Applying to Oxbridge

Oxford and Cambridge are two of the most internationally renowned universities. And rightly so! They have a high standard of education and attract some of the best and brightest students from around the world. But how do you get in? Unlike most universities, the deadline for Oxford and Cambridge applications is much earlier; 6pm on 15th October. But fear not! You've still got some time to get your application in if you feel like it's the right choice for you! Here's my guide to applying to Oxford or Cambridge:

1. Decide where to go. A unique quirk of applying to Oxbridge is that you can only apply to one of the two universities each year. Hopefully, the course you've decided to study will help you in deciding between the two. If you're still struggling to decide, take a deep dive into each uni's websites and social media pages, as well as looking at the cities in which they're based. There's no right or wrong choice as both places have something to offer, so it's best to go with your gut feeling.
   

2. Choose a college. Both Oxford and Cambridge are made up of colleges. These are the places where you will live and study, so it's important that you pick the right one for you. Each college will have it's pros and cons, with some being older and more central, and others being newer or a bit further out. It's also worth considering which colleges are more competitive but don't make this your deciding factor. If you really can't decide, there will be an option to make an 'open' application which says that you're happy with any college.
   

3. Fill in the application form via UCAS. Like with any other university, you will have to apply via UCAS. However, as Oxford and Cambridge are so competitive, it's worth tweaking your personal statement to make it more targeted to the exact course, college and university you're interested in. Unlike other universities who are more interested in your extracurricular activities, Oxford and Cambridge will want to see a more academic personal statement. If you're unsure how to do this, speak to your tutor to get some advice. Like with any other uni application, you will need a reference from your tutor. However, as the deadline for applications is much earlier, make sure you let them know as soon as possible that you will need a reference before the deadline.
   

4. Extra forms. This is only if you are applying to Cambridge. Once you have sent off your UCAS application, you will be sent an email asking you to fill in a separate form. The deadline on this may vary, but for most applications, it will be 6pm on 22nd October.
   

5. Admissions tests. Many of the courses at Oxford and Cambridge will require that you take a test before you can get invited to the interview. You can find out if you'll need to take an admissions test here. If you do need to take one, make sure you register before the deadline, which is usually in October. These are highly important and you must revise for them, but past papers can be found online.
   

6. Written work. Some writing-based courses may ask you to send in some examples of your written work, such as essays. Make sure you read the instructions carefully, as some will specify the essay subject and some won't. This doesn't necessarily have to be something you've written specifically for the application, but make sure you get feedback from your tutor to make your essay as great as possible.
   

7. Interviews. As the admissions tests are so competitive, most people won't be invited to an interview. But if you don't get an interview, don't be disheartened! Oxford and Cambridge are great universities, but there are many more incredible universities you can apply to, so it's not the be-all and end-all. If you do get invited to an interview, congratulations! Interviews are a great way for the university tutors to find out a bit about you and decide if their course is right for you. Ask your tutors if they can give you practise interviews so that you're less nervous on the day.
   

8. Decision time. Once you've had your interview, there's nothing you can do but wait. Both Oxford and Cambridge will respond during January, and your response will fall into one of three categories. The first is an offer. Congratulations! Now you just need to work hard and get those grades. The second option is a rejection which, though disappointing, a sad reality of applying to such a competitive uni. Don't worry though, you still have up to four other universities you could apply to this year, or you can hold out and apply again next year. The third possible response will only come to Cambridge applicants and it is called the Winter Pool. This means that, though you weren't given an offer by the college you applied to, they still think you are a strong applicant, so you enter a pool of other strong applicants. You can then be given offers by other colleges or invited for more interviews. This doesn't guarantee you an offer, and if you don't get picked you will be told that you were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, this can be a very stressful time for some people, but it's important to remember that even if you didn't get picked, you were still deemed a strong applicant and that's something to be very proud of!

Oxbridge applications are a lot more rigorous and competitive than most other university applications, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't apply! If you think that you'd enjoy studying there, then it's definitely worth going for.