Early applicants

MRS LANE
ALANE@STBARTS. CO. UK
Early entrants
Medicine, Vet Medicine, Dentistry
Oxford OR Cambridge (not both)

Most information will relate to Oxbridge today
Oxbridge is different
The college system
The teaching system (very small groups)
The level of opportunities
The kudos / reputation feeds into graduate opportunity (though this
is not confined to Oxbridge)

Myths v reality
Its impossible to get in It is a very competitive
environment, but that isnt the
same as impossible. Every year we
have a number of applicants to
Oxbridge and some offers.
Myths v reality
The odds are stacked against state school
students
State school %:
55.2% Oxford
63.3% Cambridge
(versus 93% of the UK school population
or 82% of the school population over 16)
Both universities expend a huge amount
of time, energy and money to make sure
their systems for selection are as fair as
possible
Both universities say that one significant
factor holding back state school numbers
being higher is that state school
applicants dont apply, often put off by
parents and schools (and apply for the
same subjects, so competing against
each other e.g. Law, Economics)
Myths v reality
This is not just an Oxbridge issue
theres a similar story
Official figures show that almost two-
thirds of A-level students from the
independent sector went on to Britains
leading institution compared with less
than a quarter of those from the state
system.
The gap in progression rates between
private and state schools has actually
widened since 2010.

State school %:
55.2% Oxford
63.3% Cambridge
(versus 93% of the UK school population
or 82% of the school population over 16)
Both universities expend a huge amount
of time, energy and money to make sure
their systems for selection are as fair as
possible
Both universities say that one significant
factor holding back state school numbers
being higher is that state school
applicants dont apply, often put off by
parents and schools (and apply for the
same subjects, so competing against
each other e.g. Law, Economics)
Myths v reality
Its expensive Although neither town is a cheap
place to live relative to other
Northern universities for example,
you might think about value for
money. Its estimated that the
average student expenditure at
Oxbridge on your education is
around 16k.
Myths versus reality
They are looking for a particular
type
They are looking for academic
achievement and potential.
Do you want to apply?
What are the downsides? You might not get an interview
You might not get an offer
You are using up one of your
choices
Its impossible to get in
OXFORD
Academic record and potential
Oxford interview fewer candidates, but
preselect more frequently with tests.
Oxford place greater reliance on GCSE
results (not so much on UMS for
shortlisting though in reality most
realistic applicants will have very high
UMS 90%+)
Both will assess students on a huge
spread of contextualised data before
selection
Offers will normally between A*A*A and
AAA (depending on the subject)
CAMBRIDGE
Academic record and potential
Cambridge rely heavily on UMS scores
for the three most relevant subjects
(averaging over 90%)
Cambridge place less reliance on testing
and interview a higher % of applicants.
Both will assess students on a huge
spread of contextualised data before
selection
The standard A-level offer for Cambridge
is A*A*A for sciences courses (excluding
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences)
and A*AA for arts courses


There are some differences
OXFORD
Joint honours
Some courses not available
Preinterview testing
CAMBRIDGE
Mostly single honours
Some courses not available
Little preinterview testing, more
use of UMS grades
The application
journey
UCAS APPLI CATI ON TESTS WRI TTEN
WORK I NTERVI EW OFFER
UCAS APPLICATION

UCAS application
You have an earlier deadline OCTOBER 15
TH
.
The internal deadline is OCTOBER 7
TH
.
You should let your subject teachers know that you intend to make an
early application.
Your personal statement must be PERFECT
TESTS

Oxford tests
All Oxford admissions tests (with the exception of the LNAT for Law) are
organised by the Admissions Testing Service.
Check here for which courses require tests:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-
oxford/tests
They take place on 5 November 2014, and you must register by 15
October.
Register at the exams office ASAP.
If you are applying to study Law, you will need to take the LNAT between
1 September and 20 October 2014. You must register by 5 October
2014 to guarantee a test slot.

Cambridge tests
Far fewer in number, but may be some depending on course
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/tests/
Some common ones are the TSA (similar to Critical Thinking) and BMAT
(for biomedics) and the Cambridge Law Test.
Medicine admissions
tests
For most medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science courses
you will be required to take an admissions test.
Check the Entry Profiles for your chosen course(s) on UCAS Course
Search, contact the chosen university or check their websites.
The BMA website has a table detailing the different requirements of the
medical schools (UKCAT/BMAT)

http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/our-services/medicine-and-
healthcare/bmat/about-bmat

WRITTEN WORK -
OXFORD
For many Oxford courses, you need to send in written work as part of
your application.
You should send something that you have produced as part of your
normal school or college work, which has been marked by a teacher.
No more than 2,000 words, by 10 November
WRITTEN WORK -
CAMBRIDGE
Some courses, mainly in the arts and social sciences, you may be asked
to submit examples of your written work from a relevant A Level
depending on the college.
Check the course guide.
If this is required the Cambridge College that assesses your application
will tell you if and when they would like this work sent.
The following Colleges will ask (in those subjects where they ask for
written work) for two school/college essays to be submitted by 15
November: Christ's, Churchill, Clare, Corpus Christi, Downing,
Emmanuel, Gonville and Caius, Homerton, Jesus, Magdalene,
Newnham, Pembroke, Queens', Robinson, St Edmund's, St John's,
Selwyn, Sidney Sussex, Trinity Hall and Wolfson.

Interviews
If you have a realistic chance of an offer, then you have a very good chance of
attending interview.

This is PART of the selection process and will be used to make a decision based
on all the other data available.

You should see the interview as a practice teaching session, like a mock-
supervision or tutorial. The interviewers are trying to find out
Tell me about a banana?
Dont listen to myths and scare
stories about Oxbridge interviews.
The idea is not to catch you out
remember their ONLY motive is to
get the best possible candidates.
They spend HUGE amounts of
time to get this right.

It is not about getting the right
answer but about showing that
you can think and can be taught.

Practice all the time in all your
interactions with teachers
Oxbridge dont want passive
learners but active and flexible
questioners and independent
thinkers.
Medicine - interviews
You will normally be interviewed by the university or college before they
decide whether to offer you a place or not.
If they want to invite you for an interview, this will usually be displayed
in Track.
You can accept the invitation in Track, or if you are unable to attend, you
can request that the university or college offer you a different date.
This can be quite late in the year.
Decisions
Decisions for Oxbridge will take place in December January
Decisions for Medicine can run on into the spring.
Choosing an Oxbridge
college
You dont need to make a choice you can make an open application
and there is no disadvantage to this.
Both Oxford and Cambridge have a pooling or moderation process,
where students who narrowly miss a place because of high demand get
reallocated to the pool
If you do make a choice, this might be for a number of reasons:
Course not all colleges take students in all subjects.
Selection procedures there may be small variations.
College size, location or facilities you may prefer a larger or smaller college,
or a college with a particular reputation for theatre etc.
Medicine interviews
Most interviews last up to 45 minutes.
Some interviews take the form of multiple mini interviews. They are
conducted by a panel of different people: you might meet medical
school staff, doctors, other health professionals or even current medical
students. Some medical schools invite you for interview as part of an
open day, where you will have the chance to meet and quiz current
students and check out the facilities; other medical schools may expect
you to simply turn up for the interview and go back home. Check the
arrangements so you know what to expect.
Oxbridge - Taking a year
out
Many Oxbridge students choose to take a year out, and some are
advised to e.g. for engineering.
If you choose to do this, then think about what will give you the best
advantage for the future. Start thinking and taking advice about this
now.

More about Oxbridge
interviews
Interviews are a vital part of the admissions process.
They take place in the first part of December (for Oxbridge).
The format will vary; there may be a requirement for written work.
The interviews focus is to explore academic potential, motivation and
suitability. The questions are not to catch you out but to assess your problem
solving abilities, ability to assimilate new information, intellectual flexibility
and analytical reasoning.
They will be challenging and require you to apply existing knowledge laterally.
You should expect to think hard in interviews, but remember there are no right
and wrong answers. The process of reasoning is the significant issue rather
than the answer itself.
Personal statement
The admissions tutors are looking for ability, commitment and potential.
Explain your reasons for applying for this subject at this university.
Demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment.
Express any particular interests.
Outline how you have pursued your interest in your own time.
This will form the basis for discussion at interview.
What you can do now
Research your chosen courses thoroughly.
Start to draft your personal statement.
Think about your plans for the summer can you do any relevant work
experience? Reading broadly?
Can you use the EPQ as a springboard to help you stand out from the
crowd?
Use the resources here if you are offered help and guidance from your
subject teachers, take advantage. Use lessons as an opportunity to
stretch your thinking and intellectual muscles.
Fill out the form!

What St Barts can do for
you
Support your personal statement drafting
Give you advice about suitable courses