4 Oxbridge Myths Debunked (Expert Oxford & Cambridge Application Advice)

There is a great deal of speculation and intrigue surrounding the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Against the romantic backdrop of historic buildings and manicured quadrangles, it is natural to wonder what happens behind the closed doors of these elite institutions. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has resulted in some widespread myths:

1. All the students are posh

Whilst it is certainly true that there are disproportionately many private schooled students at Oxford and Cambridge, they nevertheless form a minority, and most of them aren’t drinking champagne or playing croquet. In fact, you likely wouldn’t be able to tell that a privately educated student was privately educated without asking.

2. There is discrimination against state school applicants

Whilst there will inevitably be the occasional prejudiced admissions tutor, the primary aim of the tutors is to select the most capable students for their respective courses. The overrepresentation of private school pupils is a reflection of the better preparation these schools provide for exams and university admissions, including the interview.

One way tutors are attempting to combat this is by considering students’ performance relative to their school [1, 2]. For example, a student who achieves AAA at A-level in a school where the average is BCC is likely to be a good candidate, whereas a student who achieved AAA at a school whose average is A*AA is likely very capable, but may not meet the universities standard course requirements.

3. The students spend every waking hour working

There is no denying that the students at Oxford and Cambridge do work very hard, and are indeed put under pressure, with multiple tutorials or supervisions a week, and tough examinations. In spite of this, most students are excellent at juggling their academic work alongside healthy social lives. There is an active student nightlife in both cities, as well as clubs and societies for pretty much anything you could think of.

4. The interviewers ask impossible random questions

The interview process, in particular, attracts a great of speculation. There are numerous stories about these weird interview questions that are typically just taken out of context. There is one notable story about an admissions tutor who threw a cricket ball to each nervous interviewee as they entered the room. Should the story be believed, candidates who caught the ball were given an offer, and those who threw it back granted a scholarship.

The purpose of the interview is for the admissions tutors to examine how the applicants think, and see how they approach new and challenging material. As a result, the conversation in an interview can lead to obscure areas, particularly for humanities applicants.

Behind all these myths, Oxford and Cambridge are really far more normal than you might expect. While they certainly have their quirks, really they are just old universities full of clever people who share a love for their chosen subjects.