We are launching a mentoring programme for prospective applicants as part of our Access & Outreach strategy, and are looking for student volunteers!
The aim of the scheme is for small teams of student mentors to help guide groups of prospective applicants through the final months of their A-levels, to help demystify the admissions process, and to give them a sense of what the life of an Oxford student is like. This is a 1-year pilot scheme in the first instance, and we need your help to make it a success.
The key features of the scheme:
Teams of 3 students will mentor groups of around 10 prospective applicants across 4 sessions in the second half of Hilary and the first half of Trinity term.
Prospective applicants will be drawn from target schools, and from demographics under-represented at our university.
Full training for undergraduate volunteers will be provided in Hilary. This should only take a couple of hours.
There will be no members of staff present in the sessions: they will be run and shaped by you.
However, you will be provided with some structure. Sessions will be themed, around topics like:
- The college and university environment: myth-busting and day-to-day student life.
- Tutorial experiences and discussions of some sample material: familiarising potential applicants with how subjects are taught in practice, and the sorts of analytical skills required.
- Study skills hints and tips; work-life balance.
And here’s what you will get out of it:
- A £50 Amazon voucher, or £50 off battels, at the end of the programme.
- Something new to add to your CV, and we will be happy to provide you with a reference as well.
- The satisfaction of knowing that you’ve passed on valuable knowledge and confidence to people who will really benefit from it as they make the step up to university.