Applying to Oxford - Sheffield Hallam University · –Your Personal Statement can form the basis...

HEPP Conference, 2015

Dr J. Gilbert, Magdalen College

Applying to Oxford

Magdalen College University of Oxford

University of Oxford

• Oldest university in the English speaking world

• Collegiate in structure

• Research led

• Over 22,000 students

• Excellent facilities and resources


Courses at Oxford

• Predominantly academic and theoretical

• Teach skills as much as knowledge

• Start broad then focus

• Joint honours courses

• Examinations


Role of the University

• Focus of subject teaching – Lectures – Seminars – Classes – Laboratory practicals

• Degree content

• Examinations

• Awards degree


Role of the Colleges

• Admit undergraduates

• Variety in location, size, appearance, specialised facilities

• Mini-campus


Teaching at Oxford • Tutorial system

• Personalised teaching

• Interaction with senior

academics

• Independent thinking • Short intensive terms


Student life

• Life-work balance

• Hundreds of clubs and societies

• University or College level


Student Finance

• Tuition Fees

– Nothing to pay upfront

• Other costs – The government provide a maintenance loan

(repayable) to help with the cost of living – accommodation, food etc. • Living away from home (outside London) – up to £5500

– There is also a grant available (not repayable) • Currently £3354 if household income below £25000


Student Finance

• Repayment of student loans

Salary Amount of salary from which 9% will be deducted

Annual repayment Monthly repayment

£25,000 £25,000 - £21,000 = £4,000 £4,000 x 9% = £360 £30.00

£30,000 £30,000 - £21,000 = £9,000 £9,000 x 9% = £810 £67.50

£35,000 £35,000 - £21,000 = £14,000 £14,000 x 9% = £1,260 £105.00

£40,000 £40,000 - £21,000 = £19,000 £19,000 x 9% = £1,710 £142.50

£45,000 £45,000 - £21,000 = £24,000 £24,000 x 9% = £2,160 £180.00

Student Loan Repayment (England & Wales)


Student Finance

• It is NOT more expensive to study at Oxford:

– The most generous financial support package for students from households where income is below £16,000

– World class resources

– Subsidised accommodation and food

– Short terms


Oxford financial support

• Bursaries and fee waivers:


Moritz-Heyman Scholarships

• No application – eligible students invited to be a Moritz-Heyman Scholars

• Bursary of £5,500 a year

• Tuition fee reduction to £3,500

• Access to work experience through at least one summer internship

• Expected to give back through volunteering


Application Process

Choose course

and College UCAS

application

Submit by

15 October

Result of

application

Choose ‘firm’

and ‘insurance’

choices

Exam results/

confirmation

Written

work / tests

Start

university!

Interview


Entry Requirements

• A-levels: AAA / A*AA / A*A*A

• IB: 38 / 39 / 40 with 6/7 in higher level subjects

• GCSEs:

– No minimum GCSE A* requirement

– Average number of A* grades is 6.2

– In context of school


Selection Criteria

• Each applicant is considered individually: – Academic record

• GCSE grades • AS grades • A2 predictions • Contextual data

– Personal statement – UCAS reference – Written work (where requested) – Test results – Interview performance

19/03/2015 16

Personal Statement and Teachers’ Reference


In context

• Just two of a number of criteria: – Academic record

• GCSE grades • AS grades • A2 predictions • Contextual data

– Personal statement – UCAS reference – Written work (where requested) – Test results – Interview performance


Personal Statement – General Advice

• Tell us why the subject interests you – How can you demonstrate your interest?

– What have you done to prepare?

• Refer to the selection criteria for the course

• Be honest – Your Personal Statement can form the basis for interview questions

• Write concisely – Maximum 4000 characters (including spaces)

• 75% academic, 25% extra-curricular – Relate skills from extra-curricular activities to course

DO NOT PLAGIARISE!!


We want to know…

• What kind of student can we expect to meet at interview?

• Why are they interested in this course/area of study?

• Are they motivated and committed?


Teachers’ Reference

• What makes the candidate stand out?

• Not necessary to detail UMS scores but can be helpful if they are impressive

• Areas of strength especially if candidate has not mentioned them in their statement

• If there are extenuating circumstances they should be detailed

• Information about school context can be helpful


Context • Personal statement - why an applicant has chosen

the subject and why they think they are suitable for the course

• Reference - additional information on the academic suitability of a candidate to study their chosen subject

• Both are important, however, applicants will be neither successful nor unsuccessful in gaining a place at Oxford on the basis of their personal statement or reference alone


Aptitude tests

• Stretch and challenge candidates

• Designed to be difficult

– Speed of the test

– Types of question

• Aptitude tests are different to what candidates are used to

• Results create a normalised distribution curve


Rationale

• Rising number of applicants per place

• Differentiate between well qualified candidates

• Common data set across all candidates

• Assess aptitude for a subject

• Assess academic potential

• Concentrate interview resources on those most likely to receive an offer

• Another opportunity to impress


Aptitude tests

• Skills

– Application of GCSE and early AS level knowledge

– Interpretation of data/arguments, critical thinking, comprehension, essay writing, response to new material

• Methods

– MCQ, short answer questions, essays


BMAT

• Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

• 2 hours long

• MCQ, short answer questions and 1/4 essay

• Aptitude important for the Oxford course

• Revision is helpful preparation

• Parts of the test are weighted differently at different universities


LNAT & TSA

• LNAT – Law

– 42 MCQ (95mins) 1/3 essay (40mins)

– Computer based

• TSA - E&M, Geography, Philosophy and Psychology joint courses

– 50 MCQ (90mins) then 1/4 essay (30mins)

• Time management is crucial


LNAT essay questions


MAT & PAT

• MAT - Maths, Comp Sci and their joint courses – 2 ½ hours long

– based on core modules 1 and 2

– 10 MCQ and 4/5 longer questions

• PAT – Engineering, Materials Sci and Physics – 2 hours long

– Similar to MAT but with Physics elements

– Syllabus available online

• Be aware of mark distribution


HAT & ELAT • HAT – History and joint courses

– 2 hours – 2 sources, 4 questions – Tests interpretation, analysis, critical thinking and

writing skills

• ELAT – English and joint courses – 1 ½ hours – Compare and contrast 2 or 3 passages out of 6 – No extra marks for including outside reading – Tests reading skills and responsiveness to unfamiliar

material


CAT, LAT, OLAT & MLAT • CAT – for Classics and joint courses

– 3 papers – Greek translation, Latin translation and Classics Language Aptitude Test

– Take one or two papers depending on course

• MLAT – Modern Lang and joint courses – involves some translation

• LAT, OLAT & MLAT – Made up language to analyse and translate

– Look for patterns


Preparing for the test

• Depends if aptitude or ability

• Good general exam technique

– Structure of the test

– Allocation of marks

• Use past papers but keep one until close to the time of the test

• Practise with a time limit


Results

• Delivery of marks varies by subject

• Don’t expect top marks

• Pass mark depends on cohort

• Last year 55% on the PAT was a good mark

• Results used alongside all other info to shortlist


Interview Shortlisting

• Approx. 3 candidates per place interviewed

Course Apps per place % Shortlisted

Economics & Management

11.8 29.3

Medicine 9.7 28.8

Law 6.6 48.5

Biochemistry 3.8 83.9

Chemistry 3 95

Classics 2.6 96.3


Interview Process

• Around 70% of applicants interviewed

– Nearly 10,000 students

• Interviews in December over 2-3 days

• Usually in at least two different colleges

• Each interview lasts 25-45 minutes

• 20-25% of successful applicants receive an offer from a college to which they did not directly apply


Interviews at Oxford

• Academic, subject-focussed discussion

• Structured but relatively informal

• Assess academic ability and potential

• Evaluate understanding and aptitude for subject

• Opportunity to explain commitment to subject

• Opportunity to experience the College environment and meet like-minded people


What to expect

• Academic, subject-focused discussion in which tutors hope to see applicants thinking problems through for themselves

• Structured but relatively informal

• No hidden agenda or ‘trick’ questions

• We are looking for: – Enthusiasm for complex and challenging ideas

– Clarity of thought and analytical ability

– Intellectual flexibility

• We are not looking for a ‘smooth’ performance


How to prepare

• Mock interviews

– Unfamiliar interviewer

– Work with other schools

• Re-read personal statement and any submitted written work

• Revise relevant AS (or equivalent) material

• Further/wider reading

• Just a minute


Remind students to:

• Listen and take time to think

• Be willing to explain their thinking

• Concentrate on the current question

• Ask questions if they need to

• Content, not style, is what matters


Afterwards • One applicant in five receives an offer, but …

• Every year c. 10,000 unsuccessful Oxford applicants go on to achieve the entry requirements

• We could happily take many more of our applicants if places were available

• Competition is tough and decisions are very difficult to make

• Three possible outcomes: offer, open offer, unsuccessful

• Feedback

– Available after January, not during the shortlisting phase


What are tutors looking for?

• Enthusiasm for subject

• Super-curricular exploration

• Academic ability and potential

• Ability to critically analyse, think independently and express ideas clearly

• Self-motivation and commitment to study

• Subject-specific selection criteria (see website)


Keys to success

• Choose the right subject

• Excellent examination results

• Read and think - critically and analytically

• Revise to embed learning – especially in advance of the interview


Support for potential applicants

• Regional approach to outreach

• Visits to link schools and colleges

– Oxford Explained

– Application Workshops

• School groups visit Magdalen

• Uniq summer schools – Year 12

• Pathways Programme – Years 10-13


Finding out more…

• Undergraduate / alternative prospectuses • University/College/Department websites

• Open days and outreach events

• Admissions Information Centre • Email: [email protected]

• Twitter: @MagdOutreach

• Follow #OxTweet to find out more from

current Magdalen students

Applying to Oxford - Sheffield Hallam University · –Your Personal Statement can form the basis...

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