambridge www.sthelens.london Next page

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What’s so special about Oxford and Cambridge? Both universities are world renowned for their research and high-quality teaching

Shorter term time

Oxford and Cambridge are both collegiate universities

Unique tutorial and supervision system

Employers are impressed by an Oxbridge degree

The facts World class researchand high-quality small group teaching. As well as teaching through lectures and seminars, students are also taught in small group sessions called ‘tutorials’ at Oxford and ‘supervisions’ at Cambridge. Tutorials/supervisions will typically consist of one to five students discussing a topic with an expert in that field. The students will have opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback on their work from the subject specialist. This teaching style means that students are regularly challenged academically. Terms are shorter. Although the workload at Oxford and Cambridge tends to be heavier than at other universities, the terms are much shorter (three terms lasting 8-9 weeks). However, the expectation is that the students will work during the holidays. Oxford and Cambridge are both collegiate universities. Colleges are self-contained communities made up of college buildings, libraries, sporting facilities, halls of residence, dining halls and IT suites. Unless you are making an ‘open application’, students apply to a particular college which will consider your application and conduct admissions interviews. You will usually have your tutorials/supervisions in college with tutors. Employers are impressed by an Oxbridge degree. The tutorial system will have taught you many useful skills that are attractive to potential employers: how to formulate and articulate a logical point of view, how to work independently, how to assimilate large quantities of information, and how to work to tight deadlines.

You have to be a genius to go to Oxford or Cambridge.

It is true that Oxford and Cambridge attract the highest performing undergraduate students and that entry to both universities is very competitive - but they are not recruiting geniuses. They are simply looking for bright, hardworking students with a passion for their subject, the potential to learn and the willingness to be challenged. If you are an academic student with strong GCSE results, a love for your subject and you are on track to achieve As and A*s at A Level, you are more than eligible to apply.

The more A Levels I have, the better! The standard entry requirements for both Oxford and Cambridge range from A*A*A to AAA. Some courses may require specific A Level subjects (particularly science-based courses), but you will never be required to have a fourth A Level. That said, top grades across four subjects are undoubtedly more impressive than top grades over three.

Crucially though, they do have to be top grades! Three As and a B at A Level, despite showing breadth and impressive academic application, is not going to get you as far as three A*s. You need to think carefully about your subjects, your workload, and your overall academic profile. It is arguably more useful to have a brilliant EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) on your application form that is related to your subject area and shows evidence of wider research and subject engagement, than to have a fourth A Level. However, for many science-based courses, a fourth A Level in Further Maths is highly desirable. If in doubt, drop into MK1 and speak to one of the Futures team.

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Myth-busting Oxford and Cambridge are only for posh and wealthy people.

Interviewers will look for someone wacky, outgoing, and extroverted.

Contrary to popular belief, people who study at Oxford and Cambridge come from very diverse backgrounds and have many different interests. Students come from independent schools, state schools and overseas.

Interviewers are simply looking for academically able students who have a genuine passion for their chosen subject.

There are activities to suit every individual, whether that’s performing in musicals, singing in the choir, writing for university magazines, playing on the college sports team, socialising in the JCR or clubbing on a Saturday night. Oxbridge are also putting a lot of effort and resources into widening participation to ensure that their student body is diverse and as representative as possible of the general population.

The tutors who conduct the interviews are also looking for students that they would enjoy teaching as undergraduates – students who relish being stretched and challenged in their thinking.

The students work so hard that there is no time for social or leisure activities.

It is true that the eight-week terms make your study time very intensive, and you will have to work hard outside of term-time as well, especially when revising for exams. However, there is a great deal going on outside academia and students are encouraged to get involved in everything from the chapel choir to rowing, from debating to frisbee. There are also a lot of ‘formal halls’ (dinners in college where everyone dresses up) and ‘bops’ (collegebased parties after formal hall which normally take place in the JCR bar). And of course, all students look forward to May Ball season (which actually happens in June!).

Oxford and Cambridge are more expensive than other universities.

This is a commonly held misconception. For UK students, the maximum fee that any university can charge for tuition fees is £9,250 per year. This is the same for Oxford, Cambridge or ANY other university in the country – and it should be borne in mind that students at Oxbridge benefit from far more teaching time and individual attention than the average student at other UK universities. Accommodation costs are actually comparatively low at Oxford and Cambridge because the vast majority of students will live in college-owned accommodation for the duration of their course, and they only have to pay for the eight-week terms when they are in residence (not over the holidays).

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What qualifications do I need? You will need tobe a high achieveracademicallyatschooland have a majority of Grades 8/9 at GCSE. GCSEs give a strong indication of your potential to succeed at university and are seen as evidence of your work ethic. You will need a strong work ethic to enjoy studying at Oxford or Cambridge.

You will need high A Level predictions (As and A*s).

You will need to score highly in the Admissions Test (both universities use Admissions Tests for the majority of their courses, either pre-interview or at interview).

Step 1

Find your course

Yourchoice of subject is more important than any other decision you will have to make during the university application process. You will spend the next three or four years (sometimes longer!) studying this subject to a very high level, so it is extremely important that you choose a course that excites you and that you will feel motivated to study. Oxford and Cambridge offer a great variety of courses, but not all courses – for example, neither university offers a dentistry course, and only Cambridge offers Veterinary Medicine. Undergraduates may apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, but not both. When choosing between them the first point of differentiation should be the course. How does the course differ between the two institutions? Is one more essay-based than the other? Is one more theoretical than the other? Which one best caters for your interests? Which one sounds more exciting?

You should also try to visit both universities as part of the decision-making process. This might be on an official open day, or just visiting on a weekend and having a look around some of the colleges. Absorb the atmosphere, try to talk to some current undergraduate students and get a feel for the place. When making your course choice, it is important that you read through the course pages carefully on the university website to find out what is involved and how the course is structured and assessed. These pages will also give you useful recommendations for preparation and wider reading.

Step 2

Pick a College

Once you’ve chosen the course at either Oxford or Cambridge, you will need to choose a College. Your College will be the centre of your academic and social life, so it is worth putting a bit of thought into the decision. On the other hand, at both universities, there is the very real possibility of being moved to another College before, during or after the interview process (this is called being ‘pooled’). So, while you should put some thought into which College to apply to, you shouldn’t agonise over it too much. You may also choose to submit an ‘open application’ which is where you do not indicate a preferred College and the University allocates your application to a College which, in that particular year, has received fewer applications.

Does it offer the right course? Not every College offers every course offered by the university. You should double check the College-specific undergraduate course pages.

Do you want to be in a women only College? If so, Cambridge have Murray Edwards and Newnham. Does it have the right character? Each College has a distinct character; some are very old and traditional, while others are more modern; some have a reputation for sports while others might be known for drama or science. Do some research on UniFrog to get an insider’s view on Oxbridge Colleges. What are the admissions criteria? Some Colleges have slightly different admissions criteria for the subjects they offer. In addition to the information on your UCAS form, some Colleges may request to see written work and most will require candidates to sit an assessment. Read the admissions criteria for your course and College very carefully.

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How do I apply? Is it in the right location? It is definitely worth locating your faculty buildings and lecture halls and seeing which Colleges are nearby (otherwise you’ll be doing a lot of cycling!). Would you prefer to be in the middle of the city, next to the shops… or perhaps somewhere a bit quieter and further out of the centre?

You need to check whether an Admissions Test is required for your course/college and book it yourself at a centre that is convenient for you.

Do the undergraduate rooms have ensuite bathrooms? If not, what are the shared bathroom facilities like?

Oxbridge interviews typically take place in early December. Some of the Oxbridge Colleges conduct their interviews online using either Teams or some other video conferencing system; other Colleges are back to holding in-person interviews. If you are invited to interview, the College will let you know all the arrangements ahead of time so you know what technology you will require on the day. The interview is designed to model the Oxbridge tutorial system, and interviewers are looking to see whether an applicant has the intellectual capacity to be stretched by the teaching system and thrive in that environment. It is less about knowledge and more about potential.

Is there self-catered accommodation or do students have to eat ‘in hall’? Some College accommodation will have access to shared kitchens, while other Colleges will require all first year students to eat ‘in hall’ i.e. to purchase food from the College kitchen and eat in the communal dining hall. If being able to cook is important to you, then look for a College with self-catered options in the first year.

Step 3

Apply through UCAS

The deadline for Oxbridge applications (unlike other universities) is 15th October. Both universities require some applicants to submit samples of written work soon after their application. The deadline for the submission of this work is usually early November, but your College will email you with a precise date after you have applied. Once you have applied through UCAS, Cambridge will also ask you to complete an additional form (My Cambridge Application) for a bit more information about you and your studies to date. The Oxbridge Coordinator at School will assist you with this.

Step 4

Entrance Exam

Most applicants are required to take a written assessment, either pre-interview or at interview (if interviewed). If you are taking a pre-interview assessment, these typically take place at the beginning of November and are sat at an external centre. Be aware that some can be taken before then such as UCAT and LNAT.

Step 5

The Interview

Interviews usually include an ‘unseen’ element which the candidate will have to analyse and discuss. For scientists and mathematicians this might be an equation or a problem to solve on a mini whiteboard. For an historian, this could be a historical artefact or an extract from a source. English students may be asked to read and analyse a poem. Geographers may have to analyse a map or a diagram, while linguists might be presented with a poem in the target language to translate and analyse. Remember, it does not matter if you do not know the answer – the interviewers are interested in how you think things through and approach tricky problems, ideas, or concepts. Wherever possible, try to ‘think aloud’ so that the interviewers can listen to your thought processes and steer you in different directions.

Step 6

The Decision

You will be informed of the university’s decision before the end of January.

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What support will I receive from the school? The Oxbridge Programme is launched to students in Year 12. Girls are given an outline of the application process and general advice about next steps. Uni Prep+ is an extra timetabled lesson offered to Year 12s and 13s applying to Oxford or Cambridge in order to support their extra reading and research, as well as engage them in discussion and debate with likeminded individuals. Students are assigned a mentor through Uni Prep+ who will also work with the students to prepare them for their respective Admissions Tests and interviews. Students need to apply for Uni Prep+ by completing a brief survey outlining their course choice. Once enrolled on the course, students must commit to the programme and keep up with the additional workload. Uni Prep+ lessons occur fortnightly, but mentors will set supervision work in between to discuss in the following session. In addition to Uni Prep+, regular sessions are held in Year 12 about different aspects of the application process such as the Personal Statement. There is also an Oxbridge Symposium for all applicants in June which is a joint event with neighbouring schools. This is an opportunity for students to flex their critical thinking skills in a tutorial-style setting with their peers, led by an academic specialist in their field. Once you have submitted your applications, you will receive support from your Uniprep + tutor in interview preparation, as well as partaking in interview workshops run by outside providers. Additionally, you will receive both an internal mock interview, as well as an interview with a member of academic staff at another school, so you will have lots of practice with interviewers who are unfamiliar to you.

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What should I do next? 1 If you are unsure about whether you might be a strong enough candidate for Oxbridge, speak to the Oxbridge Coordinator and your subject teachers. They will give you their honest advice.

2 If you wish to enrol in the Uni Prep+ programme, please complete the survey by the date indicated in January.

3 Keep an eye on the Futures Team which will post details of courses, taster days, lectures, etc. that might allow you to evidence wider subject engagement.

4 Contact the university to see what opportunities there are for in person and virtual open days. You can visit the cities of Oxford and Cambridge at any time. The majority of Colleges will happily let you wander around the grounds and the porters are usually happy to answer your questions. If you know anyone at either university get in touch and ask them to give you a tour of their college. The Futures Department can also link you with some of our St Helen’s alumnae currently studying at Oxbridge – why not get in touch and arrange to meet?

5 Make a decision about which course/university sooner rather than later so that you can move your focus onto effective preparation.

6 Start your wider reading. (See next page!)

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How wide does my ‘wider reading’ have to be? Oxbridge applicants are often advised to do lots of ‘wider reading’ or ‘reading around the subject’. This can seem daunting and often students don’t know where to start… Wider reading is important as it shows engagement with the subject beyond the classroom and beyond the curriculum, but it needn’t be a chore. Students do not have to wade through stacks of books alongside their already busy A Level studies. Wider reading does not refer exclusively to books. Wider engagement with your subject can mean any/all of the following: • newspaper articles • online blogs • films • documentaries • TED talks • plays • lectures • seminars • MOOCs • exhibitions • debates • EPQ (and related research) • essay competitions • books (e.g. from recommended reading lists on

If you have a genuine passion for the subject then this wider reading shouldn’t be too onerous. Exploring the subject that you love in more depth will hopefully be an enjoyable experience! If there is a specific aspect of your A Level course that you’ve found interesting, start there and go deeper. Ask your subject mentor for some recommendations. Most course pages on the university websites also have lists of ‘suggested reading’ to start you off – but do not feel that you need to read them all! Two or three texts would be sufficient. The most important thing is that you THINK about what you’ve read/ watched/ heard/ attended, and that you formulate something interesting to say about it. Did it change your thinking in any way? Did it surprise you? Did it lead you to explore the issue further? When you refer to your ‘wider reading’ in your personal statement, a list of books will not impress anybody. The person reading the statement needs to know what you thought about your reading and wants you to reflect upon it critically. These reflections could even form some of the questions you’re asked at interview.

course webpages) • essentially, anything you have read, heard, viewed or taken part in that has developed your interest in and deepened your knowledge of your subject.

Any questions? Drop an email to the Director of Sixth Form or pop in to her office in Mackenzie.

Check out www.myheplus.com and www.oxplore.org for some interesting extension material related to your subject area!

Before the summer holidays:

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My Oxbridge Checklist In September and early October:

I am predicted top (A/A*) grades in all my A Level subjects by the end of Year 12

I have the final draft of my Personal Statement ready for my Uni Prep+ Mentor to review and sign off

I have spoken to the Futures Department about my intention to apply to Oxbridge

I have registered for my Admissions Test (if required) with the external test provider

Ihave researched the related Admissions Tests and looked at the specification and past papers

I have chosen my College (or decided to make an open application)

I have started to do preparation for Admissions Tests (*if required*)

I have contacted alumnae studying my course at Oxbridge (through Mrs Sheerin)

If I have to submit written work I have discussed this with my subject teachers and UniPrep+ mentor

I have applied online through UCAS

I have completed and submitted my EPQ (*if taken*)

I have completed the additional application form (Cambridge only)

I have identified wider reading / engagement activities for my chosen subject

I have submitted written work (if required) to my chosen College

I have discussed my wider reading with my Uni Prep+ mentor and written a critical evaluation/refection on this reading

I have a study plan in place for regular Admissions Test preparation, including timed practice of past/sample papers

I have a plan in place for wider reading and test preparation over the summer holidays

St Helen’s School Eastbury Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 3AS enquiries@sthelens.london 01923 843210 www.sthelens.london

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