`what Is The Purpose Of A Lemon?` - The Lies Of Oxbridge Application

Application to University is a stressful time in the life of any aspiring young person. After negotiating the labyrinth that is the UCAS website and writing endless drafts of your personal statement, it can all seem a bit much. Naturally, such concerns are exacerbated by the mid-October deadline that Oxbridge forces upon all its prospective applicants, but this deadline does exist for a purpose. The simple fact is that Oxbridge application differs in type from application to all other UK universities. Here, I seek to clear away the smoke and mirrors that surrounds the process and offer practical tips for those thinking about applying to Oxbridge. Whereas no advice is guaranteed to secure one a place, by ignoring the conspiracy theories and taking certain straight forward practical steps, one can ensure that they are not being put at a disadvantage by tired old myths. As alluded to above, the deadline for Oxbridge admissions comes a full three months before other universities demand their applications. Admissions staff and tutors need enough time to be able to sift through the applications before inviting a number of students to Oxford or Cambridge to be interviewed in early December. In the meantime, students might be asked to sit a test that relates to the subject that they wish to study at University. Alternatively, they might be asked to submit some work with the rest of their application. Before applying it is worth being absolutely clear as to exactly what is required in one`s application. All this information is published clearly on the Universities` websites and can easily be obtained by a cursory Google or browse of a University`s prospectus. Once an application is fully complete, tutors will take GCSE and AS level grades, along with predicted A level grades, admission test results and/or sample work, and the school`s reference to decide who they want to invite to interview. Tutors will also look at Personal Statements, however the extent to which they contribute to one`s application is often exaggerated. Prospective students should use their Personal Statements to explain their interests and why they wish to study the subject they are applying for. Whereas it is important to ensure that one`s Statement is cogent and well articulated, one cannot expect to get marks for style. What`s more, tutors are quite clear that they are uninterested in extracurricular activities that have little relevance to the subject that one wishes to study. For instance, whereas a tutor might be impressed that a student plays bassoon to grade eight, the fact will have absolutely no impact upon the student`s chance of acceptance. What does have an impact is a demonstrable interest in the subject of choice. Think of it from the tutor`s perspective. They want to spend three or four years teaching a student that will remain passionate and interested in their subject, rather than one that becomes apathetic after only a year. The Personal Statement is the best chance that one has to show that they are that passionate and engaged person. The majority of those that complete the bureaucratic tasks of application will be invited to the fabled Oxbridge interview. Of all the stages in the process, it is this one that attracts the most conspiratorial nonsense from the media and popular opinion. A whole market is built around the `secrets` of getting in and for the most part the supposed `tricks of the trade` are no more than half-baked opportunism. For those like myself that are involved in the admissions process, it cannot be stressed enough that there is no magic formula for succeeding at interview. The set up is usually fairly straight forward. Students can normally expect to have between one and three interviews depending upon the tutor`s preferences. Interviews usually last between twenty and forty minutes and it is most common for there to be two tutors in every interview. Sometimes, candidates are given something to prepare before the interview that is relevant to the subject at hand and that will form the basis of discussion in the interview. In other cases the student is asked to form an opinion on some topic and defend and develop it under light questioning from the tutors. From my experience, one of the most common fears that applicants have about the interviews is the possibility of being asked a ridiculous question such as the one that forms the title of this piece, `What is the purpose of a lemon?`. Indeed, before I made my application nearly three years ago, I was sincerely informed that this was the sort of question that I could expect from my philosophy interviewer. Such advice did not help my nerves when sat outside of the room before being called in to interview. The truth is that tutors are not there to catch the applicants out. The questions that I, and everyone else I know at Oxford, got asked were not nearly as oblique and meaningless as being asked to discuss the existential merits of fruit. Indeed, I was asked to give a precise definition of politics, whether prisoners should be allowed the vote, and what level student fees should be set at. For a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics application, these questions are relevant and answerable to one that has not formally studied the subject. The tutors are instructed to help the students along their way in giving their answers, to probe their line of thought and propose alternatives that they can choose to accept or reject. This truth, although still a little daunting, is more comforting than the lies of devilishly aloof professors doing their very best to catch you out. About twenty per cent of Oxbridge applications are successful. Those that are offered a place are notified in early January giving one plenty of time to work towards the A level grade requirements. In terms of advice that I would give a prospective applicant, the truth is sadly a little less exciting than a magic formula, but there are crucial steps that one can take. The first is to read above and beyond one`s A Level syllabus. This is perhaps most relevant to Arts and Humanities applicants but applies to Science applicants as well. There is plenty of online information detailing what one can expect to study on each course. It is often worth scouting this information out and doing some light introductory reading. There is no need to try and become an expert but reading ahead is an excellent way of showing an interest in the course. The second piece of advice is to ask one`s educational institution for a mock interview to help one acclimatize to this often alien situation. Although it is unlikely that a school will be able to perfectly replicate the experience, it is useful to be in a position where one is defending a view point, indeed this can be done with family and friends as well. Thirdly, every school in the country has the direct email address of at least one Oxbridge college that is responsible for performing Outreach work in that area. Any worries that one might have can be addressed directly to Admissions staff whose job it is to answer the queries of prospective applicants. Furthermore, most Oxbridge colleges have a student representative that is responsible for communicating with prospective applicants. These email addresses can always be found on the websites of individual colleges and students are often able to speak more candidly about their own experiences and what one might expect throughout the application process. Finally, the most important thing is to give no credence to the fairy stories that one is told. They only serve to mislead and befuddle and in a process where clarity of thought is paramount, they can put one at a disadvantage. To all of those that have read to the end of this piece, I wish you the best of luck in your application.