Oxford PS??

[AimsRJ]

Hi guys,

wondering if anyone could give me some advice- particularly anyone who has written a successful oxford (or, presumably Cambridge or Imperial?) personal statement.

Having been to the open day and read the prospectus Oxford clearly places its biggest emphasis on academic achievement and potential. I am applying to Oxford but also other med schools which on their websites say that experience and non-academic qualities are really important. While oxford is my first choice I dont want to negatively affect my chances anywhere else (obviously!!).
Just wondering how to balance my PS- do I write it designed for say Warwick/ Peninsula with a high content of work experience etc and then in my oxford extra form make the focus acadamia (and make them think that they arent my 1st choice/ academia isnt my main love), write it with my 1st choice in mind (potentially eggs in one extremely competitive basket), or just try and equally balance as much as poss (but potentially not wowwing either oxford or warwick)
??????
Any tips useful!

Thanks, Aims

[agneishd]

Hi guys,

wondering if anyone could give me some advice- particularly anyone who has written a successful oxford (or, presumably Cambridge or Imperial?) personal statement.

Having been to the open day and read the prospectus Oxford clearly places its biggest emphasis on academic achievement and potential. I am applying to Oxford but also other med schools which on their websites say that experience and non-academic qualities are really important. While oxford is my first choice I dont want to negatively affect my chances anywhere else (obviously!!).
Just wondering how to balance my PS- do I write it designed for say Warwick/ Peninsula with a high content of work experience etc and then in my oxford extra form make the focus acadamia (and make them think that they arent my 1st choice/ academia isnt my main love), write it with my 1st choice in mind (potentially eggs in one extremely competitive basket), or just try and equally balance as much as poss (but potentially not wowwing either oxford or warwick)
??????
Any tips useful!

Thanks, Aims

ooh i did
best starting base is to write something, then have it checked
feel free to PM me if you want said checking

[Dr Noodle]

I'm assuming you're applying to PMS cos you're in Plymouth? The courses are so different, are you sure that's a good idea?

What is your main love? If academia is then apply to Oxford and write your PS to suit what you think they are looking for.

[agneishd]

and everyone loves work exp - write about that and impressive academic achievements anyway

[BGG]

Here's my tuppence worth, based on two things:

1. My own experience as an (arts) undergraduate at Oxford
2. Talking to people who have run interviews at Oxford for a range of subjects including medicine.

Basically everyone who applies is going to have very good or perfect grades.

Their school will also have written them a reference saying they are exceptionally clever, a model student, a great person, would perform outstandingly, are on the verge of walking on water etc etc because the school is really keen for them to get in.

The candidate will typically write a well thought personal statememt emphasing their interest in the subject, citing having read BMJ/New Scientist/a book or two, detailing the work experience they've done and what it taught them and recounting why being football captain/milk monitor/brilliant at the oboe makes them a good candidate.

After all that work from student and school on personal statement and reference it will read like virtually every other application in virtually every respect. It will likely be read with a great deal of boredom and some cynicism by the admissions tutors who will put almost no weight on it and will simply look at the grades, decide who to interview and then judge based on what they hear at interview.

What's more should you end up there, if you're unlucky, at the end of your time your tutors may read out all the worthy rubbish you and your peers wrote on the form in front of you all.

Good luck with your application. If nothing else try and make it a bit more interesting to read (even if it contains the same information as everyone elses - which it almost certainly will).

(Naturally your school is not likely to see it this way.)

[agneishd]

Here's my tuppence worth, based on two things:

1. My own experience as an (arts) undergraduate at Oxford
2. Talking to people who have run interviews at Oxford for a range of subjects including medicine.

Basically everyone who applies is going to have very good or perfect grades.

Their school will also have written them a reference saying they are exceptionally clever, a model student, a great person, would perform outstandingly, are on the verge of walking on water etc etc because the school is really keen for them to get in.

The candidate will typically write a well thought personal statememt emphasing their interest in the subject, citing having read BMJ/New Scientist/a book or two, detailing the work experience they've done and what it taught them and recounting why being football captain/milk monitor/brilliant at the oboe makes them a good candidate.

After all that work from student and school on personal statement and reference it will read like virtually every other application in virtually every respect. It will likely be read with a great deal of boredom and some cynicism by the admissions tutors who will put almost no weight on it and will simply look at the grades, decide who to interview and then judge based on what they hear at interview.

What's more should you end up there, if you're unlucky, at the end of your time your tutors may read out all the worthy rubbish you and your peers wrote on the form in front of you all.

Good luck with your application. If nothing else try and make it a bit more interesting to read (even if it contains the same information as everyone elses - which it almost certainly will).

(Naturally your school is not likely to see it this way.)

I guess you could make it stand out with rare/unique achievements you may have, like luckily i got the opportunity to study law a A-level, and teh tutor at hertford, ox, said that they had never had anyone who had done it before... didn't get in though

[AimsRJ]

Thanks for this chaps & chapesses!

Yeah I am applying to PMS because I own a house in Plymouth. I wanted to apply for at least 1 5 year as the GEPs are even more ridiculously competitive that the 5years. I wouldnt be able to afford to go anywhere else because my partner will be in Plymouth for at least the first 2 years of my course due to a PhD commitment and I need to help him with the mortgage. Oh to be 18 with no ties again!!

Hopefully the GEP PSs may be a little more different to each other than direct school leavers so hopefully there wont be many like mine... for better or worse!!

[BGG]

AimsRJ: sorry I'd not noticed you were applying GEP.

In any case much the same applies: they really care about getting the best candidates and will judge that very largely on intellectual ability as shown by your academic record whatever test they use (your UKCAT looks in the right ballpark for the more competitive grad entry courses) and your interview performance.

The personal statement will definitely not make it for you and will only break it for you if you write something comically stupid which, of course, you won't.

[Argh!]

I have found from undergrad (I went to Oxford) and post-grad, the best format for personal statements, wherever you apply is:

Paragraph one: why you want to study the subject
Paragraph two: academic interests/achievements that make you think you will be suitable to study that subject and work experience
Paragraph three: extra-curricular subjects you do that you think will bring something to your ability to do that subject
Paragraph four: bring it all together.

That should be a good basis for everywhere you apply and anything you feel doesn't fit on there, you should put on the Oxford form.

[Pammy]

I had mine in the same order...For the Oxford GEP-specific PS (as opposed to UCAS), I just expanded a bit more on independent learning, research, and sciency interests. I actually found it really easy to write the statement for Oxford since the course characteristics appealed to me so much - I thought that if I had to design a course, this is how I would do it (with only one exception: I'd add a bit to anatomy teaching...think at least a few practical sessions, following the teach-yourself phase, would be quite beneficial).