Tell me about Oxbridge please.

[EccentricaGallumbits]

I don't get it and DD1 has just announced I will need to.

different colleges for different stuff? how would you choose? Different application process? Extra good grades needed? I went to a polytechnic new university. I know nothing.

I know a bit but I am sure that other people know more :)

What year is she? You need to apply to Oxbridge by October 15th i think in year 13 which is earlier than for other universities (unless doing medicine I think).

You can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both.

Some subjects don't exist ie you can't do Chemistry at Cambridge - you have to do natural sciences.

You apply to a college, but you can make an open application ie not choosing a college. If you are good but don't get in at that one you can get passed on to another one.

They do lots of interviewing - if they think you might be any good thru are likely to interview.

Some subjects may need extra exams ie for maths you would need to do step papers.

You obviously need very good grades.

People from state and independent schools go there.

Terms are very short.

Some colleges only take women.

Hopefully someone else will have contributed by now

Ah no is only me .

Am Cambridge reject. My sister went there. As did my mum and dad. And my granny.

excellent - will let her know. she's year 11 and planning ahead. she'll probably change her mind next week.

I have no idea but I know there is a book

i am insane. she is year 10 and has yonks left before we have to think about this stuff.

colleges are not just looking for grades, they are also looking for evidence of genuine interest in the subject, so if she gets in the habit of reading around her subject as well as her set books (or, eg, reading popular science if she wants to do science) that will stand her in good stead.

I started doing my research around yr10/11 - I was interested in doing a relatively obscure subject (at Cambridge) so did lots of visits to colleges and faculty, arranged to meet students doing that subject, analysed as much information as I could get hold of on which college might be best etc etc. As well as obviously doing lots of reading around so I could answer questions intelligently at interview. It worked!

My school were not much help as they had never had anyone wanting to do that subject before, so it was all down to me. But depending on what your DD is thinking of studying, her school advisor might be more clued up.

Eccentrica - never to early to have half an eye on the academic & extra curricular stuff she'll put on the application form if she does decide to go for it. And maybe she can uuse the goal to help her motivate herself through her GCSE work? I was so excited about the prospect of going I had my offer letter and postcards of the place on the wall in front of my desk at home to help me motivate myself through those tedious summer days of revision when all I really wanted was to be outside in the sun relaxing (that was A-level revision mind but whatever workks for her!!) . Good luck to her. I hope she gets in wherever she eventually decides to go for and has a fantastic time!

thanks all very kind.

The subject came up becaus she wants to do Duke of Ed which I commented would be fun and look good on future CVs. She's also looking into doing an extra GCSE at home which they don't do in school.

I have no idea where she gets this from. I was a slacker who didn't know what she wanted until I was 30.

an extra GCSE at home is the kind of thing admissions tutors like.... shows not just that she is keen but also that she can motivate herself academically.

Essentially, both Oxford and Camridge run a collegiate system, whereby undergraduates live (at least in their first year and normally in their third years too) in College, are generally taught their tutorials in College but go to lectures outside of College.

So, for example, if you did history (which I did), then most of the tutorials (weekly, one or two hourly, intense discussions on the essay you've written that week)will be taught by academic staff (tutors) who are affiliated to that College (whose studies are there, who eat there etc). Sometimes, if you choose a particular aspect of your subject that your College tutors don't know much about, then you may go to another College for tutorials in that course.

Lectures are given outside of College, where you meet all other undergraduates from all across the University. Similarly, if doing a science subject, lab classes are taught outside college. Also, all social clubs - University Societies - have members from across the universities, whereas each College may have its own clubs too (especially rowing clubs and sports clubs).

In terms of choosing which college to apply for, some only offer certain subjects (for example, the College I was at, Wadham, didn't offer geography). Some colleges have a religious slant (i.e. lots of want-to-be priests, monks etc go there and study theology). Some cater exclusively for postgraduates. Some are quite small, others have hundreds of students. Some are extremely rich and can offer amazing bursaries to their students (e.g. St John's, Christ Church) whereas others aren't particularly wealthy (St Hilda's).

It's worth doing lots of research, as you can find out the number of applicants per place at each college, and the success rate. Therefore, sometimes, you can maximise your odds of getting into a college by applying for a subject where there's a 50% chance of being offered a place, rather than a 5% chance for the same course at another college.

It's worth going along to any Open Days, either at the Colleges, or within the subject faculty. Have a look at the university websites.

Somebody, I forget who, once described the Oxbridge tute system loosely thus - I have added my own embellishments:
You have maybe 3 essays to write a week. You of course should also fully enjoy the varied extra curricular activities that Oxbridge has to offer. You are a student, therefore you will go out, get drunk, oversleep, and spend endless hours talking rubbish with friends.

Hence you have maybe 1.5 days to research and write each essay, tops. If you didn't read the relevant texts during holidays, you will have to panic-read them first. If that's Bleak House, good luck.

You write your essay. You go into your tutorial, possibly with 1 or 2 comrades for back up, and attempt to justify your argument against someone who is an accepted world expert on that subject. If you're really lucky, they will have devoted 30-40 years of study to the subject. You have probably managed 4 hours. You will make your case, they will rip you to shreds.

The next day, you do it again.

I had tutorial partners who were physically sick before tutes. Some tutors want to help you learn, some enjoy the work environment because it is a perfect opportunity for them to hone their egotistical bullying skills.

It isn't for everybody, but if you can stomach it, you will never have the same fear of a stroppy teacher or impossible boss ever again. Sometimes the entrance interviews follow the same format, sometimes they don't. Best to be prepared for the worst though .

Also, the other students are, by and large, quite wierd. I met my husband, some incredible friends, and lots of fascinating people there. I also met a lot of stuck up twats.

It's an odd little bubble, but if you want it to, it will open doors like nothing else for the rest of your life.

but oxford is close enough for me to keep an eye on her.

does cambridge work the same way? short terms, tutorials with scary experts and bikes?

I would disagree about the tutorial system. I loved my tutes. Also, I never had more than 1.5 essays per week to write (one weekly on one history course, one every two weeks on another area).

I found tutorials to be challenging, informative and a brilliant way of learning more about the topic. I never knew anyone who was sick beforehand!

she is my PFB and very P. I'll be visiting at least twice a week and making sure she's not pissed sad.

this is still 4 years away and the thought makes me well up.

I went to Cambridge (1998-2001). I think most people would be surprised that:

Most of the friends I made went to state schools (I went to an independent school) and were / are very normal. In fact I don't remember meeting anyone who was that weird at all. Or stuck-up. Probably helped that I went to one of the more modern colleges, rather than one of the ancient ones.

There was loads of work to do but I didn't have a complete breakdown. Or any breakdown for that matter!

I did manage to fit in extra curricular stuff and have a life.

Agree with 30AndMerkin that it is a bit different to other universities (primarily the access you have to world-renowned experts in your subject, and the amount of work you have to do compared to other universities - my DH went to a very well-respected university, also studying an arts subject, and reckons I did at least twice as much work as him).

And I think if you are a very sensitive, or insecure person you would probably find it hellish. There can be quite a lot of pressure - most of it self-imposed. But if you a curious, reasonably intelligent person it can be a fantastic experience.

Re grades: yes, of course you need top grades.

Re colleges: visit them. You soon pick up what they are like. But remember teaching is organised on a university-wide, not college level, so you will still get exactly the same course whatever college you go to.

For your DD, I would suggest that for now she pursues whatever her interests are: music, sport, charity stuff, Duke of Edinburgh, whatever. Nearer the time she should read around her chosen subject, looking at things wider than her A-Levels. So, for example, for English, read other set texts, for History, read more about a particular period / read literature from a particular country, for Languages, get into the films from that country (or whatever). I think the main thing they are looking for is intellectual curiosity and a questioning mind, rather than Mensa-level genius (I am the former and not the latter!).

Is there a careers service at her school? Does her school usually send children to Oxbridge?

Hello Noah btw!

she doesn't need to decide whether she prefers Oxford or Cambridge until nearer the time, when she will have a clearer idea about exactly what she wants to learn and which course suits her best.

Eccentrica: People who went to Oxford or Cambridge like to say that they are totally different, but actually they are very very similar. The courses sometimes differ a little bit (eg from what I remember the history course at Oxford only started in 1400 or something, so I chose Cambridge because I thought I might like to study periods before that), but about 60% of the reason I chose to apply to Cambridge rather than Oxford is because I prefered the town).

Some of the scary experts are scary and some of them are actually really nice people (although also experts)!

Everyone is indeed on a bike in both cities.

You and your DD have ages to think about this! She should just concentrate on getting good grades and having an interesting life outside academia, whatever that means for her.

My scary tutor - she does actually look like she might kill you if you don't know the relationship between Stephen and Matilda in the 12th century(question in first tutorial - I didn't and still don't know the answer)

Nice smily tutor

Another nice smily tutor. Looks like a badger. Is called Badger. Is a world-expert but nice person!

Sorry - am getting all nostalgic!