Some comments about Oxbridge

nickernUID: 2187283

Having seen some people in the BBS are very agitated while waiting for the judgement by Cambridge and Oxford, I have a few thoughts presented here. Hopefully it is a bit helpful, if at some stage you feel confused during your application.

First of all, both Cambridge and Oxford operate by using the so called Collegiate System. It does not matter if you do not understand the system at this point. Your main goal is getting into the university first, which should definitely serve your priority during the application, especially for our Chinese students. However, a few things you should know. Basically, the BGS of Cambridge and GAO of Oxford do not decide your admission at all. (Some special programmes such as law, MBA etc, I am not sure. So check these with others who know.) When you submitted your applications, BGS or GAO just forwards them to the departments you indicated. It is the department to which you apply that decides your ‘fate’. Recently years, they adapted the admission committee from the US; that is to say, there basically is an admission panel reviewing your applications. If you are successful at this stage, i.e. they shortlist you, you would get into the interview round. But don’t be too optimistic even you are shortlisted, since a large excess number candidates will be on the short list. For instances, at one department in Oxford, they select 8 out of 25 shortlisted candidates. So you have roughly one third chance. Of course, departments vary. But as far as I am concerned most departments conduct telephone interviews for Chinese students. If you passed this round as well, you will be offered a place at the department. Then, at this stage, the department will inform the BGS or GAO; meanwhile, your material will be forwarded to the first college you indicated. Almost no exception, if your material is under reviewing by a college, it means you are already offered an admission, i.e. a conditional offer, in a department.

Secondly, while admission is relatively easy to get, funding is the main obstacle ahead. It is a very desperate situation in the UK for overseas students on scholarship application. If you apply for a master course, you almost have no hope to get financial aid from a British university. It might happen very occasionally under special circumstances. If for a PhD programme at Cambridge or D.Phil programme at Oxford, the biggest bet is the ORS, Gates at Cambridge and Clearndon at Oxford. In some rich departments, there are some research funds for overseas students which cover everything including EU-overseas difference fee, college fees, university fees and living stipend. But you can imagine that it is very competitive. For most Chinese students, ORS is almost the only hope. But its result, if I am correct, will come out in late March at the earliest.

Thirdly, I have to say, even I know every applicant is very anxious at the moment, it is tremendous work for the two universities as well. Thousands of applicants’ materials are on the queue waiting to be reviewed. The admission panel consisting three or five faculty members have their normal teaching and research work on top of this admission process. I am sure many of the applicants’ materials are being treated horribly. But there is nothing you can do about it. More sadly, let just face it, at least 70%-80% applicants from China, so sometimes secretaries have to make the preliminary selection, such as according to their intuition etc. This may not be many cases, but certainly it does happen. It also happens in the US top schools. So I guess, at this stage, though I fully understand the feelings you have, you perhaps should be patient.

Fourthly, some practical thoughts. If you really want to know what your chances are, contact your potential supervisors. Email them, telephone them. Alternatively, you can contact the secretaries. Although they can not tell you the likelihood you are admitted, at least they are able to tell you if you are still on the list and what the step it is in the procedure. As far as I am concerned, some departments, such as biochemistry, DTC, pathology, physics at Oxford, MRC at Cambridge should have shortlisted candidates at the moment.

Last but most importantly, I wish to make a few comments on the general thoughts of coming to the UK or Oxbridge, in particular, in comparison with good schools in the US (i.e. rank top 30). If you are really interested in doing research, i.e. seeking for a faculty position in academia, you should consider putting American schools at priority, especially for people who are in the field of natural sciences. The rigorous training in the US is indeed very beneficial for your future career. Oxbridge is declining no matter from what perspective you view. Nevertheless, these two schools have very big reputation in the United States, even among the very top schools such as Harvard, MIT, U of Chicago. So you still have very good chance to compete with those people in research. Fortunately, I believe most of people who apply schools from China do not want to stay in academia after their degree completeness. You want a better life, or in other words, more straight, you want more money in your future jobs. So you have to well prepare to study really hard in top schools in the US. Believe it or not, I am very glad I did not go to Harvard, because it is just too painful to study there for five years. While pursuing my PhD, I also want a life. In terms of life pace, culture, historic richness, architecture, Oxbridge is a much much much better place compared with those top schools in the US. It is so enjoyable just walking on the streets at Oxford or Cambridge. By all means, this is a matter that depends upon individuals. I am sure many of you, no matter go to Oxbridge or the US, would change your views dramatically after a few years overseas.

P.S. if you really need to consider something as I mentioned at the last part, please refer to the other note here: https://bbs.gter.net/forum.php?mo ... &extra=page%3D1

Good luck to those future cantabs and oxons!

tomahawkUID: 2172785

我考你英语怎么能这么好呢？

tomahawkUID: 2172785

收获很大，真的，英版很少有这么思路清晰、这么才气纵横的文章。看来自己还有差距

nickernUID: 2187283

Thanks, Tomahawk. I am glad if it is a bit helpful. Those just some of my thoughts and some information I experienced or knew. I like Oxbridge a lot. And ironically, I begun to love England after I left it.

tomahawkUID: 2172785

很好，有朝一日我成功了，也会像你一样尽力帮助大家的

tomahawkUID: 2172785

去年我申请的那个专业，1月31号就被cancel了，估计就是被小秘拿掉了，现在想来，当初申请材料做的很可笑，自己的背景也很可笑

denglin2000UID: 2117449

谢谢楼主

katrina0101UID: 203719

不过如果我拿到了哈佛的offer,我会放弃cam

tomahawkUID: 2172785

原帖由 katrina0101 于 2006-2-18 19:55 发表
不过如果我拿到了哈佛的offer,我会放弃cam

。。。。。。。

ESeraphUID: 2152020

shining comments, thanks for sharing.

gtoaaUID: 2188578

studying a PhD in the UK is much eaiser compared to that in the US.

nickernUID: 2187283

原帖由 gtoaa 于 2006-2-28 07:21 发表
studying a PhD in the UK is much eaiser compared to that in the US.

This is not always true. Based on my experience both in the UK and the US, pursuring a PhD in the UK is not necessarily easier than that in the US. It of course depends on individule schools, programmes, supervisors and students. It is somewhat like saying Beijingers are better than Shanghaiers, which is just simply not true. I guess it is not approperiate to generalise it that way, which somehow may be misleading.

gtoaaUID: 2188578

maybe, but general speaking, I still think it is true. I don't have living experience in the US, but I heard some of the comments on how hard it is to pursue a PhD degree in the US, and compared to the living style here in the UK, I do think to some extent it is easier. think about the life here in the UK, normally work from 9 oclock to 5 oclock including coffee time, lunch time, and tea time. How much time can you really spend on your study if you are enjoying spending those breaks chatting. Seldom do the domestic students do some work on the weekends. However,students can also graduate as shedualed. I think if your english is good enough to socialize with people, and follow the timetable as they do, I don't think that is a problem to graduate. Students can normally get graduated by the end of 3rd/4th year, however in the US, I heared lots of people spend more than 5 years to get the degree.

LizKwanUID: 2150199

Thank you,nickern.
Your summarization here about Oxbridge is so useful, so personal~~
I will enjoy my life as a Cambridger and keep this honor in heart forever.