Internship and career opportunities for Oxbridge students

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Oxford now...Happy to answer any questions.


What would be the best resources you'd recommend for an 11th grader to research for applying to Oxford (PPE or similar)? YouTube, books, websites, consultants, etc for test and interview prep. Most helpful would be what worked for your DC and what not to do (unnecessary). Thanks.

Do not apply for PPE. It is a cliche major, especially for Americans. Anything but. And, if you think about it, what’s the point? Can study PPE or combine those subjects at any American school.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:But to start, here’s the admissions requirements for international students. https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/international-qualifications


22:13 from above here. I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you. Have looked at the Oxford site. Any specific book you recommend? Asking BECAUSE there are many books out there. I was hoping I would piggyback on someone who has successfully navigated a process unfamiliar to many American students. You have obviously done that. Using a competent consultant removes a need to do spend your energy on research I suppose. Fair point.
Anonymous

Do not apply for PPE. It is a cliche major, especially for Americans. Anything but. And, if you think about it, what’s the point? Can study PPE or combine those subjects at any American school.

Interesting. Are you suggesting against PPE as a major in general? Or, against American students studying it at Oxford, but PPE is ok to study at an American college? Thanks.

I'm interested in the Oxford route mainly from a financial point of view. (My DC from an academic point. DC loved the "vibe" when we visited a year ago.) I believe my DC would be competitive for both American private colleges and Oxford, but American private colleges would be much more expensive in my case.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about encouraging my kids to apply to Oxbridge because of the academic rigor and the opportunity to study alongside equally bright peers, given the emphasis on academic merit in admissions.

I’m curious about what the experience is like when it comes to finding internships back in the U.S. — can anyone share their insights? I’ve noticed on LinkedIn that many major companies do hire Oxbridge graduates, but I’d love to hear some first-hand experiences from DCUM

(Please skip this thread if you’re only here to criticize those considering schools outside the U.S.)


As someone who was hiring mgr in the UK for many years, I think this would be about your connections and the child’s hustle. UK satellites of even the largest companies will recruit for their local openings, maybe EU openings as well if the UK is the regional HQ…. There is zero shot that Oxbridge career services is going to help you much in this regard. Do you have connections that you can pull? I honestly think that would be the easiest maybe the only way to land a US internship while attending a UK school.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about encouraging my kids to apply to Oxbridge because of the academic rigor and the opportunity to study alongside equally bright peers, given the emphasis on academic merit in admissions.

I’m curious about what the experience is like when it comes to finding internships back in the U.S. — can anyone share their insights? I’ve noticed on LinkedIn that many major companies do hire Oxbridge graduates, but I’d love to hear some first-hand experiences from DCUM

(Please skip this thread if you’re only here to criticize those considering schools outside the U.S.)


As someone who was hiring mgr in the UK for many years, I think this would be about your connections and the child’s hustle. UK satellites of even the largest companies will recruit for their local openings, maybe EU openings as well if the UK is the regional HQ…. There is zero shot that Oxbridge career services is going to help you much in this regard. Do you have connections that you can pull? I honestly think that would be the easiest maybe the only way to land a US internship while attending a UK school.


US schools have recruiters that show up, interview, and collect resumes - are you saying that no one comes to Oxbridge? Not even companies like: Google, Meta, Microsoft? That sounds very. odd that everything is dependent on connections. Sure connections are the best way in but you don't find the best with connections alone.
Anonymous
To the parent looking for help prepping for an application, you've missed this year's deadline but if you want your child to be ready for next year, get in touch with these people. They know what they're doing. All their tutors are either grads of Oxford or current students there.

https://oxfordtutors.com/

They can help your kid prepare their application / practice any entrance tests and practice interviews.

And they do not charge like US consultants, either.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:To the parent looking for help prepping for an application, you've missed this year's deadline but if you want your child to be ready for next year, get in touch with these people. They know what they're doing. All their tutors are either grads of Oxford or current students there.

https://oxfordtutors.com/

They can help your kid prepare their application / practice any entrance tests and practice interviews.

And they do not charge like US consultants, either.


Super! My DC is a Jr in HS. DC just started compiling a long list of colleges from which to trim down. Thank you so much!!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Oxford now...Happy to answer any questions.


What would be the best resources you'd recommend for an 11th grader to research for applying to Oxford (PPE or similar)? YouTube, books, websites, consultants, etc for test and interview prep. Most helpful would be what worked for your DC and what not to do (unnecessary). Thanks.

Do not apply for PPE. It is a cliche major, especially for Americans. Anything but. And, if you think about it, what’s the point? Can study PPE or combine those subjects at any American school.


This advice seems odd. You can study almost any Oxford subject at many US universities. Are you saying the main benefit of an Oxbridge degree is the complete focus on a single subject? If so, I get your point. But OP doesn't seem to be looking for that.

It's incredibly respected, esp. in the UK, as it's very difficult to get into (just like top students apply ED to Penn instead of EA to HYP, top students apply to other subjects like history or politics at Oxford because PPE is known to be more selective).

Yes, many US schools now have PPE. But PPE in Oxford 1) is the original, and most respected, and 2) is only three years to the degree.


Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Oxford now. He has never once mentioned a career services office. Oxford is notoriously NOT well organized - it's 44+ colleges and a hodge podge of bureaucracies. I did google and there is a career services office. I'll ask tomorrow (he's asleep) but he has never used it.

You have to be incredibly mature and independent to succeed there. He's done all of his own job searches and LSAT prep and Law School apps.

I assume you have familiarized yourself with the unusual admissions requirements like the 5 in 5 APs in core subjects (that usually messes up Americans), the substantive interview (also a killer for Americans who don't understand that you are applying to read in a subject in which it is already assumed that the applicant has knowledge). You are not applying for a liberals arts experience. Happy to answer any questions.


My kid at Oxford has been to the career center. They do resume review and list summer internships (which my kid applied for but did not get; found an internship elsewhere).
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about encouraging my kids to apply to Oxbridge because of the academic rigor and the opportunity to study alongside equally bright peers, given the emphasis on academic merit in admissions.

I’m curious about what the experience is like when it comes to finding internships back in the U.S. — can anyone share their insights? I’ve noticed on LinkedIn that many major companies do hire Oxbridge graduates, but I’d love to hear some first-hand experiences from DCUM

(Please skip this thread if you’re only here to criticize those considering schools outside the U.S.)


One concern is about the different academic calendars. Many structured US summer internship programs start in June, but Oxford first year exams don't finish until early July.

That said, it doesn't seem like kids even at the most selective US universities are easily falling into jobs these days.
Anonymous
Any decent university in the UK will provide a rigorous education. Internships will be difficult but a UK degree from a high level UK university will qualify your DC for a 2 year work visa to the UK that you must pay a fee to receive.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To the parent looking for help prepping for an application, you've missed this year's deadline but if you want your child to be ready for next year, get in touch with these people. They know what they're doing. All their tutors are either grads of Oxford or current students there.

https://oxfordtutors.com/

They can help your kid prepare their application / practice any entrance tests and practice interviews.

And they do not charge like US consultants, either.


Super! My DC is a Jr in HS. DC just started compiling a long list of colleges from which to trim down. Thank you so much!!


You are welcome. The guy who head it up is called William Hale. Its a good idea to have a zoom with him so he knows exactly what you're in need of / and if he can help with it.

Our 2 kids are both at top UK universities and a lot of it was down to the help he provided last year.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It's funny when you can tell from a question that OP will never have the need to use the information they request.


What’s the purpose of your comment here if you’re not contributing constructively? Our society already has too many people quick to judge while assuming they’re above others. You might want to look up the Dunning–Kruger effect. If you have nothing helpful to add, please step away from this discussion.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about encouraging my kids to apply to Oxbridge because of the academic rigor and the opportunity to study alongside equally bright peers, given the emphasis on academic merit in admissions.

I’m curious about what the experience is like when it comes to finding internships back in the U.S. — can anyone share their insights? I’ve noticed on LinkedIn that many major companies do hire Oxbridge graduates, but I’d love to hear some first-hand experiences from DCUM

(Please skip this thread if you’re only here to criticize those considering schools outside the U.S.)


As someone who was hiring mgr in the UK for many years, I think this would be about your connections and the child’s hustle. UK satellites of even the largest companies will recruit for their local openings, maybe EU openings as well if the UK is the regional HQ…. There is zero shot that Oxbridge career services is going to help you much in this regard. Do you have connections that you can pull? I honestly think that would be the easiest maybe the only way to land a US internship while attending a UK school.


US schools have recruiters that show up, interview, and collect resumes - are you saying that no one comes to Oxbridge? Not even companies like: Google, Meta, Microsoft? That sounds very. odd that everything is dependent on connections. Sure connections are the best way in but you don't find the best with connections alone.


Tell me you’ve never worked for a massive multinational without telling me. Tell me you’ve don’t understand how recruitment works at a basic level.

Your tiny brain thinks the one recruiter showing up on YOUR campus has direct access to and information about over 400-600 internships worldwide?? Given different school systems, start dates, end dates, employment implications, compensation rules, etc etc?? When there are postings yes ine the USA but also Dublin France and Czech Republic?? That’s not how it works. They have 10-15 positions in THEIR office. They care about those and only those. Why? Because they are rewarded and recognized for filling only those 10-15. So a UK recruiter will speak to hundreds of undergrads at 5 UK schools, review hundreds of CVs, screen a couple dozen, and fill those roles. Now some companies do have global opportunities and if your kid can hunt those down and make the right contact then yes recruitment could span multiple countries. But - at a regular career fair - if your kid sidles up and says, “I’m ‘merican, do you have any open roles in Seattle?” That recruiter is going to revert to a brush off: ‘we sure do. Go to the website and check out our USA postings.” At best they Might pass along a resume to a USA based recruiter that will materialize into something but it is very very very unlikely - maybe if you’re kid is incredibly impressive in the 2 minute fly by at the career table. More often than not, they are going to give them the brush off. I’m not saying it’s impossible to land an internship in the USA without connections, I’m saying your kid is going to need to hustle a lot more than the kid at Cornell and Umich Ross.
Anonymous
I think it’s super controlling of u to expect your kid who is across an ocean attending undergrad to fly home for a USA internship. They could very well desire to remain in the UK for all their internships bc 1) they are easier to land and 2) that’s what all their friends are doing.
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