Many students across the country dream of achieving a place at either Oxford or Cambridge Universities. However, in 2015, out of the 18,300 students who applied, only 3,200 were accepted. Despite this fact, more and more students are being encouraged to apply, and, perhaps, this could give students who at one point would never have thought they would be accepted into such prestigious Universities, to have the experience of a lifetime.
Oxford and Cambridge held a conference on Wednesday 22nd March this year, which around twenty Ursuline High School pupils, including myself, attended (those part of the Oxbridge Programme at the school), along with students from several other schools across London. The conference entailed brief taster classes on specific subject choices, along with an introduction to Oxbridge and advice on how to make a 'competitive application' to help you be accepted.
As part of the Oxbridge Programme at Ursuline High School, students who are considering applying to Oxford or Cambridge are given mentoring by staff, who are alumni of either University. We, as students, are very lucky to be given such an opportunity, as this excellent programme helps us prepare for writing our personal statements, undergoing the interview process, as well as ensuring we demonstrate our passion for our chosen subject. Although, the programme does encourage us to complete hours of extra reading and online courses, in the end, this will only be of benefit to us, no matter what universities we apply for.
The Conference, which was held at Epsom Downs Racecourse, was an example of the wonderful events we attend as part of the programme, and it was a fascinating experience. One student of Ursuline High School, Lucy Peck, noted that 'The conference allowed [her] to explore subjects [she] had never thought of doing before and informed [her] greatly in the ones that [she] had.' This highlights how important events like these are for students hoping to study at any University, not just Oxford and Cambridge, as it gives us the chance to consider different subject choices, and really investigate what University life is like.
The journey to become an Oxbridge student can be long and challenging, and not all of us may reach the final destination. Nonetheless, opportunities such as these that we are given as students are invaluable, and will only be of great benefit to us along the way.
Lillie Rodger
Ursuline High School
