"What, a student might ask, is so different about an Oxford or Cambridge education? This book starts by helping you to understand what sets the two universities apart and why it is worth going there. It then unpacks the "kitbag" of qualifications, qualities and activities that candidates must bring with them to succeed. There are chapters about A-level choice and grades, personal statements and Access initiatives. Readers are taken through the key interview skills and the rigid entry rules of the Oxbridge medical schools. Minor mysteries, too, like what to wear to your Oxbridge interview, are resolved." "Most importantly, the book also examines the arguments for making candidates jump through all these hoops. Designed to help pupils succeed, it contributes new, critical ideas to the wider education debate in Britain."--BOOK JACKET.