I regard our trip as a wonderful opportunity, not only to see and experience what we have seen, but to be immersed in such a prestigious opportunity for our futures. Of everything that we concluded after our day, personally my greatest impression is of the academic and communal culture found there, and various newfound opportunities to pursue, especially those in language studies.

Indeed, we had the fortune of admirable weather on the day, in spite of rain during our early start. Oxford was, barring the morning traffic, three hours away, and the company arrived in good spirits at Mansfield College, where we'd spend most of our day.

In the morning, we received warm welcomes, a lecture and Q&A session covering some topics, including (but not limited to, not by my memory) the application process (consisting of booking and attending examinations, an interview and initial reviews of academic achievements: usually 38/39 IB points for studying languages), potential language courses, some of which being combined, course structures, including the prospect of a year abroad, and importantly life and studies at Oxford. We then followed with a brief tour of Mansfield, including the library (a source of great excitement for some indeed) and dining hall, where we were for lunch.

After an academic taster session, we proceeded to Brasenose, located somewhat more central in Oxford, in proximity to the iconic Bridge of Sighs and Radcliffe Camera, bypassing the Bodleian Library. Here, I fully appreciated the architectural grandeur: stone bricks, the courtyards and towers, pillars, the church spires, decorated ceilings in the library, wooden panels and stained-glass, the paintings in the dining hall, and the organ. We were also given an introduction to life at Oxford by 2 BGS former students. A noteworthy question was raised, one that is important for prospective students, about how difficult the step up from school seems: both our ex-BGS students agreed that the IB course seems to offer the challenges and curriculum that provide a less jarring transition to university and further studies than we might think. They also talked about the range of support and community commonplace in such a place.

I suppose it all seems far at first, but we've come to appreciate the many wonderful opportunities and pathways shared with us. I certainly found the trip of great fascination…

Tianming Xie, Year 10