Parties,Welsh and work at Oxford
WITH the Oxbridge application deadline looming student Tomos MacDonald says he loved his first year at Oxford – recently named the best university in the world for the second year running – and he hopes more people from Wales will apply.
Tomos, 19, from Maentwrog, a former pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy in Llanrwst, successfully applied to read history and politics at Brasenose College, Oxford, after attending an information evening about the university in Bangor.
“I went to an Oxbridge evening session in Bangor one evening and that was pretty much it,” he says.
“What made me apply was the encouragement of my teachers at school and my attitude of ‘why not?’ since I’d achieved three As and a B at AS level.”
Tomos was delighted to get in to read the subjects he loves, but worried so few students from Wales apply and didn’t want to lose his Welsh. Here he describes what happened:
“My first year at Oxford was amazing. I have so many great memories and I’ve made so many new friends (unsurprisingly as I’m at Brasenose – the friendliest college).
“Although the work is hard, and the exam season gruelling, it is all worth it. When I logged on to view my first-year results I was overcome with joy to have attained a 2:1 having worked so hard.
“On the social side, from the BOPs (College Parties), to club nights and cocktail evenings, I do not feel that I’ve missed out on the university social life at all.
“During my first year I’ve been lucky enough through the Oxford Union to hear so many great speakers from Stephen Hawking to Judge Judy.
“I have no regrets from my first year: however, looking back, if I had to change something it would be to have worked harder during the vacation and to have taken up rowing (something I hope to do in the new term).
“I must admit that before I went to Oxford I was very apprehensive. My grandparents would often say: ‘Don’t forget your Welsh’, which is something I had not considered.
“When October came around I became extremely worried about not being able to speak Welsh every day – a part of this worry arose after I’d done some research into the number of Welsh students who attend Oxford, which is disappointingly low.
“I am so happy that all my worrying was for nothing. During freshers’ week at Oxford I found the Welsh Society (Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym) and was instantly intrigued. Through this society I was able to socialise with fellow Welsh students in both English and Welsh and I made some true friends.
“The society holds weekly or bi-weekly events where we eat Welsh delicacies such as bara brith and Welsh cakes in addition to listening to Welsh music.
“This year the society revived the old tradition of hosting an eisteddfod and this brought back some fond memories of school.
“I am very much looking forward to the events and meeting new members in my second year.”