Les anciens élèves écrivent
From 6e9 to Oxford...
Par Laura Simmons (OIB 2009)
It took me two tries to get into Oxford : two UCAS forms, two personal statements, four written tests, six interviews, four periods of stress about my application, two invitations to interviews, one rejection, and thankfully, a year later, one acceptance letter. I applied to Oxford almost as an afterthought in 2008, and as Paddy predicted grades which could just about get me in, I proceeded in my application. In November 2008 I received an invitation to interview at Merton college, the oldest and one of the most beautiful colleges of Oxford. Till the moment I stepped onto the cobbles of Merton Street, Oxford had been just an academic ambition.
As of the moment I almost twisted my ankle on some of the most absurd cobbles I’ve ever stepped on however, I must admit I fell in love with the college and the town. I made great friends at the interviews that year, enjoyed myself far more than I expected to in a time of examination, and you can just imagine how gutted I was when, a week later, I received a letter from Merton saying I would not be spending three years of my life there. I gave up on the dream then, settled for Royal Holloway (which is still a gorgeous uni, but what can compare with Merton’s cobbles ?) and aimed for a 14 on my bac, just above the 13 Royal Holloway had asked me for.
...then February 2009 came, and brought with it a letter with Merton’s crest on it. The college wished to encourage me to reapply this coming October for the course I had tried for the year before, and explained the main reason for my rejection. I had applied for deferred entry (for a place the year after a gap year) and to put it simply, Oxford don’t like that.
So I tried again. My mention Très Bien came as a surprise, but a welcome one. Having applied for Philosophy and Italian I then decided to reinforce my personal statement with personal experience : I headed out to Italy for the first four months of my gap year to look after a 5 year old and perfect my knowledge of the language. I planned my return flight so I could easily go to interviews, in the hope that I would be once again invited to them...
...and on December 18th, 2009, about a year and a half after the idea of Oxford had first popped into my head, I received the confirmation from Merton college that I would, in fact, be spending three years of my life there.
Comme quoi you can go from Sevres onto great things... all you need is a little conviction, a good prediction from Paddy and perhaps a few lucky cobbles.
Dernière modification le 06-02-10 par
