Should You Really Go To Oxford University? 

Thanks for the great comment, Eddie :) Something I didn't touch upon in this discussion was the utility of pressure. I wouldn't want people to discount a university, or experience, because it might be difficult. Pressure forms diamonds, after all. And there's this problem in the west where everyone thinks they should be "happy" all the time. I'd much rather be challenged and fulfilled. And completely agree - the tuition system is, rightfully, one of the best in the world. Teachers could learn quite a bit by sitting in on one of those.

Thank you, Mia :)

@@etiennedevignolles7538 yes they are objectively better. Not just on a UK scope, but on a worldwide scope. That’s what the league tables tell us

@Teresa Ramos. You must need to spend more time educating yourself online! It’s spelled “lustre” 🤣🤣🤣

@@etiennedevignolles7538 it’s not “them” who would have you believe it. Look up any of the independently prepared world university rankings. They mark all universities against the same objective criteria. Oxford and Cambridge not only score more highly than all other UK universities, they routinely come in the top 5 in the world alongside Harvard, MIT etc.

@@etiennedevignolles7538 by”alternative” you mean “wrong”. There are many more places outside the US that use the UK spelling. There’s only one person showing themselves up on this thread my darling and we both know it’s you 🤣😘

@@etiennedevignolles7538 i do know this, i have worked in 4 different UK universities as an academic and I have participated in the very process you describe. And I can still tell you, objectively, that Oxbridge has better teaching, produces more capable graduates and generates better research output than any other UK universities. Anyone telling you that a 2:1 from University of Lancashire (et al.) has the same value as a 2:1 from University of Oxford or University of Cambridge is delusional. External examiners aren’t allowed to admit this, but they know it. If it wasn’t the case, Oxbridge applications wouldn’t be massively oversubscribed and the lower quality institutions wouldn’t be struggling to stay afloat. So I’m afraid it’s you that is spouting the nonsense

Absolutely. I think you'll have a wonderful time as a visiting scholar. I met many of them and it was a visiting scholar who influenced my choice of college. They seem to have the most fun. Enjoy the High Table!

The warning at the heart of the most harrowing speculative fiction and fairy tales! And thank you so much, Colleen :) Music is a huge passion of mine! 😊

We've got a three-part module called 'How to Do Close Analysis of Unseen Texts' in the Interview video class. It's focused on English, but the advice would be very similar for Japanese. If I were you, Chloe, I would get really sure on what they are going to ask you, then print off a bunch of different extracts, and annotate them, then practice discussing them. Practice really is key!

Hello, Mr Fish! My commiserations on not getting an interview. I'm sure if you try again, you'll get in next time. The students who reapply end up being the most industrious, conscientious, and having the greatest understanding of the university. I wouldn't be able to say if Oxford were for you or not as that's quite a personal decision, but it sounds like you're confident. If I were in your shoes reapplying, I would try to isolate the factors that precluded me from getting in - and put a lot of focus into bringing them up. For example, if you think the Paper 2 let you down, I've got an video series that helps specifically with that. If it was a matter of grades/subject choice, you might consider going down the path of choosing new subjects or re-sitting. If you would like to go deep into this at any point, you're more than welcome to have a consultation session with me and we will hash out a plan of attack for reapplying and getting in! My email is ben@benjaminmcevoy.com

It’s very hard to say, I applied to last year and didn’t get in. I reapplied this year and got into Keble. But I am on a gap year and quite unhappy, working a shitty job and the prospect of the oxford workload and the people there scare me. I see how much fun my friends who got to notts or Sheffield have and I doubt I will going to Oxford. It’s hard to call, whether you should take a gap year or not, and a gap year can be lonely and scary. I emailed imperial a month before I was about to start there to tell them I wanted to cancel my place. If the only reason to take a year out is to reapply then I would say don’t. It’s very easy to get it into your head that Oxbridge is the be all end all, but really it is absolutely not.