<p>That is an excellent point about Harvard, Ali. However, it's also very much relevant to Oxford. Our EC's really are fantastic: varied, committed, ambitious, sometimes incredibly successful. Sure, there are people who just want to study, but that's their right; and I know Harvard has those too, because my "host" when I was a pre-frosh didn't actually see me until a couple of days after I arrived because he was in the library till 2am both days (I was looked after by someone else, who was awesome, so this isn't a complaint*!). There is a lesser emphasis than at Harvard on rounded individuals so we do have more out and out geeks; but our undergraduate class is about twice the size of Harvard's, so there's really no shortage of interesting people doing interesting things. </p>
<p>Oxford definitely has problems with interviewing in the States, though. It is being looked at in the current admissions review, though I can't see them resolving the problem.</p>
<p>Sonar: Is a GC not a school teacher? My point was simply that there is oversight. The guy who wrote my reference at my school didn't teach me but he was a teacher and had I tried to lie about my grades I think I'd probably have been expelled!</p>
<p>*I still remember laughing as I rang the guy's room from the admissions office and overheard his room-mate saying "Alright guys, we have three problems. First, Mike has a pre-frosh. Secnod, he's from England. Third, he's here...RIGHT NOW"</p>