Oxford University...do you know anyone who's been accepted there?

Yaziinyz · March 2011

I understand that it's the #1 school in the world, followed by Campbridge and Harvard. Has anyone gotten accepted there?

JimboSteve · March 2011

How did you come to that conclusion?

bpsbgs · March 2011

Just as a side note, most people, the English included, consider Cambridge>Oxford. Yes, I actually had a cousin who got his Master's at Oxford, and he says it's lovely, but there really is no basis for calling it the single best school in the world. All rankings are highly subjective, and they tend to favor Cambridge today, but both are far bested by Harvard, as well in the most recent rankings of world universities from China.

Musiclover24 · March 2011

I actually know a few people including my Communication Studies teacher who did an undergrad degree at Oxford. But believe me, they are a special breed!!!

I'm more of a Cambridge person myself.

GeraldM · March 2011

I think in overall reputation, Oxford slight have the edge over Cambridge. The "x" makes it's name sexier :D I would not say, however, that most English consider Cambridge more prestigious than Oxford, as they are the same in their eyes. British rankings have a tendency to place Oxford above Cambridge on national rankings, while on international rankings, Cambridge have the edge over Oxford, that's true. It's also true that Harvard is the best, definitely, (despite that on the QS rankings, what USNews uses that as it's world ranking, Cambridge topped Harvard) the big debate is what is the second best university in the world ;)

There is no big difference between the two, anyway. The towns differ, but not the universities; they have the same structure, which is unique (colleges, supervisions), same academic environment, same feeling.

Yaziinyz · March 2011

I wonder what it takes to get accepted there? (either Ox. or Camp.)

GeraldM · March 2011

Sure, if you tell me why do you write consistently Campbridge? It's a summer camp in Cambridge, or what? :P There are many threads about this on CC, have a look, and search the net...

Ktk · March 2011

39+ on IB Diploma predicted is safe for Oxford. 41 for Cambridge.
You won't have much hope going from senior year to Cambridge, actually. They recommend you to take a year of undergrad first, lol. Must be difficult.

Funny, since 3 5's on relevant APs to your subject will count as the same.
2100 SAT/32ACT
700 (750: be safe...)+ on 3 SATIIs, hopefully relevant to your subject

But most importantly, a solid interview on your topic (you have to know it well, especially fundamentally, speaking from experience - applied chem).

The interview will really make or break you if you have the above prerequisites (found on Oxford site).

I'd imagine they don't care much for the recommendation or essay. I wrote about pen spinning and still made the interviewee list. They don't care about your grades either. They explicitly say not to send a transcript. So, it's all on your interview and standardized test scores.

pemphredo · April 2011

My S is in his first year at Oxford,so the admission process is still very fresh for us. Ktk is right in that Oxford do not care about Grades but only in the american sense of that word. Here in England kids take 'A' levels or the IB and these results are very very important - and we refer to them as grades too. Most schools here do not calculate GPA's , it does not matter to them how you are rated at your school. National standardised exams (A levels/IB) are what count and most students will not even waste an application on Oxbridge (you can only apply to 5 universities through UCAS here) unless they are confident they will get A grades in all their A levels and now A* in a smattering of them (they will only be taking 3 or 4 A levels at the end of their final year at school.
Some of the courses ( there are no majors and minors - you apply for a course/subject and thats what you will study for your degree) also have a pre admission exam to help Oxford decide if they want to interview you. These are more numerous nowadays because too many students are achieving top marks in A levels and it makes differentiation harder. HAT History, PAT Phyiscs, BMAT Medicine etc - check out the Oxford university website for more examples and google for past papers. The university set a mark for each years test and those achieving it will be invited for interview, those who don't - won't. But not all courses have these tests.
If you are borderline on the test result they may then scrutinise your personal statement (personal statement here is like your 'essay' except you only write one and it gets sent to all 5 of the universities you apply for - so no sucking up to one uni saying - its been my dream to attend - LSE etc) a little more keenly or your school rec. It's at this point that your school background may help a little. They will look more kindly on a borderline score from a student at a state school than a student from a private school where the class sizes and teaching should really have given them the edge on the test. I doubt they make any adjustments for overseas students however.

The interview if you get one is an experience in itself - you can be interviewed by skype if you are an international candidate but if you can afford it go! You will be expected to stay 3 days at the college (free they pick up the tab) and may have several interviews with the academics who would actually be teaching you if you get in. They're designed to test your ability to think on your feet around the subject of your choice. You will not be expected to know all the technical stuff but be able to show that with help you can find solutions. If you get an interview they already think you are strong enough academically - they use the interview to chose those they want to work with for 3 years.

Finally the grades - the UK system means this selection process is happening over the winter before your course starts and most kids will not have their results (grades) until the following August - just a few weeks before term starts. If they have asked you to get A*AA and you get A*AB do not assume your place is safe. My S had 2 friends who missed grades - one by 3 marks and their Oxford offer was withdrawn.

Good luck OP if you are still considering applying - Oxford ( and Cambridge) are very special places to study at.

invader71 · April 2011

Had a teacher that went to oxford and I know I student who was accepted to Cambridge but isn't going.

fauxmaven · April 2011

My D's friend is a freshman at Cambridge .I will ask her if she has heard much ,or anything .My D was going to go to St. Andrews ,but chose Harvard over St. A .I know there are many Americans at ST .A , that most Americans abroad for undergrad work are at St A

Yaziinyz · June 2011

Wow. Thnx.

sweetlacecharm · June 2011

I remember someone from my high school (who was not in my graduating class, but in the graduating class the previous year before me) who got accepted into Oxford University.

AlwaysInAwe · June 2011

I was an Undergrad at Oxford and am currently a Grad student there. I've also been part of the selection committee for current undergrads. In the UK you probably wouldn't consider applying to Oxford or Cambridge unless you had a fairly solid academic record. If you have good enough grades to pass the selection criteria whether or not you get accepted will be based entirely on your performance on the exams set by Oxford (if these exist in your subject) and your interviews.

The entrance exams (for the subjects that set them) are taken at your school and sent off for marking in Oxford, all candidates are then ranked and the top 500 or so (depending on how many places are available in your subject) are invited for interview.

If you can attend the interview in person in would be in your advantage to do this, since it's easier to communicate in person especially for technical subjects like maths, physics etc. It also gives you the opportunity to live, sleep and eat in Oxford for a few days (for free apart from your flight) and get a feel for the place.

I think the selection for Oxford and Cambridge may differ slightly from US universities. The selection committee aren't interested in how much you know about the university, or how keen you are about the place, they're not even particularly interested in your extra curricular activities. They are mainly interested in your academic potential. You should show a keen interest in your subject, and be able to demonstrate this with extra reading. However the interviewers are mainly trying to find out how you handle new information and ideas rather than what you already know.

In a technical subject (e.g. maths) you will usually be given either one or two fairly tricky problems to solve in each interview. Most candidates (even successful ones) won't be able to fully solve the problem without help from the interviewer so you shouldn't be put off if this happens. What you should do is take your time and talk through your ideas with your interviewer even if they may not be right. You will be given two or three interviews and your marks from each one are averaged.

Almost all applicants come with glowing references and so it's difficult to make any distinction based on these. Likewise everybody comes off quite well in their personal statements (I think in the US these are called essays), but make sure you stick mainly to the subject area you are applying to, and include any additional factual information that sounds impressive -awards you've won, special skills you may have. Oxford also attempt to take into account any disadvantages you may have - so if you come from an underachieving school make sure that is clear on your application.

082349 · June 2011

My school has about 30 people getting accepted there every year.

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Sent from my iPod touch using CC

Yaziinyz · June 2011

@082349 seriously? What school is that? Idk... Ur statement sounds a bit... unrealistic.

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