Cheltenham Ladies' College review by University of Oxford student.
The strengths of the school lay in the more feminine subjects i.e. humanities and the arts. The student body is very competitive with competition encouraged by the school e.g. awards, house league tables, etc. Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC) is very good at producing well-rounded prototypes and its method of teaching is productive for those girls who are less independent in their academic approach. However, it is also a restricting environment, especially for those who require more of an academic challenge. As one who continuously found the curriculum uninspiring, and as a result would slack in effort, there was a striking lack of teachers who would not hesitate to get you back in line. It failed to prepare me well for the independent nature of study at university, however its broad and fine education has without a doubt stood me in good stead for the academic challenges I have so far faced. The school's teaching methods varied from year to year and, of course, from teacher to teacher. I found it more advantageous in the later years when teachers would focus more on discussion than on lectures and question/answer sessions- something that I'm sure many would have benefited from earlier on in their school life. Class size ranged from about 15 in younger years to not more than about 10 in sixth form. The faculty were very hands on and accessible, though the limit of their skills were exposed with reference to the more independent students as discussed above. Work load was fairly high in sixth form, but never unmanageable.
I found our university preparation lacking. The university guidance for those applying to the top.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Cheltenham Ladies' College as experienced by former pupil and University of Oxford student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
I entered the school at 13 and found the admissions process to be fairly easy..... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Cheltenham Ladies' College by former pupil and University of Oxford student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
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For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
The housing for boarders varied from house to house. Being a day girl I saw less of this, but our facilities were very decent, with kitchens and common rooms. Dining was very good, with a wide range of healthy hot and cold options. Facilities are excellent- the sports facilities are huge; there is a dedicated art block; there are many music teachers etc. Labs, libraries, and IT resources are also very good. Study areas are prevalent. Pastoral support can sometimes be well-meaning but misguided. The school certainly has a problem with eating disorders and depression, and the support is often not what.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Cheltenham Ladies' College as experienced by former pupil and University of Oxford student — Login or Sign Up to access full review