Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Physics in Oxford question?

Options
  • 03-02-2015 12:50pm
    #1
    rpkm124
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭


    I'm currently in 5th year and I'm set on doing physics in university. I want to do it in oxford but I honestly don't know what my chances are. You have to do a physics aptitude test and then if you do well enough in that you get invited for an interview which I've heard is fairly intense. I had a look at a past paper for the physics aptitude test and I have to be honest It's fairly difficult. Saying that though I'm only just over halfway through 5th year so I didn't cover a lot of the questions in maths or physics yet and If I'm doing it I won't be doing it until november. I'm fairly good at maths. Got an A in the junior cert and got almost all A's in Physics and maths in 5th year so far but I wouldn't be a genius if you know what I mean. Trying not to make this too long lol the question is what are the chances of getting into oxford? honestly. I doubt much people know from first hand experience but any reply would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Eazzah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 70 ✭✭Eazzah


    I know a guy through playing LoL who went to Oxford for an interview a month or so ago. I think he was there for physics, though it could have been maths. He said it was intense and I don't think he got it because he messed up on one question. While he was there he was given accommodation for free on-campus. He also said the guys there seemed a lot smarter than him. He's the type of guy who can get A's without much study so I can only imagine what they were like if he was impressed. I'd say go for it though, what's there to lose?

    I can get more information if you want it, I'll probably be speaking to him later.

    ...


    I can't edit my post for whatever reason so I'll just post here.

    My friend just said that physics doesn't require an exam so it's easier to get to the interview. He went for maths and had to do an exam.


  • Options
    #3
    amen
    Registered Users Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭amen


    Why Oxford though ? Why not any Irish Universities or USA ones such MIT, CalTech etc


  • Options
    #4
    rpkm124
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭rpkm124


    Usa ones are just way too expensive and while trinity and UCD etc. are great, they're just not on the same level as Oxford. Another good thing about oxford is that I can do physics straight away in first year as opposed to waiting until 3rd year to specialise from a general science degree like what you have to do in ucd


  • Options
    #5
    Raspberry Fileds
    Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭Raspberry Fileds


    The decision to call for interview is made independently of performance in aptitude test.


  • Options
    #6
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,202 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    rpkm124 wrote: »
    Usa ones are just way too expensive and while trinity and UCD etc. are great, they're just not on the same level as Oxford. Another good thing about oxford is that I can do physics straight away in first year as opposed to waiting until 3rd year to specialise from a general science degree like what you have to do in ucd

    Why not do degree here, top the class and do post-grad in Oxford?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    rpkm124
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭rpkm124


    spurious wrote: »
    Why not do degree here, top the class and do post-grad in Oxford?
    Like do a masters or a PHD in oxford


  • Options
    #8
    unmoeglichkeit
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭unmoeglichkeit


    The interview process is really designed to strip-away any preparation done by the students and to see actual aptitude for physics. That's probably the main reason many will describe it as intense. The physics aptitude test (PAT) is the main way they'll decide the shortlist for interviews, and it's also designed to show physical and mathematical intuition rather than skills learned by rote. The intuition is what they're looking for any many applicants who get to interviews just won't have it, so looking at admission stats can be misleading. Basically you'll need to decide yourself whether you want to do the subject because you find it easy to learn by rote, or because you understand it. if it's the latter, then applying is the only way to really know whether Oxford would work for you. Also, if you're reading about colleges, know that which college you pick doesn't have an effect on your chances of admission. If you have any specific questions feel free to pm me (although I'm actually a chemist, not a physicist). Also, you can find the departmental admission procedures by just googling physics interview shortlisting oxford.


  • Options
    #9
    robman60
    Registered Users Posts: 2,224 ✭✭✭robman60


    spurious wrote: »
    Why not do degree here, top the class and do post-grad in Oxford?

    Personally this is what I'd favour, but I don't know why people are trying to discourage the OP from trying for Oxford.

    It's as if s/he should feel bad for wanting to get to what is undoubtedly a more renowned and respected university than any of Ireland's universities.

    I would say that it's a difficult transition to move abroad straight from living at home though!


Advertisement