Aiming for Oxford – Alisha’s experiences on the Oxbridge Pathway
As part of our programme, The Access Project offers students a wide variety of enrichment opportunities, including our specialised Oxbridge and Healthcare Pathways. These Pathways are designed to support students through the application process towards courses with additional requirements and admissions tests.
Applications to Pathways are open during the autumn term to all Year 12 students studying at any of our partner schools.
Alisha’s Pathway to Oxbridge
Alisha is based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, and first enrolled on our programme in Year 10. She then reapplied before college, additionally gaining a place on the Oxbridge Pathway. The Oxbridge Pathway includes a university visit to either Oxford or Cambridge, with the opportunity to learn from Oxbridge student ambassadors and the admissions team. Students also benefit from admissions test preparation sessions and interview practice for their specific course.
We spoke to Alisha about her experiences on The Access Project, and in particular what she has learned so far on the Oxbridge Pathway.
“I first heard about The Access Project through my school. We had an assembly for the gifted and talented programme, which is when the school picks pupils who have potential. I was initially interested in applying because of the tuition. I also liked the fact that we could plan it around our own schedules, so it was not like a lesson, but it was more that you willingly chose to do it.
As well as the academic tuition, every other week my University Access Officer, Clare, emails me about outreach programmes that we can apply for. I’ve found the majority of the outreach I’ve done through Clare’s emails.
The best thing I have done since enrolling on The Access Project was the Oxford trip because you just don’t get those kinds of opportunities. Also, another good thing was being part of the Oxbridge Pathway, as it is difficult to find support like that.”
Support from our university partners
Alisha visited Magdalen College, part of the University of Oxford. Magdalen College is one of our educational partners, and the team at Magdalen offers incredible opportunities to our students that otherwise might not be available to them.
As well as her university visit, Alisha told us about some of the other activities that the Oxbridge Pathway is offering her.
“We had an online induction where we did taster sessions and I got to take part in three different subjects, including English and English History. I found these quite interesting because they were run by someone who’s doing that degree at Oxbridge. I enjoyed the fact that it was quite interactive: for example, for the English one, we got to actually analyse a text with the student, rather than them lecturing to us.
On The Access Project programme, it’s about taking every opportunity you get. I am also doing the skills programme and I thought it wouldn’t be useful, but it has actually been really useful for me because it’s given me skills I’ll be using every day. Especially coming up to university applications time, these skills are necessary. I’m just taking everything that I’ve been offered and trying to apply for everything I can.”
Plans for the future
Finally, we spoke to Alisha about her hopes for the future, and how The Access Project is helping her to get there.
“In the future, I want to do Law with Spanish Law, preferably at Oxford. Attending Spanish tutoring has been very helpful for concepts that I’m struggling with, and the tutor is always willing to help me with grammar. The Oxbridge Pathway has also been really useful. My University Access Officer found me a residential programme in the University of Cambridge that I went to earlier this year that was really helpful for me. There was a mix of taster sessions on different subjects; I attended a lecture on theology that was really interesting, and I also did one on Law. There were information sessions about how to apply and what you need to do to help you get into Oxbridge. So, I think ultimately, a lot of the things I have done in relation to my future are because of The Access Project.
In general, I would say that there are some opportunities and programmes that I can’t do because of geographical and financial limits. As The Access Project is free for us, it’s been really good because it makes me think that I can actually do these things, as opposed to thinking that it’s not for me because I’m not from a certain class or in a certain place in society.”
The Access Project helps young people from under-resourced backgrounds achieve their academic potential and place at top universities. By donating to our programme or partnering with us, you’re helping the country’s most under-resourced young people find their way to a brighter future.