#Oxbridge admissions tutor

[worldtopnews99]

The Profs Admissions Tutors

Why The Profs Admissions Tutors Are Your Best Choice for University Admissions Success

Navigating the university admissions process can be daunting, but with the right support, your chances of securing a spot at a top university improve significantly. That’s where The Profs Admissions tutors step in as a game-changer. As the leading online tutoring company based in London, we specialise in providing expert guidance for students aiming for prestigious institutions, including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Here's why choosing The Profs Admissions Tutors is the best decision you can make on your academic journey.

Expert Admissions Tutors to Guide You Every Step of the Way

At The Profs, we understand that every student’s needs are unique. Our university admissions tutors are not just educators; they are mentors with years of experience in helping students succeed. We tailor our services to match your specific goals, whether it's for undergraduate or postgraduate programs. With a 96% success rate in students receiving offers from their first or second-choice universities, we provide a level of expertise that sets us apart.

Why Choose The Profs’ University Admissions Tutors?

Personalised Support: Our approach is student-centric. We assign an admissions tutor who will guide you through each aspect of the application process, from crafting a compelling personal statement to preparing for admissions tests and interviews.

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Comprehensive Services: Our tutoring services cover a wide range of academic subjects. Additionally, our Oxbridge admissions tutors provide specialised support for students aiming to join these elite institutions. Whether you need help with your UCAS application or preparing for rigorous entrance exams, we are here to help.

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Services We Offer

Our admissions tutoring services are designed to cover every aspect of the application process. Here’s how we can help you:

1. Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement is a crucial part of your university application. Our admissions tutors work with you to highlight your strengths, aspirations, and suitability for your chosen course. We provide you with tailored feedback and strategies to ensure your statement stands out.

2. Admissions Test Preparation

Many top universities require applicants to sit for admissions tests. Our tutors are experts in various entrance exams, including those required for Oxbridge, medical schools, and law programs. With our tailored preparation strategies, we help you build the confidence and skills needed to excel.

3. Interview Coaching

University interviews can be intimidating, especially for institutions like Oxford and Cambridge. Our Oxbridge admissions tutors offer mock interviews and targeted coaching to help you articulate your thoughts clearly and effectively under pressure.

4. Support for International Students

Applying to UK universities as an international student comes with its own set of challenges. We provide dedicated support to guide international students through the complexities of the admissions process, including visa applications and English proficiency requirements.

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Ready to take the next step? Contact The Profs Admissions Tutors today and let us help you secure your place at one of the world’s leading universities. Whether you’re aiming for Oxbridge, a Russell Group institution, or an independent school, our expert guidance will give you the best chance of success.

[jemar]

The Oxbridge Interview: A Quick Guide

Receiving an invitation to an Oxbridge interview signifies a huge step forward in your admissions journey: you’ve created a compelling profile, and now the tutors want to get to know you more!

While it may seem a bit daunting initially, the Oxbridge Interview is more often just a dynamic, engaging conversation with a college tutor. In this article, we’ll cover some key information you need to know about your upcoming interview.

A Brief Summary

The Oxbridge Interview is the combined term for the renowned interview style of both Oxford and Cambridge University. During the interview, candidates participate in a one-on-one discussion session with a tutor from a certain Oxford/Cambridge college.

This admissions step is designed to simulate Oxford’s ‘tutorial system’ or Cambridge’s ‘supervision’ system. Your interviewer will be gauging how fit you are for this kind of academic environment. They will challenge you with personal and unexpected questions, evaluating your ability to articulate your thoughts properly and work through problems.

When thinking of the Oxbridge interview, consider it less a test of your pure knowledge and more an evaluation of your passion – your academic potential.

Common Questions

Different types of questions may be thrown at you during your Oxbridge interview. Some of these are:

General Questions – You will encounter traditional interview questions along the way, e.g. - Why Oxford? Why Cambridge? - Why this specific course?

Personal Statement Questions – Your interviewer(s) may also ask you to expound on a topic or experience that you’ve covered in your PS. - In your personal statement, you mentioned a particular interest in [specific topic]. Can you tell me more about what specifically fascinates you about this topic? - You discussed your experience with [a specific project or research] in your personal statement. Can you elaborate on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

Subject Questions – You’ll also be asked questions related to your chosen subject in the interview. - How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment? - How do you assess the reliability of primary sources when studying [a particular period or event]?

Problem-solving Questions – These are especially prominent in interviews for STEM programs. You’ll be given sets of problems to work through, which all build up to one main question. - Prove or disprove the following mathematical statement: [specific theorem or conjecture]. - In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous organisms (AaBb), what is the probability of obtaining an offspring with the genotype Aabb?

Reading Questions – You may be asked for your opinion on a book or research article. In some cases, you’ll be tasked to read a short work beforehand. - What does this graph tell us about the relationship between [two economic variables]? - What is the significance of this experiment described in the text for the field of [specific scientific discipline]?

Open-ended Questions – Interviewers may present you with unexpected, open-ended questions, which are meant to evaluate your thought process. - How should we balance individual freedom and social order? - What is the role of the reader in interpreting a text?

Tips for Preparing

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to properly train for your upcoming interview, here are a few suggestions.

Practice with a Friend - Practice with a friend and ask for their constructive criticism. Your peer can provide personal advice on your diction, presentation, and responses.

Read Up on Books - Study a wide variety of subject-related books, ask recommendations from peers and teachers, and explore different essays related to your field.

Explore Sample Questions - Oxford has a few sample questions on its website. You can also try online interview practice apps, where you can practice questions within a specific time frame.

Join Mock Interviews - Ask your peers or teachers to hold mock interviews with you. Many online educational platforms also offer interview preparation sessions, which allow you to personally train with an Oxbridge tutor.

Recap

The key thing to remember for the Oxbridge interview is that it’s an evaluation of your critical thinking and enthusiasm. From general questions to books, to subject topics, to open-ended questions: you must demonstrate your understanding of your chosen program. Before your upcoming interview, be sure to prepare using the techniques we’ve mentioned above.

Good luck! If you’re really looking for rigorous training, there’s no better way to do that than by practicing under the guidance of Oxbridge tutors with the help of education consulting firms. Learning with an experienced tutor can help you enhance your performance and learn the ins and outs of the Oxbridge interview setting.

[viptutorsco]

Prepare for your Oxford or Cambridge admission interview with VIPTutors. Guided by our expert Oxford and Cambridge tutors, you will engage in mock interviews with sample questions to assess your academic abilities and potential.

Practice speaking confidently about your chosen programme, refine your answers, and discuss your personal statement. Ace your interview! Start preparing for your Oxbridge interview with VIPTutors. Check us out at www.viptutors.co.

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[thethirdromana]

OK, so I have a bunch of vague ideas here, and I tried to fact-check them and got absolutely nowhere, so you're just going to get the vague ideas I'm afraid. Take them with a pinch of salt.

The turn of the century is a really interesting time for this, because there were a bunch of new degree subjects popping up all over the place. Here's what was happening in Cambridge:

The natural sciences and moral sciences (now philosophical) Triposes were approved as early as 1851, and before 1900 Triposes in law, history, theology, Indian languages, Semitic (later oriental) languages, medieval and modern (European) languages, and mechanical sciences (later engineering) were all established. To develop these new branches of learning a number of new or remodelled professorships were established by the University and by private benefactors, the earliest being the Disney Professorship of archaeology in 1851.

I think it's generally safe to assume that the newer universities would adopt newer degree subjects first, and then Oxford and Cambridge would be slower. For example, the first English literature professorship in the UK was established at University College London in 1828, but Oxford didn't start teaching English literature until 1894.

IIRC there's a gender and class element to this as well: English literature was seen as the easy alternative to Classics, more suitable for women and lower-class men, while Classics was reserved for upper-class men. I don't know how much this applied to other new subjects, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't a factor.

So part of the question is how much of a snob you would expect Seward to be about where he studies. A man of his background might well insist on it being Oxbridge. And that could be fun in terms of him being part of the first cohort of students to study a given subject there. Or he could branch out at a newer university, which could be any of the 19th century London universities and colleges.

The other issue would be his disability. This is the very, very beginning of disabled people's organising in the UK. The National Association for the Deaf and Dumb was founded in 1886 to combat attempts to ban the use of sign language in schools (sadly, unsuccessfully), and from what I can find out, it was the first such organisation to be led by disabled people. There were deaf schools, but I don't think the UK has ever had a deaf university. Disability-specific legislation took until 1920, a consequence of the 1920 blind march which was organised by the National League of the Blind.

I suspect that some universities would simply bar Jack from studying there. The bit that I particularly wanted to fact-check and failed is that I remember reading about a man who returned from war around this time (Boer War? WW1?) and his university refused to allow him to return to his studies because he had become disabled from war wounds. But I haven't been able to find the story. It does sound very plausible, though, especially in this pre-WW1 context when people with those kinds of injuries would have been much rarer.

I think at this point university entry would have been very much subject to the whims of admissions tutors. You could imagine an admissions tutor with a disabled family member being more sympathetic - or Jack encountering a hardcore eugenicist who would be actively hostile.

It's possibly worth going back to Cambridge's Disney Professorship of Archaeology (endowed by barrister and antiquarian John Disney). Given Arthur's wealth, if Jack was struggling to find a university that would accept him, perhaps the creation of the Godalming Professorship of Whatever would help to smooth the way?

Oh hey BoMB crowd, throwing this out, what degrees to you think Jack had racked up in the last 21 years?

@animate-mush @thegoatsongs @see-arcane @pinkninjapj @bluecatwriter and anyone else :)

[admissionstutors]

Admissions Tutors help the students in the best way to get there interested in math and develop a positive attitude to the subject. Visit now at

[letsdiscoverkitty]

"Life" Update - May 2021

This is the last of the three updates I have to post at the moment. If anyone actually reads these, especially in one go, you really do deserve a medal and I have no idea what I have done to deserve your kindness and support but THANK YOU SO MUCH (to all of you who are here, you are all truly wonderful and amazing) Okay, let's get going....

I suppose the title is a bit, well, overkill. To say that anyone has been had any sort of "life" over the past year would be a huge misuse of the word. The global pandemic has, quite literally, turned life upside down for the vast majority of people and I know that lockdowns, especially in the UK, have meant that anything other than what was deemed "essential" has been off the cards, which has hit us all hard.

I personally found it quite difficult whilst I was in hospital as although on the one hand it was good to know that there wasn't much that you were missing out on whilst locked on a ward with 15 minutes fresh air (if you were lucky), it did make it hard to find/hold onto motivation at times. Coupled with the fear of how my dad's condition would progress, whether he would make it and what sort of home life I would be going back to; the world suddenly felt even noisier than it had before (which I didn't think was really possible). The situation seemed to further heighten my fears as well as add to them. I found my mind was swamped with so many questions and fears, to then be asked about my future/what I wanted to do with my life (that classic question) and what my motivations were to get better, was too much. I fell blank.

I had completely lost myself and any shed of hope that was left inside of me. I tried to put on a smile; paint a different picture to the outside world but inside I was dark. I was hollow. I was empty.

What was the point? You never know what is waiting around the corner; everything can turn upside down overnight. What kind of 'life' would there be going back to anyway? Would it be possible to go to University anymore or would there still be multiple restrictions in place? would that make the huge financial costs worth it? What sort of society will we be coming out of the pandemic anyway? Will we even come out of this? Will people ever go back to offices again? Will we be able to see friends soon or go out to places? What about travelling? Fun? LIFE?

I found depression swamped me more than ever after dad's accident. I was trying to hold myself together for mum but I was losing all hope of anything ever being 'the same' or 'okay' again. In the end, the only reason I accepted the admission was for mum - I wanted to be able to support her with dad in hospital and us not know what the future held; as much as I wished I could be there all the time, I knew in the state I was that I couldn't. Initially I was told the admission would be a short one, that I could then go back home to support my mum through the family trauma...but that 4 weeks soon turned into over 8 months, which I still can't believe.

Gosh, I am sorry, I seem to have got a little distracted. This was meant to be the POSITIVE update. So let's get to those bits...

NEWS ONE: I HAVE A JOB (starting in Sept)

So whilst in hospital my consultant kept trying to get me to think about what I wanted to do with my life (just the small questions you know *lol*) - in her eyes she thought it would be risky to go back to University to do neuroscience/a degree so intense, and that instead I should think about doing something more creative, taking small steps to get a part time job and then go from there - which, as much as I hated to admit, I agreed with. However after one particularly bad run-in with the nutritionist when she decided to tell me that she didn't think I could achieve a life beyond Anorexia (it must have been mid-way-ish through my admission) blah blah blah (I get that she could have been trying to motivate me but there is a way to go about it and then there are ways to really not go about it and she chose the latter). Anyway, I was rather angry/mad and ended up doing basically trying to prove everyone wrong and started doing some research into my different options...

Long story short: I ended up applying to a degree apprenticeship scheme in business management...I've never really considered something like this before, perhaps partially because at school they drilled into me that business was a "soft" subject as it would not be looked upon very highly for Oxbridge applications *rolls eyes*. Thankfully I did a lot of research into Degree Apprenticeships a few years ago so I knew where to look online. Anyway, back to this application. I ended up going through the process/tests, somehow managing to make it through the initial online stages, then just before I was discharged I was invited to a online interview!

I only had a few days to do the interview before it timed out so I actually ended up doing it In the end the day after I was discharged (not ideal) and I was convinced that I had messed it up as it was one of those ones where you get shown the question for around 30 seconds before being given 2 minutes to respond - i.e. stress.pressure.anxiety.stumbling over words. HORRENDOUS.

I somehow passed the interview and the reviews before being invited to an online assessment centre in Feb, which spanned a whole day and included multiple interviews (the first was a strengths based interview with 2 interviewers for just over an hour - yuck!!!) as well as a presentation which we were given 24hrs in advance to prepare for (we were given 4 'topics'/questions and had to answer all of them in a 15 minute window using aids if we chose to, again to 2 (different) interviewers before having a 45 minute further interview - double yuck!)

Dare I say that I actually enjoyed the preparation for the presentation and the interviews?! It was so nice to have a focus and something to be working on that I was actually really beginning to connect with/want/see myself doing. The interviews and presentation themselves? HORRIBLE but the process reignited something within me. After the assessment centre day we were told it could be 7-10 working days to hear back from them - waiting for anything like this is just the worst so I wasn't looking forward to it and tried not to get my hopes up as these schemes are ridiculously hard to get into... Well, I got the call the next day saying that they were so impressed and out of something like 14,000 applications, I was offered one of the spaces on the scheme!! - I honestly still can't believe it and imposter syndrome is v real -

I know at the beginning of this I sounded very blase about the whole thing but as I progressed through the process, as I read more about the scheme and the business and what it would entail, the more I began to get excited. The more I realised how interesting it was and what an amazing opportunity it would be for me.

Despite this, I was also at the time, finishing up yet another an application to University (for the millionth time, I swear I must be a pro at these personal statements by now) this time for psychology and behavioural studies. This was before I got the offer of the degree apprenticeship scheme, which I knew was a long shot with only a handful of places given for thousands of applicants, so I felt I had to keep my options open (Neuro is still an area of fascination to me but not so much with the INTENSE LEVEL of physiology and pharmacology that I was doing at Bristol. Yes bits of it were good and interesting but that degree was ridiculous and, again, I felt far more drawn towards the behavioural studies and psychology when researching into Universities). I ended up getting 3 offers, 1 interview for Cambridge and 1 rejection (ironically from Bristol, even with my recommendation/support being from my previous personal tutor at Bristol!) - so I suddenly had options. And then the offer from the degree apprenticeship came through and there were even more options to choose from.

It honestly felt so surreal (and still does).

In the end, after a lot of thinking and debating and researching and talking, I decided to withdraw my University application and I accepted the degree apprenticeship role. Overall it is such an incredible opportunity that I knew I couldn't turn down, whereas University will always be there. I am actually getting a little excited about it (as well as extremely nervous, but I must say that the company has made a really positive/good impression thus far, even as far as creating MH podcasts with a psychologist for us and offering things like zoom baking sessions!).

So what is this degree apprenticeship? In short, it is a 3 year course during which I will have a Monday to Friday job at the company (for which the office is actually commutable from home - it is about 1hrs drive, which is not the best but it does mean that I can stay at home for at least the first year and there is a train I could get if I was too tired to do the drive all the time. As much as staying at home is not my long term plan it might help with the transition back to work/education to have a bit of stability and the support). During the first 2 years at the company we do four separate 6 month rotations in different areas to get lots of experience (marketing, supply chain, sales etc) whilst in the final year you get to put in a preference for where you would like to work for the year long placement. During this, every 6 or 7 weeks, we have to spend a week at University (which is not in commutable distance at all so the the company pays for our accommodation, travel and food during this time). As far as I have been told, we also get time during the working week allocated to do Uni work as well as our standard 'desk' jobs. Oh and not to mention one of the biggest sellers for degree apprenticeships....the company is basically sponsoring you so pays ALL of your tuition fees PLUS a basic salary! This means that you come out, in this case, with a Chartered business management degree, 3 years of hands-on work experience, as well as you being pretty much guaranteed a job within the company AND no student debt!!! How incredible is that? PLUS one big perk of the job is that they allow dogs in the office - I mean how could I say no to that?!!!!

So yes, by some magical miracle I actually have a job lined up for September! It still doesn't feel real and I am yet to fully process it. They don't know how it will be affected by COVID but the company did continue the programme last year (unlike some that postponed) so fingers crossed all should be going ahead. I have 'met' the other 4(?) who are on the scheme at my office as well and they seem lovely (including one other person who is my age/slightly older - which was such a relief as I was worried about it being only people just out of college).

I realise that it is going to be tough, I do not underestimate that at all, but I couldn't let anorexia still yet ANOTHER life milestone and opportunity away from me. There was a lot of questioning as to whether I should take it or not; I went back and forth between many spreadsheets that I made but I think this opportunity far outweighs going back to University. I have tried that route twice already and had to leave because of everything/haven't really coped (I think in some ways, being at Uni there is TOO MUCH free time and it allowed my perfectionism to run riot as I always felt like I was 'behind' in one way or another?). And that is not to mention that if I was going back to University, I would need to spend another 3-4 years studying, I would leave with little work experience or job in mind at the age of 29/30 with a mountain of debt.... And as I said before, I can always go back to University if I want to in the future/re train if I decide to, but this opportunity with a global company, well, this will never ever come my way again.

So yes that is my BIG BIG news. But I also have one more bit of news....

I'm getting a kitten. Yes, A KITTEN!!!!! I have so much more to say on this but for now you will have to wait and see. Photos will come when SHE does (a couple of weeks now)!!!

[anilkhare]

Application to Oxibridge Universities

Oxbridge applications is a non-profit academic consulting company that offer assistance to students from across the globe in their applications for the University of Cambridge, the University of London, and other top UK universities. Students can choose between the “Academic” and “Open” versions of the company’s website. The former focuses on standard admissions, while the latter offers assistance with full-time and part-time admissions. This article will provide an in-depth review of Oxbridge Applications and its services to students in the United Kingdom and overseas.

The company was founded in 2021 by Catherine Reeser and Markwart van den Heuven. Ms. Reeserh serves as the company’s president, while Mr. van den Heuven serves as its chief executive officer. Both are graduates of the University of Cambridge. They believe in strictly academic standards, but they also believe in allowing a broad range of applicants to be considered for admissions at Oxbridge.

The website contains an application tutor center. This section allows students to request information from tutors whom they may have otherwise not had access to. These tutors can also apply for scholarships and other financial aid packages directly through Oxbridge. For example, students can apply for a scholarship for the disabled through the Oxbridge Applications for the Disabled.

The website also contains an application submission site. There is an area for students to fill out an application. This is extremely easy to do, but the forms are also available for students who have difficulties with computer use. The company offers assistance for those who need basic computer skills, and this is especially helpful for students who are applying to programs at the undergraduate level or the master’s degree level. Oxbridge Applications also offers help for students who are applying to programs at the doctoral level.

The company also offers assistance for students who need information about financial aid. The Financial Aid office at Oxford is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They offer help for all sorts of programs, and this includes financial aid for undergraduate as well as post-graduate studies. In addition to providing help for students, Oxbridge Applications also helps professionals. They provide information on career services and employment opportunities.

Students can go online to request an application for admissions. Applications can be accessed through a secure server so that private information is safe. There is no fee to use the secure server, so students will not be asked to pay for this service in any way. There is a reduced fee if students have a personalized admissions password. Personalized admissions passwords can help students to ensure that they are the only ones who have access to their data.

Students can also download applications from the school’s website. Downloading these applications saves them time because they do not have to read through applications. Students can just print the forms and then go through them at their leisure.

The site provides detailed instructions about how to fill out the forms. It also offers sample forms for students to follow. Many Oxford Applications sites provide detailed instructions on how to complete an application and what the processing steps are. Each step is followed by a video demonstration.

Students can also call or write to the office of admissions. Department managers will be able to answer questions about admissions and submit applications. They can also give more detailed information about the application process. Students should not send their payment via email because it may get lost. Students should not send any attachments to the admissions department because it may contain sensitive information.

Advising and applying for Oxford Applications is easy and convenient. There are many different types of applications and instructions for different types of students. Students can also find information about deadlines and what forms they need to fill out. Having this information makes applying for Oxford easier and more efficient.

Students should be careful when using their social security number for applications. If they are asked for this information, they should not share it publicly or else they could put themselves in danger. Oxford has put in place measures that will help to protect the privacy of the student population.

[spiresonlinetutors]

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[henrysblake]

up until maybe a few decades ago you could just do whatever if you had a private education huh. like they'd just let you into oxbridge no problem just because your tutor knew an admissions person and you barely had to do anything and you didn't even have to finish your course and someone would give you a job

[joolshallie]

Applying to Oxbridge

As schools go back and people start sending in applications to uni I thought I’d write a post about applying to Oxbridge:

The deadline for UCAS applications for Oxbridge is 18:00 (6pm) 15th October.

Your personal statement will have to be very academically focused. Oxbridge will expect details on books you’ve read, extra academic research or activities you’ve done. Its important to have read widely around your course and have a real interest that can come across in your personal statement.

Here’s my post on writing a bomb ass personal statement 

Admission tests - most courses require an admissions test. These are generally taken after you have sent your application off, so you don’t know how you’ve done before applying.

Oxford information about admissions tests

Cambridge admission test information by subject

Cambridge require you to fill out the SAQ (supplementary application questionnaire). A part of this is an additional personal statement (1200 characters max). Here you can add details about why you like the Cambridge course specifically (your general personal statement is sent to all unis you apply to, so you should not include uni-specific info there as this will deter the other unis you apply to!) You don’t have to fill the additional statement - so don’t panic - but it’s worth putting something here.

Cambridge entrance requirements - most courses offer A*AA or A*A*A as their A-level requirements (but check specifically for your course)

Oxford entrance requirements - offers range from A*A*A to AAA (check the website for your specific course)

Oxford admission requirements by subject

Both unis do take into account contextual information. This means they will consider candidates who don’t meet admission requirements if they perform exceptionally for their school, or live in certain postcodes for example.

Choosing a college is not hugely important. I don’t think there are ‘easier’ colleges to get into, as both Oxford and Cambridge have central pooling systems that shuffle candidates about to try and get the best suited people into the uni. 

Visit a range of colleges on open days and talk to students to get a feel about where you might want to apply - if not then you can always do an open application (and be assigned to a college).

The uni may ask for submitted work to be sent to them as part of the selection process - this varies from subject to subject (for med I didn’t have to send anything - it’s more for humanities I think).

A key difference with oxbridge is that in December they invite candidates for interview. Cambridge does interviews in a day but Oxford candidates stay over in college. Medicine students are in and out in about 24 hours, but some humanities students stay for ~4/5 days! I really enjoyed the experience of staying in college - I think it gives you a feel for what being there would actually be like studying and living there.

Interview prep will vary hugely depending on your school etc. If your school is not used to getting people into Oxford then I suggest nagging teachers (in subjects related to the course you’re applying to) for mock interviews. Use any contacts you have - if your mum’s uncle’s friend has a daughter at Oxbridge then contact them and quiz them about interviews and what to expect. 

Interviews vary massively depending on college and course, so I can’t give advice that applies to everyone. You just have to go in, be yourself and work through anything they throw at you. Do not give up or fail to give some form of answer, even if you’re just thinking aloud generally about the topic. There may be no right answer to what they’ve asked. Tutors just want to see how you think and see if you’re suited to the tutorial/supervision method of teaching. 

Here’s a link to the Complete University Guide to applying to Oxbridge

If you’re in doubt about applying then, provided you have the basic academic requirements and want to apply, just go for it! Thinking you won’t fit in, or there’s no point because your school never gets people are not proper reasons not to apply! If you don’t try you have a 0% chance of getting in, but if you give it a go then what’s to lose? Send anymore questions about this my way :)

[study-like-its-hot]

Update of sorts

Friday 16 August 2019 // Alright pals, I’m back. In the past few months, I graduated, went on holiday, and found an internship to tide me over for this year (which is a gap year. Not really planned. I just didn’t do any job applications last year because I was stretched too thin with my finals and extra curriculars last year + remaining fatigue from glandular fever). Anyway, the action plan for the next few months:

1. I start my internship in October. Full-time position. Now, while this is going on, we also have:

2. In the UK, recruiting season for graduate positions is mostly September-December. I’m going to apply for management consultancy (MC) as well as more ‘business’ roles in larger companies. Maybe also some master’s programmes. MC interviews are notorious for their case study interviews, which are known to require a buttload of prep. So: 

2a. Now until the start of October is my MC/general interview preparation time. I have a spreadsheet to track various things I need to prepare (e.g. quant skills, because apparently I can’t do long division, case study reading etc). No, this was not procrastination from actually preparing. Definitely not. 

2b. Of course, I also need to write cover letters and do CVs for each company.  

2c. Also maybe practice some of those online tests. All that interview practice is POINTLESS if I don’t get to interview. 

2d. Then, while I’m working, I will hopefully be going to these interviews. Not entirely sure when. I’m sure we can make this work.

3. I’m signing up to various tutoring websites (if you’re looking for a tutor ... hi), particularly for oxbridge admissions for economics/PPE/HSPS. Not sure when I’m gonna fit those in... but we’ll make it work ... probably ...

So, I guess while I’m no longer officially a student, I will still be ‘studying’ for these interviews. Keep an eye out for intermittent posts of me descending further into stress- and sleep-deprived madness. It’ll be a fun ride (and hopefully land me a graduate job offer)

[organisaticns]

so im due to start at cambridge university for bio natural sciences in october and i thought i would write a post about what helped me make a successful application. hopefully this is useful to some people!! (also this is an incredibly long post you’ve been warned)

if anyone wants me to do a more in depth post on one specific section, or you guys have any questions at all, feel free to drop me a message!!

choosing a course

this is the most important bit!!! you’re dedicating 3/4/5/6 years of your life to this

oxbridge as rule (esp cambridge) have slightly different courses to other universities so do your research - on their websites and at open days

i know top students are supposed to apply to oxbridge bc “it’s the best” and stuff but if the courses offered don’t interest you or you prefer how other unis teach that course, DON’T APPLY!! it’s not worth it 

generally, look at your a level/ib/etc subjects and which sort of courses they meet the entry requirements for then look at websites and stuff to try and narrow it down

talk to current students! the blog askacambridgestudent on tumblr is great, each area has an oxbridge conference each april if you can go, ask students at open days

they can tell you what it’s actually like

read some books in the subject area you’re considering, watch ted talks, go to masterclasses, do work experience

this will help you choose a course and also be useful later when you write your personal statement

okay so when i was applying people kept telling me i would only be successful if the only thing i thought about 24/7 was biology and it was the love of my life. this is not true. you can have other interests don’t believe the people that tell you that you cant

that being said you need to be passionate about your subject!! refer to bullet point 1!! they want to know that you’re interested in it and this needs to show

oxford vs cambridge

this is really hard for some people but my course is only offered at cambridge so i did not have this problem

so first see if you prefer the course offered at one of them

if not, visit both and hopefully you’ll get a better vibe from one

i have no good advice here

writing your personal statement

okay writing a ps is just not fun okay prepare yourself for that

if anyone wants a biology/natural sciences example message me and i can send you mine

this post has some really good advice

start early, aim to have it completely done and edited by early september (oxbridge deadline is 15th october)

first, think about things you want to write about - i wrote a paragraph on a book i’d read, a paragraph each on two summer schools i did, a paragraph on my epq, and a paragraph on extracurricular

things you can talk about - books, ted talks, lectures, summer schools, masterclasses, epq, independent research into stuff, work experience

when you’re writing about stuff you gotta engage with it, so dedicate a whole paragraph to one book, then take one key theme and talk about how it interested you and how you looked up other things to do with it - link it to a different concept or talk about which theory you like best if theres conflicting theories in the field etc

it’s a hard thing to do but just pick different bits you liked about the book and try to discuss it - a key theory, theme, character etc

you can be asked about your ps in interview so make sure you’re comfortable discussing the books on your ps

you also do not need to talk about multiple books if you don’t want to, i only talked about one and i know people who didn’t mention any

don’t just say things like “im passionate about biology”!! back it up with something!! say you’re passionate about one specific topic in your field and why, discuss how different things you did/read consolidated your interest, show your interest through discussion about the subject

try to link in slightly different subject areas or experiences, and definitely link everything to your course and why you’d be a good student

i managed to link my latin AS level to biology so anything is possible folks

while you want all your paragraphs to be very supercurricular based on things you’ve done and read, try and drop in some of those buzz words they love - you know like about your academic writing skills, enthusiasm, opportunity, dedication, communication, interdisciplinary skills etc.

oxbridge do not give a shit about your extracurricular but other unis do so you want one paragraph max on it and try to link it to transferable skills - it makes you a good communicator etc

write your first draft - it will be shitty but just write it, leave the intro and conclusion to last

introductions and conclusions are super hard to write but it’s doable. try to take the general idea you’re trying to include (mine was how interdisciplinary study is important to both all the sciences together and sub disciplines in bio) and write a little bit about it

it doesn’t have to be long, your intro should introduce your passion to the subject (please don’t do the whole “i’ve wanted to study bio since i was five and x happened” thing)

conclusion can be super short, just reinforce you’re excited to study your subject in a new environment and have new opportunities

look at the tsr examples for inspiration

try to make it cohesive ish? have a running theme? (like how this one has a running theme? i actually took a lot of inspiration from that ps)

don’t say things like “im a motivated and commited student with good time management skills” without smth to back it up - “while undertaking an independent research project, i developed time management skills, and researching x made me more interested bc y” is better (i mean still not incredible but i wrote that literally just now okay)

the student room has a load of examples from people who’ve already applied

read the ones in your subject, work out which bits you like and don’t like, apply to your own (be careful of plagiarism tho)

disclaimer: not all the ps on there are good

once you have a complete and awful first draft show it to a teacher

most people show it to the relevant subject teacher, but also to your tutor, the higher education adviser, oxbridge adviser

they will hopefully help you make it less awful but don’t let them change it so much it doesn’t sound like you

i showed mine to the oxbridge adviser at my school and well he laughed at it bc it was so bad so you know

but i didn’t listen to everything he said bc some of the things he wrote like no 17 year old would say

keep revising drafts, showing to teachers until you can’t stand reading it anymore then get someone else (maybe parents?) to spell check and be done with the horrible thing

no one likes their personal statement, you will read it in august and wonder how you could possibly write something so bad

the actual ucas application

make sure your predicted grades are at least as high as the entrance requirements

you don’t really have much control over your teacher reference but you can use it to mention things you couldn’t fit in your personal statement if you can convince your teachers to include stuff

make sure all your qualifications and stuff are accurate

the saq (cambridge only)

you have to fill this in straight after october 15th

it’s mostly boring admin stuff, filling in topics and class sizes etc.

you have an option to write an additional (shorter) personal statement

this is really useful if the course you’re applying to at oxbridge is different to the other courses youve applied to - such as if you applied to politics everywhere else but hsps at cambridge - use it to explain why you want to do that specific course at cambridge

but you definitely don’t have to write one, i didnt!

make sure you get this in on time

written work

for some courses you have to send in written work

i didn’t have to so i don’t have loads of advice, but make sure you send in stuff that you’re comfortable discussing at interview

they’ll be guidelines on the cambridge website and on your specific college’s website

admissions tests

not the most fun things

find the specification on the website and go through, highlighting and revising the points you don’t know

try to find some past papers and do them

this really depends on the subject you’re doing so i can’t give much more advice but if anyone needs advice specific to the NSAA shoot me a message

also, these are just part of your application and even if you came out of yours thinking it’s the worst test you’ve ever had it probably didn’t go that badly 

the NSAA is the hardest test i’ve ever sat and i thought i had done completely shit and i still got an offer so there’s still hope

interviews

okay so first, don’t believe the rumours

you know the ones where people say they got given a banana and asked to use it to explain how quantum mechanics relates to of mice and men

interviews are definitely scary, but they are nowhere near as bad as people make them out to be, and they don’t ask you weird unrelated questions

make sure you know your personal statement inside out and you feel comfortable talking about the topics/books/etc you mentioned on there in depth

keep up to date with any recent news or high profile research in your field (you don’t need to know details, just have a vague idea of what’s going on)

this is especially important if you’re applying for politics or economics or something like that

if your school offers a mock interview, definitely have one, though don’t panic if you can’t have one there’s other ways to prepare

the whole point of interview is them wanting to see how you think and how you respond to unfamiliar problems

so i looked up a list of “past oxbridge interview questions” and practised writing down a quick answer to them and thinking about how i would go about solving the problem

oxford has some examples on the “sample questions” bit here

i also used this site but remember a lot of these probably aren’t actual interview questions 

if you have an opportunity, just talk to your relevant subject teacher about the topics beyond your specification

you honestly don’t need to do too much interview prep, just do enough so you feel a bit calmer about the whole thing

hope some of that helps :)

[viptutorsco]

John Locke Guidelines for Conducting Literature Reviews (Part 4 of 7)

In this clip, our Oxford discusses the key points of focus when conducting an effective, substantial review.

Find out more at www.viptutors.co. Connect with an Oxbridge or Ivy League School tutor who can support your John Locke essay preparation. To learn more about VIPTutors and our admission consulting and academic tutoring services, contact us via WhatsApp at +44 20 8638 6241 or email us at partners@viptutors.co.

[admissionstutors]

Get now PAT Tuition services from Admissions Tutors. They will give your students the allotted time and will teach them as per their schedule and ways.

[fedregsadvisornews]

How to get admitted into Oxford or Cambridge?

Learn from the Oxbridge tutor on how to multiply your chances of successful Oxbridge admission Oxford and Cambridge Universities are two of the most prestigious educational institutions on the whole green Earth. Every year, and despite the enormous Oxbridge tuition fee, they attract thousands of promising enrollees from all over the world, and everyone is striving to successfully secure a place at one of their colleges. In a highly competitive environment, this article will provide you with the tips you need to get into Oxbridge and actionable ways to help you stand out from the crowd and greatly increase the likelihood of you successfully securing a place at Oxbridge. Academic Superiority What Oxbridge needs, looks for and retains are the brightest academic minds around the world – and this is no exaggeration. The potential candidate must obtain at least eight A* grades, or eight 8-9 grades in their GCSES. Indeed, the academic position of the applicant must be impeccable – top of the class, no less. At this stage it is rational to stop, take a deep breath and consider the sober assessment of the situation – decide whether Oxbridge itself is the right option for you (do you truly have the necessary capabilities?). Perhaps you need additional training – read as: “spending hours with Oxbridge tutors”, or can you secure the grades on your own without the supplemental Oxbridge tutoring? Choosing the right course Oxford and Cambridge Universities are looking for students with both deep knowledge and great passion for their subject. While at University, the student is expected not only to study passively by reading a vast swaths of professional literature, but actively engage in debates and discussions with their peers and professors and submit a minimum of two essays per week. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the enrollee carefully studies the program of the chosen course to be sure that this is what he truly needs. Considering the usual workload in Oxbridge, you simply won’t sustain studying the subject you don’t personally like. Choosing the most suitable College Choosing the right college is a part of paramount importance when applying to Oxbridge, as it encompasses the future places of study, residence and student community. When choosing a college, study all the available information, attend open days and communicate with people who know the college well enough. Ask yourself questions such as: - Do you want your college to be in the city center or on the outskirts? - Would you prefer a general education or a blended college? - Would you like to study in a small traditional college or in a large modern college? If you find the college selection process to be too complicated and cumbersome and decide to focus on exams and instead, you can choose the Open Application option. This way, the system itself will randomly distribute you to any of the colleges available. Bear in mind though that you will not be able to request another college in the future. Writing a perfect motivation letter A good motivation letter is so important that it is rightfully considered to be the gateway to Oxbridge. The motivation letter is an opportunity to show off your academic skills and prove how passionate you are about your chosen program. The motivation letter should mention everything from books and articles that have piqued your interest to any lectures, courses and even work experience related to the subject. However, as Oxbridge first and foremost cares more about proper academic achievements, you should ensure that the mentions of other extracurricular activities are kept to the bare minimum. Take care however that your motivation letter complies with the UCAS recommendations. Your motivation letter should therefore consist of no more than 4000 characters and 37 lines. Also, please be aware of the Oxbridge admission deadline (October 15th) and that an enrollee can only submit one motivation letter. Preparing for the entrance exams Depending on the course or college, the enrollees will be required to take entrance examinations at Oxford and Cambridge. These tests often assess the enrollee’s language and math skills, additionally – overall cognitive prowess. Furthermore, such tests are designed to evaluate how well the enrollee copes with tasks under pressure. Giving the right impression to the interview commission The admissions are rightfully considered to be the most unpredictable part of the Oxbridge admissions process for future students. They usually take place in early December, and receiving an invitation for an interview is already a great achievement in itself. Both Oxford and Cambridge are actively looking for students who can reliably demonstrate the breadth and depth of their knowledge. For example, if you are applying for a course in history, you will need to demonstrate to an academic interviewer that you know about various concepts and authors, including the obscure ones, as well as demonstrate passion and interest in specific topics. It is important for the enrollee to answer all the questions he is asked, avoid hesitation and give proper examples to support his statements and conclusions. He must also be confident enough in his opinion, remaining steady even if the interviewer tells him that he is wrong. In this case, the enrollee must remain calm and either continue to support his opinion with facts and logic, or discard it and look for other clues to reach a correct answer. Oxbridge is, after all, looking for students who can solve problems logically, justify conclusions and defend their own ideas. Asking for professional help Everyone who is faced with the question of admission to Oxbridge understands how hard it is to secure a place in Oxford or Cambridge just after a brief research. So, it is rational to look for external help, especially if your own time resources are rather limited. In this case, we at Oxbridgemind.co.uk are ready to help you prepare for Oxbridge and provide our professional services to guide you through the complex application process. Read the full article

[studylizziee]

Personal Statement Advice

*let me amend that title to ‘some quick tips for writing personal statements that I have accumulated, but don’t take my word for it because I have no idea how good mine is!’

General

give yourself time - it takes a while to write your personal statement, what with drafting, editing, sending to other people, and having time to sit on it before going back to work on it. You can’t cram a personal statement! Especially for early entry apps, people tend to do a first draft over the summer of Year 12. I really wish I had because I started in early September and was quite stressed out

keep it 100% focused - admissions tutors want to hear about 2 things: 

motivation: why you love your subject and want to study it for 3+ years

suitability: why should they choose you? What skills do you possess that mean you will cope well with studying at university level and succeed in your field

before you start, do your research

know which universities you’re applying to - different unis want to see different things in a personal statement. The classic example is that Oxbridge don’t really care about your extra-curriculars, and just want to know about your academic interest in the subject. It’s worth researching this before you apply so you can try to tick the boxes for all your unis

balancing different unis - if you’re applying to Oxbridge, generally the guideline is to make your personal statement 80% academic at least. Don’t get too hung up on that though - they only look at it at the interview stage, whereas other unis use it to shortlist, especially if they don’t interview!! So ironically it’s more important to try and appeal to your other unis

What to include

structure for each paragraph - okay this may sound a bit basic and take you back to the horrors of gcse english, but a really useful way of making sure you fully explore all your points is using the PEE paragraph. I appreciate this is too formulaic for some people, but it doesn’t have to be in this exact order. I just used it as a guide to make sure each paragraph I wrote covered these elements

Point: motivation (why subject) or suitability (why me)

Evidence: thing you’ve done (list of examples below)

Explanation: what you learned and link it back to your point. Be reflective!!

okay now on to content - let’s split this into academic and extra-curricular

academic - this is the example section of your PEE, where you get to talk about all the amazing things you’ve done that demonstrate your passion for the subject

reading you’ve done, podcasts you’ve listened to, lectures you went to, work experience you did, societies / clubs you’re part of that are relevant to your subject, summer schools etc

extra-curricular - okay so you definitely can include extra-curriculars, but always link back to the skills you’ve learned from them (and possibly why that will help you in your subject area) e.g. being a captain of x team sport has helped me develop both my leadership and team work skills, because I must raise the morale of my team and delegate roles efficiently

here I have tried to give some examples of things that this person does in their role to develop the skills they mention

also, if you talk about an interest / hobby, try to quantify it - if you do a team sport, are you captain? If you play an instrument, what grade have you reached? If you run, have you done any significant distances e.g. a 10K? It just gives some evidence that you genuinely do your chosen hobby

Actually writing it

where to start - I found it really difficult to start writing that first draft, and essentially only got going when I had a school deadline to meet in early September… I was really freaked out by that blank Word document, but my dad basically sat me down and we did a huge messy plan to create a structure

by the way for me the struggle wasn’t ‘omg idk what to write i have nothing to say’ but more ‘omg i have so much to say but no idea how to express it’. If you fall into the former category I recommend making a list of all the academic experiences you have (see list above). Once you get brainstorming you’ll realise you’ve done more than you thought!

the first draft - use your plan to attempt your first draft. Completely ignore the character/line limit! It doesn’t matter if it’s rubbish, just focus on getting it all out - keep going until you finish writing everything you want to say

feedback - it’s really important to get a fresh pair of eyes to read your personal statement. When you’ve read it so many times it can be hard to spot errors and see where things don’t flow etc. The 3 most important things to remember when asking for feedback:

1. do it at intervals - my head of year read my first draft, then I asked a doctor I had shadowed to read my 4th draft, my head of year re-read it at my 5th draft, and then I finalised it with my parents for the 6th and final drafts (yep I did 7 drafts)

2. re-draft (lots ugh) after you get feedback - decide which bits to incorporate, but don’t be afraid to disagree with the advice you are given! It’s your personal statement

3. don’t ask too many people - they may give you conflicting views which will just confuse you rather than help. As you can see, I stuck to 2 ‘outsiders’ and my parents

the beginning - most people find this the hardest part. The best advice I’ve heard is basically not to start with the start! If you’re struggling, do the middle paragraphs first, and these might give you inspiration for your intro. Try to think of a moment, an experience, or a person you’ve met that really influenced your decision to study your subject, or encapsulates why you love your subject

the ending - okay you’ve given all your evidence so don’t introduce anything too new. Try not to repeat yourself but this is essentially a summary of 1) motivation / why subject and then close it off with 2) suitability / why me

Useful Posts

UCAS Personal Statements by @briefblazeunknown 

Top Tips for Your Personal Statement by @muststudy 

How to Write a Bomb Ass Personal Statement by @joolshallie 

A Guide to UCAS Personal Statements by @jenniestudies 

How to Ace the UCAS Process #4: Personal Statement by @penandanotebook (the rest of this series is really good too so definitely check it out!)

How to Make Your Personal Statement Suck Less by @hstudies

Good Vocabulary to Use in Your Personal Statement by me 

Medicine specific

Top Tips for a Medicine Personal Statement by @help-im-a-medstudent (I actually requested this post and I’m so grateful because it’s amazing!)

Applying to Medicine: How to Write Your Personal Statement by @quilavastudy 

Writing Your Medicine Personal Statement by @conquertheuniversity 

Personal statement advice and qualities that Medical Schools are looking for by @dxmedstudent