Download the Oxford and Cambridge 2013 admissions stats and analysis report by us at Oxbridge Applications.
Use this to learn more about the Oxbridge Admission process. To download the Oxbridge Analysis Report for 2013 , just click on the image to the right.
Mice are used in many important experiments for human medical health, but one of the main challenges is working out if they experience non-visible side effects.
How would you design an experiment to see if mice experience tinnitus in response to aspirin?
With so many undergraduate courses on offer, settling on just one course to read for three or four years is often a daunting task.
While some applicants know exactly what they want to study at university, for others, the choice is more difficult; particularly if they are strong in several areas or their A-level or IB subjects offer no immediate direction. Another issue for consideration is the desire to go to Oxbridge rather than any other university – sometimes applicants are tempted to pick the course which they think will give them the best chance of being offered a place, rather than the course that speaks most directly to what it is they desire to study and become immersed in.
To ensure applicants make the right choice, we’ve put together a list of questions every applicant should consider when selecting their course.
What do I have an inherent interest in? Recent trends show that vocational and traditionally lucrative subjects (e.g. Medicine/Law/Economics) are increasing in popularity every year – what must be prioritised by any applicant, however, is an enjoyment for the subject.
Importantly, the subject applicants enjoy the most will not necessarily be the subject they have studied in secondary school – a student excelling in Mathematics, for example, may find that they enjoy applying those skills elsewhere, such as in PPE or Economics. Ensuring that course choice builds on not only strengths but wider interests is important to making the most of the Oxbridge experience.
Should I apply for a subject I have never studied?Students should also feel confident in applying for subjects which they have not previously studied in.
Admissions Tutors do not expect Archaeology & Anthropology applicants or PPE students to have a wealth of knowledge about their subject from secondary school; on the contrary, Admissions Tutors at interview measure applicants’ potential to excel in that subject, rather than how much they already know from previous study.
Applicants should read materials relating to their prospective course choice to demonstrate engagement with their subject, and a familiarity with the basic principles of the course, but should not worry about having not studied their course choice prior to university.
What do I want to do after university? Many applicants select their course based on their long-term career goals.
Recent statistics show that 35% of state school applications were for the five most oversubscribed subjects at Oxford, and the least applied-for subjects were all but neglected with only 13% of state school applicants going for Chemistry, Modern Languages, Classics, Biological Sciences and Biochemistry.
Statistics such as this show that particularly with state school students, there is a drive towards taking vocational and practical subjects, and while this is an important consideration, applicants should be urged to study courses which they will enjoy immersing themselves in for three or four years before considering post-university options.
It is useful to remember that vocational subjects such as Law and Medicine have conversion courses, which allow students to study a subject they enjoy for university and later convert this into a vocational degree for their career needs.
Students can find a full list with individual course overviews on the university websites for Oxford and Cambridge. The majority of courses at both universities will be designed to give students a comprehensive overview of their subject for the first two years, allowing specialisation in the third year of the course.
Specialist Support for SchoolsSchools can kick-start their students’ Oxbridge preparation early on our intensive, one-day courses.
An Oxbridge Preparation Day covers the whole process of applying to Oxbridge, from university and college choice, to interviews and admissions tests. These dayss are run as ‘hub-events’ where students from the local area are invited to attend. If you would like to host your own event for 50 students or more, please contact our Schools Team on +44 (0) 207 499 2394 or email [email protected]. To find out more, visit our Oxbridge Preparation Day page.
Our Oxbridge-graduate consultants are available between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday, with additional evening availability when requested.
Oxbridge Applications, 14 – 16 Waterloo Place, London, SW1Y 4AR
