LMH welcomed 212 students to five subject taster days this year, giving prospective applicants the chance to experience university-style teaching, meet current students and learn more about studying at Oxford.
Student Helpers on the History taster day
More than 500 applications were received across the five events. Maths and Computer Science attracted the highest number of applications, with 161. This was the first year LMH has run taster days in Physics and Modern Languages, alongside the College’s second year of History and Maths and Computer Science events, and a continuation of its long-running Classics and Ancient History day.
Speaking on the purpose of the taster days, LMH Head of Access and Admissions Support, Eleanor Chamings-Manley, said: “It’s exciting to expand our Subject Taster Day programme to five this year and welcome even more students to engage with their interests and explore LMH. These events are hugely rewarding, with staff, students and tutors enjoying meeting the enthusiastic Year 12s at such a pivotal stage in their decision-making.”
Across the five days, students were welcomed by current undergraduates, who led tours of the College and supported the prospective students. Each day also included lunch in Hall, while most featured admissions sessions and mock interviews alongside academic teaching.
The subject sessions gave students a taste of university-level study across a wide range of topics. In Modern Languages, they explored Spanish film and French poetry, with introductions to Russian, Portuguese and Italian. Physics students took part in a lecture and small-group work on special relativity, while Maths and Computer Science students looked at n-adic numbers and Catalan numbers. History students explored source analysis on the Byzantine Empire and a lecture on the road to American independence, while Classics and Ancient History participants took part in object-handling sessions. Together, these sessions offered just a glimpse of the breadth of teaching across the five days.
LMH JCR Access and Outreach Officer, Alexander Wride, who supported the History taster day, said: “It was wonderful to help facilitate the history taster day from a student perspective. The energy and excitement for the subject was palpable. The introduction talk, mock interview and taster lecture all gave the students a real insight into university life at Lady Margaret Hall.
“There was such creativity and historical thought put into their projects, which were then presented to the other groups for comparison. I hope that all those who came (some from very far and wide) were enthused by the experience and further motivated in their historical studies and university ambitions as they head into Year 13 next year.”
Feedback from students underlined the value of the days, particularly the chance to experience mock interviews first-hand. One prospective History student said: “I really enjoyed the mock interview because I often hear about interview tips, but seeing one in person helped to demystify the process.” A prospective Physics student added, “I enjoyed the mock interview. It’s something that I always worried about, but I never had much information on it.”
A prospective Maths student said the opportunity to work in smaller groups with a current undergraduate was especially helpful: “I really enjoyed being split into smaller groups and problem solving with a current maths student. Having a current undergraduate student watch and question my process was incredibly useful and I loved working through the problems together.”
The events also enabled LMH to welcome back students from its link region, including several who had already met College staff during school visits earlier in the year. Travel bursaries were provided to support students who would otherwise have been unable to attend.
LMH is grateful to the tutors, student helpers and staff who supported the five days, and to the students who brought their curiosity and enthusiasm to the College.
