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WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Supporting prospective Oxbridge applicants
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Supporting prospective Oxbridge applicants
PANELISTS:
James Boobar American Collegiate Institute, TurkeyDavid Hawkins The International School of Brussels
Malika Ramdas United World College, Singapore
FACILITATORS:
Aaron Andersen The University of British Columbia
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Why Oxbridge?
• Do they offer what you want to study?• Does this learning style excite you? • Is Oxford or Cambridge a good fit for you?• Are you a good fit for Oxford or Cambridge?
– Tutorials / supervisions– 2:1 or 1:1– Lots of independent study– Sink or swim academics
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
What to consider? Intellectual powerhouses University: College system Your course/subject Teaching Style / Workload Your professors and peers Funding Tradition Colleges Early application
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
My Experience - The First WeekMy Experience - The First Week Oxbridge is different:
• Fresher’s Week lasted three days.• 4,000 word essay set on second day• Matriculation on the first Saturday.
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
The RoutineThe Routine
• Three terms a year, each eight weeks long.
• Internal college exams (Collections) at the start of each term.
• Exams in the summer term of the first (Prelims) and last (Finals) years, though some subjects do differ).
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
The RoutineThe Routine
Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun9 – 11 Readi
ngReadin
gReadin
gReadin
gTutoria
lLie in Church
11 – 12
Lecture
Reading
Lecture Reading
Recover
Brunch Lunch
1 – 5 Reading
Reading
Reading
Essay writing
Find books
Reading
Chapel Choir
6 – 9.30
Reading
Reading
Reading
Essay writing
Chapel Choir
Reading
Chapel Servic
e9.30 -
11Relax Relax Relax Essay
writingRelax Relax Relax
A student’s typical Oxford week:
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
The RoutineThe Routine
Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun9 – 11 Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Free Free11 – 12
Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Brunch Lunch
1 – 5 Labs Tutorial / Reading
Labs Reading Tutorial / Reading
Reading Free
6 – 9.30
Essay writing
Reading Reading Essay writing
Free Reading Free
9.30 - 11
Essay writing
Reading Relax Essay writing
Relax Relax Relax
A scientist’s typical Oxford week:
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
How to Prepare StudentsLong Term
• Development of the ‘super-curriculum’: a depth of study in one subject area that goes beyond the confines of the school curriculum:– Reading, and thinking about reading– Research projects– Critical engagement with a subject
• Developing the skills to talk to strangers about academic matters in a confident and coherent manner
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
How to Prepare StudentsMedium Term
• Students self-identify from spring of Grade 11
• HODs given information about super-curricular opportunities, particularly essay prizes run by various colleges
• Students and families given information about the process and the academic level required
• KEY message for parents: you can’t make your child into an Oxbridge kid – if you don’t know what subject they will apply for, then they’re probably not the right type of student to apply
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
How to Prepare StudentsShort Term
• Weekly meetings in Fall Term of Grade 12
• Students responsible for arranging practice interviews and (for Oxford) test papers with faculty. Aim for at least 10 interviews and 3 tests in September and October
• Interviews also with people they don’t know: we combine with two other Brussels schools for an interview evening and also bring in external people to interview students.
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
OXBRIDGE INTERVIEWS
• Where to interview - pros and cons• Purpose of interview - enthusiasm for subject, intellectual
vitality, teachability • Role of Personal Statement • Mock interviews
“Drawing students beyond the edge of their ability”
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Application process UCAS application Cambridge COPA & SAQ forms
(if applying from outside EU or for an organ scholarship)
Personal statements (Cambridge COPA has optional additional personal statement)
Super-curricular activities Tests Written work Interviews
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
How do they select? Academic history (GCSE / Grade
10) Current academic performance
(predicted grades) Entrance tests Written work examples Personal statement (academic) References Interview
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Choosing a course
At Oxford, over 50% of applicants apply for the same five courses
1. Economics and Management2. PPE3. Law4. Medicine5. Engineering Science
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Aiding Personal Statement WritingProof and prove…
•Ask the students to find the evidence (and more evidence) to support their “claim” that they are ready for, and enthusiastic about, their chosen course….are you convinced?•Do the sections substantiate and prove the claim that students want to pursue their chosen course at the higher education level?•Ask the student to interrogate the draft: What does this tell me? Is it redundant? •“Beyond the Bells” – demonstration of interest pursued outside of the classroom and curriculum
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly….Hints and Warnings
• Over-used first lines and cliché openings• As related to the United States College Essay• Striking the right balance – academic vs
extracurricular• Precise, Academic, Intellectual – don’t be quirky• Watch for “Quotation” happy drafts – tutors are
interested in what the student thinks not what they can quote
• Watch for Word-Dropping & Name-Dropping (especially authors’ names and works)
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Cambridge - copa• Cambridge Online Preliminary Application
• Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)
• Very early deadline if interview outside Cambridge
• Asked to report SAT scores
• May need to submit a High School Transcript
• Optional Additional Personal Statement
WEBINAR WEDNESDAY
Oxbridge Admission Prep
Questions?