Home 2020-06-09T14:26:22+00:00

Thinking about an Oxbridge application? We can help

Are you an Oxbridge candidate (or wondering whether you should be)?

You’re not the first straight A* student to feel intimidated by the prospect of an Oxbridge application. The thought of an interview might already make your mind blank and send your stomach sideways. The prospect of drafting your personal statement might be overwhelming to the point of brain freeze.

There is help. You’re not alone. Shyer and more chaotic folk than you have won Nobel prizes. Self-consciousness, nerves or fear of failure needn’t be deal breakers. So if you know you have the right qualities to succeed at a top university*, but are worried about whether you can convey this in your application, we can help….

*And if you’re not sure you even want to go to Oxbridge, we can help with that too

LEARN MORE

Are you the parent of an Oxbridge applicant?

Parents of high achieving students often wonder how best to support their child, without piling on more pressure. Everyone wants them to both do their best, and be happy. But the stakes are high as the family prepares to make a significant financial investment in university fees.

You might have concerns about whether your child should apply to Oxbridge, or whether they would fit in if they’re successful. Or perhaps you’re unsure how to help them draft their UCAS personal statement or prepare for aptitude tests.

The prospect of an interview might be the sticking point, if you’re unsure how your child would perform under pressure. And whether or not your family is familiar with the Oxbridge application process, even the most well meaning advice can be received badly by a teenager with high standards.

Here’s how we can help…

LEARN MORE

Are you a teacher or school with Oxbridge applicants?

It’s frustrating when a pupil you know would thrive at a top university, fails to shine at interview. Knowing how best to support them can be a challenge, especially where specific expertise and time are limited in a busy academic environment.

These best and brightest minds are also teenagers, and often the best advice about background reading or personal statements can be actively resisted when offered by familiar sources, however tactfully presented. For some candidates, the desire to impress breeds arrogance and a lack of sophisticated thinking. For others, nerves leave them completely ineffective when under pressure.

This is where we can help.

There is no big mystery about the application process for Oxford, Cambridge and other leading institutions. These top universities want enthusiastic students with a natural aptitude for the kind of learning they will experience as an undergraduate, and the knowledge to back it up.

For some students, years spent focusing on exceptional exam results can bury that natural aptitude.

This is why we have worked with hundreds of straight A* pupils who have sailed through school, yet still felt uncomfortable when challenged hard in the context of an academic interview. Used to knowing the right answer, when invited to stray outside their familiar intellectual territory to demonstrate their suitability, they can feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed. That discomfort can be enough to mess up their chance to win a place.

What Impetus Coaching does isn’t only about preparing exceptional students for interview. We’re preparing them for the kind of mental rough and tumble that’s just normal at top universities. Adapting and feeling comfortable with this sets them up well for a strong application, positive interview experience and a stable foundation for university and beyond.

Here’s how we can help.

Learn More

“An excellent part of preparation for interviews, dealing with stress and confidence building, whether for specific applications or more general personal development.”

Careers and Higher Education Adviser, St Clare’s, Oxford

MAKE ENQUIRY

Latest Resources:

Where do I start with my background reading?

There are many books on many reading lists. And many websites. And a huge number newspapers, journals and magazines. Trying to make a start in between homework and the rest of life can seem daunting. Here are a few ways to start… Make a list of all the obvious targets… suggested reading lists, books recommended by your teacher, the obvious journals/magazines (eg New Scientist/ The Lancet/ The Historian). It can’t possibly be exhaustive so don’t try to list everything on the internet! Expand the range of your list by doing some book shop browsing (real or virtual). [...]

Getting motivated – a practical approach

“If only I could get started, then I know I’d be ok and get into it… I just can’t get started.” Waiting to feel motivated enough to start work can be as futile as standing on a roundabout and waiting for the wind change enough to push you round. You need to get into motion first, then see what shows up to help. Once we get started the energy often starts to flow. One way to give yourself that first weighty push… 1) Write down the first 3-5 things that need to be done. Each should take [...]

Y12 Lockdown – How to survive and thrive

Y12 lockdown - How to survive and thrive CV19 brings extra uncertainty and stress to Y12. When preparing to leave school and make a success of what comes next, additional unknowns don’t help. In these online sessions, participants will learn ways to deal with these special circumstances, reflect on their responses, and work out practical next steps. Session 1: Dealing with uncertainty Y12 is a time for decision making, navigating known unknowns and preparing for life’s biggest transition: from school and home to whatever comes next. CV19 brings additional uncertainties from all directions, disrupting plans for work [...]

Don’t know the answer? That’s the good bit

Interview candidates for elite universities are often scared of difficult questions and unfamiliar topics. But when they understand what the interviewers are looking for, the prospect become less daunting.  If you’ve applied to Oxbridge and made it to interview, it’s a given that you’re in the ball park when it comes to knowledge of your subject. What the interviewers really want to know is whether you have the kind of brain that likes to be stretched.  Here’s why. Due to the way teaching goes at Oxbridge, undergrads regularly find themselves way out of their depth. So, to [...]

MMIs (special interviews for medics) top tips

For prospective medics, Oxbridge still follows a traditional interview style. Many other universities are swapping to a different format known as the MMI (Multi Mini Interview). It’s worth preparing yourself for the approaches used by all the universities to which you’re applying. Ten top tips for your MMI role play: Ask yourself… “where are you?”: set the scene “who are you with?”: match your communication style to the situation and person you are talking to “what needs to be said?”: identify the main aims of the conversation “how long have I got?”: make sure your aims are [...]

Do you talk too quickly? Here’s your chance to milk it

When practising for an academic interview, some candidates find themselves talking really fast. This can make them difficult to understand, and gives them little time to organise their thoughts. One of my Oxbridge interview coaching clients recently admitted this long-standing habit is the result of classroom dynamics. When her teacher asks a question, she wants to put her point across, but doesn’t want to be the obnoxious swot who hogs the floor and won’t shut up. She talks quickly to get it over with. The good news is that for those who love to chat about the [...]