Any Oxford students or graduates on PH?
Discussion
If so, I could do with some advice. My son has got his heart set on an Oxford University education. He's a bright lad, getting ten A* in his GCE's and he's predicted to get five A levels at grade A (Double Maths, Physics, Computing and Spanish). He's also learning Korean as a hobby! We're going to a meeting in Oxford next month in order to learn about the various Mathematics courses they offer (maths is his main passion).
However, I'm mindful of the fact that places at Oxford are over subscribed by many times the places available (I've heard 10:1 quoted but don't know if it's true or not). As such, what are they looking for to give students that much more of a chance to get accepted? I imagine everyone who applies will be straight A students, so they must be looking for that elusive "something else" at the interview. Any pointers would be most welcome.
However, I'm mindful of the fact that places at Oxford are over subscribed by many times the places available (I've heard 10:1 quoted but don't know if it's true or not). As such, what are they looking for to give students that much more of a chance to get accepted? I imagine everyone who applies will be straight A students, so they must be looking for that elusive "something else" at the interview. Any pointers would be most welcome.
Extra curricular activites like his learning korean. Also anything which helps the community, helping out with younger kids/ grannies will also give him a good advantage. Also try get him involved/ learning about another community (him learning korean might fall into this) as this will show he is "multi cultural".
Not a graduate, but a friend went to Cambridge to study Computer Sciences.
Be prepared for a completely off the wall question where they'll give you something to read and then talk about it.
Generally it's all decided in the interviews, for instance i know someone who got accepted for maths at St Johns conditonally on all As, he got 1 B, called them up and was still let in.
Be prepared for a completely off the wall question where they'll give you something to read and then talk about it.
Generally it's all decided in the interviews, for instance i know someone who got accepted for maths at St Johns conditonally on all As, he got 1 B, called them up and was still let in.
Well your'e correct that the excellent academics, are a pre-requisite to even being selected for interview, and that something more is needed to get a place. It's so hard to get in these days I think. Partly because there are so many overseas students studying at Oxbridge now.
One thing is would suggest is start reading around the subject, there must be various periodicals that cover the current hot topics in maths, he should have an opinion on those issues.
One thing is would suggest is start reading around the subject, there must be various periodicals that cover the current hot topics in maths, he should have an opinion on those issues.
miggy man 3 said:
Not being a heterosexual white male is a help.
No really
Nonsense. The reason Cambridge and Oxford are unpopular with the Guardian types is that they refuse to allow any sort of quota in their entrance - be it token State School, Muslim or lezza. No really
It's because they can choose the best students, (ie: best potential, not just grades) that they remain two of the world's top universities.
The best bit of advice I would give is be very careful in choosing your college. Look at the admissions statistics for the past couple of years and try to spot a trend.
Also, if your son is young for his school age, a gap year may be something to consider. I know of people who have been rejected from Oxford simply for being too young. They reapplied after taking a year out (and doing something worthwhile) and got in very quickly.
Also, if your son is young for his school age, a gap year may be something to consider. I know of people who have been rejected from Oxford simply for being too young. They reapplied after taking a year out (and doing something worthwhile) and got in very quickly.
Is there a university in Oxford? I thought it closed when all the good people left in 1209.
Encourage him to apply to either. They are desperate to widen their state school intake, but just don't get enough good pupils applying, often becasue teachers and parents just don't think it's worth trying.
Encourage him to apply to either. They are desperate to widen their state school intake, but just don't get enough good pupils applying, often becasue teachers and parents just don't think it's worth trying.
srebbe64 said:
Any pointers would be most welcome.
This post is a good start, for you need to hear from someone that has gone through the interview process at Oxford. If you can get in a couple of 'mock' interviews that'd be a really good plan. Even applying for other Uni's, just so that the process isn't a shock would help.BTW - I am a grad, but not from Oxbridge - but did end up teaching on / interviewing others for the course I completed, and as stated, interview technique cannot be over-estimated!
Steve
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 10th March 14:56
As a general help, my prof interviews candidates for medicine at Cambridge. I asked the same question of her and the two things that stood out were that they look for people with a strong sense of self and the ability to reflect on their weaknesses. Quite honestly, the people she described to me sounded astonishing for their age.
I know a lecturer in DAMTP, and FWIW, my hunch is that she's pretty normal compared to the people I had described to me, so maybe polymath isn't on the list of essentials for maths.
I know a lecturer in DAMTP, and FWIW, my hunch is that she's pretty normal compared to the people I had described to me, so maybe polymath isn't on the list of essentials for maths.
Much as I hate to admit it, going to Oxbridge does seem to go a long way. I didn't, but several friends did and they've now all gone from engineering degrees straight into extremely well payed investment banking jobs, largely on the grounds they "went to oxbridge".
Baring this in mind I would consider various different courses, not just the one he was originally looking at. Another friend went to a lesser red brick university to do music, dropped out following a drugs overdose and then got ushered into an Oxford college to fill a vacant place on their Japanese course! He had no formal qualifications in Japanese (although his mother is fluent and he speaks a reasonable ammount) they just wanted someone to fill the course.
Conversely, if he has his heart set on one particular course/college bare in mind you can always reapply. One of the 'formentioned bankers was initially turned down by Oxford as he was only predicted a B in physics (which is a joke as he obviously knew a lot more about the subject than our moronic physics teacher!) and after getting an A (along with A's in S-level chemistry, maths and further maths) he sucessfully reapplied the following summer. In the meantime he'd done a lucrative and CV-beneficial work placement.
Alright for some.
Baring this in mind I would consider various different courses, not just the one he was originally looking at. Another friend went to a lesser red brick university to do music, dropped out following a drugs overdose and then got ushered into an Oxford college to fill a vacant place on their Japanese course! He had no formal qualifications in Japanese (although his mother is fluent and he speaks a reasonable ammount) they just wanted someone to fill the course.
Conversely, if he has his heart set on one particular course/college bare in mind you can always reapply. One of the 'formentioned bankers was initially turned down by Oxford as he was only predicted a B in physics (which is a joke as he obviously knew a lot more about the subject than our moronic physics teacher!) and after getting an A (along with A's in S-level chemistry, maths and further maths) he sucessfully reapplied the following summer. In the meantime he'd done a lucrative and CV-beneficial work placement.
Alright for some.
Not so sure about the hetero white male comment as there were plenty of those around when I was at Oxford (including me). My interview was for law so not necessarily the same requirements. However, my impression was that the interview was designed to identify those who could think for themselves and approach problems with an open mind. My interview involved reading a paper from one of the tutors at the college (a world class authority), give a summary of the main points and then, thinking on your feet, identify the critical weakness in the argument.
TBH, most people attending interview were academically gifted and there is a large element of luck in the process. Not very helpful I know but it is worth remembering that you can't guarantee success and sometimes people get passed over in favour of others who just had a lucky break.
TBH, most people attending interview were academically gifted and there is a large element of luck in the process. Not very helpful I know but it is worth remembering that you can't guarantee success and sometimes people get passed over in favour of others who just had a lucky break.
Academic excellence is taken for granted so, as has already been said, it's all about the interview.
I'm not convinced that you can do much to prepare for this as an awful lot depends on the individual interviewer(s) you're faced with and their own personal style. For me, applying to read law, there wasn't much they could ask me about the subject itself as I hadn't studied it before so it was more of a general chat about why I wanted to do it. They posed some hypothetical questions and asked me to explain how I would approach them - it's really just a question of them trying to get a handle on how you tick, how your mind works and whether you're the kind of undergrad they want to spend 2-3 hours a week in tutorials with each week.
No-one was more surprised than me when I got offered a place. Mind you, that was back in the day of entrance exams and conditional offers of EE. I'd pretty sure there's no way I'd get in these days!
I'm not convinced that you can do much to prepare for this as an awful lot depends on the individual interviewer(s) you're faced with and their own personal style. For me, applying to read law, there wasn't much they could ask me about the subject itself as I hadn't studied it before so it was more of a general chat about why I wanted to do it. They posed some hypothetical questions and asked me to explain how I would approach them - it's really just a question of them trying to get a handle on how you tick, how your mind works and whether you're the kind of undergrad they want to spend 2-3 hours a week in tutorials with each week.
No-one was more surprised than me when I got offered a place. Mind you, that was back in the day of entrance exams and conditional offers of EE. I'd pretty sure there's no way I'd get in these days!
Edited by Lurking Lawyer on Monday 10th March 15:18
Pigeon said:
Plotloss said:
Isnt Cambridge the place for Maths?
In so far as its the best Maths school not only in the country but in the world?
In so far as its the best Maths school not only in the country but in the world?
In terms of either Oxbridge uni, he'll be expected to be very self-motivating, have or develop great time management, be willing to read around a subject if he doesn't get it in lectures and classes, be expected to engage in extra-curricular activities within the college and the Uni as a whole. The terms are short but intense (lectures 6 days a week for me),the experience is great IMO but not for everyone - there are a fair few who decide they want to be elsewhere.
If he wants to go for it, encourage him by all means.
Edit: What are they looking for? Someone who will be an asset to the college, both academically and socially, so extra-curricular activities are important. Things like sporting/musical/cultural interests. Anything that shows he's not just a very bright student but also can interact well with others and have a balanced life.
Edited by ewenm on Monday 10th March 15:21
I have a freind in oxford.
He is doing a politics degree.
He got in, obviously has only ever got A grades since school, and got the relevant A levels. And some of the highest marks in the country.
The way he got in was being a young MP for the town, and just generally doing as much as he could outside of college that was relative to his course.
And I should think we will see him in the future
What kind of career does he want to pursue with a math degree?
He is doing a politics degree.
He got in, obviously has only ever got A grades since school, and got the relevant A levels. And some of the highest marks in the country.
The way he got in was being a young MP for the town, and just generally doing as much as he could outside of college that was relative to his course.
And I should think we will see him in the future
What kind of career does he want to pursue with a math degree?
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