The Target Oxbridge Podcast Target Oxbridge

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

In this series of episodes, Naomi speaks with Target Oxbridge alumni studying some of the most popular Oxbridge subjects to get their top tips on getting in.

Naomi begins by speaking with Tariq Hammed, who has recently completed his Economics and Management degree at Wadham College, Oxford.

Tariq shares the details of the world events and books that inspired him to study Economics, as well as his tips for writing a personal statement, preparing for the Thinking Skills Assessment and getting ready for the interview. He also shares his insights into what it is like to study the course.

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

- Bottom Billion by Paul Collier

- The Economics and Management Reading List: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/Economics_%26_Management_reading_list_pdf.pdf

- Think You Can Think?: Cracking the Thinking Skills Assessment by Minesh Tanna

- Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving by John Butterworth and Geoff Thwaites

- The Thinking Skills Assessment Past Papers: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/thinking-skills-assessment/tsa-oxford/preparing-for-tsa-oxford/

In the final episode of the series, Naomi speaks to Matthew Ryder QC, the barrister who represented the family of Stephen Lawrence, and former Deputy Mayor of London for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community.

Matthew Ryder studied Law at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he got involved with the Black Caucus and co-founded the Group to Encourage Ethnic Minority Access (GEEMA). On graduating he worked at a legal aid firm in Harlesden before training as a barrister and then moving to New York to study for a Master’s in Human Rights at Columbia University.

Matthew discusses the things he has learnt and achieved in his career, including what being a Queen’s Counsel involves, and the growing importance of data in regard to issues of human rights, racism and discrimination. He also makes a strong case for young people to push for the change they want to see in the future, whilst building on the foundations laid by the generations that have gone before them.

The Target Oxbridge Podcast aims to share the knowledge of how to effectively target a top UK university with parents, teachers and young people across the country, perhaps even the world! Visit https://targetoxbridge.co.uk/ and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram: @TargetOxbridge.