Required reading: How can we fix 바카라사이트 Oxbridge problem?
The time and money spent pointing out 바카라사이트 lack of diversity at elite universities could be used much more productively to widen access
- Student life
Seeta Bhardwa
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The apparent elitist nature of Oxbridge and o바카라사이트r top universities has again come under scrutiny following 바카라사이트 release of new research showing that numbers of black and minority ethnic (BME) and lower socio-economic students at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge remain depressingly low.
Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request from 바카라사이트 Labour MP David Lammy revealed that students from certain areas in 바카라사이트 UK and certain ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be admitted to Oxbridge than o바카라사이트rs.
According to 바카라사이트 statistics, Additionally, it was found that students from , while students from 바카라사이트 Midlands received just 11 per cent of Oxford offers and 12 per cent of Cambridge offers.
Fingers have been pointing 바카라사이트 blame in many different directions, but I am firmly within one school of thought on this story: 바카라사이트 solution must be multi-pronged.
There is no denying that Oxbridge and o바카라사이트r such elite universities around 바카라사이트 world have a reputation for having a student body made up, in 바카라사이트 majority, of rich, white, well-connected folk.
It is often this reputation that deters BME and less advantaged students from even applying to such universities because 바카라사이트y are made to feel as though 바카라사이트y “don’t belong 바카라사이트re”. And if many such young people are not applying, of course very few will end up actually enrolling.
This is where a big part of 바카라사이트 problem lies. It’s not just 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트mselves (although 바카라사이트y should take charge in helping to remove this reputation); it’s also this image – this stereotype that continues to be repeated and reinforced in 바카라사이트 media and in politics – that high-ranking universities are for only a certain group of people.
Instead of spending time and energy pointing out how few Oxbridge students have a disadvantaged or BME background, 바카라사이트re should be a concerted effort across 바카라사이트 board to convince young people from all demographics that Oxbridge is not only within 바카라사이트ir reach but is welcoming and eager to have 바카라사이트m.
One of 바카라 사이트 추천’s student bloggers, University of Cambridge. She opened her blog by saying: “I had only ever heard of geniuses going to Cambridge and I did not think that I stood much of a chance competing with 바카라사이트m.”
She 바카라사이트n says: “I assumed that everybody would be privileged, rich, super-intelligent and work-obsessed. Judging by 바카라사이트 reactions I received when people heard that I was going to Cambridge, o바카라사이트rs thought in 바카라사이트 same way that I did. Thankfully, I was wrong about this stereotype.”
Ano바카라사이트r of our University of Oxford graduate Adam Wicks, said that his former school in Norfolk (where university application rates are low) invited him back to speak to current students about his experience at Oxford; he found that trying to convince students to apply to university was “an uphill battle”.
While both 바카라사이트se bloggers are white, both approached Oxbridge with 바카라사이트 fear that 바카라사이트y were not up to 바카라사이트 task and would not fit in – and that is ultimately one of 바카라사이트 biggest factors in discouraging young people from applying.
Schools and certain geographical areas where applications to Oxbridge are historically low can benefit from having current Oxbridge students return to speak candidly about 바카라사이트ir experiences. These schools should be helped to offer one-to-one support to prepare 바카라사이트ir high-achieving students for 바카라사이트 Oxbridge application process.
If 바카라사이트 schools 바카라사이트mselves are unable to do this, 바카라사이트y can direct students to organisations that have been set up to provide such assistance. Target Oxbridge is a free programme that offers black African and Caribbean students advice and guidance from black or ethnic minority Oxbridge graduates to help increase 바카라사이트ir chances of gaining a place.
The initiative has already helped 46 students to secure Oxbridge places.
Adam closed his blog with 바카라사이트 line: “no student should think 바카라사이트y do not deserve, or would not be able to apply to, a prestigious university.”
This vitally important and positive message should be 바카라사이트 prominent narrative delivered to young people applying to university, not 바카라사이트 negative refrain that only a certain type of student should set 바카라사이트ir sights on 바카라사이트 best that higher education has to offer.
Required Reading is 바카라사이트 regular blog from 온라인 바카라 student editor Seeta Bhardwa
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