Hi you all!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get an offer! But the process is, in itself, a very enriching experience, and so I still encourage you all to apply and give it a try.

I am thinking what to do with the blog. I think it has lots of very interesting things and articles, so I won’t close it.

I have done a research project, explaining in more depth my experience with the process. I am also thinking what to do with that!

I will post as soon as I decide what’s going to be the best thing to do.

All the best guys!

Antonio,

Hey Guys!

Interviews were great!

I loved the experience.

I’ll post everything about it soon!

All the best,

Antonio

Hi everyone!

Interviews are approaching!

Here you have 3 very interesting sample interviews for Law and Biochemistry.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/interview_videos/interview_videos.html

You might also find interesting to know the selection criteria of your subject:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/selection_criteria_for_subjects_links/index.html

Hope it helps!

All the best!

Antonio,

Hi everyone!

Today’s the day! The last day for submitting your applications!

Good luck with your examns (if you have) and with your applications in general!

All the best from Spain!

Antonio,

Hi everyone!

Well… I have discovered this great site and I think you should take a look!

I love the Oxford video!

http://www.unionview.com/Home

I am doing a reseach project about the “application process” of Anglophone universities. It’ s funny because one of the things that I thought English Universities lacked the most were the promotional videos, which are very common in United States but, coincidentally, they have indeed just been adopted in England too.

At the moment of looking for an university, it’s very interesting to be able to see students’ opinions, to see how the campus is and take a look at student life etc. I think the promotional videos are a great tool for this, especially for international students who can not afford to go to check out the universities on their own.

Hope it helps!

All the best,

Antonio,

Hi Everyone!

Two weeks ago, I attended the 19th of September Oxford Open day. It was really awesome!

I decided to go to the open day because I really wanted to meet the tutors, to see the colleges from the inside, and was keen to meet other oxford applicants and undergraduates. Actually, it was the perfect excuse to visit Oxford again!

Every college had their own “stand” in the entrance so you could easily grab all the information you wanted.

There were open events as guided visits inside the colleges, and conferences about admissions. I sneaked into some of those just to see the different kinds of rooms and colleges existed. There were also more “arranged” events only for those registered. For example, three more applicants and I had a 20 minute chat with our subject tutors in our first choice college. It was really helpful becasue they told us about the structure of the course, what they were looking for and also gave some basic tips for the interview.

The tutors were very friendly and willing to help.

It was also very helpful to speak with some undergaduates. They were there to give advice, share their personal experiences and show the college buildings and life at Oxford.

The Department open day was also amazing. I enjoyed the labs tremendously…! It was great becasue we were only two of us with the tutor so we received very personal attention.

At a first glance,  the labs seemed a bit basic… There were lots of different little things everywhere; in the desks, tables, and also some bigger machinery. The lecturer told us how much research had already been and was being done and that was when we realised the true value of the laboratory equipment.

The lecturer explained the different things they did, and the function of the different machines and how with these, they helped with the research of new parts and materials for the A-380… It was AMAZING! I learned so much in those 20 minutes.

Imagine how much could be learned in 4 years!

Finally, the meeting with other students with high aspirations and interests was something I’ll never forget. You know you have something in common with all of them and that makes everything easier… People were very friendly!

I definetively want to spend 4 years with them…. It’s difficult to imagine how much we could do together… Joining these kinds of people would inevitabily create improvements and great ideas to change the world. This is an atmosphere which could onlybe good for personal development.

To sum up, GO to the open days if you have the opportunity. And try to meet lots of people! You won’t regret it.

All the best,

Antonio,

Hi Everyone!

Last weekend I attended the Oxford Open day… It was awesome!!  I’ll post about the experience soon.

All the best,

“Any information in the 2009 entry undergraduate prospectus relating to the Oxford application form can be ignored”

As you can see, Oxford has decided to make some changes in the application process. I suggest reading all the information carefully to avoid mistakes.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/forms/changes_to_the.html

All the best,

Antonio

Hi everyone!

At the end of this summer, we will have to send in our UCAS application with the personal statement. In my opinion, there is no “magic key” or “secret formula” or anything you can do to ensure that sure your application will be successful.

However, a general knowledge of the basics will definitely help you, not necessarily to improve your chances, but to avoid hurting your chances due to silly mistakes. It is important to know the process, how your application is going to be read by Oxford interviewers and lecturers… I have heard really weird stories from people who did really weird things in their applications, and maybe if they had put more effort in knowing the process and what not to do, they would have gotten in.

So, what really counts? In the end, and at this point, you should know this: the only thing that counts is a passion for your subject and what you want to study. That also implies that you have to be good at that, very good at that.

Having said this, I am going to recommend three books about the Oxford admissions process. I have found this useful, maybe because I am an international student and I didn’t know the process, or maybe not… Perhaps you already know all the things these books can offer.

Again, these books are not going to give you the secret clues to get in, if you really want to improve your chances, read about your subject, but not because you want to improve your chances but because you like it.

“Tell me about a Banana” by Ivo Stourton.

“Oxford and Cambridge” by Sarah Alakija.

“Oxbridge Entrance (The real rules)” by Elfi Pallis.

Well… You can see that the last one uses “The real rules,” probably to try and get more attention, but any of them is going to give you the real rules. As I said before, the only rule is academic excellence and passion.

Please, don’t let these books make you another person, someone who you are not… There are really interesting tips for the interview, basic tips… But in the end, you have to be yourself!

I sincerely hope these books are going to help you to achieve your dreams… Dreams I also have and I also want to accomplish.

Enjoy your summer!

Antonio,

Hi! Next week I will post some titles of books I found especially interesting.

Thanks for visiting the blog.

Antonio,