oxford admissions essay

How to write an Oxford application essay

Hello hello!

Not sure how many future Wellesley’s plan on applying to study abroad at Oxford (and the OIS already has great resources for this); thought I’d share my essays and how I structured/thought about them.

When you apply for Oxford, at least for the visiting program, you can apply for two out of the thirty-something colleges that make up the University. Granted, Wellesley only allows us to choose from seven or so of those thirty plus colleges, but that’s still plenty to choose from.

How I chose which two colleges to apply for: Arbitrarily. I literally googled “Oxford University Mountaineering Club” (because I knew I would want to get heavily involved with that club) and looked a the two climbing wall locations. Mansfield and St. Edmund were the two closest to these locations, ha.

Other specifications included: had to teach Economics, since that’s what I’m studying, and had to be a full year (I didn’t want any one-semester silliness–if I’m going to go to Oxford, I’m going to get the full experience!) and finally, I literally calculated the percentage of each college that is made up of visiting students and I think Mansfield and St. Edmund were pretty high; i.e. my chances of getting in were best there.

Okay so onto the essay structuring itself: First paragraph is basically “Why Oxford”

Oh and by the way, here’s what the essay prompt was. That’s kind of important:

“A personal statement which provides a brief account of your studies to date in your present university and an account of how a year of study at Mansfield College would fit into your educational plans. Your personal statement should also include a detailed description of the main subjects you would like to study as well as a description of the course work you have completed in the subject(s) at your home college or university.”

Okay first paragraph: “Why Oxford”

I am drawn to Oxford, and Mansfield College specifically, for a number of reasons. Oxford’s tutorial program requires a combination of dedication, hard work, and independence that I believe would challenge and enhance my intellectual ability, and is also a challenge I am excited to take on and am well prepared for. Oxford also has the geographic environment I am looking for, which is a place of natural beauty and greenery, with a large city easily accessible but not too close by (very similar to Wellesley). Mansfield College, specifically, offers courses in subjects I hope to pursue at Oxford, namely Economics and Management, and in which I already have demonstrated interest. Finally, being an avid rock climber, I have thoroughly researched Oxford’s Mountaineering Club, and Mansfield College is particularly close to both the Iffley Bouldering Wall and the Brookes Climbing Wall, two main locations for the OUMC.

Second paragraph is “why me/why I’m a good fit/why I can handle the program”:

The reason I say I am well prepared for Oxford’s tutorial program is because I am well acquainted with challenging, independent work, as well as heavily writing-based daily routines. The MIT Sloan School of Management course I took this semester, Power and Negotiation, was writing-intensive, met once a week, and was very much a self-learning process. I have also been developing my writing skills since age ten, when I began keeping a journal, and am now one of five weekly bloggers for the Wellesley Admissions Office. I am highly interested in improving my writing and independent work skills, and believe Oxford’s tutorial program perfectly aligns with those interests.

Paragraph three is “what courses I plan on taking (since they want to know) AND WHY and what courses I have already taken”:

Specifically, I plan to take Economics and Management courses at Mansfield, with the addition of one Human Sciences course. My previous coursework in Calculus, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Statistics, and Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis have prepared me well for the Economics courses I plan to take at Mansfield, which are Economics of Developing Countries, Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, and Command and Transitional Economies. I am drawn to these specific primary tutorials because I am highly interested in the macro economy. I read the Wall Street Journal daily and follow the international impact of economic policies made not only in the U.S., but also in China, Japan, and the European Union. My previous coursework in Power and Negotiation introduced me to art of managing difficult interactions and developed my desire to take Strategic Management, Organisational Analysis, Behaviour and Leadership, and Behaviour and its Evolution: Animal and Human at Mansfield. Having held multiple leadership roles since high school and with plans to work in finance after graduation, I desire to enhance my interpersonal and management skills.

A quick note here: I don’t read the WSJ anymore. I was just reading it a lot at the time of this application because I was preparing for banking interviews for summer internships. So don’t feel like you have to be someone who reads a lot of publications all the time. It’s okay to stretch the truth.

Paragraph four is “conclusion and what other cultural aspects (of Oxford, or the UK in general) I find unique/I will look forward to experiencing”

Given my experience in writing-intensive and independent work, my demonstrated interest in Economics and Management, and my passion for climbing, I feel I am a particularly good fit for a year abroad at Mansfield College. In addition, I plan to take full advantage of the social and traditional events at Oxford, including the formal dinners and lectures. This winter break, I will be backpacking through Asia, and during my term breaks at Oxford, I hope to backpack through both the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Having demonstrated my ability to withstand a rigorous academic workload by taking challenging courses and maintaining very good grades at Wellesley, while participating in time-consuming extracurricular activities, I believe Oxford will supplement very well the educational experience I’ve established for myself at Wellesley. It would be a pleasure and a privilege to spend a year abroad at Mansfield College.

Voila! There’s an essay. One page, size 12, Times New Roman, single spaced, normal margins.

Below is my St. Edmund essay, slightly tweaked to personalize it to the school, but otherwise the same.

Hope this will be helpful to future Wellesley-Oxford-hopefuls!

Cheers and have a great rest of the week,

I am drawn to Oxford, and St. Edmund Hall specifically, for a number of reasons. The Oxford tutorial program requires a combination of dedication, hard work, and independence that I believe would challenge and enhance my intellectual ability, and is also a challenge I am excited to take on and am well prepared for. Oxford has the geographic environment I am looking for, which is a place of natural beauty and greenery, with a large city easily accessible but not too close by (very similar to Wellesley). St. Edmund Hall, specifically, offers courses in subjects I hope to pursue at Oxford, namely Economics and Management, and in which I have already demonstrated an interest. Finally, being an avid rock climber, I have thoroughly researched Oxford’s Mountaineering Club, and St. Edmund Hall is particularly close to both the Iffley Bouldering Wall and the Brookes Climbing Wall, two main locations for the OUMC.

In addition, I am drawn to both St. Edmund Hall’s recent partnership with the Oxford Chinese Economy Programme and the launch of the China Growth Centre in 2009. I am highly interested in China’s economy, as demonstrated by my History of Chinese Commerce and Business course this semester and my close reading of the Wall Street Journal (which has proven especially interesting lately considering the decisions of the People’s Bank of China to decrease benchmark rates.) Both the OXCEP and the CGC will allow me to pursue my growing interest in the Chinese economy while I’m abroad.

Finally, one of my extracurricular passions, rock climbing, will be thoroughly fulfilled if I am to attend Oxford, and St. Edmund Hall specifically. The OUMC is extensive, active, and very well equipped with resources. I am currently pioneering the founding of a climbing team at Wellesley, and have already networked with various climbing gyms, Wellesley administrators, and climbing equipment brands—one of which has already agreed to sponsor our fledgling team! St. Edmund Hall has a prime location (compared to the other colleges Wellesley has programs with) in relation to OUMC facilities. I would be honored to climb, compete, and go on trips with OUMC members, as well as learn from club leaders how to successfully lead the club.

Given my experience in writing-intensive and independent work, my demonstrated interest in Economics and Management, and my passion for climbing, I feel I am a particularly good fit for a year abroad at St. Edmund Hall. In addition, I plan to take full advantage of the social and traditional events at Oxford, including the formal dinners and lectures. This winter break, I will be backpacking through Asia, and during my term breaks at Oxford, I hope to backpack through both the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Having demonstrated my ability to withstand a rigorous academic workload by taking challenging courses and maintaining very good grades at Wellesley, while participating in time-consuming extracurricular activities, I believe Oxford will supplement very well the educational experience I’ve established for myself at Wellesley. It would be a pleasure and a privilege to spend a year abroad at St. Edmund Hall.

Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples

August 18, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

Oxford Saïd 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Mandatory statement: please provide a personal statement that outlines anything additional that you would like the admissions committee to consider. (maximum 250 words).

This essay prompt is worded much differently than the school’s first essay prompt for last year, but it essentially asks for the same type of information. Interestingly, in our previous essay analysis, we noted that if a candidate was not paying close attention as they read through Oxford Saïd’s application information, they could accidentally interpret the prompt as one for a standard optional essay, given that the phrasing was almost verbatim what we see from other schools as an add-on essay invitation. This season, however, the admissions committee has tightened and clarified the wording—even adding “mandatory statement” at the beginning—to avoid any such possible misinterpretation.

If you have a notable problem or issue in your candidacy, this might be the right place to address it, given that the school does not offer a separate optional essay opportunity with which to do so. However, because this is an essay that all applicants must submit, your goal is to provide some key additional information here for the admissions committee to use in deciding whether to include you in its next incoming class, even if your profile is free of questionable components. You will therefore need to determine what is most important for the committee to know to be able to evaluate you thoroughly and fairly, whether that is the story behind a seemingly unfavorable part of your application or whether it is one about a significant learning experience, impressive accomplishment, or unique ability (or something else altogether). As always, take time to consider everything the admissions committee will already be able to learn about you via the other parts of your application, from your statistics and resume to your recommenders’ contributions. With this essay, you want to round out that information in a positive way that pushes your candidacy forward in the direction of acceptance.

Even though this submission is not optional, we still recommend downloading a free copy of our mbaMission Optional Essays Guide . It might help you in determining whether or not you should write this essay on a problem area/issue (or perhaps which one, if your candidacy includes multiple questionable elements), and if so, the advice and many examples within will direct you in how to do so most effectively.

If you are applying under the Oxford 1+1 scheme you also need to submit the following essay:

Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your career and personal development aims. (maximum 250 words).

For this essay, Saïd provides a very straightforward prompt. Oxford has created an innovative two-year program through which you can earn two master’s degrees simultaneously. But the school has a simple request first—explain why the additional, non-MBA master’s degree is necessary for you. If you hope to participate in this program, you will need to help the school understand exactly why and how doing so will affect your career. With a mere 250 words in which to detail precisely how the 1+1 program will contribute to your management education and where you intend to apply that learning, you have no room to be vague. Clearly demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between the dual-degree program and the achievement of your goals. Your underlying message needs to be readily comprehensible: “I will complete X degree, which will benefit me by manifesting in Y part of my career.”

Re-applicants will need to submit an additional essay: What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or accepted some sort of personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. Sa ï d wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the time since your previous application to do so, because earning a Sa ï d MBA is important to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts are presented in the best light po ssible.

Online assessment: To virtually get to know you and see how you think on your feet, you will need to complete an online assessment as part of your application. This comprises:

– two motivation-based questions – all candidates will answer the same questions, – one competency-based question – this will be randomised, – written response – this will be randomised and light-hearted , the motivation-based questions give you the opportunity to demonstrate your motivations for undertaking an mba and why the oxford mba is the right programme for you. the competency-based question will allow you to demonstrate the skills and qualities we look for, such as decision-making, problem-solving, influence, leadership, and strong communication skills. , once you have submitted your application for either the oxford mba or oxford 1+1 mba you will see a link in your application status portal. this will enable you to register with kira talent, our online assessment platform, and complete your assessment. you can complete this any time before the application stage deadline in which you wish to apply., you will be provided with preparation time and practice sessions before going live with your real responses. the whole online assessment should only take up to 30 minutes for you to complete. all you need is a desktop or laptop computer with a functioning webcam, microphone and internet connection..

We know that required videos—and spontaneous ones, in particular—often strike fear into the hearts of business school candidates, but let us reassure you a bit about this component of the Oxford application process, so you can relax and put your best self forward. First of all, keep in mind that video questions like these are not intended to trip you up or entice you to do or say anything that would immediately disqualify you from consideration. Video submissions are most often merely opportunities for the admissions committee to put a “face,” so to speak, on your written application and learn a little more about your personality, energy level, communication style, and other such intangibles. In reference to the video component, the school’s admissions FAQs page even states outright, “There are no right or wrong answers, and this isn’t a test. It’s just a way for us to get a glimpse into you and your personality and help to let you stand out as the unique candidate that you are!” If you focus on being authentic and sincere, you will provide the admissions committee with exactly what it is seeking. Thankfully, the Kira platform is set up so that you can practice an unlimited number of times, so you will not have to go into this portion of the application cold. This is a valuable opportunity that we cannot encourage you enough to make the most of.

To start, you will need to respond to two “motivation” questions, which will be the same for all applicants. Although the school does not present outright exactly what these questions will be, it does explain that it is interested in the “whys” behind your application and offers on its FAQs page the sample question “Why is an MBA the next step for you to further … your career?” We assume from the prompt that the other question would then naturally be some version of “Why do you want to earn your MBA from Oxford specifically?” (You might also want to be prepared to answer the query “Why is now the right time to get your MBA?” just in case.) You will be given one minute in which to prepare your answer and 90 seconds to record it. Because these topics are common elements of a traditional personal statement, we encourage you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Personal Statement Guide , which explains how best to prepare for and respond to questions related to these subjects and offers multiple illustrative examples.

You will also be required to answer one “competency” question, which will be drawn from a group of options and will therefore vary for each candidate. Judging from the school’s proffered example—”Take a minute to tell us about a time where you’ve overcome a challenging situation, either professionally or personally. What was your approach to resolving the situation?”—these appear to be in the vein of typical interview questions. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method when responding to this question to ensure that your answer includes all the relevant information the admissions committee seeks. Take time to do some research on what this technique entails, and make it a central part of your practice efforts. You will be given 45 seconds to prepare your answer to this question and one minute in which to respond. For sample questions you can use to practice, consider downloading a free copy of the mbaMission Interview Guide , in which we present a list of 100 common interview queries.

We recommend practicing in front of a mirror to exercise maintaining a pleasant and natural expression as you speak and timing yourself to ensure your answers do not tend to run long. Although you can prepare as much as you want, you will have only one chance to record your response(s) when you do the official interview. If you stumble while answering or ultimately are unhappy with your answer, unfortunately, you will not be able to rerecord anything or try again another time. This might make you nervous, but we encourage you to view the situation a little differently. As we have noted, Oxford wants to get to know the real you through these video essays. If you fumble for words or lose your train of thought, just laugh or shrug and continue with your response. Accepting a mistake with a sense of humor and grace will give the admissions committee a more positive and natural impression of your personality than rigid scripting and overpreparation ever could.

The final portion of the online assessment involves a written response to a query the admissions committee describes as “light-hearted,” offering as an example “Apples are more versatile than bananas. Discuss.” Because truly preparing in advance for such a casual and nonpersonal prompt is largely impossible, this is the question that will give the admissions committee the best impression of how you improvise and perform extemporaneously, as well as communicate clearly under pressure. Focus a little less on trying to write a serious treatise and more on being authentic to your personality and letting a bit of your creative side shine through—though be sure to stay on topic and actually provide an answer to the question! You will be given five minutes to craft your response, which the FAQs page notes should allow you to write up to 500 words. If you want to practice for this part, ask a friend or family member to Google “silly questions,” or “funny” or “random” ones (a quick search brought up such examples as “Is cereal soup?” and “If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?”), and choose some for you. Then give yourself five minutes in which to formulate and type up a response to each. This will give you a feel for how much time five minutes really is, how much you can generally write in that period, and how well you are able to develop a mini essay that both provides a clear answer and is reflective of your personal style.

2023-2024 Business School Essays International Business Schools MBA Essay Tips Oxford University (Saïd Business School) Saïd Business School

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2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
BU Questrom School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Cambridge Judge Business School Essay Tips and Examples
Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Columbia Business School Essay Tips and Examples
Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Emory Goizueta Business School Essay Tips and Examples
Esade Essay Tips and Examples
Georgetown McDonough School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024
Harvard Business School Essay Tips and Examples
HEC Paris Essay Tips and Examples
HKUST Business School Essay Tips and Examples
IE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
IESE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples
International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Essay Tips and Examples
Ivey Business School Essay Tips and Examples
London Business School Essay Tips and Examples
Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Essay Tips and Examples
Texas McCombs School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Essay Tips and Examples
The Wharton School Essay Tips and Examples
Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Essay Tips and Examples
USC Marshall School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
UW Foster School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Essay Analysis, 2023–2024
Villanova School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
Yale School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

Berkeley-Haas
Boston University (Questrom)
Cambridge Judge Business School
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
Cornell University (Johnson)
Dartmouth College (Tuck)
Duke University (Fuqua)
Emory University (Goizueta)
George Washington University (GWSB)
Georgetown University (McDonough)
Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
IE Business School
IESE Business School
Indian School of Business
Indiana University (Kelley)
Ivey Business School
London Business School
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
New York University (Stern)
Northwestern University (Kellogg)
Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Ohio State University (Fisher College)
Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
Penn State Smeal College of Business
Rotman School of Management
Saïd Business School
Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
University of Cambridge (Judge)
University of Chicago (Booth)
University of London (London Business School)
University of Michigan (Ross)
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Southern California (Marshall)
University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
University of Virginia (Darden)
Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Villanova School of Business
Yale University (School of Management)

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Tuesday Tips: Oxford MBA Application Essay Tips for 2023-2024

Are you currently working on your Oxford MBA application? The highly ranked one-year Saïd at Oxford MBA program exposes students to an international, diverse network at a world-class institution. For that reason, Oxford seeks engaged students and mature leaders with extensive work experience.

In addition to attending virtual information sessions and visiting the school, a great way to learn about the Oxford MBA is by reading student blogs . You’ll notice that there is a strong culture of improving the world. In fact, this emphasis on making the world a better place comes through clearly in this set of Oxford MBA application essays. Conveying your deeper purpose is a core motivator for a successful applicant.

Above all, Oxford states, “the admissions committee will be looking for evidence of the following: good communication skills, leadership potential, analytical skills, fit with the Oxford MBA community.”

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.

The Oxford MBA Application

Supporting statement: tell us something that is not covered in your application which you would like the admissions committee to know about you. (maximum 250 words).

This Oxford MBA application essay is open-ended. Therefore, it allows you to cover almost any topic that you think needs more clarification. Perhaps you want to describe something about your personal background. On the other hand, you might want to describe a leadership role in a volunteer role.

In addition, it’s possible to use this essay to further emphasize your career goals. Consider sharing information about your international experience if applicable. Oxford is looking for maturity, leadership, and diversity in applicants. Accordingly, this essay is an opportunity to show these qualities.

Once you have chosen a topic for this Oxford MBA application essay, you will want to explain yourself clearly. With only 250 words, you should make sure to use precise language and examples. Specific examples will help the admissions committee understand you better. For example, you might describe a volunteer accomplishment. To do so, describe who was there, what you accomplished, and how you felt about it.

If you are applying under the Oxford 1+1 MBA scheme, you also need to submit the following essay:

Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your career and personal development aims. (Maximum 250 words)

The Oxford 1+1 MBA provides a unique experience. You can study business for one year and spend the other year studying topics from African Studies to Water Science, Policy, and Management.

Successful applicants will show why they have a good reason to study both. Consider your career goals and how a well-rounded course may help you. In addition, focus on long-term goals and consider how deep knowledge in a master’s topic could provide perspective.

This Oxford MBA application essay is asking “Why 1+1,” and you will need a clear answer. Therefore, extensive program research will help you answer the question thoroughly. To conduct your research, consider contacting current or former students, as well as alumni or faculty. Make sure you have well-researched questions to ask of them and focus on your interests and goals.

Re-applicants will need to submit an additional essay as below:

What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

It’s easy to answer questions like this one when you have improved scores. However, even if your improvements are less tangible, this essay allows you to express them.

First, consider what you have learned since you last applied. Second, think about any advancements at work. Third, review your outside activities for any leadership experiences. Once you have reviewed the recent developments, describe them briefly in this essay. Finally, make sure to explain why you are a stronger candidate.

To learn more about the Oxford MBA application process, visit the Oxford Saïd website .

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to test prep to hourly help with targeted tasks. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

If you have an interview coming up, you will want to review SBC’s interview prep services . The key to interview success is practice and we provide you with all the tools you need to do just that.

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Oxford MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024

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3 unconventional steps to writing great mba essays.

The essay component is arguably the most crucial piece of your business school application. When done right, a compelling story can help counterbalance weaker aspects of your candidacy. Unfortunately, the AdCom member reading your ... →

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Everything you need to know to get Accepted

July 31, 2022

Oxford Saïd MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

Oxford lets your resume, recommendations, application form, and transcript(s) speak for themselves. The one required MBA essay question indicates that the adcom wants a glimpse of you beyond these core elements. It seems like a simple question – but there is a little twist in it that amplifies its importance in the application and its connection between you and the admissions readers. Also realize that the adcom learns about you from this essay not just through the details of the topic you present but also through your decision to use that topic. That decision reflects your values, your understanding of fit with Oxford , and your overall perspective.

Oxford Saïd 2022-23 MBA application essay

Tell us something that is not covered in your application which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you. (Maximum 250 words)

While the “something” will be the topic of the essay, the real heart of this essay question lies in the phrase “which you would like the Admissions Committee to know.” It almost posits a dialogue between you and the adcom; it sets up a relationship, a dialogue. It’s personal; they’re talking to YOU. Reading the spirit as well as the literal meaning of these words, you can infer that the adcom is looking for a story or a message that gets to the essence of who you are in some way.

Therefore, don’t try to find the most dramatic or exotic topic possible; this essay doesn’t have to shout. Rather, it should incisively reveal a fresh dimension of you – one that is relevant to the application and that will add to the Oxford Saïd community.

That leaves a lot of room for topic choice. I suggest committing to one topic and discussing it in as much depth as is possible in 250 words. Make this single essay vivid and memorable by basing it on your actual experience, which gives the adcom not just information about you but also your unique perspective on an aspect of your life.

As for topic, be strategic in selecting one that is relevant, will engage the Oxford adcom, and enhances your fit for Oxford Saïd.

Oxford Saïd at a glance

Saïd median GMAT score: 690

Saïd class size: 350

94% of the Saïd MBA class are international students.

Check out the Business School Selectivity Index for more stats about top b-schools.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your Oxford Saïd application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your dream schools. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options— click here to get started today!

We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!

Oxford Saïd 2022-2023 MBA application deadlines

Source: Oxford Saïd website

5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid In Your MBA Application Essays - Download your free guide!

Related Resources:

School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips
Different Dimensions of Diversity , a podcast episode
“I’m Smart, Really I Am!” Proving Character Traits in your Essays

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Tips for your Oxford Saïd Application Essays

August 8, 2022

Sophie Hilaire

Oxford Saïd Application Essay Tips, 2022-2023

Oxford Saïd Business School takes pride in being part of a “world-class university, tackling world-class problems.” The school attracts a diverse student body that comes from all areas of life and is motivated to drive change and turn ideas into action. The program’s main 250-word essay is a great way to showcase a personal aspect of your candidacy. In your written work, Oxford will be looking for evidence of good communication skills, leadership potential, analytical skills, and fit with its very international MBA community.

Essay 1: Tell us something that is not covered in your application which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you. (Maximum 250 words)

This essay prompt gives you the flexibility to cover any topic, but being specific and concise will be key to crafting an effective response. We suggest you pick a maximum of one or two examples. If you have any gaps or weaknesses in your profile that need to be clarified, you can address those, but add a positive spin by highlighting what actions you have taken to address the shortcomings. For example, if you had a low GPA in college as a result of extenuating circumstances, perhaps you took additional quantitative courses to demonstrate your ability to handle the intense MBA coursework.

You can also consider sharing a story about a personal achievement, a leadership experience, a volunteer opportunity, an extracurricular activity at work, or a hobby. Provide details about your role, what result you achieved or impact you had, and what you learned from the experience. Depending on the topic—and if space permits—you can try working in how you could continue the activity while contributing to the Oxford community.

Given the global nature of the program, this essay would be a great place to talk about any international experiences or cross-cultural exposure you have had, whether through a project at work or while growing up. Share details about what the experience taught you and how it contributed to your growth and development or to your understanding of different cultures.

1+1 Applicant Essay: Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your career and personal development aims. (Maximum 250 words)

The Oxford 1+1 MBA program provides an excellent opportunity for specialized individuals to complete a one-year master’s degree from selected Oxford University departments, followed by a one-year MBA. In this essay, passionately share how you’ll practically apply a comprehensive understanding of business to your chosen discipline to create wide-reaching impact.

Be sure to illustrate the synergies you anticipate from accessing Oxford’s resources throughout both years. You might wish to highlight the strong networking opportunities you’ll access, including other MBA students, international alumni, prominent academics, and expert practitioners.

Overall, make the admissions committee confident that you are clear on your plans and will make them proud upon graduation. Don’t repeat any content from Essay 1; ensure that you are maximizing the tight word count by sharing only complementary information.

Reapplicant Essay: What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

As a reapplicant, you should provide specific examples of how you have strengthened your profile from the previous time you applied, whether you have taken on additional responsibilities at work, earned a promotion, improved your test score(s), learned a new skill, or picked up a new activity that has helped you grow. Be sure to express your continued interest in the Oxford MBA program by sharing any steps you have taken to learn more about the school and its community.

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2022-2023 essays MBA Application Essays Optional Essay Oxford Saïd Reapplicant

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All our tests are designed to stretch you – so don’t worry if you find them really hard; most candidates do!

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Admission Tests: Essay Sections

Admissions tests: essay sections.

Most admissions tests are made up of several different components and many will involve essays or an essay-based section. This resource breaks down each Oxford and Cambridge Admission Test that includes an essay element, and gives our Oxbridge graduate tutors’ advice on how best to approach it.

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ELAT (English / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format The ELAT gives you a choice of six texts (prose or poetry) and asks you to consider two or three of the different extracts, comparing and contrasting them.

Approach When approaching the ELAT, a good starting point is to focus on specific literary devices. Try thinking about the imagery and language, as well as the rhetorical devices being used. Make sure, however, that if you’re using literary terminology you know exactly what it means and are sure that what you’re discussing is an accurate example, and always back up your definition with an explanation of why it has been used and the effect it’s having. When comparing the passages, think about how they differ or are similar. Think about this not just in terms of the content, but also the form, structure, syntax, and style of the writers so as to give a comprehensive analysis of the text from all angles. In this test you are being assessed on your ability to analyse as well as your depth of analysis. You will also be required to demonstrate an eloquent writing style.

‘Many students are under the impression that picking three texts to compare and contrast rather than two may give them the advantage. The ELAT is all about close analysis, so the more detail you go into during the test, the stronger your essay will be. Thus, it would be unwise to bring in other texts if you don’t feel it is vital. Talking about outside texts may give the impression that you are avoiding the close analysis.
Make sure that you divide your concentration evenly over the sources. If you write on two texts, make sure that you spend half your time on each of the texts. This is a compare and contrast exercise, so this is important. Practice poems can easily found online, however support from teachers can be invaluable when locating examples of prose and plays, as thematically-similar extracts can be hard to find. Similarly, matching extracts with common themes can also be a useful practice tool in itself.
You should try to structure your argument thematically. Not only should you avoid talking about texts separately, but you should also avoid talking about form, language and style separately: use themes and ideas to integrate these points in each paragraph, talking about both extracts in each.
The ELAT shows students’ close analysis technique, which will underpin English courses at Oxford and Cambridge. At Cambridge, one of the modules, ‘practical criticism’, is virtually identical to this Admissions Test, and carries throughout the three years.’

CLT/LNAT (Law / Cambridge and Oxford)

Essay Format In both the Cambridge Law Test and the National Law Admissions Test, you are required to write one essay in the space of one hour. These tests are designed to assess how well you can structure and make a convincing argument. The assessors want to see if you have the ability to weigh up both sides of an argument and make a persuasive case for one side or the other.

Approach It’s important to remember here that examiners aren’t particularly interested in which side of the argument you take, as they are not assessing interpretation. Lots of students argue opposing sides of the argument, but still come out with equally strong marks. The test also does not require you to have knowledge of law terminology or any other subject for that matter, as it is first an foremost an exercise in essay writing and argument making. Make sure that you are up to date on current affairs to help inform your argument, brush up on your writing skills and eloquence, and always double check your grammar. Before writing your answer, make sure that you have read the question properly and be sure not to rush into writing straight away. Think about how you’re planning to back up your arguments, and create a small written plan or at least a mental draft of how each point will flow into the next.

To be able to understand the abstract issues which underlie the question.
To be able to recognise the tension between the values expressed in the question. The question will most likely present controversial and complex ideas, and students should make sure that they do not underestimate their complexity.
To be able to argue clearly and concisely, writing in paragraphs that include an initial point, and then defend the point throughout the rest of the paragraph.
You may want to inform your arguments by bringing in examples, for instance if the question talks about liberty, you may wish to talk about recent terror attacks. If you cannot think of any relevant real examples, you can also use hypothetical examples.
Try to avoid preamble. You must remember to write an essay, rather than a speech, so don’t use rhetorical devices like adjectives and adverbs. Contrary to popular opinion, you can use the word ‘I’, however avoid phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘in my opinion’. It is best to use ‘I’ in the context of ‘I will conclude’, ‘I agree’ or ‘I will argue’.
In Oxford, studying Law Jurisprudence, you will write an essay a week following the LNAT format, the only difference being that you will refer to Law. The LNAT and the CLT give you the opportunity to show that you can write in this style competently.
Use this tip – Look through your paragraphs and check that every line advances the argument. If it doesn’t, then it needs cutting or rephrasing.
Don’t ‘beg the question’. Don’t assume the thing that the question wants you to examine. Make sure you really think about what the question wants you to discuss.’

BMAT (Medicine / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format The BioMedical Admissions Test essay section presents you with a quote which you will have to define, argue both for and against, and come to a conclusion on. The essay is used to determine whether you can present information in an organised and reasoned manner, so it’s important that you write concisely. Doctors are frequently asked to summarise cases, coming to a conclusion based on their professional opinion; this essay is designed to replicate such a task and test your ability to do so.

Approach Particularly given that many Medicine applicants haven’t studied an essay-based subject since GCSE, this part of the test can represent a point of anxiety for many applicants. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to begin re-familiarising yourself with essay-writing as a skill. Remember to plan and structure your essay well (since you will only have one side of A4) before writing it in proper and eloquent English where possible. Make sure not to use any shorthand or bullet points as you will be marked down for this.

‘Examiners assess how coherent and logical the argument presented can be. Unlike a Humanities degree, they are not looking for a creative, opinionated, imaginative essay, they are looking for a well structured, precise, short piece of writing.
The question or quote which is given can be extremely varied. They are usually scientific, either involving scientific language, or from a scientific source. There will always be a question that sounds medical, which the majority of students will choose. There is NO NEED to do that, it will not give you an advantage.
Unlike section two, there is no syllabus to revise, however despite this, the BMAT essay section is very easy to practice. The formula of the question is so predictable and methodical that you can easily use your own quotes or statements to make mock tests.
You shouldn’t feel like you need to shoehorn medical references into your essays. The essay section is about writing style and analysis, and less about your knowledge of the subject; this will be displayed in section two of the BMAT.
The essay is designed to show time management, precision and organisation within a highly pressured environment. This is to show that you have the desired transferable skills to be a doctor, or a scientist.

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TSA Oxford (Experimental Psychology, Geography, Human Sciences, PPE, and PPL (Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics) / Oxford)

Essay Format If you are sitting the Thinking Skills Assessment for Oxford, you will need to sit an additional essay section. You will asked to choose one of four questions and write about your conclusions. Approach The questions aren’t subject specific, and there isn’t an set structure on how to answer this section, however it is best if you make sure you present an argument, back it up, assess the opposing side, and then come to a conclusion. Make sure you follow a reasoned and clear plan to give yourself the best chance of performing well.

Will Small is one of our top tutors for the TSA (Oxford and Cambridge). He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St John’s College, Oxford: ‘Examiners are assessing your ability to: write a structured and clear essay, be able to argue competently, and demonstrate an ability to work well under strict time constraints. You will not have time to write in convoluted, flowery language. Your teachers can help refine your technique by ironing out individual idiosyncrasies within your writing style. Your teachers can also help you to demonstrate your passion for your subject. If your application is pooled, then your Admissions Test can help you to stand out, and therefore you should have a curiosity and knowledge of your subject that informs your argument. You will not need a bank of statistics, and should not think too much about bringing in outside sources or examples. Again, the allocated time is very short, and includes question choice and planning, so you should start arguing as fast as possible. In my course (PPE), I was writing two essays a week, informed by an enormous amount of reading. This meant by the end of my first year, I was writing in an incredibly concise manner. The TSA (Oxford) gives you the opportunity to practice this skill.’

HAT/HAA (History / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format In both the History Admissions Test and the History Admissions Assessment, you will have a definition exercise, then an explanation exercise, and finally an essay. The essay part of the exam assesses how a student can structure an argument. Again, as is the case in many of the Admissions Tests, the essay section is not about what you know, it is about the skills you can display.

Approach Be wary of waffling! In GCSE, and occasionally even A-level, students can sometimes get away with a lot of preamble and big ideas without backing them up with hard arguments and evidence. However, in both the HAT and the HAA, you are being assessed on your originality, clarity, and precision, as well as your ability to spot flaws, which leaves little room for pontificating.

Through tutoring the HAT and the HAA, our Oxbridge consultants have compiled these tips for the essays:

The HAT essay section is designed to test your ability to analyse a source critically and offer a coherent argument. You will be doing this throughout your course at either Oxford or Cambridge. Again, as a Humanities subject, there may be a temptation to write in a flowery, creative way. Due to the amount of time that you have, you should only spend half an hour on the essay section. This doesn’t allow for much time to demonstrate your essay writing prowess, so you should concentrate on your argument.
You are allowed to bring in other historical sources, however make sure that if you do that it informs the sources presented in the test. You should not spend too much time discussing something which is not on the paper.
The question may well be relatively open-ended, and whilst making sure that you answer the question directly, you should think about the different perspective lenses that you can analyse the content through. The source may be referring to a historical battle, but students could analyse through various different themes, such as colonialism or monarchy.
The examiner will appreciate originality and this can be presented in a variety of different forms. This may come in your perspective on a source, the areas of the text you choose to focus on, or your conclusions. Take time before you leap into writing your argument to think about how you can stand out from your peers.

It’s worth noting that, although these are the main tests required for the above subjects, some colleges have different entry requirements or may set different tests (sometimes for each candidate in rare circumstances) so always make sure that you’re preparing for the correct test(s) when using these resources.

Overall, an essay section of an admissions test is designed to give the admissions tutors an idea of your ability to structure an argument, reason logically, and persuade the reader in clear and concise language in a given direction. Really focus on making your argument and thinking processes stand out, rather than trying to shoehorn in specific pieces of knowledge that you feel may be relevant, as this is not the purpose of the exercise. If you’ve got an essay test coming up, or any other form of admissions test, and aren’t sure where to begin, get in touch with our Oxbridge graduate consultants for up-to-date advice and bespoke guidance.

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How To Successfully Complete the Oxford Kira Video Interview

Oct 2, 2022

With its focus on ethical leadership and social impact, Oxford is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue (or continue pursuing) a high-impact, global career.

However, with impressive recruiting statistics and its unique 1+1 MBA + Master’s program, the competition to join Oxford’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.

That’s why it’s so important to nail every aspect of your application – including the video interview.

In addition to giving the admissions committee the chance to “put a face with a name,” the video essay is an essential part of the Oxford Saïd application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Oxford community.

In fact, in our experience helping 99.8% of all our Oxford complete consulting applicants secure a place at the school, we have noticed that the video essay is just as influential in an applicant’s admissions decision as the admissions interview .

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Oxford video interview works and have shared our best tips to ensure you record an outstanding video essay that ensures you pass through to the interview round.

Why does Oxford require a video essay?

Launched relatively recently, the video interview gives the Oxford admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the school’s community.

According to Oxford’s admissions committee, the videos were introduced for these reasons:

With that in mind, it’s extremely important to make sure you fully understand this component of the application.

How does the Oxford video essay work?

The way the video essay works is very simple.

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform.

After signing in and starting the session, you will get four spoken questions in total, one at a time. For the speaking questions, you will have to answer 2 questions from each of the 2 categories below:

Motivation-based questions
Competency-based questions

After receiving each question, you will have 1 minute to answer. There are no opportunities to redo the question , and you only get one chance to speak and provide your answer.

NOTE: Many of our clients have received 1.5 minutes to answer both motivation-based questions.

Then, you will receive one written question. You will receive a prompt and will have 5 minutes to answer. You’re expected to write about 250-500 words.

The questions are random, but we’ve included a list of questions previous applicants have received below, so you can practice!

Technical requirements

To complete the video interview, you need a microphone, camera, and strong internet connection. Though the platform states you can complete the video essay on your mobile device, we have found that this does not consistently work.

Furthermore, given past applicants’ issues with the iPad version of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer .

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here .

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your video essay response by your chosen round’s deadline . Once you submit the application, you will gain access to the Kira link to record your video interview. Don’t wait to submit your application last minute, however, since you will not receive extra time for your video interview! Find Oxford’s most current application deadlines here.

If you submit your application early, you can submit the video essays at any time, as long as you make the final deadline.

Which types of questions are asked?

Oxford asks 3 types of questions. 1 is motivation-based (spoken), 1 is competency-based (spoken) and one is written. We have included sample questions below.

Group 1: Motivation-based questions

The first group asks 2 questions related to your interest in Oxford, your reasons for completing an MBA, and your perceived benefits of their program.

This might take the form of “Why Oxford?”, or “Why is an MBA the next step for you to further for your career?” Conversely, they may also ask what you can contribute to the community or what types of activities you’re interested in pursuing outside of class. They obviously want to be sure that you have researched Oxford and have good reasons for applying.

For this section, refer back to your goals essay, reflect, and be honest with yourself about why you’re applying to Oxford. Maybe you like the international nature of the programme, maybe the timing of a 1-year program works well for you (or the 1+1 format, if you’re applying for this program), or perhaps you have colleagues who attended and spoke highly of Oxford.

The curriculum should also be a selling point for you, as well as the clubs and campus life, the diversity of the students, the experience of the teachers, and the internships and alumni network.

Now, please don’t reel off that list! It won’t be personal enough to you.

Instead, clearly articulate your top three or four reasons for applying to Oxford, and speak about them.

You don’t need to spend much time introducing this topic, saying “There are three main reasons why I want to attend Oxford” and then giving us the reasons is more than enough.

It’s always good to include something that shows you’ve researched the programme , so mentioning something specific, be it the academic modules or a specific club you want to join is a must for a winning video essay.

Sample motivation-based questions

Why is an MBA the next step for you to further in your career?
How long have you been considering doing an MBA and why now is the right time?
What specific skills are you looking to gain at Oxford?
What is unique to Oxford MBA that you are attracted to?
Why an MBA now?
Why Oxford Said Business School?
Why Oxford over all the other schools you’ve applied to?

Group 2: Competency-based questions

Oxford is a community that values purpose-driven, adaptable people who work well in teams and are strong problem-solvers.

For that reason, Oxford often asks questions aimed at determining if you have the skills and qualities the school looks for and will be a positive addition to the Saïd community.

These questions won’t specifically ask “do you like working in a team,” but if you can keep in mind that this is a chance to show how you interact with others, you’ll have a good starting point for this question.

Typically questions range from how you help someone who needs advice, to your management style to how you handle conflict. An example of a type of question you might receive here would be, “Take a minute to tell us about a time where you’ve overcome a challenging situation, either professionally or personally. What was your approach to resolving the situation?”

To do well in this question, it’s great to draw on examples , and to be clear and to the point.

Furthermore, make sure to show your human side and demonstrate that you genuinely care for others and want teams you join to succeed. It can be easy to answer in a very conversational way, but doing so can often lead to an answer without a point, so make sure to structure the key elements of your answer.

For this question, you want to make sure you’re showing what you do, and use active language.

Your answer will want to show that you’re mature, that you’re emotionally intelligent, that you can see the bigger picture, that you’re empathetic and that you make a positive contribution to those around you.

If the question is about helping someone with a problem, tell us what you do. Perhaps you first like to listen, then help them get clear on what they really want, and then decide together on some next steps.

If the question is about your management style, be precise. Tell them how you manage people and why. Maybe you’re very hands-off, and like to give everyone the opportunity to take responsibility within their role, as you think this empowers them the most to learn and develop. Maybe you’re more hands-on and like to make sure your team knows they can come to you with problems, as giving people too much freedom too soon can actually be overwhelming to them.

Regardless, make sure to show your reasons for your actions and demonstrate that you’re a person who embraces collaboration and who sees setbacks as opportunities for learning.

Sample competency-based questions

Take a minute to tell us about a time where you’ve overcome a challenging situation, either professionally or personally. What was your approach to resolving the situation?
What is the most significant personal weakness that you have identified, what did you do about it, and what was the result?
Imagine you are proposing a business innovation idea for a class project and the audience is not interested. What would you do?
Discuss a time that you and your teammates were on a tight timeline.
Tell us about a time you asked for help and how did it go?
Tell us about a time you were overloaded with work, how did you handle it?
Discuss what you would do if you and your teammates cannot come to an agreement on a project decision.
Tell us a time where you had an idea and had to convince your project team.
Tell us about a time you led a diverse team, what specific skill did you use and why?

Group 3: Written question

Unlike other schools, you will also be required to complete a written question for the Oxford Video Interview. According to the Oxford Admissions Committee, “The question will allow you to demonstrate your written communication skills and how well you can think on your feet. It will be randomised, with applicants for the class of 2021-22 receiving one written-response question from a pool of available questions.”

Once you receive the question, you will have 5 minutes to complete your answer. You should expect to write about 250-500 words. We suggest leaving yourself ~30 seconds at the end to proofread since we all make typos!

One of the things students stress out the most is thinking about the potential questions they might receive here and if they are prepared enough to answer. However, these questions tend to be very light and are intended to be answered with no previous preparation. An example of a question you might receive would be, “Apples are more versatile than bananas. Discuss.”

TOP TIP: Remember there are no right answers for this question. Oxford simply wants to see how you communicate in writing and how you structure your thoughts. As long as you answer the question and have a clear flow from idea to idea, you’ve done a great job!

Sample written response questions

Apples are more versatile than bananas. Discuss.
What was your favourite book as a child and why?
Why is night better than day?
Is what we do today enough to solve climate change? Why or why not?
Do you prefer cats or dogs and explain why?
How do you describe the color red to someone who can only see in black and white?

The difference between a good and great video essay

Given the importance of the video essay in your Oxford application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay, but that you have a great video essay.

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 3 tips to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Oxford.

Tip 1: Be personable on camera

This is quite a specific skill to master, but with a bit of practice, it will get much easier.

My best tip for you is to practice recording yourself and time yourself as well. Go through the questions you have and record yourself answering for one minute.

If you mess up, keep going. You can’t stop and try again in the real thing, so don’t do it now. Continue your answer and fake confidence if necessary!

Then watch yourself back. Were you making eye contact with the camera? Did you smile? Did you look friendly? Bored? Annoyed? Scared?

Chances are the first few you do won’t be great but keep going. Remember that Oxford is looking for friendly people to join their community, so make sure you’re showing your true colors on camera.

You might also like to pretend you’re something of a TV presenter. This can help you to bring your personality forward and be more engaging. You don’t want to seem flat in the recording, so be a little bit brighter and friendlier than you think you need to be, and see how big of a difference it makes to your recordings.

Furthermore, be extremely careful with your tone of voice and body language. If you’re slumped over or look bored, the admissions committee will get the impression you’re not engaged with the task or, worse, that you’re not passionate about Oxford!

This also goes for your tone of voice. Passion is contagious , but the last thing we think of when imagining a passionate person is a monotone, bored voice. So vary your tone of voice and make sure to project your passion for your interests and for Oxford. If you’re not naturally good at this, you may want to seek out help from friends or record yourself multiple times until you’ve nailed the brief.

You’ll also want to be strict with yourself about timing. Don’t go over, you won’t get to do that for real. If you find you’re running out of time, a good place to look is to see if you’re taking too long to get started with the answer, or if you’re trying to say too much.

Cut out long introductions, and stick to a few points per answer.

But most importantly, don’t forget to smile! Though this may sound cliché or outdated, smiling really is one of the best — and easiest — ways to be memorable and to create a positive first impression.

Tip 2: Be prepared to think on your feet

With the timer counting down and no option to check your interviewer’s body language for subtle clues about how well your answer is being received, video essays can be incredibly challenging.

Even more so when you receive a question you weren’t prepared for!

Yet receiving a curveball question is no reason to panic, since the best way to handle this situation is through a mix of preparation and being spontaneous.

A good way to avoid completely drawing a blank is to have a few solid examples you’re ready to speak about and adapt.

For example, let’s say you recently worked on a project in a foreign country. You experienced culture shock while trying to adapt to the new city, faced linguistic challenges both in the office and in your daily life, and also had to mix up your work style to align with local expectations. This experience would be a fantastic “stock” answer to have ready, since it brings in so many different topics that you can adapt the focus based on what the question asks.

So, in addition to preparing your answers to the list of questions we’ve prepared for you below, think back on your life and career and write a list of defining moments that are broad enough to be adapted to various questions and that show your fit with the Oxford community and its values.

While delivering your answer, don’t let the admissions committee in on the little secret that you got caught off guard! Answer confidently, using your tone of voice and body language to show off your winning personality and you’ll have successfully overcome the challenge!

TOP TIP : The admissions committee knows you’ll be a little nervous during the video essay, so don’t beat yourself up if you feel you portrayed this in your video essay. However, if you tend to get extremely nervous or freeze up, make sure to practice extra hard to make sure this doesn’t happen during your official recording.

Here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, we also offer video essay training sessions with our team of interview experts who focus on helping you adjust your body language and tone. Schedule your free consultation to get personalized help with your video essay!

Tip 3: PRACTICE

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. And if Barack Obama still practices his speeches , chances are you should practice too!

For the video essay, we suggest several types of practice to ensure you really nail the actual recording.

First, rehearse delivering your answers . We’ve all experienced situations where we had the perfect answer in our head, only to have it spill out in a disorganized mess when we tried to actually communicate the answer. This is more common than you’d think, so make sure you’ve “test-driven” your answers at least once.

During this phase, receiving feedback from an expert can help you polish your answers, making sure they show you off and demonstrate you have a strong “fit” with Oxford. Our team of experts has successfully helped all but one of our Oxford complete consulting candidates secure admissions to the school, so you can count on our team of interview experts to make sure you’re camera-ready !

Finally, Oxford offers you the chance to go through practice questions on the platform itself. This is a great chance to both make sure your equipment is properly set up and to get a feel for the timing and flow of the real video essay. Though we suggest you prepare extensively before reaching this step, make sure you don’t skip this extra chance to prepare!

Make sure you shine

You have stressed about every aspect of your Oxford application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Oxford.

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Oxford while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

That’s why we are so proud of our video essay preparation. Focused on helping you overcome your individual strengths and weaknesses in navigating the video format, all while helping you tell your story, ensures that you’ll put your best foot forward when you click “record” for your Oxford Saïd essays!

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you?

Schedule your preparation session with our team of interview experts today!

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With our expertise and 98.9% success rate in placing our consulting clients in at least one of their target schools, we can add more value to your application than you ever thought possible.

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