University of Oxford. Ensuring the best students gain places

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Curtis George
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1 University of Oxford Ensuring the best students gain places

2 A complicated system? College Choice Open Application Shortlisting Reallocation and Redistribution Multiple interviews Open Offers Sharing information across the University Using contextual data

3 College choice Students can choose any college across the collegiate university to apply to as long as it offers the subject(s) Start by deselecting rather than choosing specifically goldilocks approach: Not too big... Not too small, Not too old... Not too new, Not too far... Not too near For some good and some more random reasons the numbers of applications to each college varies considerably

approach: Not too big... Not too small, Not too old... Not too new, Not too far.

4 Initial number of applications by college Next the Open Applicants are distributed to the colleges

5 Open Applications ~10% of students make an open application c apps International students are much more likely to make an open app The success rate for UK open applicants is equal to the UK average Open applications are distributed centrally to top up the initial direct applications using an algorithm which attempts to equalise, as much as is possible, the number of applications per place, on a subject by subject basis based on college places available for each subject On the central system, college code is changed from Open to College X A college has no way of knowing whether a student has applied directly or has chosen an open app; they should not be asked at interview

distributed centrally to top up the initial direct applications using an algorithm which attempts to equalise, as much as is possible, the number of applications per

6 Open Application Top-Up Open applicants, once distributed, are informed of which college they have been assigned

7 Shortlisting Oxford s approach Resources concentrated on those with strong chance Approximately 3 candidates per place for each course are interviewed Interviews at two or more colleges common Almost always by academics from chosen discipline Medicine c.30% Law c.40% English c.65% Biochemistry & Theology - >80% But those shortlisted might not necessarily be evenly spread...

more colleges common Almost always by academics from chosen discipline Medicine c.30% Law c.

8 Shortlisting and reallocation When considering applications tutors may consider: Academic profile of the student Results in pre-interview tests Submitted written work Personal statement and reference Different subjects have subtly different methodologies to this process, but with the same overall aim To ensure the best students have a fair chance of admission an individual college tutor might see a large proportion, or none, of their applicants as prime for deselection. Shortlisted field might not be evenly distributed across the colleges, relative to the number of places, once again. Some subjects operate reallocation, whereby before candidates are invited to interview they are allocated to a different first choice interview college. This college then owns that application.

tutor might see a large proportion, or none, of their applicants as prime for deselection.

9 Reallocation Some move from a reallocation exporting college to an importing college Cherry-picking ratios Students who are reallocated should not view themselves as weak as lots of good candidates are reallocated. The aim is to try and ensure that the strongest candidates all get 40 interviewed and that the number at each college is manageable Initial Apps Cherry Export/Import Final

10 Redistribution and multiple college interviews Shortlisted students will be interviewed at a first choice college often consists of two separate interviews, with two tutors in each They may also be interviewed at a second choice college or even third/fourth choice on rare occasions. Subject will affect the number of interviews particularly for Joint Schools Variations at subject level: Some subjects allocate 2 nd college interviews prior to arrival in Oxford Many subjects have a mid-interview period meeting (once the first college interviews have been completed, then tutors meet to discuss which candidates might be given 2 nd college interviews). Some subjects operate smart second choice allocation, whereby the distribution of the quality of the students is considered when deciding where to place them for their second, equalising quality again.

Subject will affect the number of interviews particularly for Joint Schools Variations at subject level: Some subjects allocate 2 nd college interviews prior to arrival in Oxford Many subjects have a

11 Open Offers ~90% of applicants are made offers for a specific college Some, in certain subjects, are made Open Offers College at which the student will study not confirmed until after results day These students are not weak or marginal students, simply allows Oxford to make a few more extra offers and avoid taking students who don t end up making the grades! Cover ratio is only 105% - so 21 offers for 20 places; but a college that has 4 places for Engineering can t make 5 offers...

students, simply allows Oxford to make a few more extra offers and avoid taking students who don t end up making the

12 Open Offers One open offer is made, underwritten by College D In August one of the College B s applicants fails their offer, so the student with the open offer is placed at College B. If all 25 make their offer then College D as the underwriter will take 7 students (6+1) and perhaps one fewer next year. No places No offers College A 2 2 College B 4 4 College C 4 4 College D 6 6 College E 8 8 Open

If all 25 make their offer then College D as the underwriter will take 7 students (6+1) and perhaps

13 Sharing information across the University Online database (ADSS) allows tutors to access data and compare students: An electronic copy of the UCAS form Admissions test results, including PDFs of essays Contextual data flags and GCSE comparison statistics Allows tutors to compare those students who apply to their college, but also how that group compare to the rest of the field Some colleges net export over 50 students to other colleges during the admissions process whilst others import similar numbers. All colleges import students for one subject or another.

compare those students who apply to their college, but also how that group compare to the rest of the field Some colleges net export over 50

14 Contextual data Three aspects of contextual data will be considered for UK students applying for entry: 1) Prior Education: The performance of the school or college that the applicant attended for GCSE or equivalent level and; The performance of the school or college that the applicant attended for A-level or equivalent level. 2) Socio-Economic Circumstance The postcode that an applicant gives as their home address, assessed using ACORN and POLAR2 information 3) Care Status Whether a candidate has been looked after/in care for more than three months (determined from the UCAS application, and subject to later verification checks);

15 A complicated system... perhaps Fairness for all applicants across the collegiate university is at the core of the process. Chances of gaining a place at Oxford is almost equal irrespective of the college initially selected by the student.

Undergraduate Admissions Statistics: 2013 entry

Undergraduate Admissions Statistics: 2013 entry Contents Introduction....... 2 School type....... 3 Nationality and domicile..... 11 UK region of domicile..... 14 Courses....... 15 choice....... 22 Qualifications.......