Suzanne Harrogate

Magdalen College, Medicine

I live in Stakeford, a small Northumberland town. My high school was the King Edward VI School in Morpeth, Northumberland, and I was the first in my family to progress to higher education. I studied both science and arts subjects to A level.

Attending the Sutton Trust Summer School gave me the chance to talk to current Oxford students and to ask them what life here is really like. I realised that Oxford students were just normal, friendly people who really love their subject. We had a lot of fun – there's so much to do at Oxford apart from work!

The Summer School showed me that Oxford was definitely right for me. All the students were friendly, normal people who didn't conform to any stereotype, except for loving their subject. I found the lectures and practicals fascinating, which proved to me that medicine was a subject I would really enjoy studying. All in all, the Sutton Trust showed me how worthwhile an Oxford degree would be. Before the summer school, Oxford felt like it was in an entirely different world, but living for a week in the university and with the current students put an end to the myths and gave me the confidence I needed to apply.

I spent a long time writing my personal statement, as I really wanted to give the tutors a good reflection of me. After sending off my UCAS form I had to sit an exam, the BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test), which formed part of the selection process for interview.

I was sent an email and a letter letting me know I had been selected for interview. I had four interviews in total, split between two colleges over two days. One of the colleges was my college of choice, Magdalen, and I was assigned the other, New.

I was very nervous before my first interview but once the process got underway I was suprised to find how much I enjoyed it. I tried to look at it as an experience in itself, as I felt as if it was an achievement to reach the interview stage. The number of interviewers varied from two to five, a mixture of academics and clinicians, and I was asked both scientific and ethical questions. The questions were challenging but very interesting, and I came away from my interviews feeling as if I'd learnt a lot.

I was also really excited about the tutorial teaching style. If I could gain that much from a twenty minute interview, what would I learn in a term? I left Oxford feeling as if I'd done my best, but with absolutely no idea how the interviews had gone! When I got my offer just before Christmas, I was ecstatic. Magdalen made me an offer of 3 A grades, one of which had to be in chemistry, and one in another science or Mathematics. The third A could be in any subject.

Being a member of a college, you have a really diverse group of friends who come from different backgrounds and study different subjects. The colleges give you very good pastoral care: there's a support network including scouts, college nurse and deans. Every student is invited to dinner with the president and deans, which means you feel more comfortable if you need to call on them for any reason. College entertainment is brilliant. The events are really varied and well organised. Every term here are several parties in the bar, and there are other activites such as films, pub quizzes, and  mariokart competions. This term my college is holding a beer festival.

My tutor won the 2009 JR Vane Medal from the British Pharmacological Society for his work in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology. My other tutor won the British Biophysical Society Young Investigators Award for his outstanding contribution to biophysics, also in 2009. Oxford societies bring you speaker events by leading academics. I went to a lecture with Professor Simon Baron Cohen, professor of developmental psychopathology and director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge on the Fetal testosterone theory of autism. The Sherrington Society hosted a talk by Baroness Susan Greenfield. There is also the chance to try new sports at college level. I've taken up girls' football, which is brilliant fun and good exercise, but without the pressure of playing for a university team.

I love my degree, my college, the people I've met here, and my university! Taking the plunge and applying to Oxford was by far the best decision I have ever made. I would really encourage anyone thinking of applying to Oxford to give it a go - the only reason you definitely wont get in is if you don't apply.