Application
Oxford
Exeter
Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular
2005
offer made
Applicant
A-levels
pre-qualification
home
United Kingdom
Grammar School
state grammar
yes (8 A*,3 A)
A-levels
(A at AS (243 UMS))
(A at AS (272 UMS))
(A at AS (285 UMS); predicted A; gained A at A2)
(A at AS (282 UMS); predicted A; gained A at A2)
(A at AS (268 UMS); predicted A; gained A at A2)
(A at AS (264 UMS); predicted A; gained A at A2)
Details about the offer
conditional
A in Chemistry
AAA, excludes general studies
yes
no
offer met
Decisions about the application
liked the course, especially the masters aspect (undergrad). like the city and the college system.
didn’t want to do natural sciences, so had to be ox!
fulfilled my interest in bio and chem.
central position, medium size, seemed nice on open day.
Preparation
yes
one practice interview with head of chemistry, talks from a couple of ex students currently at oxford.
read around the subject, for science journals and magazines are more useful than books. know your alevel stuff, if you don’t you will suffer!
Interview
no
no
no
one interview at my college with the tutor and then another at another college (st annes). second was more personal statement based. went well, interviews v friendly, not that formal.
first interview had tutor and post grad student. more alevel based with a few qs extended beyond alevel. second more taken from any topics i’d said i was interested on in my personal statement.
first- amino acid structure, electronegativity of bonds, what coursework had you done? what was fav school subject? maths q on working out density, q on graph of rate of yeast reproduction-explain shape, why ecoli good for working on-what metabolic pathways are the same as humans, what direction do you see biochem going in?
second- mainly on immunology which id said i was interested on in my personal statement, why glycogen a better storage molecule than glucose?, what are steroids?, why insulin work better when injected rather than taken orally?
brown cord jacket, white blouse, dark navy blue trousers and dark shoes- smart/casual i.e. suits were a bit formal, trousers/skirt and jacket bit more rlaxed.
Impressions
exeter- other applicants v friendly, tutor extremely nice, food ok (most college seemed to have salmon), very convient for shopping.
st annes- v welcoming plenty of people aroung to talk to, more modern arcitecture, not much green space.
room i was in was a shared living room with two bedrooms off it, and a shared toilet (between 2) also off the living room. living room good size with two desks, table and chairs. bedrooms smallish and bathroom small with a shower. good view of cental quad.
breakfast in hall ok, mainly cereal and toast. dinner was quite good, salmon, new potatoes etc.
v nice, couldn’t have been more friendly and informal. for interview wore old jumper etc.
only saw a few seemed ok, didn’t really get to talk to them.
Final stage
not that nervous, wasn’t really set on oxford so didn’t mind too much.
got a letter saying i had an offer. havn’t heard anythiong more yet.
Looking back
wait until i go to decide that! probably, good experience.
don’t panic too much, nerves will hinder!