From a science olympiad bronze to a full scholarship at Oxford

Anja wanted to study somewhere unfamiliar. For her, going abroad was about the maturity that comes from adapting to a different culture, not only the coursework.

She brought a bronze medal from the International Junior Science Olympiad and national awards in math and physics. She applied in the US and the UK and accepted a full scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Student Snapshot

• Target: STEM / Engineering
• Spike: Bronze medal at the International Junior Science Olympiad, plus national math and physics awards
• Outcome: Full scholarship, University of Oxford

Equedu: Beyond the name, what drew you to Oxford?

Anja: It was the unique academic structure. Oxford is obviously a leading university with great research, but the Tutorial System was the deciding factor.

Unlike other universities where you are lost in a lecture hall, Oxford tutorials involve a professor working with just two or three students once a week. This intimacy allows you to progress much faster. It also gives you the freedom to decide exactly which areas you want to specialize in, rather than following a rigid, generic curriculum.

Equedu: Getting in is half of it. What happened when the offer arrived?

Anja: Honestly? It was weird. For the first few minutes, I was overjoyed. But then reality hit me. I realized that an acceptance letter meant nothing if I didn't get the funding. I couldn't afford to go without it. So, the happiness was instantly replaced by anxiety.

"It had been three months of waiting, stressing, and wondering... When I finally got the scholarship, I could finally breathe."

Equedu: And when the scholarship came through?

Anja: That was a moment of pure relief. The news arrived while I was at school, so I got to share that moment with my friends. It had been three months of waiting, stressing, and wondering why they hadn't called yet. When I finally got the Full Scholarship at the University of Oxford, I could finally breathe. To be honest, I am still not fully aware that I am actually going!

Equedu: You applied in the US and the UK. How do the two processes compare?

Anja: I advise everyone to think very carefully before applying to the US.

The UK process is straightforward: they value your competence, your knowledge, and your way of thinking in your chosen field. The US process, by comparison, requires ten times more engagement and infinitely more resources and money. In my opinion, the US process is far more "unfair" compared to the European system. If you want a process that respects your academic ability without the extra noise, look at the UK.

Anja is one of 36 Equedu students offered a place at Oxford since 2020. In Equedu's experience, the strongest UK applications start the Personal Statement in late June, finish a first draft by mid-August and reach September with time to refine it. Anja started in May.

Equedu: How did Equedu help, given what you already knew about the UK system?

Anja: Applying to both the US and the UK simultaneously is incredibly demanding because the systems are opposites. Equedu’s expertise was key to bridging that gap. While I had some background knowledge on Oxford from friends, Equedu helped me perfect the Personal Statement, which is the single most important part of the UK application. Simultaneously, they guided me through the complex, resource-heavy US process which I knew very little about. Having a team that was expert in both systems allowed me to switch "modes" effectively and ensure neither application suffered.

Anja's advice to next year's applicants:

Anja: Use your summer. Write your Personal Statement during the summer holidays. Do not leave it for September. If you finish it early, you avoid the stress and have time to polish it. Also, choose your university based on the environment you want to live in for the next four years, not just the ranking.

For UK applicants starting now: Anja began her essays in the summer. Contact the Equedu team.