20th December 2010 9:00
By Blue Tutors
For the first time we will be given an insight into Oxford University’s admissions process, as videos are being published which give a tutor’s view of the experience of applying to the famous university. The BBC has reported that the videos will be published on the University’s website (http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2010/videodiaries.html), and youtube channel during the December admissions, and will give prospective students a feeling for what it’s like to go through a famously secretive interview process.
In December around 10,000 shortlisted students will have an interview at Oxford, and the videos will be made by the tutors who conduct the interviews, explaining their experiences and feelings. The first video was made by a tutor in Medieval French, who said that once Michaelmas term is over, the application process becomes “all consuming”, and that “there comes a point just after the end of term where you basically surrender everything else in your life and give yourself over to admissions”.
Mike Nicholson is the director of undergraduate admissions at Oxford University, and he said “We want to be as open and transparent about the process as possible, and show prospective applicants what it’s like for those making decisions about who to admit”.
Daily videos are expected to be added throughout December as tutors continue the admissions process.