EVELYN PIKE

Oxbridge Applications Specialist

William Clarence Education

Dreaming Spires Realised:

A Global Passport to Oxford and Cambridge

Studying at Oxford or Cambridge is an aspiration for thousands of students all over the world, many hundreds of whom I have been fortunate to work with. Despite these institutions claiming over a third of their student body is international, admission rates for overseas students can be as low as 3%. Without guidance, any candidate’s hopeful dream of studying at these historic institutions becomes a lottery, confounded by having to navigate both the academic rigours and the cultural nuances unique to their admissions.

My colleagues at William Clarence and I therefore believe that a tailored approach is needed for every international student with ambitions to study at Oxbridge.

The Right Qualifications

In my experience, most UK aspirants are familiar with “three A*s at A Level” and what that means when it comes to chances at Oxbridge. But if a student is French, American or Norwegian, and taking the OIB, APs, or the Vitnemål - videregående opplæring, then the results they’ll need for entrance are often much mystified. These need decoding within the context of the UK system, and for me, it goes both ways; ensuring that each student’s academic achievements are appreciated by admissions, and helping students to understand precisely what is required from them. We provide comprehensive academic overviews, with meticulous examination of transcripts, predicted grades, and subject choices, helping students maximise their chances wherever possible.

The difficult admissions tests required for degrees at Oxbridge are another hurdle, so we also provide mentoring to help our students take these on with confidence.

The Right Degree

A student-centric approach is at the heart of the guidance we provide. One of my students announced her lifelong ambition was to be a philanthropist - unusual for a seventeen-year-old, perhaps - but she was a mathematician and not a social scientist. With thousands of qualification combinations leading to hundreds of degree choices, choosing can be daunting. Whilst some students know what they want to study, many from a less specialised education system than the UK struggle with subject choicewe are here to help with that choice. Oxford and Cambridge offer degrees specific to them - like Cambridge’s HSPS, and Oxford’s Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. These degrees, alongside many other highly specific degrees at Oxbridge, put undergraduates onto a plethora of career pathways - so making strategic decisions is key, aligning students’ aspirations and abilities with the right degree for them. After much research and discussion, my budding philanthropist chose Mathematics and Philosophy - a fitting choice.

The Right Experience

Having the right grades for their chosen degree is the first rung on the long ladder to Oxbridge. Hopefuls must have an exceptional understanding of their subject and be able to showcase considerable experience in that field, whether practical for Medicine, theoretical for Physics, or reading for History of Art. For international students, access to the right programmes and materials can be a challenge, so my colleagues and I provide curated reading lists and suggest events, activities, and summer schools appropriate to each of our student’s academic interests and cultural backgrounds.

The Right Attitude and Support

We also serve as a cultural compass, helping students navigate the subtleties of Oxbridge expectations. Tone can go a long way, whether in the personal statement or at interview, and the unwritten rules of dress codes, greetings and body language can be bewildering for the uninitiated. Similarly, social and familial expectations hold sway over many students; we advocate for their choices and recognise that Oxbridge may not be the sole path to success. The UK is home to many of the best universities in the world, and through guiding students in researching and shortlisting, we ensure they have an array of choices.

The Right Words

The next steps are the personal statement and the infamous interview. With both the competition and standards for student accomplishment ever-increasing, it’s paramount that the personal statement is a truly refined and exceptional piece of work, reflecting the student in the best light possible. There is no single template for the perfect statement, so guidance on how to craft each one and exceptional attention to detail are needed at this stage. Similarly, interview preparation, including mock interviews and feedback sessions, all help students to prepare for what they often perceive to be the most important day of their young lives. It is my role to ensure that my students’ unique brilliance resonates with what Oxford and Cambridge are looking for.

The Right Consultant

The delivery team I work with at William Clarence consists of experienced professionals who guide students’ decisions based on individual needs, with a tailored and holistic approach to admissions success. Our international students discover not just a path to Oxford and Cambridge but a transformative journey guided by a seasoned hand.