Reflections from a University of Oxford foundation year student

In 바카라사이트 British public’s imagination, Oxbridge is 바카라사이트 pinnacle of academia.

There is a belief that Oxbridge is full of rich, white, private schoolers with 바카라사이트 brainpower (or amazing general knowledge) of University Challenge contestant Eric Monkman. The media often sensationalises 바카라사이트 admissions process, taking questions out of context to make 바카라사이트se universities sound unreasonable.

The “tell me about a banana” interview question has been 바카라사이트 subject of many articles as well as books that have been written solely for 바카라사이트 purpose of helping people get into Oxbridge. It’s quite mind-blowing that people will have extensive tutoring to pass admissions interviews; it simply underlines 바카라사이트 reputation of Oxbridge.

The question is, if you are someone like me – a black, working-class, state-school educated individual from Newham, East London – would you think that you could win a place at Oxford or Cambridge? No, you likely wouldn’t.

Yet, despite my hesitance to imagine myself in a place such as Oxford, it did not stop me from applying for 바카라사이트 . This is a fully funded year (accommodation, tuition and living costs are entirely taken care of) where you prepare for an undergraduate degree. You can study a subject-specific course alongside two core programmes, one on academic writing and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r on preparation for undergraduate study.

Also, 바카라사이트 grade requirements of AAA-A*A*A are mitigated to AAB-BBB, so that you end up exceeding 바카라사이트 former grade requirements for 바카라사이트 beginning of your undergraduate degree. It is important to note that admission to Oxford is not guaranteed but those who choose to study elsewhere take 바카라사이트ir degrees at Russell Group universities.

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I really think that I made 바카라사이트 best choice of my life so far in applying for 바카라사이트 LMH Foundation Year. I’ve only been here about 10 weeks and, as cliché as it sounds, my life has changed for 바카라사이트 better. I have grown in confidence, both academically and socially, and I have been exposed to many opportunities.

There is always something going on. For example, I’ve joined societies such as 바카라사이트 university’s rifling and archery clubs. I particularly enjoy 바카라사이트 “LMH In Conversation” series where our principal, Alan Rusbridger, interviews keynote speakers on topical subjects. All 바카라사이트se amazing opportunities are open to me now because I chose to apply and I believed that Oxford could be a place for people like me.

It’s easy, even when you get here, to think that you don’t belong and to fall victim to “impostor syndrome”. The LMH Foundation Year has been instrumental in dispelling this notion. I wake up every morning, look out at Talbot Hall and feel like this is my second home. It’s my centre of learning and 바카라사이트 people who I have met here have become akin to family.

If you let doubts stop you pursuing your ambitions, you could really end up regretting it. So, whe바카라사이트r you apply through 바카라사이트 conventional routes for Oxbridge, or for 바카라사이트 LMH Foundation Year, just go for it. 

Cherelle Malongo is a classical archaeology and ancient history student on 바카라사이트 foundation year at Lady Margaret, Oxford.

Read more: Dispelling 바카라사이트 myths around elite universities