A Visit to Wadham College, Oxford
On 2nd December, I had the pleasure of taking a group of some of our brightest year 12 students for an Access Day at Wadham College, Oxford. The college was founded by Dorothy Wadham in 1610 with high ideals: to make the pursuit of learning available to ‘the poor and needy’. Wadham is one of the largest colleges in Oxford with 250 graduate students and 450 undergraduates. The College has a long list of notable alumni including Sir Christopher Wren (architect, mathematician, physicist), Monica Ali (author of Brick Lane) and Rosamund Pike (actor & producer).
The first thing you notice about Wadham College is the building and how grand it is. You can see and feel the history is every brick. As we entered the courtyard, the students gasped with amazement at the sight.
On arrival at Wadham, we were greeted by the Access Team, Eliza and Hugh, who gave us a quick tour. The day started with a presentation, led by Hugh, which explored the physical environment, the intellectual environment and student life at Oxford. It was an amazing opportunity to learn everything students need to know about studying at Oxford and the rigorous selection process for those who wish to apply. It was also a chance for students to ask questions and get feedback and advice from the experts.
An Oxford Degree is full time. Most of us students spend 30-45 hours each week studying and gaining knowledge. - Elyse 3rd Year Biology Oxford University student
After the morning presentation, the group was split into two. Each group had the option to take part in an academic taster session around Engineering or Humanities / Social Sciences. These experiences gave insight into the level of teaching that takes place at Wadham College. Later, we were given an in-depth tour led by a current student at Oxford, taking in the gardens, the chapel, the library and student accommodation.
I really enjoyed academic taster session related to Social Sciences, which was on the main question of, ‘To what extent are our destinies influenced by other people and situations?’ I found it fascinating, very thought provoking and informative. Maimona – Year 12
What became apparent from the morning presentation and the student led tour, was the level of commitment needed to obtain a degree at Oxford. One thing I found fascinating, was the quality of access and support students receive whilst studying at Oxford. At Oxford, the educational experience is like no other. The teaching and learning are done in what is called ‘Small Group Teaching’ and each student is assigned a tutor under the tutorial / supervision system. This means every student has a chance to regularly meet with a leading exert in their field of study, ask questions and receive feedback. When these academics are not teaching, they are researching or advising governments on topics as important as climate change. This system means that every student gains unique academic advantages and is one that teaches students how to present and defend opinions, how to accept constructive criticism, how to listen to others, but more importantly, how to think independently
It was such an amazing opportunity for our students to not only ‘taste’ what it feels like to study and live at Oxford but also to realise that they can get there with the right effort and planning. It made me want to go into engineering! – Ms ZanebOur students were given a top tip on how to stand out from everybody else: find a subject, topic or concept that you really enjoy, explore it in your own time and in a way that suits your learning style, develop your own ideas and keep a summary of your activities and opinions and repeat. This advice refers to the pursuit of knowledge, which is the ongoing quest to understand, learn and gain insight about the world, often driven by curiously and the desire to improve oneself and society.
The day ended with a personal statement workshop focusing on what universities, including the top Russell Group universities, are looking for in a candidate. It was put simply - grades first, then they will ask the question: does this student like the course, can this student do the course and is there anything else we should know about this student? All of which should be evident when writing a personal statement. They spoke about the importance of Extra-Curriculars, but more importantly Super Curriculars – these are educational activities are students are doing that go above and beyond the school curriculum. They can be anything from podcasts, lectures, documentaries, trips to museums, books, magazines, online articles and programmes. Additionally, what are students’ thoughts and opinions, how does it make them feel, what did they learn and how does it enhance their understanding of the chosen subject?
The day was insightful, educational and truly thought-provoking. I hope our students left feeling inspired, and I look forward to seeing more CFGS students applying to Oxford University year after year.
Written by Mr Pioli
Published By Maryam Ali
