Hello to all this year Oxbridge applicants! Even though Oxford has not finalised the decisions for R4, the stages for 2010 admissions are already up. They seem to eliminate R4 and also moved the deadlines almost a month earlier – interesting. Cambridge have not changed their major admission schedule - they will have five rounds this year as well - but there is mentioning of introducing an online application system (similar to the Oxford one, I guess). Also, note that Cambridge did not give the deadlines for interview decisions - only the dates of the interview events. Good luck! Last year Oxbridge applicants thread Separating Oxford from Cambridge Oxford – Said Business School sbs.jpg Requirements : GMAT - average given for reference is 680 TOEFL 109 or IELTS 7.5 (note – this is compulsory, not reference!) Experience: usually 3+ years GPA: usually equivalent of no less than good UK 2.1 degree or 3.5 GPA 2009 Rankings : Financial Times – 20, Business Week non-US MBA - 10 Application cost : 125 GBP Official site: https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/mba/ Admissions on Facebook Admissions on Twitter Our Oxford Said information thread R1 Application deadline 9 October 2009 Interview decision by 30 October 2009 Final decision by 11 December 2009 R2 Application deadline 15 January 2010 Interview decision by 5 February 2010 Final decision by 12 March 2010 R3 Application deadline 2 April 2010 Interview decision by 30 April 2010 Final decision by 28 May 2010 Cambridge – Judge Business School JBS.jpg Requirements: GMAT – average given for reference is 690 (balanced score is required) TOEFL 100 with min 25 in writing or IELTS 7.0 (don’t know if they will change this) Experience: usually 3+ years GPA: usually equivalent of no less than UK 2.1 degree or 3.3 GPA 2009 Rankings : Financial Times – 17 Application cost : 100 GBP Official site: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/mba/index.html Unofficial, but not uninteresting pages by their MBA Coordinator: Twitter , Blog . Note that the blog is mainly not about admissions, but about life in Cambridge. R1 Application deadline 12 Oct 2009 Interview day 23 or 30 Nov 2009 Decision 27 Nov or 4 Dec R2 Application deadline 23 Nov 2009 Interview day 18 or 25 Jan 2010 Decision 22 or 29 Jan 2010 R3 Application deadline 11 Jan 2010 Interview day 26 Feb or 1 or 8 Mar 2010 Decision 5 Mar or 12 Mar 2010 R4 Application deadline 8 Mar 2010 Interview day 23 or 26 Apr 2010 Decision 30 Apr 2010 R5 Application deadline 26 Apr 2010 Interview day 24 May 2010 Decision 28 May 2010

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Oxbridge 2010 Applicants

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nyinbxl

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28 Aug 2009, 04:50

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Hi, everyone. I've been following this thread for quite some time and I really like the comradery - seems like everyone is genuinely hoping for everyone else to be accepted.

Anyway, I'm applying to JBS this year, hopefully R1, and I'm wondering if any of you have any advice for the application essays. The 400-word limit is tight and I need all the help I can get! Particularly with the first question, "What are your strengths and how do you utilise them; what attributes would you like to improve upon and why?".

Please let me know and best of luck to other applicants!

- nyinbxl

buffdaddy

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29 Aug 2009, 02:19

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nyinbxl

Hi nyinbxl,

I've moved your post here to this year's thread. You are correct, last year's thread was awesome and we had good successes there by large.

Regarding the essay question, I found it extremely difficult to answer this too. I was waitlisted at Cambridge and I never felt 100% comfortable with my essays there. All I can say is focus on strong examples for strengths and mention genuine weaknesses and how you can improve on them.

Goodluck!

kaushik07

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02 Sep 2009, 02:22

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Guys,

Any idea when the link to online application form for Cam bridge is going to active? I cant find any link in their site

Cheers

greenoak

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02 Sep 2009, 06:10

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Hi Kaushik -

The JBS MBA application will open on September 7, according to the information on their site.

nyinbxl

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02 Sep 2009, 07:30

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Quick note to let everyone know that Oxford's application is up! You can find a link to it on the bottom of the 'How To Apply' tab.

Unless I'm mistaken, the essay questions are the same as in years past:

1. Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? Maximum 1,000 words.

2. Which recent development, world event or book has most influenced your thinking and why? Maximum 2,000 words.

Doesn't look like there are any surprises. Good luck to everyone applying!

- nyinbxl

hhh

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03 Sep 2009, 08:50

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Anyone else really struggling with essay 2?

Personally I am torn between writing about some health issues that have completely changed my views on life, and a book that has shaped who I am today.

Any advice?

buffdaddy

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05 Sep 2009, 06:55

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hhh

Hi hhh,

As you may know, this essay question pretty much makes the Oxford application. That's perhaps the reason they haven't changed it in years. In your situation, both stories could work equally well. You need to use this application essay to show off your diversity, your uniqueness and your general outlook on life itself. All I can say that is try to make sure there are some forward looking elements to your essay and you don't just say how this event/book/development has made you what you are today, but how it will shape you in the future.

dresin

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Updated on: 28 Oct 2010, 01:17

Originally posted by dresin on 05 Sep 2009, 14:12.
Last edited by dresin on 28 Oct 2010, 01:17, edited 1 time in total.

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bump

humblewinner

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05 Sep 2009, 15:09

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Thank you greenoak and Buffdaddy for being active in the forums and answering our questions.

This one is more a question for Cambridge app, because I dont think I will ever have a problem with Oxford essay word limit

Do you know if we could cross the word limit for cambridge essays and if yes, by how much. Is there a general guideline to this question. No school seems to specify this.

nyinbxl

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05 Sep 2009, 15:22

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hey, humblewinner. in my experience, the general rule of thumb seems to be that 5% over the word limit is ok. so, on cambridge's 400-word first and second essays, anything up to 420 words is probably fine. but beyond that you're probably running a risk.

to everyone - especially current/former oxbridge students - i'm wondering if you'd be able to comment on the social/career-related clubs (e.g., from sports to examples like a consulting club) available for students? thanks for any help!

buffdaddy

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05 Sep 2009, 16:17

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humblewinner

Do you know if we could cross the word limit for cambridge essays and if yes, by how much. Is there a general guideline to this question. No school seems to specify this.

I am pretty sure Cambridge (confirm please Greenoak) and Oxford both are very strict on the imposed word limits. Further, I believe the Cambridge application (the word document) has built in limits into the essay fields.

buffdaddy

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05 Sep 2009, 16:37

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nyinbxl

to everyone - especially current/former oxbridge students - i'm wondering if you'd be able to comment on the social/career-related clubs (e.g., from sports to examples like a consulting club) available for students? thanks for any help!

Although I haven't yet matriculated (yes, eagerly waiting and packing for the move as I write), I would like to pass on what I know about Oxford's social/career related clubs.

Formally "clubs" manifest themselves as Oxford Business Networks (OBNs) within the Said Business School. Examples of OBNs are finance, consulting, private equity, social entrepreneurship, consumer and marketing, government and international business, and communications and media.

From here things get a bit interesting. As a member of the business school, you are automatically part of the Oxford Business Alumni (https://www.oxfordbusinessalumni.com). Many industry specific events etc are organised through the OBA and the OBA also has local chapters all over the world. Note that the OBA is a wider university wide network. I've already met MBA Alumni from Columbia and MIT via the OBA, which proves that the school is new, but the network is far and wide.

At Oxbridge, one is affiliated with a college and it is here Oxbridge provides yet another dimension (beyond the Business School and University) when compared to other business school. The College is much more than just an accommodation provider. These age old institutions are A) Well Endowed and B) Full of Traditions and C) Completely Unique. I have already registered to join my college's boating club. At the college you can also dine with students/professors from all parts of the university as well as partake in other social events.

I will hopefully post about the social and professional networking opportunities a little later in the year!

p.s there's the academic side of things too

nyinbxl

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06 Sep 2009, 01:01

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hi, buffdaddy. thanks, this is great information! do you reckon there are MBA-specific sports teams, or does everyone primarily stick to their colleges on this one?

thanks again and good luck with packing/the move!

greenoak

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07 Sep 2009, 02:43

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buffdaddy

I concur with Buffdaddy here: AFAIK, the word limits at Cambridge and Oxford should be treated as 'strict'. You still can get an invite and be admitted if you exceed these limits - but better avoid this.

One remark for Cambridge - they will move to an online application system this year, so this super-cool pdf file with built-in limits won't be there anymore (I think)

Also, they are starting to charge an application fee of 100 GBP... I hope this measure will help them process applications more quickly, so we won't face the delays as it was the case last year.

humblewinner

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07 Sep 2009, 16:14

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September 7th is already over at Cambridge

.. Looks like the first signs of Cambridge missing it's dates

Franklin

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07 Sep 2009, 19:04

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Count me in for R2. I need to take the GMAT again to ensure my score is competitive.

Franklin

arisra

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08 Sep 2009, 00:03

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Count me in for R2 also. same case , must give GMAT. Good luck to all in R1.

humblewinner

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08 Sep 2009, 06:15

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Cambridge application date pushed to September 14th..

nyinbxl

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08 Sep 2009, 07:57

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humblewinner

Cambridge application date pushed to September 14th..

...along with the deadline for R1 - it's now 12 Oct.

buffdaddy

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10 Sep 2009, 00:47

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nyinbxl

There are many MBA specific sport teams and events. The two key events in the MBA sporting calendar are the Oxbridge sports day where Said and Judge students go head to head; and the MBAT (MBA Tournament) in Paris. The MBAT is kind of like an MBA olympics hosted by HEC Paris where most top EU schools take part. I believe NYU also attend.