1. Aspire
Applying to the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge (collectively known as Oxbridge)

2. Mythbuster Oxford is only for geniuses (or genii)
Oxbridge wants highly intelligent, interested individuals
You can find aspects of your subject challenging, and still apply

3. Mythbuster
2. It’s only worth applying if you have 9 A*s (or equivalent) at GCSE
Oxbridge expect you to have some As and A*s at GCSE, but they don’t require a fixed number
Obviously the better your GCSEs are, the more your application will stand out

4. Mythbuster 3. Oxbridge is for posh people
Oxbridge is determined to counter this stereotype
Rising proportion of state school students – around 60%
Keen to encourage applicants from ethnic minorities and all income groups

5. Mythbuster 4. Oxbridge is boring – all the students do is work
Definitely the biggest myth of all!
Work hard, play hard
College and university sports, drama, music, politics, journalism
Unrivalled choice of activities and facilities

6. Mythbuster 5. You need a lot of money to afford Oxbridge
You only pay tuition fees back once you have finished your degree and are earning above a certain threshold
There are a range of bursaries and scholarships available from the two universities, and individual colleges, to help students with low household incomes
Oxbridge graduates typically earn higher salaries (along with other top Russell Group graduates)

7. Why apply? Intellectual stimulation Tutorials Be taught by the best
Interesting students
College system
World-class facilities
History
Job prospects

8. Key attributes for the Aspire programme
Intelligence
Lateral thinking
Love of learning
Hard-working
Articulate
Independent

9. Aspire Timeline Summer Term 2018 Autumn/Spring Term 2017-18
Students choose course
Meet with Senior Tutor (Rowena Hammal) and Aspire Adviser (subject specific)
Reading and preparation
Enrichment activities
Apply for summer schools
Summer Term
2018
Write personal statements
Reading and preparation
Meetings with Senior Tutor and Aspire Adviser
Enrichment activities
First practice interview
Admissions tests practice
References written by teachers

10. Summer Holidays 2018
Reading and preparation
Summer schools

11. Autumn Term 2018 September 2018 UCAS applications submitted
Applicants to Oxford or Cambridge must submit UCAS form by mid October, register for any admissions tests (BMAT deadline is earlier), and complete Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) for Cambridge
Student preparation for admissions tests and interviews
November 2018
Admissions tests and BMAT taken at the start of the month
December 2018
Oxford and Cambridge interviews in the first three weeks

12. 2019
January 2019
Cambridge winter pool (a small number of additional interviews of pooled candidates)
Oxford final decisions by mid Jan
Cambridge final decisions by end of Jan
August 2019
A-Level exam results – confirmation of whether conditional offers have been met

13. Enjoy the journey