Meet our students

Rachel - Fine Art - St John's College 

Hi everyone, my name is Rachel and I’m a second year studying Fine Art here at St. John’s Oxford. I have lived in Sutton, on the very edge of London, for my whole life, and attended my local state school. After my A-levels, I did an art foundation course at Kingston University for a year. I’m glad to share my experience of applying to Oxford, having come from a state school in the South East, to help those considering applying from a similar situation!

What advice would you give to anyone from the South East of England considering applying to Oxford?

I would say ‘go for it!’ Even if you’re not sure whether it’s the place for you, I think it is worth applying. I was not sure that I wanted to go to Oxford until after my interview there. I was wary because of the stereotypes surrounding the character of Oxford students, and worried about attending such a privileged and traditional institution. Plus, I wanted to live somewhere with new architecture, so it didn’t exactly seem like the perfect fit. But when I came to Oxford for my interview, and again on my very first day of first year, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to find friendly, down to earth people who I related to.

What made you apply to Oxford?

Despite all of the tutors on my art foundation course telling me the league tables for art were meaningless, it was because Oxford was top of the table for art and design that I was initially interested. I found out why when I did more research and attended the open days. The Ruskin school of art is where all the Oxford University students studying fine art go for their teaching. It is such a small art school, with a maximum of thirty students per year. This means that you get to know the tutors personally and get more contact time in comparison to students at other art schools. It also means you get your own studio space, which is not guaranteed at big art schools that don’t have the room. I like that it’s small because there is a really strong sense of community.

How did you find moving away from home?

It was scary to be in a new environment and not know anyone, but everyone had the same worries. And once I got talking to all the other first years, I settled in. Keeping busy was something that helped me feel less anxious and there were lots of new people to talk to and things to do. Before I started at university it was hard to imagine being away from home, but by the end of the first term, it felt strange to be going back home.

What is your favourite thing about Oxford?

Oxford is where I am able to do the things that make me most happy. With regards to my degree, having so much time to spend on my art practice is great. Whilst I sometimes put too much stress and pressure on myself, I enjoy the degree because I am able to create what I want to. The main thing that I love about Oxford is my friends and the social life here. The college system really helps each student develop a strong network of friends. Each student is allocated a college where they live and sleep, and because within each college you are all living in the same place, you meet everyone and get to know them quickly, and are able to maintain those friendships once they are formed. The Ruskin (the art school) has a similar sense of community that has allowed me to form really strong friendships. Seeing so many friends in one day is great, something that I do not get when living at home and I feel I can be myself.

What is one thing you wish you knew before you came to Oxford?

I wish that I had a sense of how much there was on offer every day at Oxford. Each student has lots to do for their degree as well as extra-curriculars and other academic opportunities. There are events led by the University careers service. For those interested in art, there are loads of magazines and exhibitions that you can submit your work to. Then there are friends I have in college as well as friends I have that do my subject, and beyond, who I like to spend time with. There are so many great things that I can do every day. It is important to make the most of all these opportunities. But you often have to choose between them. and to choose wisely, so that you don’t take on too much. Learning to strike that balance is important so that you look after yourself, and it would be good to be prepared for that.

Daniel - Philosophy and Theology - St John's College 

Hi everyone, my name is Daniel and I’m a first year studying Philosophy and Theology here at St. John’s Oxford, as well as our current JCR Access and Admissions Officer. I attended Waingels College - a local state comprehensive school. I hope my experience of applying from a state school in the South East can be of use for those considering applying from a similar situation!

What advice would you give to anyone from the South East of England considering applying to Oxford?

The one piece of advice I can give above all others is to make use of all the resources available to you as early as possible. Even if you’re not in Sixth Form yet, or are completely undecided if you want to even consider applying to Oxford, it is still worth taking some time to explore on the University website or see some of the material available to you on other social media sites like YouTube. This is especially relevant if you are nearing the start of your application process, as the more research and preparation you can do to aid in your application, the more confidence you will approach the process with, and more often than not, the better you will do.

How did you find moving away from home?

The moving away from home aspect was definitely the part I dreaded the most about starting at university, and I would be lying if I said saying bye to my parents after they dropped me off wasn’t difficult and emotional. However, as soon as that moment passes, you are kept so busy during Freshers Week (think of it like a week of activities to orient yourself before the academic side of university begins) that for almost everyone it isn’t an issue at all. Friendships at university are unlike friendships in any other context, and the support you get from them, as well as the support offered from college makes it so that homesickness isn’t something many suffer from at all. In fact, most people enjoy their time here so much they wish they could stay in Oxford beyond our 8 short weeks of term!

What is your favourite thing about Oxford?

There is so much to love about Oxford.. There are three things above all else I must focus on however, as they not only are what make Oxford so unique, but also so appealing to so many. First, the collegiate system; the University of Oxford isn’t one building or campus, rather it is a university dispersed among the city and separated into colleges. Think of it like the University being the USA, and the colleges being the states which make up the wider country. Colleges are where your learning takes place, as well as where you eat, sleep, and most importantly of all - socialise. Colleges allow such a huge institution like the University of Oxford to feel intimate and personal, as the small communities harboured in each college create an atmosphere not found in other non-collegiate universities. Secondly and perhaps the most defining feature of Oxford - the tutorial system. Tutorials are a style of teaching unique to Oxbridge where groups of 1-3 people prepare work and engage in one-hour to two-hour conversations with world-class academics in their field. Tutorials are always the highlight of my week and is where the bulk of my academic development takes place, and although they may seem scary, there is nothing more rewarding and gratifying than a tutorial. Finally, the social aspect of Oxford is truly unique. I have already mentioned the music scene here briefly, but no matter your interest, there will almost certainly be a society you can participate in. Every year the list of societies only grows!

What is one thing you wish you knew before you came to Oxford?

One thing I wish I knew before I arrived is that Oxford is far more than just an academic institution. This will be your home for three (or potentially many more) years, and it really feels that way, even though you only spend around 8 weeks here per term. Naturally academics make up a decent chunk of what you will do here, but there is also a really fun grey area between academics and a purely social setting which is not often talked about. In short - although in starting at Oxford you have to leave one family at home, you will always be arriving to another one here at Oxford.  

Amy - Experimental Psychology - Somerville College

Hi everyone, my name is Amy and I am a first year Experimental Psychologist at Somerville College. I attended The Portsmouth Academy before studying for my A-levels at Portsmouth College. I hope that reading about my application and Oxford experience so far will be beneficial to others considering applying here!

What advice would you give to anyone from the South East of England considering applying to Oxford?

Really, the main piece of advice that I would give is just to go for it and give it your best shot! Don’t be put off by the stereotypes surrounding Oxford or the feeling that you won’t belong because everyone is so welcoming and you will feel like you fit in almost straight away. 

I think it’s important to do some research about the course that you are thinking of applying to as they can sometimes be quite different from other universities. Also have a look at the different colleges, but don’t worry if you really don’t have a preference or don’t know what to look for . There are a lot of resources out there and you can always do an open application (ignore the rumours surrounding having less chance of getting in with this approach, they aren’t true!). 

What made you apply to Oxford?

I didn’t really consider applying to Oxford until quite late, it definitely hadn’t always been something which was on my radar. I was talking to some of my friends about universities and when Oxford was mentioned I was unsure whether I’d be ‘good enough’ but they convinced me to at least try and I’m so glad that they did!

I’ve always enjoyed being stretched and challenged academically and the more I thought about what Oxford could offer me, the more I enjoyed the idea of applying. There is always cutting-edge research being conducted and Oxford was at the top of the league tables for psychology so I knew that I would love learning here.

How did you find moving away from home?

Moving away from home and my family was the thing that I was most concerned about when coming to university. Despite this, from the moment I moved in there were things to do and when my parents left, I didn’t have time to feel too homesick. You quickly settle in and get to meet so many amazing people that it’s easy to make friends and come to view Oxford as a home from home. I found it really helpful to keep busy and throw myself into everything that university had to offer, especially with all the activities and new experiences during Freshers Week.

What's your favourite thing about Oxford?

There are so many things which I love about Oxford that it’s quite difficult to pick just one! I’d have to say that my favourite things are the colleges and the tutorial system. Being a member of a certain college means that you get to experience all the perks of that college and you become a part of the community. All colleges are different, but I think that you fit in very quickly and your college really does become your home. It’s where lots of your friends are, where you eat, sleep and  study. I also really enjoy the tutorial system here, where you meet with a tutor in very small group (generally a maximum of three people). In these, you discuss your work, and also the topics that you have been reading and learning about, with experts in the field. 

What is one thing you wished you knew before you came to Oxford? 

I think I wish I knew that there is no ‘model’ Oxford student – you aren’t expected to know everything and never make mistakes. You are here to learn, and the tutors are here to guide you, so they definitely do not expect perfection straight away. Overall though, I think I’m glad that I didn’t have many expectations before I came to Oxford because it allowed me to paint my own picture of it and build my own view without trying to compare everything to how I thought it was or should be.