Stephen Ward, vice-principal and head of 11–18 at Stephen Perse Cambridge, provides expert advice on Oxbridge applications
Last year, the University of Cambridge received 22,153 applications and accepted 3,632 (16.4%) whilst the University of Oxford received 23,061 and accepted 3,254 (14.1%). While the deadline for applications approaches fast, there is still time to help your child ensure their application stands out from the crowd.
Preparing a robust personal statement
To stand out from thousands of exceptional applications, aspiring Oxbridge students need to use the personal statement section of an application to demonstrate their unique insight, experiences and passion for their chosen field. Their statement and the interview combined are the only opportunity for a student to showcase their interests and knowledge beyond the syllabus.
You may wish to ask your child to consider the following questions to help guide the drafting process: What inspired their passion for their subject? What are their particular interests within the field? What is their personal experience of the subject and its impact on them as an individual? What research and learning are they doing beyond the curriculum and about the cutting edge of a particular topic?
If your child is invited to interview, a point made in their statement may be used as a starting point for conversation during their interview, so it’s wise to explore extensively, for example through articles, books and podcasts with experts in the field, around the points made within the personal statement to facilitate an in-depth discussion.
Enhancing their education through extracurricular activities
In Cambridge, our students are able to benefit from the many public lectures that the University of Cambridge hosts to support their immersion into scholarly life and broaden their knowledge on their chosen subjects. Attending lectures and exhibitions hosted by the University can all be valuable ways to both demonstrate their academic curiosity and challenge their perspective on a topic. Not only does this enable them to prepare their statement, but it gives them further knowledge to draw on during their interview.
You can help your child expand their learning outside the classroom by identifying upcoming events related to their subject – for instance, History students may enjoy attending a local event such as Open Cambridge, which takes place in September and focuses on the heritage of the city, or events organised by their local branch of the Historical Association.
Emphasising mental wellbeing
Behind every successful university application is a student who has put in a tremendous amount of work to be considered. As such, it’s important to help them manage any feelings of worry or anxiety that arise during the application process. Just like adults, children need time to relax and connect with their family and friends, so encouraging them to balance their time between their academic pursuits, their hobbies and social time can be helpful during the application period.
Whether your child is applying for the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford or another prestigious institution, a strong application needs to focus on showcasing academic achievement and your child’s passion for their chosen subject. Together, you can help them to enhance their application and prepare for the important interview element of the process through intentional conversations, interesting activities and events, and wellbeing support.
