Thomas Moon looks ahead to Oxbridge
Are you considering applying to Oxford or Cambridge? Is this an informed decision or are you simply swept up in the mystique of these prestigious institutions and seduced by the history and tradition that surround them?
In his practical and informative talk for the Dukes Club, Thomas Moon, Cambridge graduate and Head of Consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, shed a light on the key elements students should be considering before embarking on an application to either of these universities.
Introduced by Head of Cardiff Sixth Form College, Gareth Collier, Tom spoke at first about what sets Oxford and Cambridge apart from other universities such as tutorial learning, historical traditions and its academic opportunities.
Tom reminded the audience that courses are intense and highly pressured and the hours that students will spend studying each week can often be considerably higher than the average full-time job. He spoke about the key things to consider when applying. How many A*s will you need? And don’t forget how important your GCSE grades are. Then there is the competition – and it is growing. The number of places being offered by both universities isn’t increasing nearly as quickly as the number of applicants. Tom noted too that socio-economic circumstances considered in the application process mean students from more highly academic independent schools are more negatively impacted by the competition.
Tom encouraged students to look at the subject variations and statistics when choosing a course. He also stressed the helpfulness of reviewing sample undergraduate material in decision making. From preliminary reading lists to podcasts – there is an abundance of material out there these days that can help students make informed decisions.
Before answering a plethora of questions from the audience, Tom emphasised that overall the process is underpinned by the student’s enthusiasm and passion for their subject choice.
Listen to the webinar here:
Click here for the accompanying slide deck
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