<p>Hi everyon! I'm a junior and i'm absolutely dying to go to Oxford! I would be applying for the history program so please keep that in mind. I'm a Canadian who will soon be getting Czech citizenship [EU], and I have lived in the Czech Republic for 12 years. </p>
<p>First, let me say that i have a huge passion for history! Anything to do with history interests me. I gobble down historical books about the French Revolution, Lenin, Mao... anything i can find. I would rather meet a famous historian than a movie star, and i would rather read a history book than harry potter. </p>
<p>IB HL History (A+)
IB HL English (A)
IB HL Theatre Arts (A+)
IB German (B+ or A-)
IB Math Studies II (A-)
IB Biology (A-)</p>
<p>I took anticipated exams in German and Math Studies this year and if i dont' get sevens this year I will retake them in november and then again in may until I get 7's in both of them. </p>
<p>We haven't gotten our IB predicted scores yet but I think i will get a minimum of 40 points, and by my estimation i will get predicted a 42. One of the reasons i think my score will be that high is that i can take my math and german exams three times! I'm pretty certain i should be able to get sevens by my third try, if i dont' get them on my first. </p>
<p>So yeah.....do you think i will be given the opportunity to have an interview at Oxford? Any tips about improving my application?</p>
<p>yes that IB score is fine, most offers are in the region on 776 at HL. You definitely stand a very good chance of getting an interview, although I would ask you why oxford over cambridge?</p>
<p>I chose Oxford over Cambridge because i have heard that it has a better reputation for history. I know a lot of students from the UK say that Cambridge is better but I have also heard that Cambridge is more for maths and sciences while Oxford is better for the humanities? Is this just a stereotype or is it true? I also noticed that a lot of the great historians went to Oxford.</p>
<p>traditionally, yes, cambridge is more maths/science and oxford arts, which will explain why many great historians are oxford grads and not cam. However, nowadays the distinction is much less clear, and I wouldn't base you decision on that alone. Things I would advise you to look at would be the course structure. Cambridge has the more unique 'tripos system' where you can change subjects if you so desire, also the method of assessment will differ at the two universities.
I would also advise looking at some colleges at either, see if there is one that immediately takes your fancy.</p>
<p>Magdalen College at Oxford has kind of taken my fancy but would you happen to know any colleges at Oxbridge that have well known history programs?</p>
<p>Almost 80% or 90% of applicants are invited for interview at Ox. The interview is extremely hard and it takes a huge part of admission. I am pretty much sure you will have a chance to have an interview and your admission will mostly depends on the interview.(since almost every candidate for Oxford has outstanding academic results, it is the only way to select stduents)</p>
<p>This may seem an odd thing to say when picking a college at an academic institution, but college choice should have nothing (maybe just a tad) to do with your academic subject because;
1) tutors/academics change every year/take sabaticalls/don't teach all undergrads or only very specialised papers.
2) all your lectures are done by the university, not college and for more specialised supervisions you will go to the relevant tutor in another college.</p>
<p>So on this basis the things you want to look at (and i would say consider with some thought) are;
1) location (centre or out of town)
2) accommodation (is it nice, offered near the main college site, how expensive, offered for all years of course)
3) size (small or big!!)
and then other more menial factors like; sports facilities, food, architecture ect.</p>
<p>an important thing to note with colleges is that pretty much wherever you go, you will and up having a huge amount of 'college pride' however ugly the buildings are and crappy the location is.</p>
<p>Oh, and i have a feeling at oxford u get allocated a second college too.</p>
<p>I just want to point out to the OP that you will be treated as an international student and have to pay international fees regardless of having EU citizenship. You only pay EU/UK fees if you have lived in the EU for the 3 (maybe 4?) years preceeding your application ie your parents have paid their taxes in the EU. It doesn't matter what citizenship you or your parents have or how long you lived in an EU country before moving away.</p>
<p>ITA with LadyLou about colleges. Everyone stresses about choosing the "perfect" college but about 1 in 5 people gets allocated to a different college from their choice anyway (including me) and most are happy. the other thing to take into account is how much money each college has! For example, if there is a specific college which offers 12 scholarships for Canadians every year, it might be beneficial for you to apply there. generally older colleges have more money because they get it through inheritance. Older college = more dead graduates = more inheritance. At Oxford St Johns is the richest, at Cambridge it's Trinity.</p>
<p>As for Cambridge being better for sciences and Oxford better for arts, yes over the last 800 years! But on a day-to-day basis no-one is going to be unemployable because they did maths at Oxford of History of Art at Cambridge (and people who didn't attend either often mix them up anyway). As someone who was an undergrad at Cambridge and graduate at Oxford (Biology)I can tell you they're very very similar.</p>
<p>Cupcake, I have lived in what is now an EU country four fourteen years so does that meant i don't pay international fees? I know that Cambridge is just as good but for some reason I prefer Oxford. </p>
<p>Thanks for the tips about picking colleges! I really didn't know much about the system so you helped a lot.</p>
<p>Does it make it harder to get into Oxford if you apply to a very popular college?</p>
<p>Alissa, I prefer Oxford because it seems to have some really great traditions, a lot of my idols went there, and well... it's kind of hard to describe but I just have this feeling that it's more for me than Cambridge is. I mean, they're both wonderful but Oxford grabs me and Cambridge doesn't even though I know a lot of people prefer Cambridge...</p>
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Cupcake, I have lived in what is now an EU country four fourteen years so does that meant i don't pay international fees?
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</p>
<p>Unless you are currently living in an EU country with your parents or guardians ("not for the purpose of education" they say. ie not at boarding school) and have done so for at least 3 years preceeding your application, you're an international. you might get round this if your parents only left the EU to work for the government eg at an embassy. But probably you're just going to have to pay up if you live in Canada now.</p>
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Does it make it harder to get into Oxford if you apply to a very popular college?
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No, it just makes it more likely you will end up in a college that was not your first choice. I applied to Balliol too and, like most people, was allocated an "second choice" to be interviewed at (nearly everyone who goes to Oxford for interview gets interviewed in at least 2 colleges. I don't know how this works for those interviewed overseas but you can still be considered at another college) . Also, a small number of people get "open offers", which means if you get the grades requested you are guarenteed a place, but they haven't worked out which colleges will have space so you don't find out your college till August.</p>
<p>Cupcake, I don't know if i'm not understanding you or you're not understanding me but I LIVE in an EU country right now, not just for school, but for life. My parents work in the Czech Republic, i live in the Czech Republic, I am getting a Czech passport..... All of this for fourteen years now.</p>
<p>
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Cupcake, I don't know if i'm not understanding you or you're not understanding me but I LIVE in an EU country right now, not just for school, but for life. My parents work in the Czech Republic, i live in the Czech Republic, I am getting a Czech passport..... All of this for fourteen years now.
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The you will be an EU national for fees purposes. But how come you're Canadian? I don't know if that will affect your status, but as long as you stay living in the EU (and your parents do) it won't change things on the fees front.</p>
<p>What do you mean how come i'm Canadian? Canadians are allowed to live outside of Canada.... i have dual citizenship too. Well, at least i won't have to pay overseas fees. Thanks for that info.</p>