Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 08:51 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 08:51
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
AccioAdmitTanvi
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2025
Last visit: 02 Jun 2025
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
 [1]
Location: India
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
 [1]
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 12 Mar 2025, 23:12
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi all,

I’m writing this post to answer any questions anyone might have about the Oxford Saïd MBA—applying and getting in during Round 4, my personal experience, and anything else that might be useful.

A bit about me: I applied in R4, had a 740 GMAT, and 3 years of work experience upon matriculation. I can talk about:
  • My application strategy
  • The interview experience
  • What it was like being an R4 candidate (pros/cons, scholarships, competitiveness)
  • The Oxford experience—MBA, the collegiate system, etc.
  • Brief profile feedback if you’re considering applying

Full disclosure—I’m doing this as a test pilot for a Europe-focused MBA consulting firm that my batchmate and I are launching.

We’re already working with three candidates, and these exercises help us interact with applicants, understand pain points, and refine how we can best support them. I know the process can be overwhelming, so happy to help wherever I can!

I also applied to Cambridge (Judge) and got in, so while I don’t have first-hand experience with the program, I can answer questions about the application process there too.

Drop your questions below! Happy to chat.
User avatar
kingbucky
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jul 2023
Last visit: 08 Nov 2025
Posts: 496
Own Kudos:
520
Given Kudos: 328
Location: India
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 496
Kudos: 520
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 12 Mar 2025, 23:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for offering to share your insights! Your experience as an R4 candidate at Oxford Saïd and Cambridge Judge will be valuable for many applicants.

Given your 740 GMAT and 3 years of experience, it would be great to hear about how you structured your application strategy, especially regarding essays and recommendations.

For scholarships in R4, did you find that funding opportunities were significantly reduced compared to earlier rounds? Looking forward to your thoughts!
User avatar
AccioAdmitTanvi
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2025
Last visit: 02 Jun 2025
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
Location: India
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 13 Mar 2025, 03:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for your question!

So, to answer your second question first—yes, funding opportunities were definitely reduced in the last round compared to earlier rounds (Atleast that was the case when I applied in 2021). I wouldn’t recommend applying in the last round if financial aid is a priority. I was pretty last-minute with my MBA applications, so I had to make peace with not getting funding at Oxford. At Cambridge, though, I did end up getting a scholarship—the Forté Women’s Scholarship for part of the amount. But I still chose Oxford for various reasons, which I’m happy to share if there’s interest.

As for my application strategy, I kept it very authentic and honest, especially about why an MBA made sense for me at that moment rather than later. I was at a natural pause in my career—having spent a year working on a pre-seed startup incubator, we realized that the business model we had started with wasn’t working. Before that, I had worked in other industries, but those experiences had also sort of wrapped up. So, it made sense for me to take a step back, upskill, and structure my career in a more intentional way. I had developed an interest in early-stage venture investing and product management, but I knew I needed experience in a more structured environment rather than the unstructured spaces I had been in before. That’s what I focused on illustrating in my essays.

For recommendations, it was a bit tricky since my experience was in a family venture and the incubator. I ended up getting one recommendation from a mentor at the incubator (someone we had empaneled to support startups) and the other from an extracurricular involvement—I was part of the Global Shapers community for over a year, so I got one of the leaders there to recommend me.

Oxford’s essays are already very career-focused—they ask direct questions like Why MBA? Why now? What will you do until the MBA? How will you use it? So, I kept my answers to the point and made sure to clearly explain my rationale for doing an MBA and why Oxford specifically made sense for my post-MBA goals (which were to work in VC). For the more general essay, I wrote about my upbringing and personal experiences—tying that into how my professional and extracurricular choices had been shaped over time.

Hope this helps!

kingbucky
Thanks for offering to share your insights! Your experience as an R4 candidate at Oxford Saïd and Cambridge Judge will be valuable for many applicants.

Given your 740 GMAT and 3 years of experience, it would be great to hear about how you structured your application strategy, especially regarding essays and recommendations.

For scholarships in R4, did you find that funding opportunities were significantly reduced compared to earlier rounds? Looking forward to your thoughts!
Show more
User avatar
kingbucky
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jul 2023
Last visit: 08 Nov 2025
Posts: 496
Own Kudos:
520
Given Kudos: 328
Location: India
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 496
Kudos: 520
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 13 Mar 2025, 03:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Could you elaborate on what factors specifically led you to choose Oxford over Cambridge, despite the scholarship differences? Regarding the reduced funding opportunities in the last round—besides timing, do you think there are any other strategies applicants could use to improve their chances of receiving financial aid?

AccioAdmitTanvi
Thanks for your question!

So, to answer your second question first—yes, funding opportunities were definitely reduced in the last round compared to earlier rounds (Atleast that was the case when I applied in 2021). I wouldn’t recommend applying in the last round if financial aid is a priority. I was pretty last-minute with my MBA applications, so I had to make peace with not getting funding at Oxford. At Cambridge, though, I did end up getting a scholarship—the Forté Women’s Scholarship for part of the amount. But I still chose Oxford for various reasons, which I’m happy to share if there’s interest.

As for my application strategy, I kept it very authentic and honest, especially about why an MBA made sense for me at that moment rather than later. I was at a natural pause in my career—having spent a year working on a pre-seed startup incubator, we realized that the business model we had started with wasn’t working. Before that, I had worked in other industries, but those experiences had also sort of wrapped up. So, it made sense for me to take a step back, upskill, and structure my career in a more intentional way. I had developed an interest in early-stage venture investing and product management, but I knew I needed experience in a more structured environment rather than the unstructured spaces I had been in before. That’s what I focused on illustrating in my essays.

For recommendations, it was a bit tricky since my experience was in a family venture and the incubator. I ended up getting one recommendation from a mentor at the incubator (someone we had empaneled to support startups) and the other from an extracurricular involvement—I was part of the Global Shapers community for over a year, so I got one of the leaders there to recommend me.

Oxford’s essays are already very career-focused—they ask direct questions like Why MBA? Why now? What will you do until the MBA? How will you use it? So, I kept my answers to the point and made sure to clearly explain my rationale for doing an MBA and why Oxford specifically made sense for my post-MBA goals (which were to work in VC). For the more general essay, I wrote about my upbringing and personal experiences—tying that into how my professional and extracurricular choices had been shaped over time.

Hope this helps!

kingbucky
Thanks for offering to share your insights! Your experience as an R4 candidate at Oxford Saïd and Cambridge Judge will be valuable for many applicants.

Given your 740 GMAT and 3 years of experience, it would be great to hear about how you structured your application strategy, especially regarding essays and recommendations.

For scholarships in R4, did you find that funding opportunities were significantly reduced compared to earlier rounds? Looking forward to your thoughts!
Show more
User avatar
AccioAdmitTanvi
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2025
Last visit: 02 Jun 2025
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
Location: India
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 14 Mar 2025, 03:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
My decision to choose Oxford was deeply personal. I had conversations with alumni from both universities, and my experience with the admissions committees and interviews at each felt very different. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but I found that Oxford aligned better with what I was looking for, and I connected more naturally with its alumni compared to those from Cambridge Judge. That being said, Judge is undoubtedly a great school, I had the opportunity to visit the campus, which is beautiful, and my friends in the Judge MBA program have spoken highly of the curriculum and professors. Ultimately, though, my choice came down to personal fit.

Regarding scholarships, I believe applicants can improve their chances by staying informed about all available financial aid options. Being proactive in researching eligibility criteria early on is key, as some scholarships require separate applications or have strict deadlines. Additionally, maintaining communication with the financial aid and admissions teams—both during and after the application process—can be beneficial. Investing time and effort into well-prepared scholarship applications can make a significant difference as well!



kingbucky
Could you elaborate on what factors specifically led you to choose Oxford over Cambridge, despite the scholarship differences? Regarding the reduced funding opportunities in the last round—besides timing, do you think there are any other strategies applicants could use to improve their chances of receiving financial aid?

AccioAdmitTanvi
Thanks for your question!

So, to answer your second question first—yes, funding opportunities were definitely reduced in the last round compared to earlier rounds (Atleast that was the case when I applied in 2021). I wouldn’t recommend applying in the last round if financial aid is a priority. I was pretty last-minute with my MBA applications, so I had to make peace with not getting funding at Oxford. At Cambridge, though, I did end up getting a scholarship—the Forté Women’s Scholarship for part of the amount. But I still chose Oxford for various reasons, which I’m happy to share if there’s interest.

As for my application strategy, I kept it very authentic and honest, especially about why an MBA made sense for me at that moment rather than later. I was at a natural pause in my career—having spent a year working on a pre-seed startup incubator, we realized that the business model we had started with wasn’t working. Before that, I had worked in other industries, but those experiences had also sort of wrapped up. So, it made sense for me to take a step back, upskill, and structure my career in a more intentional way. I had developed an interest in early-stage venture investing and product management, but I knew I needed experience in a more structured environment rather than the unstructured spaces I had been in before. That’s what I focused on illustrating in my essays.

For recommendations, it was a bit tricky since my experience was in a family venture and the incubator. I ended up getting one recommendation from a mentor at the incubator (someone we had empaneled to support startups) and the other from an extracurricular involvement—I was part of the Global Shapers community for over a year, so I got one of the leaders there to recommend me.

Oxford’s essays are already very career-focused—they ask direct questions like Why MBA? Why now? What will you do until the MBA? How will you use it? So, I kept my answers to the point and made sure to clearly explain my rationale for doing an MBA and why Oxford specifically made sense for my post-MBA goals (which were to work in VC). For the more general essay, I wrote about my upbringing and personal experiences—tying that into how my professional and extracurricular choices had been shaped over time.

Hope this helps!

kingbucky
Thanks for offering to share your insights! Your experience as an R4 candidate at Oxford Saïd and Cambridge Judge will be valuable for many applicants.

Given your 740 GMAT and 3 years of experience, it would be great to hear about how you structured your application strategy, especially regarding essays and recommendations.

For scholarships in R4, did you find that funding opportunities were significantly reduced compared to earlier rounds? Looking forward to your thoughts!
Show more
User avatar
idliboba
User avatar
Joined: 23 May 2023
Last visit: 24 Jun 2025
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
11
Given Kudos: 6
Location: India
Schools: Kellog '27 (A)
Schools: Kellog '27 (A)
Posts: 51
Kudos: 11
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 14 Mar 2025, 04:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Could you elaborate on employment outcomes from Oxford? Fellow admit here from the current cycle, but the current and the last cohort of students (especially internationals) have had next to no luck with structured recruiting. Especially for consulting it appears that 2-4 people get offers. This is from the world’s oldest university so it’s a bit worrying

Are people able to find MBA kind of generalist jobs? Also, does the UK/EU market at large not favor MBA as a degree?
User avatar
whatsarc
User avatar
Joined: 26 Aug 2023
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 109
Own Kudos:
102
Given Kudos: 78
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 109
Kudos: 102
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 14 Mar 2025, 23:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
would you be able to elaborate on your interview experience please?
AccioAdmitTanvi
Hi all,

I’m writing this post to answer any questions anyone might have about the Oxford Saïd MBA—applying and getting in during Round 4, my personal experience, and anything else that might be useful.

A bit about me: I applied in R4, had a 740 GMAT, and 3 years of work experience upon matriculation. I can talk about:
  • My application strategy
  • The interview experience
  • What it was like being an R4 candidate (pros/cons, scholarships, competitiveness)
  • The Oxford experience—MBA, the collegiate system, etc.
  • Brief profile feedback if you’re considering applying

Full disclosure—I’m doing this as a test pilot for a Europe-focused MBA consulting firm that my batchmate and I are launching.

We’re already working with three candidates, and these exercises help us interact with applicants, understand pain points, and refine how we can best support them. I know the process can be overwhelming, so happy to help wherever I can!

I also applied to Cambridge (Judge) and got in, so while I don’t have first-hand experience with the program, I can answer questions about the application process there too.

Drop your questions below! Happy to chat.
Show more
User avatar
AccioAdmitTanvi
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2025
Last visit: 02 Jun 2025
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
Location: India
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 15 Mar 2025, 06:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey, thanks for your question! I didn’t try to break into consulting post-MBA, so I can’t speak directly to that, but I do remember people struggling with support and career opportunities in my year. That said, it was definitely more than 2-4 people who got offers. A lot of it seemed to be a combination of the economy and the general job market in the UK/EU. Would recommend talking to recent grads in your target industry to get a clearer picture.

Hope that helps!
idliboba
Could you elaborate on employment outcomes from Oxford? Fellow admit here from the current cycle, but the current and the last cohort of students (especially internationals) have had next to no luck with structured recruiting. Especially for consulting it appears that 2-4 people get offers. This is from the world’s oldest university so it’s a bit worrying

Are people able to find MBA kind of generalist jobs? Also, does the UK/EU market at large not favor MBA as a degree?
Show more
User avatar
AccioAdmitTanvi
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2025
Last visit: 02 Jun 2025
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
Location: India
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Schools: Said '22 (A)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
Ask me Anything: Oxford Saïd MBA (R4 Admit) 15 Mar 2025, 07:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Absolutely! My interview experience was quite smooth—very conversational and natural. I was asked to introduce myself, followed by a few follow-up questions about my work experience, why I wanted to do an MBA, and why Oxford. It all felt very easygoing, and the interviewer made me feel comfortable throughout. She was already familiar with my profile, which made the conversation flow naturally.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you’d like more details.
whatsarc
would you be able to elaborate on your interview experience please?
AccioAdmitTanvi
Hi all,

I’m writing this post to answer any questions anyone might have about the Oxford Saïd MBA—applying and getting in during Round 4, my personal experience, and anything else that might be useful.

A bit about me: I applied in R4, had a 740 GMAT, and 3 years of work experience upon matriculation. I can talk about:
  • My application strategy
  • The interview experience
  • What it was like being an R4 candidate (pros/cons, scholarships, competitiveness)
  • The Oxford experience—MBA, the collegiate system, etc.
  • Brief profile feedback if you’re considering applying

Full disclosure—I’m doing this as a test pilot for a Europe-focused MBA consulting firm that my batchmate and I are launching.

We’re already working with three candidates, and these exercises help us interact with applicants, understand pain points, and refine how we can best support them. I know the process can be overwhelming, so happy to help wherever I can!

I also applied to Cambridge (Judge) and got in, so while I don’t have first-hand experience with the program, I can answer questions about the application process there too.

Drop your questions below! Happy to chat.
Show more