Hope Oloye, Founder of Thinking Black, joins Naomi to discuss studying Biomedical Sciences at Oxford. 

Biomedical Sciences focuses on the science underpinning human biology, with the option to pursue Cells and Systems Biology or Neuroscience. Hope highlights that whilst the course overlaps with Medicine, it differs by focusing on the scientific fundamentals instead of on disease and treatment – it's a great option if you love the science related to Medicine but don’t want to be a doctor, or aren’t sure yet! 

Hope speaks about the skills she developed through lab work and essay writing on her course and how she has used them whilst completing her PhD research into the use of technology in mental health diagnoses. She shares that her peers have gone onto a range of careers, including medicine, law, consulting and banking, and speaks about her work running creative writing and educational programmes for young Black students through Thinking Black.  

You can learn about Thinking Black here: http://thinkingblack.co.uk/   

Hope recommends reading:  

• Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/v-s-ramachandran/phantoms-in-the-brain/9781857028959  

• How We Live and Why We Die by Lewis Wolper: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/lewis-wolpert/how-we-live-and-why-we-die/9780571239122  

Francesca Richards joins Naomi to speak about studying Education at Cambridge.

Francesca’s interest in English, social sciences and creativity attracted her to Education. She explains that it isn’t a teacher training course, but instead provides the opportunity to think critically about education as a social, cultural and political entity as well as how we construct and value knowledge. She also talks about the Education department’s non-traditional approach to assessment which gave her the opportunity to be examined through art portfolios and drama pieces.  

Francesca shares her journey after her degree, which has included a Master’s at Oxford in Higher Education and a PGCE, which is a teacher training course. She also speaks about her friends from the course who have gone on to careers with charities, NGOs, the Civil Service, law firms and consulting firms. To end, Francesca shares her tips for applying to Education at Cambridge and preparing for interview.

Tobi Olaitan, a consultant, joins Naomi to speak about studying Biochemistry at Oxford.

Tobi chose Biochemistry due his to interest in how cells and the human body works. The course combines Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths across a number of modules like Organic Chemistry and Biophysical Chemistry. Tobi shares that his course involved lab work and scientific essay writing, and that he used his optional fourth year Master’s to research the genes that cause sepsis and the genes that cause the fast twitch muscle in sprinters.

Tobi speaks about his career as a consultant working with Life Sciences companies and highlights how the ability he developed at university to analyse and communicate large amounts of information has been essential in his role. Tobi also shares his top tips for the application process and an insight into the interview questions he was asked.

Recommended Reading: ‘Life Ascending’ - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Ascending-Great-Inventions-Evolution/dp/1861978189

Skai Campbell joins Naomi to discuss studying Biological Sciences at Oxford, a course he was drawn to because of his interest in animals with weird features, like the mantis shrimp.

Skai speaks about the course’s lectures, essays and problem sheets, as well as the practical experiments in the lab and through field trips. He highlights the wide choice of module options and the optional fourth year to complete a Master’s level research project.  

He also shares how Biological Sciences led to a career in the creative industries, which started with Skai making his own short films and completing a BBC internship before securing a job working on nature documentaries. Skai shares that his peers have gone onto a range of careers, including journalism, consulting, research, technology and creative roles.

To conclude, Skai discusses his top tips for preparing for the application process and provides an insight into the questions he was asked at interview.

Victoria Chris, a PhD research student, joins Naomi to discuss what it is like to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge. Victoria’s interest in the multidisciplinary nature of the sciences meant that Natural Sciences was a great fit for her. She was able to explore Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Physiology in her degree before deciding to specialise in Biochemistry for her optional integrated Master’s.

Victoria shares what the Natural Sciences course structure is like, including what it is like to work in a lab. She speaks about her research projects to date, which have explored the genetic drivers of antibacterial resistance and investigating new ways to treat urinary tract infections. She also discusses the application processes for both her Natural Sciences undergraduate degree and her current PhD programme, providing tips on how to prepare.

Useful links referenced in this episode:

- Natural Sciences course: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/natural-sciences-ba-hons-msci

- Find a PhD: https://www.findaphd.com/

Naomi speaks with Maria Motunrayo Adebisi, author of Koku Akanbi and the Heart of Midnight, about studying English Literature and Language at Oxford. 

Maria tells the story of how she almost applied for Medicine before realising that English was a much better fit for her and finding a way to convince her parents of this. She speaks through the content of what she describes as a broad course, touching on her experiences of studying Old English and Middle English as well as Children’s Literature and Abolitionist literature.  

Maria shares how the translation and communication skills that she gained through her degree enabled her to build a career in tech at companies like Bumble and Tinder. She also talks about becoming a full-time author writing fantasy novels based on Nigerian mythology that focus on Black characters in South London. The episode ends with Maria speaking about her journey to getting her first novel published and sharing her tips for Oxbridge hopefuls. 

You can read more about Maria’s work here:  

Koku Akanbi Book 1: https://geni.us/KokuAkanbi  

Koku Akanbi Book 2: https://geni.us/KokuBook2 
Author Website: https://mariamotunrayoadebisi.com/ 

Naomi speaks with Ashleigh Ainsley, Co-Founder of Colorintech and Black Tech Fest, about studying Geography at Oxford.  

Ashleigh shares that Geography appealed to him as it bridged the gap between the physical sciences and social sciences, allowing him to explore topics related to migration, climate change, economics and geopolitics. He outlines what the course involved for him day-to-day, including field work, and the range of careers that his peers have gone into since graduating.

In terms of his career, Ashleigh shares how the skills he gained through his Geography degree helped him move into a career in tech. He started in tech by working at Google, moved into a role as a consultant and then became an entrepreneur running a business focused on diversifying the tech world. Ashleigh also provides some of his tips on networking and how to prepare for the Oxbridge application process. 

You can read more about Ashleigh’s work here:  

• www.colorintech.org 

• www.joinbtf.com 

The Target Oxbridge podcast returns with a conversation between Naomi and Andi Marsh about studying Classics at Oxbridge. 

Andi Marsh has recently taken on the role of running the Target Oxbridge programme, having previously studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford. Andi shares the details of the Classics course, how it appealed to her interest in both History and Literature and how she navigated the application process. She speaks about the range of careers that Classics graduates have gone onto after graduating and the value of the skills that she gained through her degree. Andi also tells the story of how she founded the Christian Cole Society, a society for Oxford Classicists of Colour named after the first Black student to graduate from Oxford, who was also a Classicist.  

Below is a list of resources that Andi recommends:  

• Christian Cole Society: https://christiancolesocietyorg.wordpress.com/ 

• Khameleon Classics Podcasts: https://khameleonproductions.squarespace.com/khameleon-classics 

• Essay on Black Feminist Thought and Classics: https://pressbooks.claremont.edu/clas112pomonavalentine/chapter/haley-shelley-1993-black-feminist-thought-and-classics-re-membering-re-claiming-re-empowering-in-feminist-theory-and-the-classics-edited-by-nancy-rabinowitz-and-amy-richlin-2/ 

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:

- Crash Course Sociology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnCJU6PaCio

- HE PLUS: https://myheplus.com/

- Talking Politics Podcast: https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/

- Surviving Society Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/surviving-society/id1291679351

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:

- Problem solving exercises via I want to Study Engineering: https://i-want-to-study-engineering.org/

- Problem solving via Isaac Physics: https://isaacphysics.org/

- STEP Practice Papers: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/step/preparing-for-step/

In this episode Naomi speaks with Tolu Mustapha who is studying Law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and part of the team that runs the Black at Fitz YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVUNAZklcyoAMTtHECqu7w

Tolu speaks about her reasons for choosing Law over the other subjects she was considering, and what the academic study of Law is and isn’t. She shares the detail of her preparation for the application process, covering further reading, personal statement writing, LNAT and Cambridge Law Test preparation, and the interview.

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

- A Very Short Introduction to Law by Raymond Wacks

- What about Law by Janet O’Sullivan and Graham Virgo

- Trinity College YouTube Channel Mock Interview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Li362PfHc

- Black At Fitz YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUQiQJI7z5A