I work in admissions at the University of Oxford. Your article (‘I didn’t think I’d get an interview’: students start first Oxford-wide foundation year, 23 October) about the Astrophoria foundation year did a great job of capturing the importance of this scheme for expanding higher education to students who have experienced significant educational disadvantage.
My only concern was the claim that a “clutch of A*s” is needed for most students to get into Oxford. In fact, many of our courses ask for just three As at A-level. That’s still a huge achievement for students, but not as huge as the five A*s that many imagine are needed. Roughly one in six applicants gets into Oxford, on average.
It’s important for underrepresented learners to understand that the chances of being admitted are much higher than they might think. Surely that makes it worth a shot?
Megan Lee
Oxford