One of my students was accepted to Oxford, so I wanted to share the story!
But this student's profile is so extraordinary that I wonder how useful it is to post it here.
This student studied AP Chemistry and IB Chemistry with me for more than three years. That's a long time, haha.
After that preparation, Chemistry became a very easy subject for this student.
IGCSE also seemed incredibly easy for them. The overlap with AP meant they could move through it quickly.
These days we're studying IB Chemistry. During today's lesson, they suddenly said, 'Oh, teacher, I got into Oxford.' Hahaha. What an incredible moment.
The student said:
Teacher! I got into university! I got into Oxford!
I replied:
Wow! A first! Amazing!
Student:
I feel like I'm dreaming.
That's how the conversation went. When I said 'a first,' I was comparing this with a student from that school who had previously been rejected after a fourth Oxford interview.
I said: This is seriously incredible. Congratulations! Your mum and dad must be thrilled.
Student: Everyone is so happy right now.
Me: Even though you've got your offer, come back for a lesson whenever you think of me, hahaha.
Student: Hahaha, I still have to prepare for the finals.
Me: I'm so happy too.
Student: Hahaha, thank you!
Me: What's the score condition?
Student: 39!
Student: A 7 in either Maths or Physics.
Student: 7, 6, 6 at HL.
Me: Haha, that's great.
Student: Completely achievable, right?
Me: Absolutely.
Student: [Emoji]
Me: By the way, what subject are you going into? Is that decided at the start?
Student: Physics.
This student loves Maths so much that they're going into Physics! They were excellent at Physics and Chemistry too. Wherever they go, I think they'll do incredibly well academically. I'm delighted.
Now, here's the profile as I know it. Again, it may not be very useful as a comparison because so few students have credentials like these: a perfect predicted IB total of 45, 5s in 11 AP subjects, a nearly perfect SAT score, and activities such as MUN.
It's easy to say '11 AP subjects,' but how does someone actually achieve that? I've taught close to a thousand students and have hardly ever seen a profile like this. Perhaps one comes along only every few years.
And the student rejected after a fourth Oxford interview had 5s in three AP subjects, an IB total of 45, and, I think, a somewhat lower SAT score. They reached the fourth interview, and I thought they were almost in, but they were rejected and went to KAIST.
Profile of the unsuccessful applicant
An IB student's Oxford rejection… — Naver Blog
An IB student's Oxford rejection and Cambridge acceptance ↗