Early Applicants

We recognise that many of our students are particularly able or talented in various fields.  Alongside a broad and challenging curriculum and varied range of enrichment opportunities, some of our most academically able students will also consider competitive ‘early applicant’ pathways.

What are ‘Early Applicant’ pathways?

Some undergraduate university courses have an earlier application deadline, partly due to their highly competitive nature. (Early Application means UCAS forms have to be submitted by the middle of October in Year 13.)

These include all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as most courses for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary medicine/science.

How is the assessment for these courses different?

  • Usually an admissions test

  • Often interviews (virtually or face to face)

  • Often a requirement for written work.

What are the best chances of success?

  • Being organised and thinking/planning ahead!

  • Very strong GCSE results

  • Usually, predictions of A*AA

  • Passion for the subject which is markedly beyond that of other students (eg wide reading, work experience, independent engagement with related areas of interest).

  • Being prepared to work really hard to be successful on these courses.

How will we support you?

In the past two years, eleven of our Year 13 students have received offers from Oxford or Cambridge, with many others successfully securing offers for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary courses.

We support students to make successful applications in a variety of ways: 

  • Outstanding teaching by subject specialists

  • Initial advice & guidance sessions from Autumn Y12

  • Group meetings from January Y12

  • Regular mailing list with opportunities & tips

  • Trips to Oxbridge colleges

  • Student-run societies e.g. MEDSOC

  • Access to JSTOR research archives

  • Comprehensive tutorial sessions

  • Visiting speakers and alumni mentors

  • Personal Statement writing sessions

  • Interview preparation sessions, online & in-person, including with specialist professionals

  • Admissions test guidance sessions & resources

  • Regular 1:1s in Y13

  • Dedicated Sixth Form team and point of contact— Mrs Hainsworth

What is the programme for Early Applicants?

A termly schedule for the Early Applicants' programme is below. 

Autumn Term

  • Initial information session

  • Initial interest forms sent out for aspiring Oxbridge and/or Med/Dent/Vet applicants

  • Launch of mailing lists for sharing opportunities and resources e.g. Medicine work experience, virtual tours, Oxbridge webinars, super-curriculars
Summer Term

  • Small group/individual mentoring sessions to discuss applications

  • Preparing for interviews session

  • Question banks bought in for UCAT admissions test practice

  • Support booking admissions tests

  • Guidance on starting to write personal statements

  • Oxbridge and Med/Dent/Vet sessions during Induction Week – alumni invited back to talk / answer questions
Summer Term

  • Small group/individual mentoring sessions to discuss applications

  • Preparing for interviews session

  • Question banks bought in for UCAT admissions test practice

  • Support booking admissions tests

  • Guidance on starting to write personal statements

  • Oxbridge and Med/Dent/Vet sessions during Induction Week – alumni invited back to talk / answer questions

Autumn Term

  • Final admissions test sat (over summer holiday where possible)

  • Year 13 mentor meetings

  • Redrafting personal statements

  • Reference writing – school deadline last Friday of September / UCAS deadline 15th October

  • Med/Dent/Vet MMI and panel interviews with current GPs and alumni

  • Oxbridge – Dr Butler (Cambridge) mock interviews

  • Subject-specific mock interviews with subject teachers

  • December – interview season begins

Spring Term

  • Continuing support with interview practice

  • Offers start being made in January

  • Mentor meetings continue alongside progress monitoring

  • Careers advice meetings arranged where necessary to consider contingency plans

Summer Term

  • Study leave and A Levels – focus on getting the grades!