Should You Really Go To Oxford University?

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[@edwardanderton9879]

More people need to lend their honest opinion, Ben, especially around the mental health aspect. As an Oxford grad. who had to 'rusticate', I can attest to the high-stress, high-pressure environment. But, having met and discussed undergrad with people from all over the world, I wouldn't give up the quality of education I received there. The tuition system is pretty exceptional. I probs could have been happier somewhere less competitive, perhaps with fewer public school kids. Thanks for the video

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thanks for the great comment, Eddie :) Something I didn't touch upon in this discussion was the utility of pressure. I wouldn't want people to discount a university, or experience, because it might be difficult. Pressure forms diamonds, after all. And there's this problem in the west where everyone thinks they should be "happy" all the time. I'd much rather be challenged and fulfilled. And completely agree - the tuition system is, rightfully, one of the best in the world. Teachers could learn quite a bit by sitting in on one of those.

[@kieran_forster_artist]

Having treated many high achievers for depression clearly caused by the university “shit”, you have helped Sooo many by asking this fundamental question. There are so many threads in your discussion too. You obviously are a helper in life. Thanks man!

[@Mia-ve9ec]

Thanks for making this Ben, I really appreciate your honesty and for saying it how it is.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Mia :)

[@teresaramos1719]

Couldn't agree more. These Ivy leave colleges are losing luster quite fast...you can get really educated by reading or online courses without bankrupting financially your future or that of your parents.Thank you for your honesty!!!😊

[@servicekid7453]

@@etiennedevignolles7538 yes they are objectively better. Not just on a UK scope, but on a worldwide scope. That’s what the league tables tell us

[@servicekid7453]

@Teresa Ramos. You must need to spend more time educating yourself online! It’s spelled “lustre” 🤣🤣🤣

[@servicekid7453]

@@etiennedevignolles7538 it’s not “them” who would have you believe it. Look up any of the independently prepared world university rankings. They mark all universities against the same objective criteria. Oxford and Cambridge not only score more highly than all other UK universities, they routinely come in the top 5 in the world alongside Harvard, MIT etc.

[@servicekid7453]

@@etiennedevignolles7538 by”alternative” you mean “wrong”. There are many more places outside the US that use the UK spelling. There’s only one person showing themselves up on this thread my darling and we both know it’s you 🤣😘

[@servicekid7453]

@@etiennedevignolles7538 i do know this, i have worked in 4 different UK universities as an academic and I have participated in the very process you describe. And I can still tell you, objectively, that Oxbridge has better teaching, produces more capable graduates and generates better research output than any other UK universities. Anyone telling you that a 2:1 from University of Lancashire (et al.) has the same value as a 2:1 from University of Oxford or University of Cambridge is delusional. External examiners aren’t allowed to admit this, but they know it. If it wasn’t the case, Oxbridge applications wouldn’t be massively oversubscribed and the lower quality institutions wouldn’t be struggling to stay afloat. So I’m afraid it’s you that is spouting the nonsense

[@colldollm51]

Wise words. Be careful what you ask for, you might get it. What I really wanted to comment on is the Dave Bruebeck album behind you on the bookcase. You have great taste in music, Benjamin. Thank you for all your videos xo

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

The warning at the heart of the most harrowing speculative fiction and fairy tales! And thank you so much, Colleen :) Music is a huge passion of mine! 😊

[@peskylisa]

I wish there had been somebody like you around when I was in university.

[@shabirmagami146]

You live Keats' 'negative capability' :)... that is a wonderful trait to have ...Thank you ...

[@dcoughla681]

Well said, Benjamin. I think high school students are really underprepared for any university & work life afterwards. They leave without any “real world” skills like communication skills or critical thinking. It’s like they have been put through an educational factory. In times past, an Oxford degree guaranteed you a lucrative & elite working life. Globalisation & advances in tech have decimated graduate salaries to such an extent that young people may question whether uni is worth it, given the massive debt involved. Young people are still being taught by teachers who say “Money doesn’t matter”. Yes it does. Also, mental health issues stemming from being such an elite university or not getting in to Oxford are not being taken seriously enough either.

[@jacobadams8100]

In the wise words of Eminem: keep it real

[@soniasaldarriaga5166]

You’re so right ! What it does it takes your Humanity away ……

[@zoebrugg7594]

I rather go the self-taught rout for that. I'm having my own issues here in America doing school online and finding work of my skill set. And it's a shame, this is Tolkien's school.

[@Chloe-ui5hl]

My Cambridge interviews are next week - I'm so nervous 😂. Do you have any advice on how to tackle being given an extract during the interview?

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

We've got a three-part module called 'How to Do Close Analysis of Unseen Texts' in the Interview video class. It's focused on English, but the advice would be very similar for Japanese. If I were you, Chloe, I would get really sure on what they are going to ask you, then print off a bunch of different extracts, and annotate them, then practice discussing them. Practice really is key!

[@mattmarkus4868]

8:50 I didn't realize the UK has similar bankruptcy laws as the US in terms of college debt. Literally other than taxes and college debt, everything is dischargeable in bankruptcy (US). It's appalling. It makes people indentured servants. With tuitions as high as they are now, you should be able to get a refund if it doesn't work out. And it forces kids to go into computer science or finance and turn away their true passions because the risk is so not trivial.

[@shethewriter]

I wanted to go there but I heard about the spiders and I can’t

[@redthread9451]

Thanks for the video! It's very hard to turn down Oxford if you have a chance to go there. "Oxford" is a magic word on a CV, almost. I wonder how it is to go there as a visiting scholar, since that is something I might do.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Absolutely. I think you'll have a wonderful time as a visiting scholar. I met many of them and it was a visiting scholar who influenced my choice of college. They seem to have the most fun. Enjoy the High Table!

[@thales7438]

You are saving lives! Thank you again...

[@gamu1647]

This is 100% gonna blow up

[@nishthefish2861]

Hi Benjamin, I applied this year for PPE at Keble, and despite working intensely hard on the admissions test I didn’t get an interview. I’m wondering how I could reach you on advice on whether 1) Oxford really is right for me (I believe it is) 2) how I should go about a reapplication if I should 3) different routes to reapply. I’ve been watching your videos for a while, they’ve been really helpful! Thank you for your work

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Hello, Mr Fish! My commiserations on not getting an interview. I'm sure if you try again, you'll get in next time. The students who reapply end up being the most industrious, conscientious, and having the greatest understanding of the university. I wouldn't be able to say if Oxford were for you or not as that's quite a personal decision, but it sounds like you're confident. If I were in your shoes reapplying, I would try to isolate the factors that precluded me from getting in - and put a lot of focus into bringing them up. For example, if you think the Paper 2 let you down, I've got an video series that helps specifically with that. If it was a matter of grades/subject choice, you might consider going down the path of choosing new subjects or re-sitting. If you would like to go deep into this at any point, you're more than welcome to have a consultation session with me and we will hash out a plan of attack for reapplying and getting in! My email is [e-mail]

[@drewkavi6327]

It’s very hard to say, I applied to last year and didn’t get in. I reapplied this year and got into Keble. But I am on a gap year and quite unhappy, working a shitty job and the prospect of the oxford workload and the people there scare me. I see how much fun my friends who got to notts or Sheffield have and I doubt I will going to Oxford. It’s hard to call, whether you should take a gap year or not, and a gap year can be lonely and scary. I emailed imperial a month before I was about to start there to tell them I wanted to cancel my place. If the only reason to take a year out is to reapply then I would say don’t. It’s very easy to get it into your head that Oxbridge is the be all end all, but really it is absolutely not.