Is #Oxford Uni OVERRATED?!

[readmore]

As someone who had their Oxford interviews this week (and felt they went badly) I clicked on this video very hastily.
I have also seen people idealise Oxford a lot for the wrong reasons. Often you’ll have someone whose “dream” it has been to go to Oxford from age 8. When I applied this year having only decided to do so over the summer I thought I must not really want to go to Oxford because it’s not something I’ve always imagined for myself. Now I realise that this is a strength in that I don’t have a skewered view of Oxford university as this fantasy place but instead as a great university with a fab course for my subject.
(This is not to say that I consider myself better than people who have always dreamed of going to Oxford! I just think it will be easier for me to face a statistically-likely rejection with this mindset.)

[funomyakubu]

I like to say I fell in love with Oxford after only just actively hearing about it earlier this year. For me, as a Nigerian who hasn’t been exposed with anything remotely like Oxford, I was in awe thinking how foolish or wise the teaching system is. And then moving from feeling that to feeling super excited and even imagining myself in a “tutorial styled system of teaching”. I have sent in my application to do a DPhil in the department of International Relations. Whatever the outcome is, I’m just excited to be commencing my Doctorate research.

Thank you for the videos Dr. They’ve been so helpful! 🤗

[rpm]

Thank you Dr. Matt Williams, for your detailed and honest videos about Oxford University. My son got an offer for this year 2022. But he will be an international undergraduate student coming from the Philippines. At 8:55 you mentioned about possible financial support. We are now in the process of looking for such opportunities, as the fees and expenses would be quite substantial compared with what we are currently capable of paying for. But we are grateful that at least for now there is still a chance that we might be able to send him there (a different college, though). Have a good day!

[josephbrennan]

I got this recommended in my feed and I got rejected in 2021. This is a great video and really highlights how society puts things on a pedestal which divorces them from reality. I felt gutted after getting rejected but at the end of the day I do not need Oxford specifically to pursue my academic interests. I can do that at any university.

[indigopillow]

Wow, the quality of this video is amazing! Such an improvement (=

[atatas]

Great video! I have also been considering applying to Oxford in 2023 but I feel like there are many disadvantages that an international student will face, especially when it comes to affording. For instance, the fees for an international students are the triple amount of what a British student pays and I am from Turkey. Do not misunderstand, I love my country and want to work to improve and develop it but it is not a secret that the economy is terrible in here. Pound is worth more than 15 Turkish Liras, it costs about 450.000 TL to study a year in Oxford and it will cost more until 2023 because of the ongoing decrease in the value of my country's currency. Wages are about the same in the UK and Turkey as numbers (4000₺ in Turkey and 4000£ in the UK for example) and most of the employers here work for a minimum wage which will be increased to 4200₺ because of the tremendous amount of inflation. It is simply impossible to afford Oxford. There are some scholarships that are given to international students but many of them are just for one student in hundreds. I understand that the university would prefer British students and raise the fees for international students but it just seems unfair. If Oxford believes this much in equal oppurtunities, why do they raise the fees for international students that are poorer than the British students? My parents make about 200.000₺ combined which is equal to 13.000£, it will have possible changed when you read this, and it is not even the half of the necessary budget to afford studying in Oxford and living in the UK. I just hope I will be able to get the scholarship for the international students. Very passionate in politics by the way and one has to be in Turkey because our lives are affected every day by politics. Hope to see you, if I get accepted and can afford, as my professor.

[oakdeepvastforest]

Years ago, I was made an offer to read Physics at the University of Oxford, Jesus College.
At that time, I was not a British citizen.

I didn't have the money or other means to offer a financial guarantee, so I couldn't take up the offer.

I had worked so hard, studying totally on my own (no preparatory courses, no private classes, no private tutors or any other kind of classes, private or otherwise, taught by anyone else) to get into Oxford.

Not having the money to read Physics of Oxford, in spite of being made an offer, was probably the biggest blow of my life. I am not going to write what happened in the years that followed, or since then.

It would have been so good if Oxford had had funds (or funding arrangements etc) to guarantee tuition fee and maintenance money for all students who were made an offer (in case they don't have funds from other sources), irrespective of what country they come from or of any other circumstances.

No one should be put in the situation, like I was, of being made an offer but not having the money to take up the offer.

[raumaanking]

University of Oxford is so beautiful I mean I would like to apply to Oxford in 2022 to study Music 🎵 because I just love music with a passion and hopefully I get in by the way I like your voice it helps me go to sleep not as in your boring or anything it’s just your voice is so calm and sweet it helps me go to sleep sorry your not boring to me at all and I am interested in what you are saying love your Oxford videos keep it up

[oakdeepvastforest]

A number of years ago, I was offered a place to read Physics at Jesus College, Oxford.
However, I couldn't take up the offer because I did not have the money.

Not having the money to take up the offer was probably the biggest blow of my life. I am not going to describe here what I have been through in the years that followed, and since then.

I am afraid I cannot agree that other places are as good as Oxford (or even close). The architecture, the amount of culture and history you have around you at Oxford inspires you intellectually - even in areas (physics and other sciences) that are arguably not "arts". This alone cannot is not paralleled by other universities, not to mention other aspects.

[nikkivieler]

It does have a lovely library and lovely librarians...

[saintetienne]

With just a little extra effort you could have styled that fluffy microphone into a mouse or a kitten

[chrissears]

God save the queen and thank you for this content.

[olimara]

Yes.




No I will not elaborate.

[chrissears]

Oxford dictionaries have notoriety. The only thing I will get crushed by is if I do not give the Oxford admissions process a crack.

[chrissears]

I would like to be a ‘notable’ author of mathematical journals and get cited 💪🏼😀🙏.

[Scout_]

How does Oxford help its dyslexic students?

[kine]

Hello! Can I have examples of people who have studied at Oxford who came straight from homelessness? That sounds really inspiring.

[QTPie]

Oxford University is truly overrated! I have worked professionally in many sectors for 20 years and seen thousands of colleagues. Oxford students, graduates and even staff are so limited in their thinking and beliefs, and do not demonstrate better problem solving and/or other practical life skills when compared to students or grads from other universities. They think too highly of themselves but are not in touch with the rapidly changing world. Don't think they allow for other voices or opinions either, so I am not surprised if someone from Oxford or Jesus college would discredit this comment.

[chrissears]

Jesus College is my fav college because their YouTube channel engages with their audience and because Jesus is in the name.

[Daniel-tpue]

Thank you for your videos Dr.Matt, it's really helpful. I'm an international student and planning to apply to Oxford in the 2022 cycle, I read some of the books in my native language and want to put some of them on my personal statement, do I need to write the title in my native language? Or translate it into English, tell the fact that I read it in my language or how? Thank you!