The Target Oxbridge Podcast

In this episode Naomi speaks with Leona Kouame who is studying Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Leona shares the story of her journey to HSPS and how the breadth and multidisciplinary nature of the course appealed to her. She discusses how she researched the different topics related to the subject and how she developed her interests by using everyday events as a starting point. She also shares how she wrote her personal statement and prepared for the admissions assessment an the interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Leona in this episode:

In this episode Naomi speaks with Taiye Lawal who is studying Engineering at St Anne’s College, Oxford.

Taiye speaks about how she developed her interest in Engineering despite it not being taught at school. She shares the detail of her preparation for her application process, covering further reading, problem solving resources, personal statement writing, admissions assessment preparation and the interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Taiye in this episode:

In this episode Naomi speaks with Chizute Ogbedeh, who is studying Medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Chizute speaks about the difference between Medicine at Oxbridge and other universities, and how to know if the academic focus of those courses is right for you. He also speaks about the requirements for making a competitive application, securing work experience, personal statement writing, preparing for the BMAT (the admissions assessment) and the types of questions asked during interview.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Chizute in this episode:

In this series of episodes, Naomi speaks with Target Oxbridge alumni studying some of the most popular Oxbridge subjects to get their top tips on getting in.

Naomi begins by speaking with Tariq Hammed, who has recently completed his Economics and Management degree at Wadham College, Oxford.

Tariq shares the details of the world events and books that inspired him to study Economics, as well as his tips for writing a personal statement, preparing for the Thinking Skills Assessment and getting ready for the interview. He also shares his insights into what it is like to study the course.

Below is a list of the resources mentioned by Tariq in this episode:

- Bottom Billion by Paul Collier

In the final episode of the series, Naomi speaks to Matthew Ryder QC, the barrister who represented the family of Stephen Lawrence, and former Deputy Mayor of London for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community.

Matthew Ryder studied Law at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he got involved with the Black Caucus and co-founded the Group to Encourage Ethnic Minority Access (GEEMA). On graduating he worked at a legal aid firm in Harlesden before training as a barrister and then moving to New York to study for a Master’s in Human Rights at Columbia University.

Matthew discusses the things he has learnt and achieved in his career, including what being a Queen’s Counsel involves, and the growing importance of data in regard to issues of human rights, racism and discrimination. He also makes a strong case for young people to push for the change they want to see in the future, whilst building on the foundations laid by the generations that have gone before them.

Naomi catches up with Priscilla Mensah, the first Black woman to be elected President of the Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU), and a UK representative at the WTO and the UN.

Priscilla almost missed out on her school’s visit to Cambridge, as she wasn’t in the top set for both English and Maths. Her English teacher secured her a place on the trip however, and she fell in love with Cambridge as a result. When she arrived at Cambridge, she set her sights on making things fairer for the students who came after her. She co-founded FLY, Cambridge’s network for women and non-binary people of colour, and became the first Black woman to be elected President of CUSU.

In this episode Priscilla discusses the lessons she learnt in these roles, including her realisation that change is a process that takes time, and the challenges faced by Black women in the public eye. She also reflects on the importance of self -care, and the role this plays in ensuring one is able to fight for change in a sustainable way.

In this episode Naomi speaks to Tom Ilube CBE, CEO of Crossword Cybersecurity, Advisory Fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford, Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, and a Director at both the BBC and WPP.

Tom studied Physics at the University of Benin in Nigeria and discusses how he has applied those skills in his career in tech and entrepreneurship. He tells the tale of leaving his job to start his first business at 30 years old, and how his ability to embrace failure helped him go on to found eight business over the course of his career. Tom also provides an insight into the skills that have made him successful and the importance of persistence.

Building on his interest in education, Tom has also founded two schools. The Hammersmith Academy is a tech focused school inspired by a trip to an Apple Store, and the African Gifted Foundation teaches gifted girls from across Africa STEM A Levels in just one year! Tom shares the insights he has gained from running these schools.

For this episode, Naomi caught up with Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, the Founder of Stemettes, Presenter of the Woman Tech Charge podcast, and at 20, one of the youngest ever to receive a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford.

Anne-Marie was a child prodigy, taking her first GCSE exam at the age of ten and being accepted to Oxford at just 15. She explains what enabled her to achieve such success, how she kept herself motivated, and how she overcame unsupportive teachers by finding ways around the existing system.

Stemettes encourages young women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through free, fun, food-filled events. Anne-Marie speaks to Naomi about how Stemettes got started, the barriers that young women face in the world of STEM, and how organisations can be intentionally inclusive.

In this episode Naomi speaks to Daniel Stone, a Project Manager who uses his Economics and Management degree to inform his community focused work.

Daniel grew up in Birmingham and got involved in community organising at a young age, founding a local football group. He served as JCR President for St Peter’s College, Oxford and spent a year running the Target Oxbridge Programme. He has recently written a book, After Oxford, which explores his journey to Oxford and how he has navigated life since graduating.

Fopé Jegede joins Naomi to discuss poetry, finding her voice and reclaiming her name.

Growing up, Fopé was often the quiet one in class, and although she loved poetry, she struggled to voice her opinions. In this episode we discuss Fopé’s journey from page to performance poet, including how her poetry ended up being featured in the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony. Fopé, who recently published ‘Reclaim’, a collection of poems, also discusses her exploration of the theme of identity as a British Nigerian, including learning taking pride in her name.

In this last episode of the series Naomi answers the question on everyone’s lips: ‘How do you make a strong Oxbridge application?’ She shares advice on personal statement writing, entrance assessment preparation, teacher references, and interviews, drawing on eight years of experience of helping students to navigate the process.

Bez Adeosun, who studied Politics at Cambridge and is now a part of the Target Oxbridge team, shares his own experiences of applying to Cambridge, how he overcame the challenges he faced, and the advice he now gives to students as they apply to Oxbridge.

The Target Oxbridge Podcast aims to share the knowledge of how to effectively target a top UK university with parents, teachers and young people across the country, perhaps even the world!  

How can students build the confidence and resilience they need to make it through the Oxbridge application process? How can parents help their younger children to the develop the intellectual curiosity needed to succeed academically? In this episode Naomi shares tips on how non-academic activities can be used to help students become well-rounded and resilient.

Phoenix Guwa, currently studying Medicine at Oxford, joins the podcast to share how his experiences of sport, music and occasional failure helped him to the develop that character traits that got him to Oxford and through his first year as a Medicine student.

The Target Oxbridge Podcast aims to share the knowledge of how to effectively target a top UK university with parents, teachers and young people across the country, perhaps even the world!  

How does a student stand out from the crowd and prove to Oxbridge tutors that they really love their chosen subject? Where can they find the right resources and guidance to get started? In this episode Naomi shares the details of free online resources and events that parents, teachers and students can use to start preparing for an Oxbridge application.

Tsemaye Ujemamore, currently studying Engineering at Cambridge, joins the podcast to speak about the extra-curricular activities that helped her fall in love with her subject and gain her Cambridge place, including working on creating a new type of brick!

The Target Oxbridge Podcast aims to share the knowledge of how to effectively target a top UK university with parents, teachers and young people across the country, perhaps even the world!  

How do you choose the right school, GCSEs, A Levels, and university course to improve the chances of gaining an Oxbridge place? How will all of this affect a student’s career options? In this episode Naomi shares tips on how parents and teachers can support their children and students to make the right choices for them, using data and online resources.

Liz Oladunni, who studied History and Politics at Oxford and is now pursuing a career as a corporate lawyer, joins the podcast to speak about her choices, and how she got a legal training contract without studying a Law degree!

The Target Oxbridge Podcast aims to share the knowledge of how to effectively target a top UK university with parents, teachers and young people across the country, perhaps even the world!  

Ever wondered what studying at Oxbridge is really like? Is it really like Hogwarts? Do you have to study 24/7? Will you struggle to fit in? In the very first episode of the Target Oxbridge Podcast, Naomi explores the different ways parents and teachers can make Oxbridge seem less like a fantasy world and more like a realistic option for their children and students.

Mary Bonsu, studying Law and French Law at Oxford, joins the podcast to speak about her perceptions of Oxford before and after applying, and the experiences she has of the Oxford African and Caribbean Society and Oxford access programmes.