I have a very clever niece (11 A*) who will be going to university in 2006. She wants to study history with the aim of becoming a primary school teacher.
She is looking at universities at the moment but is not considering Oxford or Cambridge. I think mainly because of financial reasons - the cost of returning home, other students being better off, etc.
Oxford would be closer to her home. I have been arguing that there will be lots of people from state schools, not all of the students will be from wealthy backgrounds and more importantly, the facilities will be first class - hopefully the teaching will be excellent (?). Any first-hand advice on why she should at least go on an Open Day and consider it?