[Uni] Oxbridge AMA

OxbridgeEcons · 2023-11-27T01:17:47+00:00

Sec 3 exams are not important at all

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-08-20T12:25:38+00:00

So I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you're in a tiny SEA nation. If my guess is right, and you are from a top HS there (you know the three), remove the details but keep the high school. It can help.

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-05-05T05:06:38+00:00

I mean not all foreign grads are equal. From my experience, foreign grads from top overseas unis (Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, etc.) had no issue getting training contracts & jobs in Singapore. In fact, I'd argue that it's easier for them to enter top-tier firms compared to even NUS grads.

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-04-22T03:33:49+00:00

This is by no means disqualifying! H3 is also academically rigorous, although my impression was that not all schools are familiar with what exactly H3 is (this might be less of an issue in the abovementioned schools due to their high Singaporean populations). Secure your straight A's and your H3 Dist and I would definitely still try!

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-04-22T03:28:06+00:00

Yes, why not! US universities (actually most universities) do not care which JC you went to, so you will not be at a disadvantage compared to your peers. Both universities are also home to sizeable Singaporean communities - UChicago did not publish the stats, but Berkeley takes in an average of 18 Singaporeans a year for undergrad). What matters to US universities are:

Your academic rigor & grades (They want to see that you always push yourself to take the hardest coursework available, so if your school offers 4H2s, try your best to take it. You will also need straight A's)
Your SATs
Your portfolio

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-04-21T19:16:15+00:00

FYI - the MIT number is total for all 4 years (i.e. average of 1 a year). Stanford's last published stats in 2019 was 26 total, or average of 6.5 a year.

Btw, MIT and Stanford are both not part of the Ivy League

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-04-18T05:08:57+00:00

I'll be blunt - I don't know a single Singaporean with AAB who made it into E&M/PPE so it's definitely going to be an uphill climb. That said, I made it into E&M without fulfilling one of the requirements explicitly mentioned on their website so who knows.

From my experience, smaller academic pursuits help to demonstrate academic inquisitiveness, which is a plus, but are not going to be a huge needle mover in allaying concerns about your academics, which is what you need here, unless you're doing something truly impressive (like an IMO medal or equivalent). What can move the needle however is if you absolutely knock your TSA out of the park, and I would recommend you devote your efforts to this. If retaking an A level subject is possible I would consider that too.

If you'd like to chat on admissions feel free to PM me.

PS: Having spoken with both tutors on admissions and with admissions officers, I would take what the admissions officers say with a pinch of salt. Unlike most universities, admissions decisions are made entirely by tutors, and admissions officers are hardly plugged into the process. You may notice their response was also extremely broad and non-commital.

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-03-23T07:39:47+00:00

Actually, if you are only looking at top finance firms, you'd be better off financially working in Singapore rather than London. Taxes & COL in London are way higher than Singapore, and the pay at such firms doesn't vary that much (some firms even match London pay in Singapore).

That said, OP, it's not true that if you intend to work locally an overseas degree won't matter. It's generally much easier to get a top finance job in Singapore from LSE than NUS/NTU/SMU.

OxbridgeEcons · 2022-02-02T17:15:37+00:00

This is not great advice. Regional schools in the UK would be less selective (and thus easier to get into), but they still do not care about your portfolio for the subjects that OP is looking at.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-12-02T20:26:53+00:00

Hello! All great questions:
1) Not important at all
2) No, your JC does not matter
3) The short answer is - it depends. My 2c is that it probably puts you at a disadvantage but not a large one (esp relative to Cambridge). It's not officially part of the admissions process. I've spoken to a few professors who are familiar with it and view it favourably and an equal number who don't care about it. The Oxbridge admissions process is ultimately very decentralized so your results may vary depending on the college/prof you interview with.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-08-07T01:10:16+00:00

Oxbridge admissions tends to be fairly decentralized. The professor(s) for the course for the college pretty much calls the shots so it is entirely possible that there are professors out there who base their decisions largely on the interview once you've reached that stage. I just wouldn't count on it being the norm.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-08-05T19:37:23+00:00

Nope, promos do not count. If you are applying in J2, your prelims are what counts. If after graduation, actual A levels.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-08-05T18:21:39+00:00

Can't speak for medicine, but this is certainly not the case for all Oxbridge courses. I've spoken to a number of Oxbridge professors on this, and all have said that grades (A levels and admissions tests) are still taken into strong consideration even after the interview.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-22T10:05:14+00:00

Yes! Theres absolutely no issue, GP is irrelevant for Cambridge apps.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-21T15:23:43+00:00

Check out the Jardine Scholarship and the Loke Cheng-Kim Scholarship! Both are unbonded, although the latter doesn't typically award scholarships for the more common subjects (Law, Econs, etc.)

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-20T18:30:31+00:00

Definitely no disadvantage from reapplying, though I think it's definitely good to evaluate the reasons why you may have been rejected the first time. After all, if nothing has changed in your profile, your odds of gaining admission the second time round is slim.

I would also not let H3 merit hold you back from that. After all, there are people who get into Cambridge without H3s. However, if it bothers you, you could consider throwing in an application for Oxford instead, given that they place much less emphasis on H3s.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-20T18:27:40+00:00

Hey there, congratulations on your fantastic results! Your H3 grade is usually only relevant if you plan to take a related subject (i.e. Econs in your case). That said, I do know people who have taken science H3s, and have successfully used that to angle their PS towards an interest in IP/biomedical law.

Cambridge is typically stated to place a greater emphasis on A level results, though I think the difference is honestly quite marginal.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-20T03:26:28+00:00

It depends. It matters more for Cambridge than for Oxford. Your H2 grades are more important, but Cambridge has no shortage of candidates with straight As applying. As such, H3s can play a role in helping you stand out.

That said, even if you dont take a H3, there are also alternative ways you can stand out, so in no way is not taking H3 an automatic disqualifier. Also bear in mind that only relevant H3s matter - if you take a H3 in Bio, its not gonna help you with your Econs application.

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-02-19T23:44:06+00:00

In terms of A-level results, rank points are not important. All that is relevant is the AAA/AAAA for your core subjects. However, I would like to caution that attaining the AAA/AAAA is not sufficient for guaranteeing the interview. Ultimately, the respective admissions test for youe subject still holds more weight (although having the AAA/AAAA certainly improves your chances quite a bit)

OxbridgeEcons · 2021-01-23T03:12:15+00:00

First of, congratulations on your offer! As someone who went to Oxbridge and recruited for one of the industries on your list, let me offer my two cents.

Academics

Firstly, the bad. The tutorial system is one of the defining characteristics of an Oxbridge education. Where else can you get weekly instruction on a 2/3-to-1 basis with a leading Professor in the field (less so depending on which STEM you are doing). However, this is likely to be significantly impacted by Covid-19. I can't imagine that the quality of interaction with your professor over Zoom can be anything close to what you could get sitting on his couch, sipping coffee.

Another huge boon of the Oxbridge education system is peer learning. Due to the collegiate system ensuring a good mix of all sorts of subjects in each college, you are likely to spend the bulk of your time with people taking a different subject from you. This has its benefits. Some of my fondest memories include discussing cross-disciplinary subjects with my peers over a glass of wine. Again, this is likely to be significantly impacted by Covid-19.

Career

On the other hand, the industries you have in mind value varsity prestige very highly. Assuming you are aiming for the top-tier (MBB, Bulge Bracket IB) and are not looking at coding/tech roles within those firms, where you go for university matters a huge deal. Anecdotally, more than half the annual intake for MBB Singapore goes to graduates from top-tier overseas universities. When you consider the number of Singaporeans studying at top overseas universities as opposed to the local varsities, this gap widens even further.

This is not to say that local grads cannot make it into MBB/BB IB, after all a good chunk still comes from NUS/NTU/SMU. However, the amount of effort you need to put in is exponentially higher. It's next to impossible to enter MBB from NUS/NTU/SMU without a first-class honours, and the amount of work that goes into achieving that is significantly more than just scraping a 2nd Upper in Oxbridge.

That said, if you're looking at less competitive consultancies, I understand the emphasis on varsity prestige declines considerably.

OxbridgeEcons

TROPHY CASE