Faculty of Classics University of Oxford |
Frequently Asked QuestionsChoosing a Course | Your Application | Interview and Selection | Studying at Oxford Interview and SelectionYou can find out more about the interview and selection procedure at How to apply for classical courses.
15. The prospectus asks me to send written work in: what should I send, and how will it be used? Q15. The prospectus asks me to send written work in: what should I send, and how will it be used? You should send two pieces of normal school/college work (usually essays, or an essay and a commentary) done as part of your sixth-form course. Normally these will be in areas relevant to Classics. They should preferably not be short, timed essays or exercises answering questions on a short passage of text. Ideally they should be something that shows your skills of expression and argument to good effect. You should not however produce something specially for the occasion. If you are unsure what would be the most appropriate pieces of written work to send in, then feel free to seek advice from the Classics tutor at your college of first choice or from the Schools Liaison Officer. You should keep a copy before submitting the work, and read it through before you come to interview, just to refresh your memory, since it is likely that you will be asked about this work at some point during the interview process. See See How to apply for classical courses Q16. I am no longer at school/college. Do I still have to submit written work and, if so, of what kind? My schoolwork dates from more than a year ago. Yes, we do ask all candidates for classical degrees to submit some written work to us, partly so that we have the same type of information for all candidates and partly to give us some idea of your interests and how you can express them. If you have some work from near the end of your sixth-form career, you could consider sending that. Or you might choose to write something on a classical subject, so that we can see your work as it is now. It would be a good idea to consult with the tutors in the college which asks you for work (i.e. your first-choice college) if you are in any doubt. Q17. Should I be doing special preparation for the interview? There is no need for any special preparation. Tutors are not looking for particular items of knowledge or testing whether or not you have read certain authors. They want to see your commitment and enthusiasm for the subject. They may try to find out what you think about subjects which you do know something about (your A level texts for example), and to see how you can think on the spot about subjects which are unfamiliar. These selection criteria relate specifically to candidates applying to Oxford for a first undergraduate degree. Second undergraduate degree candidates are considered on the basis of their submitted application, and are unlikely to be interviewed, except if resident in North America, South East Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent. Entry is very competitive. In 2002, there were 280 applicants across a number of subjects, and 53 offers were made. For more information on second undergraduate degree applications, please see the University's Admissions Office website. Q18. How soon will I hear the result? We try to come to decisions quickly once the interviews are over and to let candidates know the outcome before Christmas. Q19. What criteria do you use for selection? Tutors use a large number of factors when making offers to candidates. These include past academic record (GCSE, AS grades), predicted or achieved school-leaving grades, the reference provided by your school or college, your own personal statement about your interest in the subject, written work submitted, written tests at interview, the interviews themselves, and a range of other considerations which may be brought to our attention. No one of these factors is in itself enough to win or lose a place at Oxford. We take extreme care to look at each applicant on his or her own merits, and we are above all looking for academic potential and commitment to the subject. © C@O 2012: Classics at Oxford, Faculty of Classics. Webmaster. Last updated:
September 11, 2012.
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