Our Senior Consultants

Alicia Luba, Head of Consultancy, BA English Language and Literature, Oxford

Alison Bissell, Head of Oxbridge Applications, BA Maths and Philosophy, Oxford

Potential applicants to Oxbridge should ask themselves the following questions as early as possible:

1) Am I of an academic standard that is high enough to be successful in an Oxbridge application?

2) What can I do to prepare, so that I show myself to be an outstanding candidate at each stage of the application process?

Private Consultations offer candidates and their families the opportunity to gain research-led answers to these questions. Run by an Oxbridge-graduate admissions expert, a Private Consultation begins with a subject-specific mock interview to assess the candidate’s current strengths and areas for improvement. Following this, candidates receive full feedback, all of the information they need to prepare themselves for the application steps ahead, and a bespoke strategy for preparation.

COMMON AREAS COVERED IN A PRIVATE CONSULTATION

When a student decides that they want to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, they immediately encounter a range of questions. A Private Consultation is an opportunity to get expert, detailed answers based on our 19 years of research to questions like these:

• Which university should I apply to? How should I choose between Oxford and Cambridge?
• How do I compare to others in my position? Am I as good as other students applying?
• Which specific degree would suit me? How would different course choices affect my chances of success?
• What’s the difference between the colleges? Do I stand a better chance at some rather than others?
• How can I prepare myself properly for the interviews? What will I be asked – and why?
• How can I draft a UCAS form and Personal Statement that appeals to Oxford or Cambridge Admissions Tutors?
• How can I prepare for the TSA, ELAT, HAT, PAT, LNAT, Cambridge Law Test, BMAT exam, or any of the other admissions tests they might throw my way?

Applying to Cambridge or Oxford is a more complicated process than many other UK universities, with the additional challenges of interviews and admissions tests. Understanding how to improve your chances of getting into Oxbridge requires both a thorough understanding of the admissions process, and a strategy for preparation that will help you put your best foot forward at every stage.

Structure of a consultation

A Private Consultation is divided into three key sections:

• Subject-specific mock interview. In a one-to-one interview environment, we will assess a student’s communication, subject-knowledge and potential to study their subject at university using real past interview questions.
• Parent consultation. Following the mock interview, we will ask the student to leave the session in order to discuss their performance with the family. This is also a chance to ask questions you may have about any aspect of the application process.
• Evaluation and next steps. As a group, we will discuss a strategy for developing the student’s skills in each area of the application process.

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Joining the Premier Service

WHY IT WORKS

The Oxbridge acceptance rate for our International Premier Clients is 40%, compared to an average of 11% for international Oxbridge applicants.

The key to this success is our personalised, one-to-one approach, which allows us to develop the academically mature and independent students that Oxford and Cambridge are looking for.

One of our Premier Tutors who studied your chosen subject at Oxford or Cambridge will mentor you – giving you the chance to develop your academic interests, and begin studying like an undergraduate in a setting just like that of the Oxford ‘tutorial’ or Cambridge ‘supervision’. Immersion in one-to-one tuition with an expert at an early stage develops mature communication skills when dealing with intellectually challenging concepts, and has a huge impact on the success of our applicants.

Our applicants also benefit from our substantial experience and research. Oxbridge Applications is supported by an advisory board of former Oxford and Cambridge Admissions Tutors – the best sources of insight into what the universities are looking for. They feed back to our network of Tutors and Consultants, each of whom also have successful experience of the admissions system.

To explore whether the Premier Service is the right choice, most applicants begin with a Private Consultation, during which a tailored programme will be drawn up to provide you with full support.

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