Hi I am going to a discussion group next week discussing private v state education. Your video was very useful and gave me some facts that I can use in my group. There are lots of conspiracy theories out there. Thanks Ngaire
I read an article in the FT sometime ago that showed there were more 1st class degrees from state school undergrads than private students at Russell group universities. The reason is for someone to get high A levels from some state schools may require more determination and self study. Ie they may have more drive and higher IQ than someone from a private school who is spoon fed the answers. Then at university many lack the independent study ability. Although unlike maths, other stem, medicine, dentistry etc that see and wide variety of candidates from state school with high grades, classics degrees are often seen as upper class and many in private schools. Simply because its not an obvious career choice and A levels such as greek and latin are not usually taught at state schools. Languages like A level Mandarin would be more useful in the modern world.
I have a question Dr. I want to apply to Oxford for a degree which I believe they alone offer. Honestly the degree was what I was applying for and I’m anxious and excited to start. However it wasn’t until I started doing research that I found out the entire stress of personal statements and written work which is very different from what I’m accustomed. Can I have the help of any staff with reviewing of my application? If so who do I contact? Thank you
Hi there, try to see the application as an opportunity rather than a test or a threat. It is quite a stressful business, but applicants who are not too bothered about the outcome either way tend to do better because they are not psyching themselves out. It's a bit like sport psychology. The teams who have fun and don't really mind whether they win or lose are actually most likely to win! You can follow up with questions here: www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/about-jesus-college/our-community/people/dr-matthew-williams/
Hey, thanks so much for this! It's really helpful to get some clarification on the matter. I know of quite a few people from private schools who move to state schools for 6th form to try and increase their chances of getting in. Is it true that you've started looking at Y11 school instead of Y13 to see if anyone's tried to do this?
We do have some data on pre-16 and post-16 education on UCAS. But, as I say in the video, this all gets taken alongside all other data, and ultimately we're just gauging academic ability and potential.
Good evening sir I am an international student so i have not had the chance to do an EPQ but have done some of my independent research(writen a research paper) (not published). Can i include that in my personal statement
Not identical, no. There have been some changes for some subjects. TSA is not changing however. Please see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Oh okay interesting - just to clarify this means the TSA format is staying completely identical to previous years right? I.e past years' papers and the one for 2025 entry will be indistinguishable in terms of question structure, test structure, wording etc.? I also have a few more questions cause I was unaware the TSA will be going online from this year: 1. Will there be spatial reasoning questions in the TSA (past few papers have not had it - will this trend continue)? 2. Will we just have to select the option we believe is correct online, or will the entire test be online. Specifically, will we have access to scrap paper for working outs & will we have access to a printed version of the exam in case we prefer reading the questions on paper instead of the laptop / want to annotate? 3. Will TSA S2 (the essay) also be online + will we be expected to type our response instead of handwriting it? Thank you so much for all the help you provide to prospective students!
@@LarsJohanssen Yes, the format is unchanged. Please see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests/tsa 1. Yes, it looks like spatial reasoning has been dropped, but I cannot confirm if this is a rubric change. 2. I believe you can use scrap paper, although this is worth checking when you register for the test. 3. I believe so, but I am not sure. Please check when you register. All best
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you for the very thorough response. Could you clarify what you mean on 1. "Yes, it looks like spatial reasoning has been dropped, but I cannot confirm if this is a rubric change." I interpreted as the TSA for 2025 entry will not contain spatial reasoning, but this may not be the case for the TSA exams that follow - is this the correct interpretation ?
Thank you! As a privately educated student who has been scared by a bunch of recent news articles, it’s great to see that I have as good a shot as others
Let me give you a real world example to show you why, despite this video, some people do have systemic advantages when applying for Oxford. I have a good friend with a son who is just starting a PPE degree at Durham University. Last year he applied to read PPE at Keble College, Oxford. He is clever, had four A*s at A-level and felt he did well in the interview. But he got rejected. He asked for feedback from Keble College and was told the following: there were eight places for applicants and he came ninth. Under the college's widening access/improving diversity policy, four of those places, said Keble, were reserved for state school pupils. Two others were reserved for ethnic minority candidates. My friend's son is white and privately educated. So, of the eight places, only two were actually available to people with his background. That is despite significantly more than a third of the applicants being privately educated and white. So, on the maths, it was considerably harder for him to get in than for most other candidates. All the white state school applicants were applying for one of six places. All the ethnic minority candidates (including the privately educated ones) were applying for one of six places. But the white privately educated applicants were applying for one of only two places. Can the maker of this video please tell me how that system doesn't disadvantage certain people?
Such a system does not apply in all colleges. Colleges are at liberty to make their own policies within a general framework. I don't know the details of how accomplished the other eight applicants were in front of this young man, but in all likelihood they presented a very similar grade profile to him. ~90% of PPE students have A*A*A*, or better, from all backgrounds. Plus there is theory and evidence to suggest that obtaining such grades from the state sector is typically harder than from a private school. The same situation happened to me when I was narrowly rejected from Cambridge. I can understand the argument that it disadvantages certain applicants, but the evidence is that those applicants will have received such substantial advantages up to that stage (as I had) and the goal is therefore to level the playing field. If there were no mechanisms to differentiate candidates on the basis of social advantage, then the university would be as it was fifty years ago, overwhelmingly representative of avery narrow and highly privileged social elite. None of which is to disparage this young man. He is clearly an enormous talent, and will no doubt prove as much at Durham. It is Oxford's loss, and in part because Oxford cannot expand its number of places.
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 To me Keeble’s approach (and presumably that of many other colleges, for I have seen no evidence to suggest Keeble is an outlier) belies what you have been at pains to stress in your videos, Matt. Namely that only if you grew up on free school meals and/or come from a school/postcode with a very limited historic access to Oxbridge/top universities will your background be taken positively into account. It looks like Keeble et al., through their reserved places policy, are entirely focused on the background of the majority of their applicants: all the state school people and all the ethnic minority people. The levelling up/social re-balancing is happening not just at the margins but on a grand scale. That’s a huge concern for people like my friend’s son (who incidentally grew up with average-income state-educated parents making many sacrifices to give him his education). I should just add that his younger brother won’t be applying to Oxford. He’s about as clever as his brother but reckons Oxford is no longer interested in borderline private school types like him. He’s probably right. I find that deeply sad.
I've checked up on policies. Colleges do not reserve places, except where places have been offered in prior years -- for foundation year or deferred entry applicants. I'm not sure what has happened in this instance, but I was stunned when you told me that places had been reserved in advance and felt it necessary to check. Are you certain that this was precisely what was communicated in written feedback?
Hi I am going to a discussion group next week discussing private v state education. Your video was very useful and gave me some facts that I can use in my group. There are lots of conspiracy theories out there. Thanks Ngaire
Once again a well thought out and beautifully presented video
Thank you!
Thank you for your service sir!
Thank you!
I read an article in the FT sometime ago that showed there were more 1st class degrees from state school undergrads than private students at Russell group universities. The reason is for someone to get high A levels from some state schools may require more determination and self study. Ie they may have more drive and higher IQ than someone from a private school who is spoon fed the answers. Then at university many lack the independent study ability. Although unlike maths, other stem, medicine, dentistry etc that see and wide variety of candidates from state school with high grades, classics degrees are often seen as upper class and many in private schools. Simply because its not an obvious career choice and A levels such as greek and latin are not usually taught at state schools. Languages like A level Mandarin would be more useful in the modern world.
I have a question Dr. I want to apply to Oxford for a degree which I believe they alone offer. Honestly the degree was what I was applying for and I’m anxious and excited to start. However it wasn’t until I started doing research that I found out the entire stress of personal statements and written work which is very different from what I’m accustomed. Can I have the help of any staff with reviewing of my application? If so who do I contact? Thank you
Hi there, try to see the application as an opportunity rather than a test or a threat. It is quite a stressful business, but applicants who are not too bothered about the outcome either way tend to do better because they are not psyching themselves out. It's a bit like sport psychology. The teams who have fun and don't really mind whether they win or lose are actually most likely to win! You can follow up with questions here: www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/about-jesus-college/our-community/people/dr-matthew-williams/
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 I really appreciate you replying. Thank you so much!
Hey, thanks so much for this! It's really helpful to get some clarification on the matter.
I know of quite a few people from private schools who move to state schools for 6th form to try and increase their chances of getting in. Is it true that you've started looking at Y11 school instead of Y13 to see if anyone's tried to do this?
We do have some data on pre-16 and post-16 education on UCAS. But, as I say in the video, this all gets taken alongside all other data, and ultimately we're just gauging academic ability and potential.
That was fascinating Matthew. I had no idea Ngaire
Thank you!
Good evening sir I am an international student so i have not had the chance to do an EPQ but have done some of my independent research(writen a research paper) (not published). Can i include that in my personal statement
Yes, for sure. Tell us what you found with your research.
Thank you sir
Hi Matt Williams! Do you know whether the format of the next year's Oxford entrance exams, i.e TSA is staying identical to previous years?
Not identical, no. There have been some changes for some subjects. TSA is not changing however. Please see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Oh okay interesting - just to clarify this means the TSA format is staying completely identical to previous years right? I.e past years' papers and the one for 2025 entry will be indistinguishable in terms of question structure, test structure, wording etc.? I also have a few more questions cause I was unaware the TSA will be going online from this year:
1. Will there be spatial reasoning questions in the TSA (past few papers have not had it - will this trend continue)?
2. Will we just have to select the option we believe is correct online, or will the entire test be online. Specifically, will we have access to scrap paper for working outs & will we have access to a printed version of the exam in case we prefer reading the questions on paper instead of the laptop / want to annotate?
3. Will TSA S2 (the essay) also be online + will we be expected to type our response instead of handwriting it?
Thank you so much for all the help you provide to prospective students!
@@LarsJohanssen Yes, the format is unchanged. Please see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests/tsa
1. Yes, it looks like spatial reasoning has been dropped, but I cannot confirm if this is a rubric change.
2. I believe you can use scrap paper, although this is worth checking when you register for the test.
3. I believe so, but I am not sure. Please check when you register.
All best
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you for the very thorough response. Could you clarify what you mean on 1. "Yes, it looks like spatial reasoning has been dropped, but I cannot confirm if this is a rubric change." I interpreted as the TSA for 2025 entry will not contain spatial reasoning, but this may not be the case for the TSA exams that follow - is this the correct interpretation ?
@@LarsJohanssen I mean that I do not know for sure if spatial reasoning has been dropped, but it looks like it has.
Thank you boss
Thank you!
Sir i wanted to ask a question
Does oxford offer courses for ux design?
Sir atleast answer?
Thank you! As a privately educated student who has been scared by a bunch of recent news articles, it’s great to see that I have as good a shot as others
Absolutely. Thanks for your comment.
Is Cambridge the same?
I imagine so. I don't have their stats. But I would be amazed if they are any different.
Let me give you a real world example to show you why, despite this video, some people do have systemic advantages when applying for Oxford. I have a good friend with a son who is just starting a PPE degree at Durham University. Last year he applied to read PPE at Keble College, Oxford. He is clever, had four A*s at A-level and felt he did well in the interview. But he got rejected. He asked for feedback from Keble College and was told the following: there were eight places for applicants and he came ninth. Under the college's widening access/improving diversity policy, four of those places, said Keble, were reserved for state school pupils. Two others were reserved for ethnic minority candidates. My friend's son is white and privately educated. So, of the eight places, only two were actually available to people with his background. That is despite significantly more than a third of the applicants being privately educated and white. So, on the maths, it was considerably harder for him to get in than for most other candidates. All the white state school applicants were applying for one of six places. All the ethnic minority candidates (including the privately educated ones) were applying for one of six places. But the white privately educated applicants were applying for one of only two places. Can the maker of this video please tell me how that system doesn't disadvantage certain people?
Such a system does not apply in all colleges. Colleges are at liberty to make their own policies within a general framework. I don't know the details of how accomplished the other eight applicants were in front of this young man, but in all likelihood they presented a very similar grade profile to him. ~90% of PPE students have A*A*A*, or better, from all backgrounds. Plus there is theory and evidence to suggest that obtaining such grades from the state sector is typically harder than from a private school.
The same situation happened to me when I was narrowly rejected from Cambridge. I can understand the argument that it disadvantages certain applicants, but the evidence is that those applicants will have received such substantial advantages up to that stage (as I had) and the goal is therefore to level the playing field. If there were no mechanisms to differentiate candidates on the basis of social advantage, then the university would be as it was fifty years ago, overwhelmingly representative of avery narrow and highly privileged social elite.
None of which is to disparage this young man. He is clearly an enormous talent, and will no doubt prove as much at Durham. It is Oxford's loss, and in part because Oxford cannot expand its number of places.
The university explicitly stated in his feedback that he came 9th? Or did he infer from his average interview & tsa scores?
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 To me Keeble’s approach (and presumably that of many other colleges, for I have seen no evidence to suggest Keeble is an outlier) belies what you have been at pains to stress in your videos, Matt. Namely that only if you grew up on free school meals and/or come from a school/postcode with a very limited historic access to Oxbridge/top universities will your background be taken positively into account. It looks like Keeble et al., through their reserved places policy, are entirely focused on the background of the majority of their applicants: all the state school people and all the ethnic minority people. The levelling up/social re-balancing is happening not just at the margins but on a grand scale. That’s a huge concern for people like my friend’s son (who incidentally grew up with average-income state-educated parents making many sacrifices to give him his education). I should just add that his younger brother won’t be applying to Oxford. He’s about as clever as his brother but reckons Oxford is no longer interested in borderline private school types like him. He’s probably right. I find that deeply sad.
@@LarsJohanssen They told him "you came ninth". As direct as that.
I've checked up on policies. Colleges do not reserve places, except where places have been offered in prior years -- for foundation year or deferred entry applicants. I'm not sure what has happened in this instance, but I was stunned when you told me that places had been reserved in advance and felt it necessary to check. Are you certain that this was precisely what was communicated in written feedback?