Oxford History graduate with 3+ years of UK university admissions experience: Personal statement consultation, HAT tutoring and interview prep

Hi, I’m Karol, an Oxford History graduate with over 3 years of experience in Oxbridge mentoring and a unique debate-inspired approach to the admissions process. My biggest takeaway from when I applied to Oxford is that I would have never done it successfully had it not been for my competitive debating skills - a critical eye for argument and analysis that distinguishes excellent applicants from the rest. The biggest mistake I see students make is thinking their ideas stand for themselves instead
of elaborating on them. What top universities look for in their students is not just academic drive and good grades; it’s the ability to think through and, even more importantly, discuss complex questions. I make it my priority to not just help my mentees polish their application but rather inspire in them a deeper, multi-dimensional kind of thinking that allows them to confidently make, rebut and defend
arguments about their chosen subject.

From my experience, a lot of students submit their applications with no clear sense of purpose. I make sure to begin every mentoring relationship by exploring the initial impulse behind choosing a given degree and university. Once we establish and think through what in particular the student is passionate about, I like to zoom in on those areas and inspire my mentees to approach the subject with a critical, academic mentality, through granular engagement with academic texts and
back-and-forth discussion. My sessions draw heavily on the philosophy of the Oxford tutorial system, where the professor and the student openly discuss their subject and by doing so, challenge themselves to think about it in ways they haven’t done before. By mentoring a student, I hope to show them that what matters most is not whether you know the answer to a question but how you think about it.

With a unique, debate-centered philosophy inspired by the Oxford teaching system, I promise to confidently guide you through the admissions process, from choosing your degree and university to writing your personal statement and preparing for interviews.