What’s the DEAL with  

Once again a well thought out and beautifully presented video

I read an article in the FT sometime ago that showed there were more 1st class degrees from state school undergrads than private students at Russell group universities. The reason is for someone to get high A levels from some state schools may require more determination and self study. Ie they may have more drive and higher IQ than someone from a private school who is spoon fed the answers. Then at university many lack the independent study ability. Although unlike maths, other stem, medicine, dentistry etc that see and wide variety of candidates from state school with high grades, classics degrees are often seen as upper class and many in private schools. Simply because its not an obvious career choice and A levels such as greek and latin are not usually taught at state schools. Languages like A level Mandarin would be more useful in the modern world.

Thank you for your service sir!

Let me give you a real world example to show you why, despite this video, some people do have systemic advantages when applying for Oxford. I have a good friend with a son who is just starting a PPE degree at Durham University. Last year he applied to read PPE at Keble College, Oxford. He is clever, had four A*s at A-level and felt he did well in the interview. But he got rejected. He asked for feedback from Keble College and was told the following: there were eight places for applicants and he came ninth. Under the college's widening access/improving diversity policy, four of those places, said Keble, were reserved for state school pupils. Two others were reserved for ethnic minority candidates. My friend's son is white and privately educated. So, of the eight places, only two were actually available to people with his background. That is despite significantly more than a third of the applicants being privately educated and white. So, on the maths, it was considerably harder for him to get in than for most other candidates. All the white state school applicants were applying for one of six places. All the ethnic minority candidates (including the privately educated ones) were applying for one of six places. But the white privately educated applicants were applying for one of only two places. Can the maker of this video please tell me how that system doesn't disadvantage certain people?

That was fascinating Matthew. I had no idea Ngaire

Thank you! As a privately educated student who has been scared by a bunch of recent news articles, it’s great to see that I have as good a shot as others

I have a question Dr. I want to apply to Oxford for a degree which I believe they alone offer. Honestly the degree was what I was applying for and I’m anxious and excited to start. However it wasn’t until I started doing research that I found out the entire stress of personal statements and written work which is very different from what I’m accustomed. Can I have the help of any staff with reviewing of my application? If so who do I contact? Thank you

Hey, thanks so much for this! It's really helpful to get some clarification on the matter. I know of quite a few people from private schools who move to state schools for 6th form to try and increase their chances of getting in. Is it true that you've started looking at Y11 school instead of Y13 to see if anyone's tried to do this?

Thank you boss

Good evening sir I am an international student so i have not had the chance to do an EPQ but have done some of my independent research(writen a research paper) (not published). Can i include that in my personal statement

Sir i wanted to ask a question Does oxford offer courses for ux design?

Hi Matt Williams! Do you know whether the format of the next year's Oxford entrance exams, i.e TSA is staying identical to previous years?

Is Cambridge the same?