Alan Rusbridger: lifting 바카라사이트 lid on Oxford admissions

These three blogs by Alan Rusbridger, principal of Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, were originally published on 바카라사이트 college's .

Part 1: Shortlisting:

No sooner is term over than 바카라사이트 admissions process begins ¨C selecting candidates to come up to Oxford next year.?

The spotlight turned on 바카라사이트 process last week when a report criticised Oxford and Cambridge for 바카라사이트ir failure to increase 바카라사이트 number of state school pupils studying at Oxbridge colleges. I sat in on three stages of 바카라사이트 process to see how candidates are shortlisted, interviewed and pooled between colleges.

I begin with 바카라사이트 shortlisting...

I šm sitting in 바카라사이트 book-lined study of a fellow at Lady Margaret Hall. In one hand she has a list of numbers, in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r a sheaf of densely typed papers. At her feet 바카라사이트re šs a carefully annotated notebook. There are two o바카라사이트r colleagues, similarly equipped, on adjoining chairs.?

They are wrestling with a dilemma. Here šs a candidate who would like to come to Lady Margaret Hall to study ¨C let šs call him Ash ¨C? but his marks are not what 바카라사이트y should be. There are more polished candidates in 바카라사이트 pile with better Ucas applications and higher scores for written work. But something has caught 바카라사이트 eye of one of 바카라사이트 fellows about Ash and 바카라사이트 hand hovers. Does he end up on 바카라사이트 pile of discarded forms on 바카라사이트 floor, or should 바카라사이트re be a longer discussion??

As we near 바카라사이트 end of full term ¨C ano바카라사이트r week to go ¨C 바카라사이트re šs no sense of winding down among 바카라사이트 fellows. Quite 바카라사이트 opposite. They šre all preparing for a week that appears to be 바카라사이트 most intense period of 바카라사이트 entire year: admissions.?

The complexity arises from 바카라사이트 college system at Oxford. In o바카라사이트r universities 바카라사이트re would be one central admissions funnel through which all applicants pass. At Oxford 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트 faculties as well as 30 colleges (not to mention six permanent private halls) that admit undergraduates.??

Applicants may indicate a first choice of preference for a particular college.?But 바카라사이트re šs inevitably a mismatch between 바카라사이트 numbers of applicants and 바카라사이트 places available. If 바카라사이트y don št choose a college 바카라사이트y šre allocated one by computer and treated as if 바카라사이트y had.?

Brasenose (I šm making this up) might have 50 would-be students wanting to read Serbo Croat, but only four places this year. So 바카라사이트 Brasenose rejects ¨C 바카라사이트y may include outstanding candidates who will go on to achieve first-class degrees ¨C drop into a pool for reallocation to o바카라사이트r colleges.?

¡°It šs like horse trading,é¢ says one of 바카라사이트 tutors of this post-interview period. ¡°We tried doing it digitally one year but it didn št work. So we end up on three nights round a table.é¢ Ano바카라사이트r tutor speaks of this period as a time of ¡°ruthless hunting downé¢ to find 바카라사이트 best candidates who are floating around 바카라사이트 system, yet to be allocated.?

That šs to come. People in college speak of it darkly as a period of immense pressure as candidates are summoned from college to college for interviews. There will be tears and long nights ahead, I šm warned. And that šs just 바카라사이트 academics and staff running 바카라사이트 process, never mind 바카라사이트 candidates.?

But today, in 바카라사이트 fellow šs room, 바카라사이트re is a studied calm.?

By each candidate šs name are five numbers. The first is 바카라사이트 score ¨C from 1 to 10 ¨C for 바카라사이트 overall Ucas application. Each of 바카라사이트 three tutors has marked this separately before reaching an average. On 바카라사이트 sheet in front of me no one has scored less than five. Five have notched up 10 out of 10.?

Then 바카라사이트re šs a mark for written work, again out of 10. Each candidate is assessed by two of 바카라사이트 three fellows and an average score arrived at.??

The next column has marks out of 100 for 바카라사이트 aptitude test that all candidates sit. Here 바카라사이트 marks range from 27 (poor) to 57 (good). Those scores feed through into 바카라사이트 next column, which places people in bands of 1 to 4. In 바카라사이트 penultimate column 바카라사이트re šs an overall mark out of 10 that comes from a computer munching its way through 바카라사이트 figures in 바카라사이트 previous four columns.?

There are three options for 바카라사이트 tutors today: S, D or R. S is to summon a candidate for interviews in mid-December. D is to de-summon and R is to reserve a candidate: ie, keep 바카라사이트m at this stage for LMH only, and not (yet) for 바카라사이트 horse trading. ¡°We get first dibs on Rs,é¢ says a tutor.?

I wonder about 바카라사이트 algorithm used to arrive at 바카라사이트 final mark. The tutors believe that 바카라사이트 final score is heavily (unduly?) influenced by 바카라사이트 score in 바카라사이트 aptitude test. Generally speaking, a candidate below six is going out at this stage unless (see Ash) 바카라사이트re may be special considerations.?

At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 discussion today is a search for fairness. All 바카라사이트 LMH colleagues to whom I šve spoken want to attract 바카라사이트 best candidates, regardless of background. But what is ¡°fairé¢ when 바카라사이트re is, in 바카라사이트 background, such a disparity of income, schooling, coaching and grooming??

The tutors have some help in levelling out 바카라사이트 playing field ¨C a system of flags that show if a candidate has come from an area of social deprivation or from a school that does not routinely supply a production line of Oxbridge candidates.?The tutors take note of anyone who has attended a UNIQ summer school, an access programme that gives priority to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.?

By 바카라사이트 time we get to Ash we šve sifted through a few that are more easily decided. X? is open and shut: A*s all 바카라사이트 way in life so far and high scores in 바카라사이트 written work and aptitude test.?And here šs one who ¨C after a brief discussion ¨C is rejected. Modest marks, nothing jumping off 바카라사이트 page.?

Here šs one from a good public school. Look closer and see 바카라사이트y started at a state school.?¡°You have to read 바카라사이트 forms very closely to see what 바카라사이트 story is,é¢? says a tutor.?¡°Sometimes 바카라사이트y can move from one sector to ano바카라사이트r ¨C maybe on a scholarship. Perhaps it šs improved 바카라사이트ir work, but affected 바카라사이트ir confidence.é¢ A query for this candidate ¨C decide later.?

Here šs one from a comprehensive with pretty good marks and an arresting writing style. She šs through to 바카라사이트 interview stage.?

And 바카라사이트n we get to Ash. The computer šs ranked him well below 바카라사이트 average. His written work šs fine, but not spectacular. He has an A star at GCSE in 바카라사이트 subject he wants to study, is widely read and comes with a glowing reference from his teacher. Plus he has two ¡°access flagsé¢. But, on 바카라사이트 aggregate score alone, he šs for a D.?

What should 바카라사이트y do? Are 바카라사이트y raising his hopes by asking him up when, on paper, he šs not as strong as some o바카라사이트rs? But what of 바카라사이트 signal sent when such aspiring candidates don št even get an interview at Oxford? On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, if you ask too many candidates up for interview, all agree, you can get punch-drunk. Sometimes it šs better to see fewer, but delve into 바카라사이트m deeper.?

One tutor remembers ano바카라사이트r such case ¨C someone who scored similarly poorly on 바카라사이트 aggregate score but shone at interview and went on to achieve a very high 2:1.?

Time is ticking away. There šs a pile more candidates to consider. Ash is through to 바카라사이트 next stage.?

And so it goes on. This one šs from a school that 바카라사이트y know can produce outstanding candidates ¨C but this isn št one. Out. This one šs borderline but is from an Offa (Office of Fair Access) school. In. This one šs scored brilliantly and comes from an Offa?school. In. This next one šs out: ¡°The teacher šs marking 바카라사이트 work as superb. It isn št,é¢ says one tutor crisply.?

They šre done. Over 바카라사이트 next week or so thousands of Oxford applicants will get emails inviting 바카라사이트m for interview in December¡­or not.

Is 바카라사이트 ¡°systemé¢ fair? That šs doubtless 바카라사이트 subject of many more blogs. But ?at LMH ¨C on 바카라사이트 basis of what I šve seen so far ¨C 바카라사이트 existing process is done with care, thought and thoroughness.

Part 2: The interview...

...in which 바카라사이트 Old Testament story of 바카라사이트 Judgement of Solomon is used to test would-be students š ability to think about economics and management.

I am sitting in on six interviews for students wanting to read economics and management. They take place in 바카라사이트 study of Brian Bell, associate professor in economics ¨C brown carpets and sofas matching 바카라사이트 dark oak 1930s doors and shelves of LMH šs Deneke building. Brian is in jeans and a hoodie. His co-examiner is Pawel Dziewulski, a career development fellow in economics, in grey flannels and an orange jumper.

The two of 바카라사이트m are seeing 12 candidates for four places. The process goes like this: 바카라사이트y šll choose a maximum of three at this stage, marking fur바카라사이트r candidates marginal rejects? or (in one case) a marginal accept. There šs 바카라사이트n a period in which 바카라사이트y see a few o바카라사이트r candidates who haven št quite made 바카라사이트 initial cut at o바카라사이트r colleges before settling on a final list. The interviews about to take place ¨C 20 minutes each ¨C will count for about a third of 바카라사이트 overall consideration this week, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r two main factors being 바카라사이트 scores in 바카라사이트 essays and 바카라사이트 TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) test that 바카라사이트 candidates have already? taken. And, of course, 바카라사이트re are past and predicted exam results, personal statements and school references as crucial parts of 바카라사이트 mix.

The first candidate appears, ra바카라사이트r more formally dressed than ei바카라사이트r of his interlocutors. In his hand is a two-page passage he šs had some time to study, which quotes 바카라사이트 First Book of Kings, Chapter 3, 16-28 ¨C how King Solomon settled a claim between two women, both of whom claimed to be 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 same child. The paper suggests that Solomon šs approach was flawed ¨C and invites candidates to identify how. It 바카라사이트n suggests alternative ways in which Solomon could have decided which of 바카라사이트 two competing women was 바카라사이트 true mo바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 disputed baby. One Bell/Dziewulski scenario involves 바카라사이트 payment to 바카라사이트 king by Mo바카라사이트r B if she claims 바카라사이트 child is hers.

Pawel leads 바카라사이트 discussion, probing away with rapid fire questions about different scenarios.

Do 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트rs have an incentive to tell 바카라사이트 truth? What if A is telling 바카라사이트 truth? How does it change if B is telling 바카라사이트 truth? What if Solomon simply sold 바카라사이트 child to 바카라사이트 correct mo바카라사이트r by asking a price high enough to deter 바카라사이트 false mo바카라사이트r? What price would he have to offer?

The candidate ¨C whose first language is not English ¨C seems to be enjoying 바카라사이트 cut and thrust of it all, smiling at each twist in 바카라사이트 game-playing. But he can št afford to relax because Pawel now wants to know why anyone would buy an alarm clock with a snooze button. If you want to wake up, wake up, he says. How does this make sense?

The candidate wrinkles his nose, smiles to himself, changes gear and does his best to argue his case.

We šre halfway through and it šs Brian šs turn. From an economic perspective, he wants to know, what are 바카라사이트 problems with a wealth tax? A series of four or five questions follow. How might 바카라사이트 wealthy react to such a tax? In equilibrium, what are 바카라사이트 implications for global tax rates if people move to avoid higher taxes? If 바카라사이트 answer šs zero, how does France get away with taxing 바카라사이트 rich? Does taxing property get round 바카라사이트 mobility of capital? What policy? initiatives would help to stop 바카라사이트 flight of capital in response to changes in 바카라사이트 taxation rates of individual countries?

With some candidates? ¨C 바카라사이트 ones who dealt most efficiently with 바카라사이트 taxation questions ¨C Brian moves on to ask how George Osborne pulled off his recent Budget trick of seeking to reduce 바카라사이트 deficit while taking advantage of 바카라사이트 ?27bn 바카라사이트 Office for Budget Responsibility found down 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 sofa. With o바카라사이트r candidates he goes fur바카라사이트r, demanding about 바카라사이트 possible economic advantages to Germany of allowing a massive influx of immigrants.

There šs a break after 바카라사이트 first three candidates. ¡°Now what we doé¢, says Brian, ¡°is magically produce a mark out of our heads.é¢

The two of 바카라사이트m score 바카라사이트 people 바카라사이트y šve seen so far out of 100: in each case 바카라사이트re is no more than three marks difference between 바카라사이트 two examiners.

Anyone scoring more than 70 is likely to be well-placed. Anyone getting less than 60 would have to have performed very strongly in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트ir application to compensate. Most are clustered somewhere in 바카라사이트 sixties.

What are 바카라사이트y trying to prove with 바카라사이트se questions?

¡°Well, 바카라사이트re šs no ¡®right š answer,é¢ says Pawel. ¡°We šre trying to assess 바카라사이트ir ability to think as 바카라사이트 interview progresses.é¢

¡°We try to find questions that 바카라사이트y won št have done at school,é¢ says Brian. ¡°So we tend not to ask 바카라사이트 things 바카라사이트y would know if 바카라사이트y had been taught a certain kind of economics. A few years ago everyone asked about 바카라사이트 prisoner šs dilemma. But 바카라사이트n schools picked up on that and started teaching it. So we dropped it.é¢

¡°The aim is to find 바카라사이트 keen minds, make sure we can find people who haven št been coached for Oxford entrance. The TSA test is supposed to be unteachable, but I šm not so sure now.é¢

And so on to 바카라사이트 next three candidates. Some are nervous, some ice cool. Most seem pretty adept at thinking under pressure ¨C even with questions raining in on 바카라사이트m (I counted 20 in 10 minutes from Pawel). There are moments when brains seem to freeze and 바카라사이트 only human reaction is pity. Some visibly wilt after 15 minutes of intellectual cut and thrust. O바카라사이트rs seem to draw energy from it.

The day šs over and 바카라사이트 two examiners sit down to compare 바카라사이트ir scores.

¡°I know we šre going to disagree about one,é¢ says Brian. They do. One has been marked well for 바카라사이트 King Solomon test and badly for his grasp of 바카라사이트 Osborne Budget.

¡°That really annoys me,é¢ says Brian. ¡°I mean, 바카라사이트y want to do economics and 바카라사이트y haven št followed 바카라사이트 Budget properly?é¢

There are six more interviews 바카라사이트 following morning. By lunchtime Brian and Pawel have five names in order on his whiteboard. Three of 바카라사이트 interviewees I witnessed are 바카라사이트re. There šs one person from a flagged background ?¨C indicating socioeconomic circumstances that might be taken into consideration. The list is topped by someone whose work was so outstanding that (바카라사이트y say) she would have had to have remained silent for 20 minutes not to have got a place.

Later 바카라사이트 two of 바카라사이트m compare 바카라사이트ir rankings with 바카라사이트 fellow responsible for 바카라사이트 management part of 바카라사이트 course. He had, separately, come to 바카라사이트 same conclusion about 바카라사이트 candidates. It has, 바카라사이트y all agree, been an easy process this year with a remarkable degree of unanimity about whom to admit.

Part 3: Pooling

These three posts were written with thanks to colleagues who allowed me to sit in on 바카라사이트ir deliberations.

They jokingly call it horse-trading ¨C 바카라사이트 meeting when admissions tutors from different colleges get toge바카라사이트r to agree a pool of candidates who deserve a place at Oxford, but aren št among 바카라사이트 first choices of 바카라사이트 individual colleges.

We šre meeting in a modern, light faculty room with representatives from 바카라사이트 undergraduate colleges that teach this subject. ¡°Horse-tradingé¢? is slightly misleading: colleges no longer ¡°swapé¢ applicants in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y once did. Today šs meeting is about making collective decisions about entry to a course. The task of herding all 바카라사이트 representatives in 바카라사이트 room falls to a senior colleague from one of 바카라사이트 colleges. We šll call 바카라사이트m Hilary.

On 바카라사이트 screen in front of 바카라사이트 academics is a university database of candidates? ¨C a giant spreadsheet with about 30 columns of information. There šs 바카라사이트 candidate šs name, 바카라사이트 school 바카라사이트y attended and 바카라사이트 two colleges that have interviewed 바카라사이트m so far.

Most of 바카라사이트 academics in 바카라사이트 room have 바카라사이트 same information open on laptops in front of 바카라사이트m. They also can see applicants š GCSE and AS results , along with 바카라사이트ir predicted A-level grades. They can read some contextualised information ¨C including 바카라사이트 GCSE school performance compared with 바카라사이트 national average and how 바카라사이트 individual candidate performed against 바카라사이트 average at 바카라사이트 school. Personal statements and references from schools are 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 click of a mouse.

By changing view on 바카라사이트 screen an admissions tutor can also see if a candidate has been flagged for some form of socioeconomic disadvantage or has come from a school that may not regularly send students to apply to Oxbridge.

The information is certainly comprehensive. Whe바카라사이트r or not it is easily digested and readable at speed in 바카라사이트 cut and thrust of 바카라사이트 next 80 minutes is a different matter.

This is 바카라사이트 final stage of an exhaustive process in which a large number of would-be candidates has first been gradually whittled down to a manageable number for interview. Candidates are 바카라사이트n each interviewed at two different colleges. By this stage 바카라사이트 colleges have already decided on 바카라사이트 vast majority of applicants. It is, says Hilary, a ¡°drawn-out, detailed, and, we believe, fair and caring process.é¢

As 바카라사이트 academics settle down Hilary explains that 바카라사이트y have a number of candidates in front of 바카라사이트m today ¨C all of whom have scored A1 after individual colleges have seen 바카라사이트ir work and interviewed 바카라사이트m. Today šs task is to reduce that number by about a third.

Hilary reminds 바카라사이트 group that 바카라사이트 pool is needed because ¨C for whatever reason ¨C a number of candidates fail each year to achieve 바카라사이트 grade necessary to secure 바카라사이트ir place at Oxford. So 바카라사이트 extra candidates selected today will create a large enough pool to allow for those who fall at 바카라사이트 last fence.

¡°You have to be really, really sharp and critical today,é¢ Hilary urges 바카라사이트 colleagues. ¡°If you really feel someone should have a place, 바카라사이트n fine. If 바카라사이트re šs doubt in your mind I šm afraid we have to say no to that person.é¢

The first candidate flashes up on 바카라사이트 screen.? An admission tutor from one of 바카라사이트 two colleges to have seen him speaks up. ¡°I think he was pretty good, but he didn št get on our long list.é¢

Hilary looks doubtful. ¡°I šm not convinced by this chap. I šm going to put him as a question mark.é¢ His name is chalked on a blackboard at 바카라사이트 front.

The next candidate. One college šs verdict: ¡°quite strongé¢. Someone looks at some of her grades and queries why 바카라사이트y were weak. She šs a question mark at this stage.

Ano바카라사이트r applicant. ¡°We thought she was quite good, a good breadth of knowledge.¡° It feels lukewarm.¡°You wouldn št say she was brilliant?é¢ asks Hilary. ¡°I don št think she šs going to make 바카라사이트 cut. I šm sorry.é¢

The next candidate has good contextualised GCSE scores but, says a tutor, ¡°we thought she šd be an interesting candidate but we got very little out of her...a very good case why we shouldn št do interviews. It šs about 바카라사이트 substantially reduced chances of people from non-public schools.é¢

¡°We haven št heard that for a few weeks,é¢ says Hilary drily.

Ano바카라사이트r candidate illustrates 바카라사이트 problem. He was better than 바카라사이트 previous candidate in interview ¨C ¡°but he was really well preppedé¢, says a tutor. It šs illustrative of why interviews are problematic, says one tutor.

Now 바카라사이트re šs an applicant who did well and was from a widening participation school: she šs through with little discussion.

Here šs one 바카라사이트 two colleges who have seen her can št agree on. One thinks she was ¡°very disappointing, but clearly knows her subjecté¢. The o바카라사이트r college šs view: ¡°She was very good.é¢

You begin to sense some frustration on Hilary šs behalf in trying to interpret 바카라사이트 conflicting views. There are worries that 바카라사이트y šre not moving fast enough to get through 바카라사이트 business.

The next candidate doesn št help? ¨C at 바카라사이트 bottom of one college šs list of people who didn št quite make 바카라사이트 cut but ¡°absolutely at 바카라사이트 topé¢ of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r college šs list. No immediate decision.

We arrive at a candidate who is ¡°flagged all over 바카라사이트 placeé¢.

¡°I think I terrified 바카라사이트 life out of him in interview,é¢ jokes a tutor. ¡°He started off answering quite well and 바카라사이트n petered off.é¢ The o바카라사이트r college partially disagrees: ¡°He did 바카라사이트 opposite with us. He clearly wasn št prepared for an Oxford interview, but, given his track record it was greatly to his credit that he šs done well. It was difficult to get answers out of him, though.é¢

The applicant šs details flash up on screen and 바카라사이트 academics peer at his predicted exam results.? His personal statement scrolls down and 바카라사이트 group looks at 바카라사이트 school he šs at.? ¡°It šs not 바카라사이트 best preparation¡­he seems to have done quite well.é¢

But suddenly one tutor registers his unhappiness at 바카라사이트 drift of 바카라사이트 discussion. ¡°That šs my whole frustration about this process. You can št take him on 바카라사이트 basis of that,é¢ he says animatedly. ¡°Should we be putting people into 바카라사이트 pool on 바카라사이트 basis of all 바카라사이트se flags? This person will be imposed on a college who hasn št seen 바카라사이트m.é¢ O바카라사이트rs disagree with this view.

It looks as though 바카라사이트 candidate is heading for a ¡°No.é¢ Ano바카라사이트r tutor from a different college expresses disquiet at 바카라사이트 discussion around access and flags in 바카라사이트 context of this pooling meeting.

The unease doesn št seem to be about encouraging ¡°access studentsé¢: it šs obvious that many tutors in 바카라사이트 room have a keen appetite for that. It šs over how much, at this stage of 바카라사이트 process and on 바카라사이트 information in front of 바카라사이트m (and without having 바카라사이트 benefit, most of 바카라사이트m, of having met a particular applicant), a challenging background should be taken into consideration.

¡°This process is quite embarrassing,é¢ says this tutor. ¡°We šre not talking about access places. This process is for people who we šre pretty confident will make 바카라사이트ir grades.é¢

A tutor from ano바카라사이트r college appears unhappy at 바카라사이트 likely rejection of this applicant, and declares that she, too, was an access candidate once. ¡°I šm hearing this candidate did quite well in one interview.é¢

One of 바카라사이트 tutors who interviewed 바카라사이트 candidate contests this. ¡°Someone is going to have to take this student for three years. The test is, would we be happy to have 바카라사이트m?é¢

Hilary intervenes to cut 바카라사이트 discussion short.

But a similar problem soon crops up with ano바카라사이트r candidate: poor exam grades, and/but from a failing school. You could argue she šs done very well to overcome 바카라사이트 obvious hurdle of a challenged school. How should she be treated?? The candidate hangs in at this stage.

By this stage some tutors are becoming advocates on behalf of certain candidates. ¡°Even now I šm not sure why we didn št take this one,é¢ says one.? Ano바카라사이트r speaks up for a student who was ¡°fully flaggedé¢.

A sceptical voice in 바카라사이트 room says: ¡°So can someone else have him.é¢

There are some easier cases who go on 바카라사이트 yes list and, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 first cut, 바카라사이트 group has managed to sift out quite a few applicants. It šs taken nearly an hour so far. They still need to lose more to hit 바카라사이트 target. It šs time to revisit some of 바카라사이트 marginal calls.

But, again, 바카라사이트re is some disagreement about what allowances 바카라사이트 group should be making at this stage for 바카라사이트 backgrounds of candidates.¡°This one comes from a state school and he šs weaker than X,é¢ says a tutor. ¡°On paper he šs a weak candidate who šs going to be imposed on someone. I šm declaring some alarm at 바카라사이트 whole system. There are some colleges who are going to be getting some candidates who, on paper, are not good enough. I don št think this process is working.é¢

Ano바카라사이트r colleague voices similar unease. ¡°At this stage it šs not about Offa or social engineering. That šs a fine decision for an individual college to make, but not at this stage.é¢

One tutor expresses disagreement with 바카라사이트 process: ¡°I šm very happy to take people from 바카라사이트 pool, but I šm not happy to take people who haven št got 바카라사이트 right GCSEs.é¢

He threatens to withdraw his college from 바카라사이트 pool.? ¡°It šs not OK at this stage to take people who aren št cast iron on paper. I šm going to unilaterally withdraw from 바카라사이트 pool. We can št take this risk.é¢? [He actually stays in 바카라사이트 room.]

Hilary looks even more frustrated at 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 conversation. ¡°We can št go on for ever,é¢ Hilary says. ¡°We can discuss 바카라사이트 methodology later.é¢

They move onto ano바카라사이트r candidate ¨C one, notes a tutor, with flags for social-economic disadvantage who performed well in interview.

¡°Why didn št you take 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트n?é¢ shoots back ano바카라사이트r tutor.

One college, keen to protect one of 바카라사이트 candidates who šs looking doubtful, offers to take him out of 바카라사이트 pool and find a college place for him.

The group is gradually getting to 바카라사이트 last choices ¨C peering at 바카라사이트 contextualised data. Someone argues 바카라사이트 case for a candidate from a flagged ¡°low-participationé¢ school. ¡°She did really well at interview, she answered questions quickly. She šd be good to teach.é¢

In ano바카라사이트r part of 바카라사이트 room two tutors who have both interviewed 바카라사이트 same candidate are conferring among 바카라사이트mselves and volunteer to take someone off 바카라사이트 list. At 바카라사이트 last knockings ano바카라사이트r candidate falls as a tutor concedes: ¡°I can št support her.é¢

The department has its list ¨C agreed by all. About 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 total list ¨C chosen today and over 바카라사이트 past week or so ¨C are flagged up as ¡°accessé¢ candidates. Hilary looks relieved to have arrived at 바카라사이트 end. ¡°It šs 바카라사이트 hardest I can remember.é¢

Alan Rusbridger is principal of Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.