budablasta and CountOlaf
The advice I can offer for the essays are as follows.. (hope they are helpful)
1. You have about a 5% margin to go over the word limit, so dont freak out too much about staying within the word limit.
2. Make sure to ACTUALLY answer the question. I think sometimes applicants get really frantic about wanting to include extra information that they forget to answer the actual question.
3. First essay question. Talk about what led you to where you are today, and where you hope to go in the future (whether it is to continue your current trajectory or do a career change -- make sure that if you want to do a career change to give very rational reasons why and show that you've done your research in your chosen new field). Make sure to talk about why a MBA would help your career and why specifically Oxford. May be helpful to include faculty research topics that interest you or are helpful in your career goals. The key here is to come across very thorough in your research and succinct about your future goals (they want someone who has thoroughly thought about investing in a MBA and in Oxford).
4. Second infamous topic essay is where you really showcase what kind of thinker you are. I would recommend taking a few moments to brain storm any world events, topics, books that really affected you. Personal experiences interlaced with a specific world event/book usually gives a very good introspective picture for the adcom committee. Or think within your functional area -- for example, if you worked in finance, maybe talk about how the financial crisis has shaped your thinking and outlook. Or if you work in technology, the rise and fall of new innovative technology in your arena may have shaped your thinking. Or, if you worked in government, certain world events would have affected you immensely. In my humble opinion, Oxford University doesn't just want a money making machine, they want critical thinkers that would add value to their university -- as they are first and foremost a world renown research university.
Last but not least, before I began all of my b school applications, I sat down and did a branding/marketing exercise with me as the product. I brain stormed phrases and adjectives that I wanted to project. And I chose 3 as the 3 defining characteristics. All of my essays, resume materials, recommendation letters etc expressed those 3 characteristics (if you didnt prepare a bulleted list of qualities and accomplishments you want your recommenders to talk about, I suggest you do this asap and send it to them).
That was my biggest take away from b school apps, it's all a marketing exercise. And the most memorable product (meaning candidate) wins.
I hope this helps. Good luck!