Boring Coats

Thanks to everyone who sorted out their Shimna coat. The last few - do it please. You must be really bored with it and I certainly am. We be up front about the uniform in the contract precisely so that we DON'T all have to be bored with coats all year.

Happy New Year 14

Congratulations to all those of you who have received UCAS offers or interviews. Good luck with the interviews. The UCAS final deadline is just about a week away. Supporting those students still working on their application will be Alicia's main priority. Don't waste time worrying or talking yourself out of applying, come and talk about it. Remember that it is important to get your personal statement to your main reference writer, even if it's just a draft. You will get valuable feedback and your reference will be all the better. Remember too that your reference writer needs a couple of days to complete the reference and get it attached to your application. Don't, whatever you do, leave it until the last minute. If you are running into a clash between the UCAS deadline and revision for your module exams, come and talk about it. Putting in the application doesn't mean you can't change your mind later, but missing the deadline leaves you without some of the opportunities you are entitled to.

Happy New Year 13

Anyone who has not yet organised their work experience needs to get on the ball. Talk to Joanne Poland and to Alicia for ideas and contacts. Don't be afraid to split your time if you have two good ideas. It's worth travelling to get to a really good placement. Talk to us if you have travel problems which would get in the way. Don't forget to organise your insurance paperwork well in advance. Don't even think about going somewhere just to put the time in. Work experience is hugely valuable. As well as the experience itself, you may find out what you definitely want to do, or definitely don't want to do. You will also have a really valuable experience to include in your personal statement for UCAS or a job application. Act now!

Happy New Year

Lots of you have started term already, with chemistry practicals, biology mocks, some musical composition and some maths revision all got done on Monday 5th January. Most of you will hit the ground running on Tuesday. Good luck to those of you with modules, which start on Wednesday. January can be a difficult month, when you have to juggle revision time for modules without missing new work or letting ongoing work get behind. As for help if you are stuck.

Oxbridge Extra

Oxbridge has introduced in partnership with itunes free lectures ,interviews and films to download. Content ranges from podcasts on the history of Cambridge by Dr David Starkey, interviews with world – renowned academics and performances by college choirs. The initiative will provide a wealth of information for prospective applicants, who will be able to find lectures by their potential interviewers as well as access audiobooks with information on how to apply to the universities. There is even the opportunity to listen in on Oxford tutorials. All content can be accessed by downloading itunes (for free) and can be listened to online or on an mp3player. Visit www.ox.ac.uk/itunesu or www.cam.ac.uk/itunesu for more information.

Good Luck all Interview Candidates

Quite a number of U6th have been heading off for interviews last week and during the next two. All the very best of luck to all of you. Many of you have taken up the offer of a trial interview. If anyone else is called to interview, don't hesitate to ask if you would like us to organise a trial interview for you.

Pool your Efforts

The organisers of the fundraising Pool Tournament have put a huge effort into managing match slots so that no one misses class. Make sure your stick to them!