I'm not a prospective student, in fact I have a (temporary) lecturer's gig and will gradate from my Ph.D. in June, but I watch all of these videos because I am impressed by how well put together they are. Dr Williams and Jesus College have created such an incredibly useful archive of advice on their channel.
You're just brilliant, Dr. Williams! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into these videos- they're invaluable. With regard to undergraduate-level reading (particularly for medicine), would it be better to mention specific research/report-style papers we might have read in a personal statement, as opposed to higher-level books, or simply writing about a topic in undergrad kind of detail?
Thank you Emelia! Yes, it is worth mentioning specific work you have encountered, but do so efficiently. For example: "Having read a UCL research paper on epidemiology, I learnt that... but I thought that.... "
Thanks for the comment! Sadly there isn't yet, but there are lots of graduate courses in subjects relating to PPE, see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/courses-a-z-listing
Thank you for this very educational video, Dr Williams! I had a few questions. Do watching youtube video essays related to my subject and reading research studies count as supercurriculars? Where do we mention these things? And lastly, could you suggest some supercurriculars for someone looking to study psychology?
Thanks for your comment. Yes, watching RU-vid video essays can be relevant. These will be especially convincing evidence of your aptitude to study if they come from universities. Reading research studies would be even more impressive. You can describe these super curricular activities on your UCAS personal statement, which is the form you use to apply to Oxford and all other UK universities. There are some suggested subject resources here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-subject-resources But, when it comes to reading around psychology, it's really important for you to develop your own passion. Take the suggested readings as a starting point, and pursue some particular matters that grab you.
Dear Dr Williams, First of all, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to make these video. They have been really helpful in my university application. A question that has bothered me for months is: regarding your point about the need to express my takeaways/opinions from a super-curricular activity, if my comment proved to be naive or imprecise, could it potentially leave a bad first impression in the tutor? Thank you for your time, Jin
Thanks for your kind comment Jin! I would say it's always best to be willing to try and express an opinion, even if that opinion may have certain flaws of logic or expose gaps in knowledge. We're not expecting prospective students to have perfectly formed opinions, otherwise there would be little point in them receiving an education from us! More difficult, however, is when students simply refuse to express themselves for fear of failure. So, I would suggest that you get used to developing your thoughts on what you read, and get used to sharing those thoughts with people around you. Be open to their advice and criticism, but don't feel you have to fall in step with what everyone else thinks.
Hello! Thanks for always providing such informative videos - I appreciate them greatly. I have just started my A-level subjects in Economics, Maths, and Chemistry. Would this combination qualify me as a credible candidate for the Economics and Management course? Of course, I plan to pursue relevant super curriculars as well as preparation for the TSA next year.
I have a question with your example of learning a court case at 9:54, what do you do with it once you’re done? Do you mention it in your application or do you show them?
Yes, mention it in your application along with your thoughts. It would only take a sentence: "Having read Miller v Prime Minister, I would argue that...." You can also refer to case law at interview, although this is not required, and you MUST make sure it is relevant to the questions you're asked. Don't just throw it in, and be sure to listen intently to the questions posed.
Hi! I'm a Canadian international student looking to apply to Oxford. Would concurrent/dual enrolment courses be counted as a super curricular? I'm taking math courses beyond my high school curriculum at my local university, but I saw on Oxford's websites that concurrent/dual enrolment courses were not accepted as credit. My school's highest math course is AP Calculus BC, but would taking multiple courses beyond that show my passion?
Yes, I would have thought that taking classes beyond those required for school would show passion. They will also enhance your skills in ways that will be of use in admissions tests and interviews. Best of luck.
Hi, I'm about to start A levels in history, economics and politics and was wondering if it's wort doing maths to AS level as I was considering PPE at university would you say it's worth it even if it leads to a bit less time being spent on my three main subjects.
Hi, thanks for your question. Mathematics is not strictly required for PPE, but the vast majority of successful applicants have maths post GCSE. By the vast majority, I mean well over 90%. So, yes, it would seem worth having maths if you are planning to apply for PPE.
Very informative! Also, may i ask, i got into the UNIQ oxford summer school, would this be particularly significant in my personal statement? Thank you :)
Yes, that's huge! It's actually harder to obtain a place on UNIQ than it is to get a place at Oxford! So, congratulations! It won't matter which university you're applying to, they will be very pleased to see that you have attended this summer school. Write about some particularly interesting ideas that you confronted, and what you thought about them.
can I reflect on the mathematical interest I gained from a murder mystery book? does it have to be a book or research paper strictly related to the subject?
You can certainly do that, perhaps as a way to start a personal statement. We want to get to know you a bit, so telling us the true story of how you became interested in maths is fine. But we also want evidence that you are ready to study at university. which means stretching and challenging yourself. This can be with books/research papers, but can also include maths competitions and challenging maths puzzles.
Hi!! I'm a student from jamaica that is doing the CAPE ( Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) that is required by Oxford to do the PPE course but the problem is that I don't meet the criteria to apply(eg. Like the grades that I must obtain). So I am planning to do some classes from a Canadian High School back in my home country to apply. They will help me set up on the website to apply to universities in both the UK and Canada, but I'm wondering if i can state that in my personal statement that I didn't meet the grade requirements so I find alternative methods to achieve those grades by doing a different exam other than my home country. Will this be a wise decision to do and also even though the grades are of average can I express it in my personal statement that I did two sets of exams?
You can set this out in your personal statement and it is unlikely to do you any harm, provided that you are on course to obtain the grades necessary to be admitted to Oxford. I wouldn't spend much of the personal statement describing the situation. For the most part, the personal statement needs to concentrate on your academic interests and what you've done about them. So literally no more than two sentences I would've thought will be sufficient. You could also ask your teacher when they complete their reference on you for the UCAS form to mention that you have obtained qualifications in different jurisdictions.
Hello, Sir Williams. Thanks for these videos. They are actually a complete package for guidance. I am applying to Oxbridge for 2024 entry for medicine. My question is, what if I show in my personal statement that I am working on the issue of mental health in a way that I am working to answer certain questions unresolved in this field, trying to give a solution which may take a particular theory to a different direction. Including this, I am working practically to help particularly young people and students to deal with mental health problems and I am working to develop a whole sort of organization to do that. Is it something that should be mentioned in Personal statement?? What kind of impression it might leave to the professors assessing me as an applicant? Waiting patiently for your reply. Thanks Regards, Wajiha
HI Wajiha, that sounds really good. We like it when prospective students demonstrate a willingness to contribute fresh ideas. All you would need to do is to make clear you retain an open mind, and that you are aware that any solutions you may come up with will need to be tested and reconciled with ongoing research. In other words, don't say you have all of the answers and you're absolutely sure of them!
There is something I don't understand very well. When applying to university, how are supercurricular activities presented or demonstrated? Do we have to keep a kind of record of the small daily activities that we carry out as learning a subject? Is a work presented that demonstrates our knowledge of the subject? Or is certification from a contest (such as mathematics olympiads) or teacher required? Sorry, I didn't understand how supercurriculars are registered in our academic profile.
It's a good question. Primarily your super curricular activities are presented in the personal statement submitted to UCAS when you apply to universities. The breadth and depth of your subject interest will also be tested at interview at universities like Oxford. But, you don't need any formal certification of activities having been completed.
Hi sir, Hope this comment finds you well I am Indian student who wants to study PPE at Oxford. I have taken Economics at my school along with Maths and subjects like commerce, Accountancy and English language and literature. Additionally I am planning on giving APs in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Stats , Comparitive politics and World History. I have started preparing for the SAT and of course the TSA. I have started reading books like Freakonomics , Platos republic , a few books by Marx and The Prince by Machiavelli. I additionally am planning on starting a research paper on developmental or micro economics. I received a 94% in my 10th grade exams and will work hard to get more than that in my 11th and 12 th grade. Sir so my question is what else do you think I should do in order to become a better applicant. Thanks very much, Chanakya Shah
Yes, there are a few degrees related to tech -- including engineering, materials science, and biomedical sciences. But, there are many great unis and courses out there, so worth doing some research on this.
Similar, but you need to pretend to be a masters student. So, even more reading of the latest research, and even more thinking about how you would like to contribute to your field. Which MSc are you thinking of applying for?
Are you hoping to study psychology as an undergraduate or postgraduate? Either way, having previously published on the subject is not necessary, but is likely to demonstrate your exceptional interest in the subject.
Hi. I'm from India currently pursuing bachelor's degree in technology from one of reputed university in india. I want to get into oxford for MBA . I'm good in academics and for extra curricular I'm in basketball team . I wanna do something beyond that , so if i volunteer in an orphanage or any ngo , will it increas the chance of getting into Oxford. Pls reply
Volunteering and extra curricular activities are not strictly required. Please see here for what admissions tutors are looking for: www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/mbas/mba/application-requirements
First check if you have eligible qualifications (CBSE or CISCE). See here for details: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/international-qualifications You can apply with predicted grades, and could likely apply in 2024. But I'm not familiar with the Indian system, so it may be worth contacting the relevant department at Oxford.
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thnx, ya in terms of class 10th, I need 90% and I got 94.6%, that leaves me with 90+ in 12th class and 30+ in LNAT😩, Thnx, I will contact them
MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society) ? What exams will I have to take? Thank you, you made me very happy. Sorry to take your time!@@JesusCollegeOxford1571
Hi there, information on required subjects is here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/law-jurisprudence It's not necessary to have studied maths.
Thet may have improved your thinking and reasoning skills. In that sense they will help. But simply participating in MUN will not give an advantage to an applicant. It is best to read/watch/listen to academic content that people studying your chosen course would read/watch/listen to.
