Opportunity Oxford Welcome Day - Video Transcript

[Text on screen: Opportunity Oxford supports talented students with the transition to university, ensuring the best possible start to studying at Oxford. We spoke to some current students about what the Opportunity Oxford Welcome Day was like for them, what impact it had, and what they took away from the day]

[Q1: Which part of the Welcome Day had the biggest impact on you?]

Anna: When I arrived and we all sat down in a big lecture theatre and you just looked around and saw so many people that were in the exact same situation as you, I think it took away the feeling of loneliness and anxiousness about how you were going to fit in, and maybe if you thought you weren't good enough or too different to go to university at Oxford, but just seeing everyone that... because we all came from similar backgrounds and maybe similar educations, it was just nice to know that there's so many other people that are in exactly the same situation as you. 

Marwa: Well I think that was basically the point where I actually understood what Opportunity Oxford was about. We did a little session in law actually, and there was a tutor there, we were discussing some of the things that we would be covering during the online segment and the residential, and we got to go to our colleges as well and have a little tour.

Omarr: It was the first time that I'd actually come up to Oxford and had a proper look around and seen what it was like, and yeah it was really good to have a mock tutorial, I was quite excited by it and found it really interesting, so it gave me something to look forward to when I actually came in October.

Olamide: I think the greatest impact would be seeing people that I saw during the interviews and that I saw at other residentials as well, seeing them there, in that space... I dunno, it was just nice to see familiar faces as well as to make new friends as well. 

Maddie: It was the first point where I really felt like I kind of belonged. I think it was really personal, so we went to our college and I was pooled so I'd never been to this college before, so getting a tour, there was literally five of us and they all knew my name, and they'd read my personal statement and they knew where I'd come from, I was just taken aback.

[Q2: What insights and advice did the student ambassadors give you?] 

Kane: The Welcome Day was really good because he was able to talk to me about actual student life and now that I do have a place, what happens now which I found really helpful.

Omarr: With all the student helpers, you could ask the questions that you couldn't really ask in front of the academic professionals, so it gives you more of an insight into the student lifestyle, which was really good.

Marwa: I remember on the Open Day I did meet another hijabi girl and she was one of the student ambassadors and she basically spoke to me about everything and she was like "It's fine, don't worry, there's a lot more of us here, there's a community of people that can support you through anything and everything", and I think that was kind of reassuring.

Maddie: They give you advice on things that aren't just education, so sports teams… they were really helpful, it was really insightful.

Olamide: I guess the discussions that we had with other people helped me get to know other people as well, and that's when I found out there are other people there who really like their subject as well, and we had really insightful conversations and yeah, it was nice to meet a lot of new people.

Tahmid: Even if you have an ambassador who isn't doing similar stuff as you, they're all going to know what it's like living in Oxford, and they're going to know what the tutorial system is like and they'll have plenty of advice to give you and it's just, it's so helpful to have.


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More information is available on our website: www.ox.ac.uk/opportunityoxford 

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