ARERS’ GUIDE & C ARENTS’ - University of Oxford Podcastsmedia.podcasts.ox.ac.uk/offices/prospectuses/PandC.pdf · ARERS’ GUIDE PARENTS’ AND CARERS’ GUIDE TO OXFORD New Parents

PARE

NTS’

&CA

RERS

’ GUI

DE

PARENTS’ AND CARERS’ GUIDE TO OXFORD

New Parents & Carers Guide.qxd 12/5/09 08:46 Page c

Mike Nicholson

CONTENTS ABOUT OXFORD UNIVERSITYn Introduction ........................................................................................2n Teaching and assessment................................................................3n The college system...........................................................................4n Accommodation ................................................................................5n Meals ....................................................................................................5n Resources ............................................................................................6n Graduate destinations......................................................................8n A week in the life of an Oxford student ...................................10

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTERn At 14 or younger: still choosing their GCSEs .........................11n At 15 and 16: studying for their GCSEs...................................12n At 16: choosing A-levels and other qualifications.................13n At 17: completing AS-levels or other qualifications.............14n At 18: the final year at school or college .................................16

HOW TO APPLYn The application ................................................................................18n Choosing a college .........................................................................19n Interviews.........................................................................................20n After the interview ........................................................................21

SUPPORTn Finance ..............................................................................................22n Disabled students...........................................................................22n A student and parent case study ...............................................23

FURTHER INFORMATIONn Admissions Information Centre ..................................................24n Website .............................................................................................24n Podcasts............................................................................................24n iTunes U.............................................................................................24

New Parents & Carers Guide.qxd 12/5/09 08:46 Page d

1

WELCOMEI’m Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions atOxford University. I’m also the father of two teenage children, so I can understand many of the emotions that you may well beexperiencing: pride in my children’s achievements, and greathopes for their future, mixed with uncertainty about exactly whatthat future may be – and also complete confusion about some ofthe choices my children have made!

It’s certainly not always easy to understand the range of optionsavailable to young people today, or to know how best to supportour children. With this in mind, we have written this guide toprovide you with more information about studying at OxfordUniversity and our application process, and how you may supportyour son or daughter with their application and beyond.

New Parents & Carers Guide.qxd 12/5/09 08:46 Page 1

2

QualificationsSome examples of qualifications, with thelevel of achievement that would usually berequired to make a competitiveapplication:n A-levels: AAA, excluding General

Studies n Scottish Advanced Highers: AA if

taking two subjects, AAB if takingthree

n International Baccalaureate: 38–40points, including core points

Other equivalent qualifications are alsoacceptable. If your son or daughter isstudying for qualifications not listed here,please do contact us for further detailsand advice or see www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/quals/.

ABOUT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

IntroductionOxford University is probably best known forits academic excellence. Some of the best andbrightest students in the world have studiedhere, including many prime ministers and otherpoliticians, Nobel Prize winners, authors, poets,philosophers and artists – not to mentioncomedians, screenwriters and chefs.

As the oldest English-speaking university in the world, Oxford is also famous for itsarchitecture. You may have seen the city’sbeautiful buildings and ‘dreaming spires’ onmany films and television programmes. As wellas this impressive historical background, theUniversity is also very modern, at the cuttingedge of research, with unparalleled resourcesand facilities for students.

Oxford was ranked fourth in the Times HigherEducation Supplement’s World University

Rankings 2008, and in June 2008, the annualTimes Good University Guide named OxfordBritain’s top university for the seventhconsecutive year. If your son or daughter cameto study here, you can be sure that they wouldbe extremely well supported, in terms of theireducation, other interests and welfare.

Unfortunately you can’t just register your son or daughter for a place, as they do have togo through an application process. We explainthis in the ‘How to apply’ section starting onpage 18. It is competitive to get in but possiblynot as competitive as you might think – onaverage, around four students* apply for eachof the places available: many fewer than forsimilar courses at other top UK universities. Tomake a competitive application, your son ordaughter needs to be predicted three A gradesat A-level, or other equivalent qualifications.

* Please note that this figure does vary according to each course.

Gre

g Sm

olon

ski


Teaching and assessment Tutorials are at the heart of teaching atOxford. A tutorial is a lesson between a tutor(a University teacher) and normally just one ortwo students, usually taking place once ortwice every week. Tutors are nearly alwayslecturers or professors in their subject, and willbe experts in their field – often world-leaders.The students usually have to prepare somework in advance, for example an essay orsome mathematical problems, which they thendiscuss in the tutorial.

Oxford University is in a strong position tohave the resources to provide this level ofpersonal tuition with real experts. You can besure that your son or daughter would bestretched and challenged academically, withthe tutor there to provide whatever supportand guidance they may need. There is also aprogramme of lectures, as well as the tutorials,with additional laboratory work and field trips,where appropriate for the subject.

Most courses have an introductory first year,which finishes with a set of examinations.Students have to pass these exams tocontinue in to the second year. Most studentsdo pass but for any that do not, there is anopportunity to retake them. Oxford Universityalso has one of the lowest drop-out rates inthe UK, at only 1.1%, compared with thenational rate of 7.1%. Students do workextremely hard, but they tend to enjoy thework that they do, and have a great deal ofsupport in place at both college and Universitylevel for when they do need assistance.

3

Would Oxford be the right choice formy son or daughter?Does your son or daughter love to talk abouttheir subject? Do they like to get in to debatesabout their work with teachers and friends?Do they love to read about their subject aboveand beyond what they are actually required todo at school or college? Do they perform wellin exams? If so, they would probably enjoy thestyle of studying at Oxford.

However, some students do not like to bechallenged by teachers in quite the same way:they may also prefer to be assessed throughcompleting coursework, rather than by exams.If this is the case for your son or daughterthen the teaching style at Oxford may not suittheir way of learning or enable them toachieve the highest marks, and they mayprefer to apply to universities that do not usea tutorial system.

Rob

Judg

esRo

b Ju

dges


‘I felt very happy that Sinead was part ofa college where she was personally knownto tutors, catering staff and the porters.She adapted well to college life, helped byher "college parents" - college parents aretwo students in the second year who arethere to assist first years. They areusually studying the same course, and willget in touch with the new students beforethey start, and also during the first week.I found this very reassuring.

Oxford takes care of its students and Iwas happy that Sinead blossomed in itscare.’

SIOBHAN

4

The college systemOxford University is made up of a numberdifferent colleges – 30 undergraduate collegesin total - and departments. Colleges are wherestudents usually live, study and have theirtutorials. Most colleges offer most subjects, so your son or daughter would be studyingalongside other students taking a range ofdifferent courses. College choice really comesdown to personal preference rather than anyacademic considerations. There is more aboutchoosing a college in the ‘How to apply’ sectionof this guide on page 18.

Although the colleges differ in their size andarchitecture, there are really far more similaritiesbetween them than there are differences.Colleges set their own tests for students tocheck their progress, just as schools may setmock exams, but it is the University which setsand marks formal exams, and awards degrees.Consequently, all colleges are working to thesame syllabuses, and preparing students for the same exams. Facilities may vary a littlebetween the colleges but each one certainlyoffers a very well-stocked library, a dining hall,laundry facilities, a common room, a bar and aprogramme of social events. Colleges areresponsible for students’ academic progress and also for their personal welfare. All collegesoffer the same excellent standard of teachingand support.

As well as all the facilities and support of college life, your son or daughter would alsohave access to wider University resources.Departments of the University hold lectures,classes and laboratory work for students fromall colleges. Many departments also havesubject libraries that students can use inaddition to their college library.

One of the great advantages of the collegiatesystem is that students have all the benefits ofa small, close-knit community and of belongingto a large international university.

Rob

Judg

es


5

Accommodation All students are guaranteed accommodation incollege for the first year of their course.Parents do not need to worry about finding aroom for their son or daughter before theystart at the University, as this would all bearranged by the college. If your son ordaughter has any particular requirements, it isimportant to let the college know as early aspossible, but, in general, the bedrooms for firstyear students will simply be allocated atrandom.

All colleges can also offer students a room forat least one further year; many collegesprovide accommodation for the whole of astudent’s course. College accommodation mayeither be on the main college site, or just a fewminutes’ walk away in a separate collegeaccommodation block. College rooms are goodquality, furnished and may be en suite.Where students are required to live out inprivate accommodation they usually gettogether with friends to rent a shared house.

As with college accommodation, rentedaccommodation is usually no more than a few

minutes away from the centre of Oxford. TheUniversity Accommodation Office producesinformation about private sector housing. Students have access to their college facilitieswhether they are living in the college itself orin private accommodation. It is a benefit of thecollege system that a student can make use ofcollege facilities throughout their course aswell as the general University resources.

Colleges are very safe environments. Each onehas a Porters’ Lodge, which is like a receptionoffice at the main entrance, where portersfulfil reception and security duties 24 hours aday. They also tend to get to know thestudents, and take an active interest in theirpersonal safety.

MealsEach college has a dining room normallyproviding three meals a day throughout theweek, and may also offer meals at weekends.The exact arrangements will vary from collegeto college but the food is extremely goodvalue. Many college rooms also have kitchenfacilities where students can prepare their ownmeals if they wish to do so.

Rob

Judg

es

Rob

Judg

es


6

ResourcesAs well as the facilities available in colleges thereare also various University resources which maybe used by all students. Your son or daughtercould save money by studying at Oxford ratherthan at some other universities, since Oxford’sresources are so extensive that students oftendon’t need to spend very much themselves.

LibrariesAll colleges have their own libraries, which aretypically a student’s first port of call for anybooks they may need, particularly during thefirst year of their course. Department andfaculty libraries provide an extra source of thebasic texts, as well as specialist materials foroptional topics and more advanced study.Students can also make use of the world-famous Bodleian Library. This is a copyrightlibrary meaning that it has a copy of every bookand periodical published in the UK and Irelandsince 1610. Oxford University Library Services,which manages most of the main Universitylibraries, holds over nine million printed items,and vast quantities of materials in many otherformats. Its collections grow by three miles ofshelving a year.www.lib.ox.ac.uk

Computing ServicesAll colleges have computer rooms, and there isalso the central Oxford University ComputingServices (OUCS), which offers computerfacilities and free training, and also runs acomputer shop. Some students bring acomputer with them when they come toOxford, as many rooms have ethernetconnections that allow 24-hour internet access.However, the college and University resourcesare such that it is certainly not necessary foryour son or daughter to have a computer oftheir own.www.oucs.ox.ac.uk

Nick

Cist

one

Rob

Judg

es


7

Language CentreAll students, even if they are not studying for alanguage degree, may use the LanguageCentre. The Centre runs courses and has alibrary, which provides study material for 130languages, a study area, with computer-basedlearning resources, and audio-visual studyrooms. This is a particularly useful resource, asit means that your son or daughter cancontinue with their language studies, or evenlearn a new language, even if this is not part oftheir degree course.www.lang.ox.ac.uk

SportsOxford is consistently among the top 10universities in the annual rankings produced bythe British Universities Sports Association(BUSA). All colleges have a wide variety ofsporting teams that students of any ability canjoin. The University also has teams coveringmost sports, which may compete againstother universities. As well as college sportsfacilities there is a large University sportscomplex offering many facilities, from apowerlifting room to an Olympic astroturfpitch and a 25-metre swimming pool.Whatever sports your son or daughter isinterested in they will have the opportunity totake part in them at Oxford, whether theycompete seriously, or just for fun.www.sport.ox.ac.uk

Other clubs and societiesWhatever other extra-curricular activities yourson or daughter enjoys now, or whatever theymay wish to begin at university, Oxford offersexcellent opportunities in a wide range ofclubs and societies. These include music,drama, student newspapers, volunteeringactivities and the Oxford University StudentUnion (OUSU), as well as groups for studentsfrom particular countries or religiousbackgrounds.www.ousu.org

Rob

Judg

esAn

drew

Hut

ton


Graduate destinations*

Oxford graduates are among the mostemployable in the UK. They enter a range ofdifferent careers, or choose to study forfurther qualifications.

The Careers Service is available for use by allstudents throughout their course. As well asholding a wide range of resources, vacanciesare advertised, and there are Careers Advisersavailable to answer questions and discusscareer options. Many vacation workopportunities are also advertised by theCareers Service. www.careers.ox.ac.uk

8

What do Oxford graduates go onto do?Destinations of Oxford graduates (2007 leavers) %

In employment 42

Entering further study 37

In employment and study 11

Unavailable for work or study 5

Still seeking employment or study 5

*Information in this section has been sourced from the Oxford University Careers Service.

What do employers like aboutOxford graduates in comparison toother graduates?Employers particularly value the mix ofintellectual ability alongside personal and socialskills that are developed through the vast arrayof opportunities available at Oxford.

Phil

Saye

r


9

Here are just few examples of the huge range of careers entered by Oxford graduates in the lastcouple of years.

‘I am expected to undertake numerous three-month placements across thecompany, working with different teams andon different projects. Examples of currentprojects vary from major projects, such asthe refur-bishment of King's Cross/StPancras station, preparations for the Olympic games, complete upgrade of theVictoria line, to "smaller" projects, such asstation modernisations, provision of disabledaccess or upgrade of ticketing andinformation provision.’CHEMISTRY GRADUATE NOW A TRAINEE ATTRANSPORT FOR LONDON

‘It was successfully studying a challengingsubject at Oxford that made me realise I can achieve what I set out to do.’COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATE NOW A SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESS MANAGER

‘The responsibility is really motivating.Starting out in most careers you are lucky ifsomeone asks you what you think thecompany should be doing, but in mediaplanning you are advising clients on how tospend millions of pounds on presenting theirproducts to the world. It is always a bit of athrill to turn on the TV or get on the Tubeand see a campaign you have put together.’ENGLISH GRADUATE NOW A MEDIA PLANNER

‘Currently in my third Fast Stream posting.(The Fast Stream is a graduate entry routefor senior Civil Service careers.) I'm workingat the Foreign Office for a year, on loan fromthe Home Office. I'm working on reform ofthe criminal justice system in Afghanistan,which is fascinating.’ MODERN LANGUAGES GRADUATE NOWWORKING IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

Rob

Judg

es


A week in the life of an Oxford studentRachel Gregory is a Physics student who has shared hertimetable to show an example of a first year student’sweek at Oxford University. It demonstrates how sheorganises her time for studying, and that she makes timeto have fun and relax as well.

10

Monday99 aamm––1122 ppmm:: LLeeccttuurreess

12.15 pm–1 pm: Coached fencing training

AAfftteerrnnoooonn:: FFiinniisshh ooffff ttuuttoorriiaall wwoorrkk tthhaatt wwaass

sseett llaasstt wweeeekk,, hhaanndd iinn aatt 55ppmm

6 pm: Dinner in College

8 pm–9 pm: Fairtrade Coalition meeting (I'm

the Secretary)

9 pm onwards: Do a bit of work, bed at 11ish

Tuesday99 aamm––1122 ppmm:: LLeeccttuurreess

12 pm–1 pm: Have some lunch in the College

gardens11 ppmm––33 ppmm:: PPrreeppaarree ffoorr ttuuttoorriiaall bbyy wwoorrkkiinngg oonn

pprroobblleemm sshheeeett II hhaadd ttoo pprreeppaarree

33 ppmm––44 ppmm:: PPhhyyssiiccss ttuuttoorriiaall,, rreevviieewwiinngg tthhee

pprroobblleemm sshheeeett wwiitthh oonnee ootthheerr ffiirrsstt yyeeaarr

pphhyyssiicciisstt aanndd mmyy ttuuttoorr,, aasskkiinngg aannyy

qquueessttiioonnss wwee hhaavvee ffrroomm tthhiiss aanndd ffrroomm oouurr

lleeccttuurreess;; oorrggaanniissee nneexxtt wweeeekk''ss ttuuttoorriiaall wwoorrkk

4 pm–5.30 pm: Relax! Maybe tidy my room, have

someone over for tea

5.30 pm: Rowing training

6 pm: Dinner in college

77 ppmm––99 ppmm:: DDoo aa bbiitt ooff wwoorrkk ffoorr mmyy mmaatthhss

ttuuttoorriiaall9 pm onwards: go out with my friends

Wednesday

99 aamm––1122 ppmm:: LLeeccttuurreess

12 pm–3 pm: Lunch, relax

33 ppmm––55 ppmm:: MMoorree wwoorrkk oonn tthhee pprroobblleemm sseett ffoorr mmyy

mmaatthhss ttuuttoorriiaall,, rreeaadd oovveerr tthhee llaabb ssccrriipptt iinn

pprreeppaarraattiioonn ffoorr pprraaccttiiccaallss ttoommoorrrrooww

5 pm–5.30 pm: Weights session in the gym

Every Wednesday evening I have several

friends over and someone cooks for everyone

else and we generally catch up.

Thursday99 aamm––1100 aamm:: LLeeccttuurreess

1100 aamm––55 ppmm:: IInn llaabbss.. BBaassiiccaallllyy,, wwee ccoolllleecctt tthhee

ddeettaaiillss ooff tthhee wweeeekk’’ss eexxppeerriimmeenntt tthhee wweeeekk

bbeeffoorree aanndd rreeaadd oovveerr tthhee tthheeoorryy aanndd

bbaacckkggrroouunndd.. TThheerree mmiigghhtt bbee aa ddeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn

ffrroomm oonnee ooff tthhee ssuuppeerrvviissoorrss,, tthheenn wwee

ccoonndduucctt tthhee eexxppeerriimmeenntt..

6 pm: Dinner77 ppmm––88..3300 ppmm:: WWoorrkk oonn mmaatthhss ttuuttoorriiaall wwoorrkk

8.30 pm–10 pm: Fencing at the Sports Centre

10 pm: Sleep!

Friday6 am: Rowing outing on the river

99 aamm––1100 aamm:: LLeeccttuurreess

1100 aamm––33 ppmm:: GGoo oovveerr mmaatthhss ttuuttoorriiaall wwoorrkk,, mmaakkee aa

ssttaarrtt oonn tthhee pphhyyssiiccss

33 ppmm––44 ppmm:: MMaatthhss ttuuttoorriiaall,, ssaammee ffoorrmmaatt aass

pphhyyssiiccss –– wwee ssaayy wwhhaatt wwee ddoonn''tt uunnddeerrssttaanndd,,

aanndd wwoorrkk tthhrroouugghh iitt.. SSeett wwoorrkk ffoorr tthhee nneexxtt

wweeeekk..6pm: DinnerEvening: friends come over

Saturday

Lie in! Get up about 11am, maybe have a rowing

outing at some point, see some friends, work on

physics for a few hours, watch a film in the

evening and generally relax.

SundayTThhiiss iiss wwhheenn II ggeett aa lloott ooff mmyy wwoorrkk ffoorr tthhee

wweeeekk ssoorrtteedd,, pprroobbaabbllyy wwoorrkk ffrroomm aabboouutt 1100aamm

uunnttiill 66ppmm,, tthheenn cchhuurrcchh uunnttiill 88ppmm,, ccoommee bbaacckk

aanndd ddoo ssoommee mmoorree wwoorrkk.. HHaavvee aann eeaarrllyy nniigghhtt,,

rreeaaddyy ffoorr tthhee nniinnee oo''cclloocckk lleeccttuurreess ttoommoorrrrooww

mmoorrnniinngg......


HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER

At 14 or younger: still choosing their GCSEsIt’s never too early to start thinking ahead touniversity. Of course your son or daughterdoes not need to have their future mappedout by the time they are 14 but we dorecommend that they consider their optionsfor GCSEs with possible university courses in mind. Choices at 14 do often determinewhat qualifications can be taken later, and,therefore, which university courses may bepossible.

For example, your son or daughter willprobably find that English, Maths, sciencesubjects, ICT (Information and ComputerTechnology), Religious Studies, and PhysicalEducation are compulsory at their school. Thiscombination will keep their options open for awide range of A-levels, or other qualifications.However, if they think they may wish to studyforeign languages later on, or other non-compulsory subjects such as History,Geography or Art then it’s really important tochoose these subjects at GCSE.

Changes to 14–19 qualifications haveintroduced new Diploma courses in England.Whilst these courses will ensure that your childcontinues with Maths and English language toGCSE standard, it is probable that the Diplomawill begin to narrow and focus your child’ssubject choices, as the Diplomas are alsodesigned to prepare students for employment.Oxford tends to value a broad generaleducation up to the age of 16, so studentswho are considering a Level 2 Diploma courseshould be aware that this option may limit therange of options for later study with us.

11

What you can don Identify with your son or daughter the

subjects that they enjoy most sincethese are the subjects that they aremost likely to excel in.

n Also identify those subjects which yourson or daughter likes the least, and seeif you can find ways to support them inthose subjects and help them to enjoythem more.

n Talk to your son or daughter about allthe things that they may like to do inthe future. At this stage it’s probably notabout making definitive decisions butmore about keeping their options open.

Monday9 am–12 pm: Lectures

12.15 pm–1 pm: Coached fencing training

Afternoon: Finish off tutorial work that was

set last week, hand in at 5pm

6 pm: Dinner in College

8 pm–9 pm: Fairtrade Coalition meeting (I'm

the Secretary)

9 pm onwards: Do a bit of work, bed at 11ish

Tuesday9 am–12 pm: Lectures

12 pm–1 pm: Have some lunch in the College

gardens1 pm–3 pm: Prepare for tutorial by working on

problem sheet I had to prepare

3 pm–4 pm: Physics tutorial, reviewing the

problem sheet with one other first year

physicist and my tutor, asking any

questions we have from this and from our

lectures; organise next week's tutorial work

4 pm–5.30 pm: Relax! Maybe tidy my room, have

someone over for tea

5.30 pm: Rowing training

6 pm: Dinner in college

7 pm–9 pm: Do a bit of work for my maths

tutorial9 pm onwards: go out with my friends

Wednesday

9 am–12 pm: Lectures

12 pm–3 pm: Lunch, relax

3 pm–5 pm: More work on the problem set for my

maths tutorial, read over the lab script in

preparation for practicals tomorrow

5 pm–5.30 pm: Weights session in the gym

Every Wednesday evening I have several

friends over and someone cooks for everyone

else and we generally catch up.

Thursday9 am–10 am: Lectures

10 am–5 pm: In labs. Basically, we collect the

details of the week’s experiment the week

before and read over the theory and

background. There might be a demonstration

from one of the supervisors, then we

conduct the experiment.

6 pm: Dinner7 pm–8.30 pm: Work on maths tutorial work

8.30 pm–10 pm: Fencing at the Sports Centre

10 pm: Sleep!

Friday6 am: Rowing outing on the river

9 am–10 am: Lectures

10 am–3 pm: Go over maths tutorial work, make a

start on the physics

3 pm–4 pm: Maths tutorial, same format as

physics – we say what we don't understand,

and work through it. Set work for the next

week.6pm: DinnerEvening: friends come over

Saturday

Lie in! Get up about 11am, maybe have a rowing

outing at some point, see some friends, work on

physics for a few hours, watch a film in the

evening and generally relax.

SundayThis is when I get a lot of my work for the

week sorted, probably work from about 10am

until 6pm, then church until 8pm, come back

and do some more work. Have an early night,

ready for the nine o'clock lectures tomorrow

morning...

Rob

Judg

es


At 15 and 16: studying for their GCSEsParents often ask us what GCSE grades theirson or daughter needs to achieve to be able toapply to Oxford. There is no simple answer tothis, as there are no specific grades that arerequired: there is no specific number of A* or Agrades that a student must have.

However, GCSE grades are important and willbe taken in to account when consideringapplications to Oxford. Unless there areparticular extenuating circumstances, astudent that does not have a high percentageof A* and A grades at GCSE is unlikely to beoffered a place at Oxford University.

12

What you can don Understand that this can be a

particularly difficult time for youngpeople and some may appear to loseinterest in their school-work, especiallygiven the large number of subjects.Students often find it hard to getmotivated for subjects that they plan todrop as soon as possible.

n Discuss with your son or daughter theirambitions, as it may remind them thatthere are some things they have to do, inorder to do the things they want to do.

n Remind your son or daughter thatuniversities may take every grade in toconsideration, even in subjects thatdon’t appear directly relevant to thecourse. For example at Oxford, tutorsconsidering a candidate for a Medicinecourse would review all of their GCSEgrades, even in non-science subjects.

n Help your son or daughter to researchthe requirements for any universitycourse they may wish to study later. For example, you will find therequirements for Oxford courses in theUndergraduate Prospectus.

Rob

Judg

es

Rob

Judg

es


At 16: choosing A-levels orother qualificationsChoice of A-levels (or equivalentqualifications) can be critical in determiningwhich university courses will be open to yourson or daughter. This means that it’s reallyimportant to think ahead to what they wouldlike to study later and make sure they aretaking the right combination of subjects.

In some cases particular A-levels will beabsolutely essential for the course, such asMaths A-level if your son or daughter wishesto study Maths at university. In other cases,some A-levels may be recommended orhelpful, even if they are not specificallyrequired. It’s important to check universityprospectuses or websites to see theirrequirements for particular courses.

Your son or daughter really does need to enjoythe subjects they choose, and it’s best not tosee them simply as a means to an end.Students tend to be happier if they areenjoying themselves at school or college, andthey will probably get better grades as aconsequence.

If your son or daughter is thinking of taking asubject that they don’t actually like justbecause they will need to use it later on, it’s agood idea to reconsider: will they actually

enjoy the university course they have in mind?Using the example above, someone may takeA-level Maths just because they think it willhelp them to go on and study ComputerScience. However, if they really don’t enjoyMaths at school, they probably won’t enjoyComputer Science at university.

Qualifications that emphasise development ofacademic skills and disciplines, for example theInternational Baccalaureate or ScottishAdvanced Highers, are appropriate for entry toOxford. Vocationally orientated qualifications,for example the BTEC National Diploma, areless appropriate, except for very practicallyorientated courses, such as Fine Art. The Level3 Advanced and Extended Diplomas generallywill help prepare students only where theirAdditional Specialist Learning (ASL) is closelyrelated to the relevant Oxford course. Forexample, an Engineering Diploma student willneed to take Maths and Physics ASL at Level 3to apply for Engineering.

13

What you can don Help your son or daughter to research

the requirements for any universitycourse they may wish to study later.

n Talk to them about their A-levels, andmake sure they are choosing courseswhich they really will enjoy.

Rob

Judg

es


*UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which processes all applications to UK institutions ofHigher Education.14

At 17: completing AS-levels orother qualificationsAs your son or daughter completes his or herAS-levels, they will be thinking ahead to theiruniversity choices. They may have a fixedcareer path in mind and have particular ideasabout what they will need to study in order toget their dream job. However, it’s important toremember that it’s not always necessary tostudy a course that directly relates to a chosencareer – certainly not straight from school orcollege.

For example, a degree in Journalism is not arequirement to become a journalist. A degreein History, Politics, English or another subjectmight be just as useful. Likewise, to become alawyer, students do not need to study theirfirst degree in Law. They may take a first

degree in a different subject and then take alaw conversion course.

Your son or daughter’s school or college willprobably be providing them with a great dealof information about their options. Oxford andCambridge Regional Conferences, HE Fairs,Open Days and other events will all provideopportunities to find out more. For furtherinformation on such events relating to OxfordUniversity, please refer towww.admissions.ox.ac.uk/liaison/.

The Stamford Test is a short questionnairewhich can help to match interests and abilitiesto possible university courses or subjects. Thetest is available at www.ucas.com.*

Bark

er E

vans


15

What you can don Ask your son or daughter what their school or college is

doing to provide information about universities and makesure that they are taking advantage of the opportunitiesavailable. Attend any parents’ events that are takingplace. If the school or college is not running any trips touniversity open days, you may like to attend these withyour son or daughter instead.

n Listen to your son or daughter as they talk about whatthey want to study. Sometimes this can be hard forparents, as it’s natural to have your own dreams of whatthey will achieve – such as studying at a university likeOxford. However, it is important that young people areable to make their own decisions. Oxford tends to offertraditional academic courses with a particular style ofteaching, which may not be suitable for your son ordaughter. Also, Oxford tutors can often tell when anapplicant has applied for a course that they are not reallyinterested in.

Rob

Judg

es

Rob

Judg

es


Rob

Judg

es

‘My daughter and I both found universityopen days immensely useful. I found themparticularly helpful in terms of all theinformation they gave about costs andbursaries. My daughter found them helpfulas she could meet actual tutors and realstudents and find out exactly what thecourses involve - everyone was so helpfuland friendly. I would say that courseinformation from open days was thedeciding factor for my daughter in choosingher first choice university. I also noticed shewas more motivated in her studying afterthe open days as she really knew what shewas aiming for.’

ANNE

At 18: the final year at schoolor collegeIn the first few weeks of their final year atschool or college your son or daughter will needto decide whether or not they wish to apply toOxford University. The reason for this is thatthere is an earlier deadline of 15 October.There is further information in the next sectionof this guide on how to apply.

Your son or daughter will probably beconcerned about how to make their applicationas competitive as possible. They may considertaking four or even five A2s, extra study suchas Advanced Extension Awards, or extra-curricular activities or work experience. Thisextra work may appear to be a good idea, butit’s worth looking at the selection criteria forthe course your son or daughter wishes toapply for, to see whether or not it will help.

For example, Oxford tutors certainly look forapplicants who have excellent academicabilities, but taking extra A-levels is certainlynot the only way to demonstrate those skills.Extra reading around the subject your son ordaughter wishes to study may actually

be much more useful to them in preparing fortheir application than just taking an extra A-level. Tutors may prefer a candidate who hasread around their subject beyond their schoolor college work, and who shows a great passionfor it, over a candidate who may have takenmore subjects, but who is not able to discusstheir interests with any enthusiasm or in anydepth.

We also advise candidates not to spreadthemselves too thinly across too manysubjects, where they may risk dropping a gradeor two in their results. Three A grades would besufficient to meet most conditional offers, buttwo As and two Bs would not.

Also, you may hear that universities look forwell-rounded applicants, who have a widerange of interests such as sport and music.While this may be true at other universities,Oxford tutors are interested only in applicants’academic ability and potential. Extra-curricularactivities may be useful in demonstrating acandidate’s time-management skills but areunlikely to make an application any morecompetitive unless they relate directly to theentrance criteria for their course.

16


What you can don Support your son or daughter with a

quiet place to study and do any extrareading which they may wish to do.

n Resist any temptation to spend a lot ofmoney on expensive courses offeringadvice on making applications. There is awealth of information and adviceavailable completely freely, directlyfrom Oxford University (please refer tothe ‘Further information’ section onpage 24), UCAS and other groups. Takeadvantage of these free resources.

n Make sure your son or daughter knowsthat you support them in theirapplication but that it would not be theend of the world if they are notsuccessful. Many students feel a greatdeal of pressure when making theirapplication, but they are more likely tobe successful if they are able to relaxenough to be themselves.

Rob

Judg

es

Rob

Judg

es

17


HOW TO APPLY

The applicationApplying to Oxford is similar to applying to any other university, as all candidates must apply onlinethrough UCAS at www.ucas.com. However, as noted previously, there is an earlier applicationdeadline of 15 October.

Please note that it is not possible to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year.

So, your son or daughter completes their application online by 15 October, and UCASautomatically sends this to Oxford University for consideration. They will also send the applicationto other universities your son or daughter has chosen to apply to. No university can see whichother universities a candidate has applied to.

Your son or daughter may also be required to sit a test, and/or to submit some written work aspart of their application, which will also be considered alongside the UCAS application.

It is very important to check the specific requirements for the course to make sure that your sonor daughter knows exactly what they need to do.

APPLICATION CALENDAR

Closing date for UCAS applications for students wishing to apply toOxford University.

Some subjects require candidates to take a written test as part of theapplication procedure. Please note that separate registration may berequired for this. To check the details, please refer to the ‘How to apply’tab on the course pages at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/.It is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure that they havecompleted the registration, if required, and that they are available totake the test on the correct day.

Some subjects require one or two samples of written work by this date.To check the details, again, please refer to the ‘How to apply’ tab of thecourse pages at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/.

Interviews take place in Oxford.*

By 15 October*

SeptemberOctoberNovember

10 November

December

* Please check www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/ for details of interview arrangements for international students.18


What you can doIf you do want to help your son or daughterto choose a particular college, here are somesuggestions on how you may do so:

n Check the ‘Which colleges offer mycourse’ page at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/ to see which collegesactually offer the course. All colleges are open to men and women, but doremember that Harris Manchester onlyadmits students aged 21 or older.

n Refer to the ‘Undergraduate numbers by college’ page at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/ for information onthe size of each college, and how manystudents are studying each course there.

n Read the college pages in theUndergraduate Prospectus and refer totheir individual websites for further details about the college, such as its ageand style of architecture. Also, do check

a map of Oxford to see the college’slocation. You might like to think abouthow near it is to the city centre, toparticular departments and libraries, or to other places like the river or theUniversity Parks. However, pleaseremember that Oxford is a fairly smallcity, and no college is more than a fewminutes walk from the centre.

n Check on the accommodation available at each of the colleges.

n Encourage your son or daughter to attend a college open day which is a great way to find out more. The mainevents are usually at the end of June orstart of July but there may be other dates throughout the year. Please checkwww.admissions.ox.ac.uk/opendays/for further details. Please be aware that itis not always possible for parents toattend student events.

Choosing a collegeAs Oxford University is made up of differentcolleges, students who apply to Oxford can choosewhich college they would most like to go to.Sometimes this is called their ‘college ofpreference’. However, students do not need tomake this decision, as they can make an ‘openapplication’, which means not specifying apreference. In these cases, around 16.5% ofapplicants, the Undergraduate Admissions Officeallocates each candidate to a college and theapplication is then treated in exactly the same wayas if the candidate had specified a preference for aparticular college.

Lots of people appear to worry about their choiceof college but there is really no need to do so. Asexplained on page 4, colleges really do have moresimilarities than differences, and your son ordaughter would have similar educational and otheropportunities whichever college they go to. Ro

b Ju

dges

19


What you can don If your son or daughter is invited for

interview then you can celebrate thisachievement with them. Being invitedfor interview shows that the tutorsbelieve your son or daughterdemonstrates the sort of potentialrequired for an Oxford course. You maybe able to help them to overcome anyinitial nerves that they may have. Theirschool or college may set up practiceinterviews but if not, perhaps you havea colleague or friend with interviewingexperience who could help. If they meetyour son or daughter and ask a fewbasic questions about their application,this may help your child to get overtheir nervousness, as well as give themsome practice in answering basicquestions.

n At the interview time itself you willwant to make sure your son or daughtergets to the college safely of course, butit is best if you then leave them tosettle in by themselves. Your son ordaughter will be well looked after bycollege staff and undergraduates. Theywill have their own room and all theirmeals provided.

n If your son or daughter is not invited foran interview they—and you—may feelvery disappointed: please rememberthat even the shortlisting process isvery competitive. In some subjectsthere are many applications for everyplace, most of whom will be excellentcandidates, but unfortunately, it is notpossible to interview everyone.

* Please check www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/ for details of interview arrangements for international students.

InterviewsMany applicants are shortlisted, and will thenbe invited to an academic interview at Oxfordin December.* The dates of the interviews canbe found at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviews/.

Most interviewees will spend at least onenight in Oxford. The colleges provide freemeals and accommodation for all intervieweesduring the interview period. Unfortunatelycolleges are not able to provide anyaccommodation for parents. Colleges andcurrent undergraduates look after candidatesduring the interview period, answering theirquestions and providing social activities. Theywant to ensure that all candidates have apositive experience of their interview and areable to perform to the best of their ability.Candidates will often have more than oneinterview in their college and may also beinterviewed by tutors at one or two othercolleges. A separate guide called Interviews at

Oxford is available, which you can downloadfrom www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/downloads/or request from the Undergraduate AdmissionsOffice.

20


What you can don If your son or daughter is offered a

place – congratulations on theirachievement. They will probably stillneed to gain high grades in their finalexams so will require your continuedsupport with their studies. They willautomatically receive further details andpractical information from the collegewhich has made them the offer.

n If your son or daughter is not offered aplace at Oxford, please do not be toodisappointed. With so manyapplications, around 11,500 candidatesare unsuccessful each year, simply

because there are just not enoughplaces for all the excellent students whoapply. Most go on to study at otherexcellent universities.

n If your son or daughter wishes toreapply to Oxford next year they maydo so, but please talk to them aboutwhether or not this is the best course ofaction for them. Rather than waiting ayear to re-apply, they may prefer tofocus their attention on performing tothe best of their ability at anotheruniversity. They may like to considerapplying to Oxford for postgraduatestudy after they have completed theirfirst degree elsewhere.

‘We found the application process toOxford very straightforward. I’d say thething which caught us most unawares wasquite how early the deadline forapplications is. My son started to write hispersonal statement at the beginning of theautumn term which meant his A2 work wassqueezed. If he could do it all over again hewould definitely write a good first draftover the summer holidays. He wasdisappointed not to be called for interviewbut when he wrote asking why, the Tutorfor Admissions at the college he had appliedto clearly explained why he had failed tomeet their criteria. Our son went on toreceive offers from three other excellentuniversities so the disappointment of beingturned down by Oxford has been offset bythis tremendous encouragement.’ SARAH

After the interviewCandidates are notified of the outcome oftheir application by mid-January. This will beone of three things:

n an offer of a place, conditional uponachieving certain examination results, e.g.AAA at A-level; if the candidate meets theconditions of that offer, the college willconfirm their place after publication ofexamination results in August;

n an unconditional offer of a place, whereexaminations have already beencompleted;

n unfortunately, the application has not been successful.

21

Gre

g Sm

olon

ki


SUPPORT

FinanceOxford University charges the same tuition fees as most other UK universities: for theacademic year of 2009/10 this will be £3,225per year. The 2010–11 fees will appear onlineat www.admin.ox.ac.uk/studentfunding/fees/ as soon as they are known. As Oxfordoffers such extensive academic and materialresources, and personalised teaching through the tutorial system, we believe that OxfordUniversity provides its students with exceptional value for money.

The University is committed to making sure that students of all financial backgrounds areable to study at Oxford. Currently, OxfordUniversity has one of the most generousundergraduate bursary schemes in the countryfor UK students from families with incomesbelow £50,000. Students can receive up to£4,100 in their first year and up to £3,225 in subsequent years depending on theirhousehold income. If your family were toexperience financial difficulties after your son or daughter starts studying at Oxford, theUniversity would aim to make sure that your son or daughter does not need to leave theircourse.

We have produced a separate finance guide full of information about the costs of studying at Oxford, and the many ways of meeting those costs, including the generous OxfordOpportunity Bursaries. You can order a copy ofthis guide by contacting the UndergraduateAdmissions Information Centre, ,at the address on the back cover of this booklet or download it fromwww.admissions.ox.ac.uk/downloads/.

Disabled students

The University welcomes applications fromdisabled students and makes reasonableadjustments to facilitate their access to itscourses. Colleges and departments viewapplications from students with disabilities onexactly the same academic grounds as thosefrom other candidates.

Candidates are strongly advised, beforeapplying, to consider the requirements of theirchosen course and to identify any elementsthat might present particular difficulties. It isrecommended that candidates arrange to visitthe college and department of their choice toexplore facilities and discuss specific needs. Ittakes time to arrange adjustments and toorganise appropriate support so it is essentialto make contact with the department andUniversity Disability Office as early as possiblein the application process. www.admin.ox.ac.uk/access/ www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/disab/

22


‘The most important way that my parents supported meduring my application to Oxford, and to higher education ingeneral, was by encouraging me to keep working hard andallowing me complete freedom to choose courses anduniversities for myself. After choosing my course andcollege they completely supported my decision.

I'm so glad that I decided to apply to Oxford. The otherstudents are friendly and tutors are interested in yourpotential. I was worried about money, but loans are easy toapply for and the University offers a generous bursarywhich really helps.

Immediately after you start, welfare officers and supportgroups are made known to you. Furthermore, each collegehas welfare officers and the city is very student-friendly.

Accommodation at Oxford varies from college to college,but is generally very good and, of course, in beautifulbuildings. Meals in college are a bargain too.

The best advice I can give to anyone who is consideringapplying to Oxford is to try and experience the Universityfrom the inside out before applying. They should try toattend an open day if they have the opportunity or talk topast and present students.’

‘I was really happy when I learned that Aisha was applying toOxford University and I supported her through the applicationprocess by keeping a positive frame of mind about the possibleoutcome. I would advise other parents whose children areconsidering (or in the process of) applying to Oxford, that theyshould also stay positive while bearing in mind what otheroptions there will be if their child’s application is not successful.

I remember taking Aisha to Oxford for the start of her firstterm, meeting other students with their parents, and alsomeeting some of the college staff. Seeing the living quarters set my mind at ease, and I was delighted at how nice the otherstudents were.

The most positive thing I experienced about Aisha applying toand attending Oxford University was the deep sense ofsatisfaction at all that she has achieved so far.’

AISHA

THOMAS

A student and parent case studyThomas and his daughter Aisha, a student studying English Language and Literature, provide here a first hand account of their experience of Aisha applying and successfully gaining a place at Oxford.

23

Rob

Judg

es

Rob

Judg

es


WebsiteThe Undergraduate Admissions Office has acomprehensive website, www.admissions.ox.ac.uk, which provides a wealth of informationabout applying to and studying at Oxford as anundergraduate. It is on these pages that the most up-to-date information can be obtained.

Podcasts Podcasts about applying to and studying at Oxford are available to download and listen to at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/.

iTunes UOur podcasts are also available on the University'ssite on iTunes U, along with lectures, interviewsand short films about life at Oxford. They can be listened to online or downloaded to a mobile device.http://itunes.ox.ac.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION

24

pick up leaflets and booklets about applying toand studying at Oxford. And, of course, you willalso be able to meet and talk to members of theEnquiries Team.55 Little Clarendon Street01865 288 [email protected]

Admissions Information Centre

Anyone is welcome to call us in order todiscuss any queries or worries they may haveabout applying to Oxford. We have anEnquiries Team dedicated to responding tosuch queries. A member of the Team will beable to provide information on all aspects ofapplying to and studying at Oxford, as well astalking through any concerns a prospectivecandidate may have: no query is too trivial!Telephone lines are open 9 am until 5 pm,Monday to Friday. Alternatively, we are happyto respond to queries via email.

If you are going to be visiting Oxford with yourson or daughter, we recommend theAdmissions Information Centre as your firstport of call. It is here that you will be able to

Rob

Judg

es


25

‘The sense of achievement andaccomplishment when Laura graduatedwas intense. To see her receive her degreefrom such a prestigious university was theculmination of relentless commitment onLaura's part, support and encouragementfrom her tutors, and an absolute belief thata girl who was the first generation in herfamily to go on to university could makeher mark at Oxford.’ ALI


b

PARE

NTS’

&CA

RERS

’ GUI

DE

Contact details:Undergraduate Admissions OfficeUniversity OfficesWellington SquareOxford OX1 2JD

Tel: 01865 288000Fax: 01865 280125Email: [email protected]: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk

Produced by University of Oxford Public Affairs Directorate. Front cover photograph by Rob Judges.

0509

New Parents & Carers Guide.qxd 12/5/09 08:46 Page b

Documents

ARERS’ GUIDE & C ARENTS’ - University of Oxford Podcastsmedia.podcasts.ox.ac.uk/offices/prospectuses/PandC.pdf · ARERS’ GUIDE PARENTS’ AND CARERS’ GUIDE TO OXFORD New Parents