The Target Oxbridge Podcast Target Oxbridge

Naomi speaks with Ashleigh Ainsley, Co-Founder of Colorintech and Black Tech Fest, about studying Geography at Oxford.  

Ashleigh shares that Geography appealed to him as it bridged the gap between the physical sciences and social sciences, allowing him to explore topics related to migration, climate change, economics and geopolitics. He outlines what the course involved for him day-to-day, including field work, and the range of careers that his peers have gone into since graduating.

In terms of his career, Ashleigh shares how the skills he gained through his Geography degree helped him move into a career in tech. He started in tech by working at Google, moved into a role as a consultant and then became an entrepreneur running a business focused on diversifying the tech world. Ashleigh also provides some of his tips on networking and how to prepare for the Oxbridge application process. 

You can read more about Ashleigh’s work here:  


www.colorintech.org 


www.joinbtf.com 

The Target Oxbridge podcast returns with a conversation between Naomi and Andi Marsh about studying Classics at Oxbridge. 

Andi Marsh has recently taken on the role of running the Target Oxbridge programme, having previously studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford. Andi shares the details of the Classics course, how it appealed to her interest in both History and Literature and how she navigated the application process. She speaks about the range of careers that Classics graduates have gone onto after graduating and the value of the skills that she gained through her degree. Andi also tells the story of how she founded the Christian Cole Society, a society for Oxford Classicists of Colour named after the first Black student to graduate from Oxford, who was also a Classicist.  

Below is a list of resources that Andi recommends:  


Christian Cole Society: https://christiancolesocietyorg.wordpress.com/ 


Khameleon Classics Podcasts: https://khameleonproductions.squarespace.com/khameleon-classics 


Essay on Black Feminist Thought and Classics: https://pressbooks.claremont.edu/clas112pomonavalentine/chapter/haley-shelley-1993-black-feminist-thought-and-classics-re-membering-re-claiming-re-empowering-in-feminist-theory-and-the-classics-edited-by-nancy-rabinowitz-and-amy-richlin-2/ 

In this episode Naomi speaks with Leona Kouame who is studying Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Leona shares the story of her journey to HSPS and how the breadth and multidisciplinary nature of the course appealed to her. She discusses how she researched the different topics related to the subject and how she developed her interests by using everyday events as a starting point. She also shares how she wrote her personal statement and prepared for the admissions assessment an the interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Leona in this episode:

- Crash Course Sociology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnCJU6PaCio

- HE PLUS: https://myheplus.com/

- Talking Politics Podcast: https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/

- Surviving Society Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/surviving-society/id1291679351

In this episode Naomi speaks with Taiye Lawal who is studying Engineering at St Anne’s College, Oxford.

Taiye speaks about how she developed her interest in Engineering despite it not being taught at school. She shares the detail of her preparation for her application process, covering further reading, problem solving resources, personal statement writing, admissions assessment preparation and the interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Taiye in this episode:

- Problem solving exercises via I want to Study Engineering: https://i-want-to-study-engineering.org/

- Problem solving via Isaac Physics: https://isaacphysics.org/

- STEP Practice Papers: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/step/preparing-for-step/

In this episode Naomi speaks with Tolu Mustapha who is studying Law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and part of the team that runs the Black at Fitz YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVUNAZklcyoAMTtHECqu7w

Tolu speaks about her reasons for choosing Law over the other subjects she was considering, and what the academic study of Law is and isn’t. She shares the detail of her preparation for the application process, covering further reading, personal statement writing, LNAT and Cambridge Law Test preparation, and the interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Tolu in this episode:

- A Very Short Introduction to Law by Raymond Wacks

- What about Law by Janet O’Sullivan and Graham Virgo

- Trinity College YouTube Channel Mock Interview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Li362PfHc

- Black At Fitz YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUQiQJI7z5A

In this episode Naomi speaks with Chizute Ogbedeh, who is studying Medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Chizute speaks about the difference between Medicine at Oxbridge and other universities, and how to know if the academic focus of those courses is right for you. He also speaks about the requirements for making a competitive application, securing work experience, personal statement writing, preparing for the BMAT (the admissions assessment) and the types of questions asked during interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Chizute in this episode:

- Brighton and Sussex online work experience: https://bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

- Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh

- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

- Sharp Scratch Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A92ZIPYK3OTIhNjV3sF8d?si=Zi5o3MZMSaeSg8AZXDyR-g&dl_branch=1

- New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/

- BBC News Health Section: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health

- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

- BMAT Past Paper Worked Solutions (ask your school if they have a copy): https://www.amazon.co.uk/BMAT-Past-Paper-Worked-Solutions/dp/0993231144/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=bmat+worked+solutions&qid=1628196788&sr=8-6 or  https://www.amazon.co.uk/BMAT-Worked-Solutions-2003-2020/dp/B099C3FSFF/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=bmat+worked+solutions&qid=1628196817&sr=8-9