By Chloe Pomfret
After refreshing the webpage for the millionth time, I received that UCAS notification. “You've been offered a place! University of Oxford has offered you a place for Human Sciences, subject to conditions”.
The only way to get into Oxford is to apply. Yet this process is shrouded in mystery for many prospective applicants. Some figure it out along the way, others are lucky enough to have the support of alumni teachers and friends. The general process involves, first and foremost, choosing your course and writing your personal statement. Then, you’ll select which Oxford college you wish to apply to or submit an open application. For many universities, the process ends here with paying and submitting your UCAS application in October. However, at Oxford, there are the dreaded admissions tests and additional work you may have to submit along with the interviews around November/December.
I stumbled upon my course by mistake, scrolling around the course page for Archaeology and Anthropology. I wanted to do a STEM subject but regretted that I’d have little exposure to the humanities and social sciences during my studies. Along the side of the page, I saw Human Sciences under “Related Courses”. I knew instantly this was the course for me. I emailed my college teachers to tell them the exciting news and was put into the school’s Oxbridge support programme, offered intensive personal statement support, mock interviews, admissions test workshops, and given insights from the school’s Oxbridge alumni and staff. As a result, writing my personal statement was much easier compared to other students with no support. I had 15 personal statement drafts scrutinised, feedback given, and interviewed on the contents. Despite attending a state school in an underfunded area of Manchester, I was lucky to receive extensive support which certainly gave me an advantage. Course chosen, statement written, and college decided, I was ready to complete and submit my UCAS application. I filled in my personal details, completed the finance and funding info, and declared my care experience through their forms.
The final part of the UCAS application involves getting your teacher reference and paying for the application. Unless you pay the £28.50 fee to submit your application, you cannot send it off. This week, UCAS themselves acknowledged “Whilst the application fee is not a barrier for most, with 90% saying they did not need any financial help to cover the cost, those receiving free school meals are among the most likely to struggle to pay the cost.” Hence, it was unbelievably exciting to hear that from September 2024, this fee is being waived for all students in receipt of Free School Meals. It is wonderful to see that higher education is becoming more accessible for low-income students, relieving the financial barrier to applying.
Finally, admissions tests are conducted for most courses, providing a score which tutors receive to decide if they want to invite you for interview. Unlike the admissions test, I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. They aim to recreate a tutorial, discussing your statement, course content, and seeing how you think on the spot. Finally, after the interviews and the month-long wait, Oxford sets a specified date to release their offers. The application process is exhausting, even more so if it is a completely unfamiliar process. There is some incredible support offered for navigating this, such as Zero Gravity for state school students, the brilliant That Oxford Girl writers sharing their advice, and the wonderful news of the fee waiver announced in May this year.
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