6. Choosing a Course
● What do you love? What motivates your learning?
● What topics will you study?
● How and when do you begin to specialize within your
course?
● How much flexibility is there within the course?
● How is the course structured?
● How and when are you assessed?
● What are the professors areas of research/interest?
7. Choosing A College
○ 34 Oxford Colleges and 31 Cambridge Colleges
○ More similarities than differences
■ Differences in atmosphere, not academic experience
○ College choice does not affect chance of success
○ Specify a college or “Open Application”
○ Does the college offer what I wish to study?
○ College facilities, location, accomodation
○ Where do I feel at home?
8. Admissions Process
a. Pre-Application Preparation
b. Applying through UCAS
c. Deadlines:
i. Cambridge - Sept 20
ii. Oxford - Oct 15
d. Personal Statement
e. Academic Reference
f. The COPA
g. Tests
h. Interview
9. Personal Statement
○ What is it?
■ Academic ability and potential
■ Commitment and engagement with the subject
■ 80% on academic interests, abilities and achievement
○ Do’s
■ Apply for a course you really want to study.
■ Be yourself: tell the truth about your interests.
■ Sell yourself: this is not the time for modesty.
■ Reread your personal statement before interview – tutors will.
○ Don’ts
■ Don’t list qualifications
■ Don’t just list accomplishments, evaluate them
■ Don’t feel the need to be dramatic
10. Personal Statement - Course Focused
● Discuss any relevant books or articles you have read.
● Discuss your current course choices – perhaps a
particular topic or concept that particularly captured
your interest.
● Write about experiences that relate to the course.
● Write about what interests you about the degree
courses.
11. Reading & Preparation
● Each department will provide recommended reading and
preparation
○ Ranges from books, magazines, research publications
○ Take notes & annotate - you will want to refer back to
this later in the Admissions process
● Oxford Recommended Reading
12. Academic Reference
a. One academic reference from the school
b. Draws from student’s subject areas and performance
c. Student should approach teachers and inform about intentions in
Sem 2 of Junior year
13. Tests
○ Subject Specific written assessment
■ Sciences - BMAT, PAT, MAT
■ Humanities and Social Studies - TSA, HAT, ELAT
○ Offered at ISM in November (usually around Nov 1)
○ How to Prepare?
■ Learn the content
■ Practice tests/past year samples (www.ox.ac.uk/tests and
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/admissi
on-assessments)
■ Tutors and prep courses are not needed!
14. Interview
Choosing Courses
What do you love? What motivates your learning?
Is a course offered that incorporates the above?
What modules (papers) are offered on the course?
What topics will you study?
How and when do you begin to specialise within your course?
How much flexibility is there within the course when choosing modules?
How is the course structured?
How and when are you assessed?
What are the professors’ areas of research/interest?
○ Offered to shortlisted candidates
○ Reflects a mini tutorial or supervision
○ Academic and Subject related
○ Cambridge in Singapore (mid October), Oxford via Skype
○ How to Prepare?
■ Know what to expect
■ Possible questions
■ Re-read personal statement and written work
■ Read around subject
■ Practice talking about subject
15. What To Do Now?
Choosing Courses
What do you love? What motivates your learning?
Is a course offered that incorporates the above?
What modules (papers) are offered on the course?
What topics will you study?
How and when do you begin to specialise within your course?
How much flexibility is there within the course when choosing modules?
How is the course structured?
How and when are you assessed?
What are the professors’ areas of research/interest?
★ Start your research on Oxford or Cambridge
★ Identify the course of interest
★ Review recommendations
★ Meet with your counselor
★ Begin reading and engaging with course beyond the classroom
★ Keep up with your grades!
16. Choosing Courses
What do you love? What motivates your learning?
Is a course offered that incorporates the above?
What modules (papers) are offered on the course?
What topics will you study?
How and when do you begin to specialise within your course?
How much flexibility is there within the course when choosing modules?
How is the course structured?
How and when are you assessed?
What are the professors’ areas of research/interest?
Questions?
