On the afternoon of April 20, Dr. Saroj, former Admissions Officer for Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, visited MIC (Majestic International College). Guided by student representatives, he toured the campus and engaged in in-depth discussions with the college counselling team and student members of the Debating and Critical Thinking Club.
During the exchange, Dr. Saroj systematically outlined the admissions logic and selection criteria of Oxford and Cambridge. He emphasized that admission to Oxbridge is not based solely on A-Level results, but on a holistic evaluation combining academic grades, admissions tests, and interviews—with the interview being particularly critical. Dr. Saroj introduced the core concept of "teachability," explaining that the interview is designed to assess a student's logical reasoning, critical thinking, and academic potential under a tutor's guidance, rather than simply testing memorized knowledge.
Regarding course structure, he detailed the distinctive features of Cambridge's Natural Sciences program. In the first two years, students may freely choose from 14 subject modules, covering fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and mathematics, thereby avoiding premature specialization.
In terms of application preparation, he advised students to demonstrate independent research ability through EPQ or equivalent projects, with emphasis on the design of research questions rather than the complexity of the topic. He also recommended that applicants prioritize the summer before their final year of school for application preparation
On the topic of college choice, Dr. Saroj reminded students to analyze admissions data for different colleges rationally and avoid blindly pursuing the most popular ones. He also introduced the diverse career paths available to Natural Sciences graduates, including scientific research, pharmaceuticals, patent law, finance, and data science, while stressing the importance of holiday internships.
At the end of the session, Dr. Saroj shared a message with MIC students: "We are not looking for a perfect answering machine, but a young person who is willing to be challenged, dares to think, and is capable of growing." This event provided MIC students with a valuable opportunity to engage face-to-face with an admissions officer from a world-leading university, helping both students and staff gain a clearer understanding of Oxbridge's selection logic and academic culture. MIC will continue to build high-quality platforms to support its students as they step onto the world stage.
