Your complimentary “So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…”
If you’re looking for resources and advice before making your application to Oxford or Cambridge, then you’ve come to the right place! We have been industry-leading experts in applying to Oxbridge since 1999, amassing quite a catalogue of info, tips, and tricks to help you get into the best position possible to get that elusive Oxbridge offer you’ve been dreaming of.
We’ve condensed the stuff that most people want to know into our free E-book “So you Want to Go to Oxbridge? Tell me About a Banana…”. Packed full of over a decade’s research and up-to-date advice on how to prepare, Tell me about a banana draws on the experiences of thousands of successful Oxbridge graduates and how they would approach the application process if they had to do it all over again.
The process of applying to Oxford and Cambridge takes a good deal of energy, time and commitment. Our advice is simple – you need to apply for the course and university at which you would love to study. You need to be 100% motivated to study that course at that university.
At interview, Admissions Tutors want to see applicants who have a genuine love for the subject, and who have the potential to thrive studying it when they get there. This passion needs to be reflected in the personal statement – and as you’ll be spending three, potentially more years of your life studying it – you do genuinely need to like the subject!
Remember that courses at Oxford and Cambridge are often different in structure and topics covered, if not in duration. Some courses are only found at Oxford or Cambridge. For example, Human Sciences at Oxford and HSPS (Human, Social and Political Science) at Cambridge.
It is also worth considering the grades you might need to attain to gain a place. Nearly all Cambridge courses now require at least one A* and applicants for Science, Maths and Engineering at Oxford may be given offers requiring at least one A* at A level.
This follows moves by Cambridge, Warwick and Imperial to introduce the new A* grade into their offers. Applicants for Mathematics and joint honours including Mathematics may be given an offer requiring two A*s at A level.
As you know, to get an A* in your A levels, you need to get an A overall for the full A level (including your AS marks) and score over 90% for the A2 year. You can only get an A* for a full A level and not for an AS level or a particular module. If you have any concerns about how this will affect you, or if you are worried about getting the A* you need for Oxford or Cambridge, speak to your teacher or get in touch with us to see how we can help you.
“Ask an Oxford graduate as to whether they think they went to the best university…and they’ll say yes. Ask a Cambridge graduate, and they’ll tell you the same.”
Cambridge asks applicants to submit details of the individual module marks, whether certified or not. Applicants fill out a separate SAQ form once they have submitted their UCAS form. Oxford University does not ask for this breakdown, so if your UMS scores aren’t looking too good, this might be something to help you make a choice.
The two universities also use the various Admissions Tests slightly differently. Oxford uses the results of Admissions Tests to short-list applicants for interview, and therefore tends to interview fewer candidates than Cambridge.
Cambridge on the other hand, tends to interview most applicants, even if their Admissions Test score is not as strong as they would typically expect from a successful applicant.
Ask an Oxford graduate as to whether they think they went to the best university…and they’ll say yes. Ask a Cambridge graduate, and they’ll tell you the same (and we should know – we’ve spoken to thousands!).
The two cities have their differences. We certainly advise visiting the two places to work out where you think you’ll suit. Do you prefer the tranquillity of Cambridge or the bustle of Oxford? Does the location affect you? Ask yourself will it be difficult to travel home for the holidays?
Given you will be spending the next three, or potentially more years of your life there, you need to feel excited by the place. After spending a summer school in Cambridge, one applicant that we supported decided that it simply was not the city for her. Another however, fell head over heals in love…she’s now graduated and is planning to stay in Cambridge to do a PhD.
Really have a think about what you are looking for from a university – academically and socially. Which do you like the feel of? Where can you see yourself? Although family, friends, teachers and us can help you to decide, the ultimate choice is yours!
We sent a quick survey round to our tutors to find out how they chose. Here are some of the replies:
Jenni, English Graduate of Cambridge.
I chose Cambridge because the course seemed more flexible and modern. You weren’t required to do Old English and there was scope to write about film, opera, international and very contemporary literature. I was also very into close analysis of texts, so liked the Practical Criticism as a basis of the course – this turned out to be my best paper! The Cambridge course was stronger on foreign languages, which I loved studying. I knew the drama at Cambridge was better (more than 40 plays a term) and I’m now training to be an actor. I also didn’t want to stay at home in Oxford!Bertie, Classics Graduate of Oxford.
In contrast to most people, I didn’t have any difficulty deciding on Oxford. The Classics course at Oxford is so different from the Tripos that I never really considered the latter. I never felt in any great rush to get through my time at university, and it felt natural to choose the option which would enable me to study more material in greater depth. Obviously, it didn’t hurt that I have always found Oxford more aesthetically pleasing and knew that the city was a bit more lively.Both Oxford and Cambridge have fearsome reputations. Deciding whether and how to encourage a student to apply can be a difficult decision. The Oxbridge system can appear opaque to many, and it is essential to appreciate what the system provides in order to understand how to support your students.
The world-famous one-to-one teaching systems – supervisions at Cambridge and tutorials at Oxford – are perhaps the most significant elements in explaining why alumni go on to become leaders in their fields, often on an international stage. The teaching system and academic environment promotes independent scholarship and the opportunities for students to develop self-motivation and intellectual curiosity are enormous.
All students are taught through tutorials at Oxford or supervisions at Cambridge. These are formed of a tutor, whether a senior fellow or a junior researcher, and anything from one to three students. Some papers may make use of supplementary seminars, which resemble A level classes more closely, and usually all courses have accompanying lectures. Generally, each student takes a paper or two over the course of a term. A typical humanities student would be expected to produce between six to sixteen circa 3000 word essays in each eight week term; whereas a science student would have problem sheets for each tutorial alongside sessions in “labs” for which they must produce “lab reports”. Tutorials or supervisions are focused on the work each student has produced: a humanities student may be expected to email their essay a day in advance then be prepared to discuss their arguments in depth with their tutor.
Although this may sound somewhat gruelling, the tutorial system offers a rewarding and personal teaching medium. Even the most shy academics are nurtured into communicating effectively, and the most headstrong are challenged to deconstruct their arguments. Furthermore, the abilities of students to balance extra-curricular activities with academic life develops individuals with strong time-management skills alongside outstanding sporting, dramatic or musical talent.
The competition, though gruelling, is a mark to any employer that the candidate is outstanding. Oxbridge not only denotes intelligence, but also crucially, drive, perseverance, stamina and the ability to thrive under pressure.
The prestige of Oxbridge attracts many of the greatest thinkers in the world as tutors for the university, allowing passionate young students to speak face-to-face on a weekly basis, about a subject they love, with the best academics worldwide.
The flexibility of many Oxbridge courses allows students to choose from often dozens of different papers, all designed and run by a leading scholar on that topic. The collegiate system does not confine people to their college: although broad papers will frequently be taught in college, more specific papers may well be taught in another college. As such, there is no need for a student to make their college choice on the basis of a single tutor, and they may even find that the tutor is on research leave when they arrive!
The competition, though gruelling, is a mark to any employer that the candidate is outstanding. Oxbridge not only denotes intelligence, but also crucially, drive, perseverance, stamina and the ability to thrive under pressure. Where most universities require around two essays to be completed per term, at Oxbridge, two essays are expected as standard per week.
Scientists work in some of the most famous and best resourced laboratories in the country, and often under internationally famed tutors. Many courses use the combined undergraduate and master’s course structure that allows students the security to stay on and focus on a single topic, helping them to enter the job market ahead of other candidates.
The difficult admissions process actually treats a student as an individual better than any other more simple system – working to ensure that each student can represent their unique mind in an interactive conversation
The difficult admissions process actually treats a student as an individual better than any other more simple system – working to ensure that each student can represent their unique mind in an interactive conversation, rather than in 4000 characters on a UCAS screen. As the teaching system revolves around tutorials, the interview system offers more than any other universities can, as it essentially constitutes a taster of the university experience.
Of course, there are many steps before the interview. The most demanding of these is the admissions test, which is as much a filter for the candidates with the requisite academic potential as it is a chance for the best students to achieve an outstanding score. If admissions tutors are forced to decide between two similar candidates, often their test score is a factor in making that all-important decision: the test is far more than a simple hurdle to clear.
Oxford and Cambridge look at a number of different factors when considering applicants for places:
You will need to assess whether you will make an impressive applicant against these criteria. Oxford and Cambridge are interested in your academic potential, so it is key that your application demonstrates a wealth of this at all stages.
The best first step for assessing how competitive a candidate you are is to look at your grades.
Even the most studious of university hopefuls can be a little nervous about this. After all, university is as much a chance to flee the nest and spread your wings as it is to study further.
When it comes to Oxbridge, there is no doubt that your work load tends to be on something of a different level. At many universities, you might be set a couple of essays a term. At Oxbridge it’s likely to be up to two each week. The pace at which you learn is exhilarating, but it’s demanding – and you’ve got to be sure you can handle the workload.
In our experience, students don’t give up on a varied life… they give up TV and sleep
However, we are very keen to dispel the myth that this means students do nothing but work.
Oxford and Cambridge provide a plethora of non-academic clubs and activities to fill your time with, both at university and at college level. Whether you are a fantastic fly-half, a budding thespian, the ultimate, ultimate frisbee-er or you’re obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, there is a something for everyone.
Oxbridge terms are a bit like the 400m. 8 weeks – it sounds short but sprinting for 8 weeks is no mean feat. Rather than give up extra-curricular pursuits or a decent social life, in our experience, students give up TV and sleep.
So is this kind of busyness something that appeals to you – do you like the idea of handling your term like an academic Michael Johnson?
Most essay subjects require around three essays per fortnight, and science subjects will usually require you to be in lectures or labs all week. It’s a lot of work – which is why Admissions Tutors will want to know whether you really love your subject.
There are few of us who enjoy the slog of 3,000 words to write before morning, or hard-core revision by candlelight in the library. No amount of love for a subject can make finals a wholly enjoyable experience. However, if you do not get an inherent pleasure from studying your subject, you will find it very difficult to cope with the kind of work load you’ll be expected to handle. If you haven’t already chosen your course, this is your number one priority.
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, 58 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ
