Oxbridge candidates given specialist guidance by Magdalene College Cambridge

Birkenhead Sixth Form College students who have applied for places at Oxford or Cambridge university have been given some specialist interview guidance, as the College played host to a number of Wirral school sixth forms for a visit from a Cambridge College.

Guests from seven local schools, including grammar schools, joined the College’s Oxbridge candidates as a representative from Magdalene College addressed students about their impending university interviews.

“If it’s something that you want, I think you have to apply. I’d rather have failed in my application than never tried and been left wondering ‘what if’.” - James, who's applied for Cambridge University

Having successfully completed all entrance exams and other criteria, students have only the interview hurdle left to complete, and the process of facing the panels at Oxbridge can often be shrouded in rumour and myth.

Sandy Mill, School Liaisons Officer at Magdalene College, helped to ease students’ fear and rather explained that the task should not be so daunting, especially when students are prepared for exactly what’s to come.

Head Girl Emily Wagstaff and Students Ambassador James Milligan have both applied to Cambridge and explained that the session has left them feeling positive about what’s to come.

 

Emily, who has applied to read Medicine at Murray Edwards College, said: “Thinking about the interview to get on courses at uni can be really stressful because you have a picture in your head of someone just staring at you. I think that’s especially true with Oxford and Cambridge, but Sandy helped dispel some of the myths and helped us see that it’s much more of a conversation than we thought.”

Emily is taking A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths & Physics and described how she had to combat a negative mind-set when it came to applying for such prestigious university place, but found a new, confident outlook from talking with her College Tutor and her parents.

She said: “I applied late because I just thought I would never get in. Mike (Crosby, Emily’s Tutor) called me into his office and asked me why I wasn’t applying to Oxford or Cambridge and persuaded me to think about it. When I got home and talked to my parents about it, just having a realistic chat about me going to one of those unis gave me confidence, and I realised that I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try. I’m so glad that I gave it a shot.”

James applied to St Catherine’s College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences, and agreed with Emily, saying: “If it’s something that you want, I think you have to apply. I’d rather have failed in my application than never tried and been left wondering ‘what if’.”

The Biology, Chemistry and Maths student continued: “I’ve had interviews at Sheffield and Manchester so far, so I’ve had some idea of how they operate, but I didn’t realise how much help the Oxbridge interviewers would offer you.”

Of his personal journey to becoming an Oxbridge candidate, James said that work ethic was at its core: “It’s about dedication to your work and being proactive about your learning. When there’s work to be done then you have to get it done, and if you don’t understand something, ask a teacher about it rather than forgetting about it until your exams.”

Sandy Mill, representing Magdalene College, said: “The most important thing for the universities is to find the people who are right for them, whatever background they come from. It doesn’t matter where in the country, or race, religion, family type – we want people with the mind-set, the drive and the ability to succeed.

“These students have made applications to Oxford or Cambridge or another top university. They’ve got the talent that’s required and the focus of today has been to convert that application, that they’ve worked so hard at, that’s been years in the making and that they’ve dreamed of, and making it into an acceptance letter come January.”

Sandy concluded: “It takes a bit of intelligence, a bit of determination, but most of all, it takes a willingness to say ‘I don’t know’ to a question and use that as a challenge to find out the answer. Thinking critically but being open-minded at the same time is crucial.”