When Cherwell (Oxford’s oldest independent student newspaper) published its recent investigation into the private world of Oxbridge admissions consultancy, it touched on a murky subject. Families have wondered for years whether the five-figure programmes promising “insider access” to Oxford or Cambridge are really as powerful as they suggest. Are these companies offering something that’s effective, or are they just selling the idea of exclusivity?
The promises are loud, but the evidence is almost silent. Cherwell found companies offering packages costing up to £25,590, with bold claims about connections to admissions tutors. Yet “Freedom of Information” disclosures turned up just two declared cases of paid admissions work in three academic years.
That’s why, when parents ask us to guarantee their child gets into Oxford/Cambridge/LSE/take your pick, we always say the same thing. No company can guarantee a place at a world-class university. There is no back channel. There is no secret nod. There is no consultant with the power to “get you in.”
The college admissions snake-oil peddlars
The investigation showed an industry that offers a lot of structure, polish and activity, but not necessarily anything that changes admissions decisions. Families are sold mock interviews, reading lists, super-curricular projects, campus tours, and access to bright recent graduates – which are all valuable in their own way, but none of them guarantees an offer from Oxford, Cambridge or the Ivy League.
Some companies advertise links to admissions tutors. Yet FOI records show almost no declared involvement from people actually sitting on panels. Success rates are published without independent verification. And much of the work is delivered by students rather than trained educators.
Kate Bock at Archer Franklin, an excellent university admissions consultancy we recommend for anyone seeking trusted guidance, provided some insight:
“This is an unregulated sector, which is why so many advisers enter it with little or no admissions experience, sometimes leaning on their alma mater as expertise, sometimes on even less. It’s how application factories emerge: firms promising outcomes no one can legitimately guarantee.”
There’s a huge gap between what’s being sold and what college admissions tutors actually select for.
The students who succeed tend to be those who are academically strong, intellectually curious, and capable of independent thinking. None of that is on offer for £25,000 and a 6-month programme. Most parents aim to support their children wherever they can, and when admissions consultancies market themselves as essential, it can create a feeling that opting in is simply part of the process.
Useful support exists, of course. Guaranteed results do not.
So what does improve a child’s chances?
Both UK and US universities continue to change their criteria. Oxbridge remains focused on academic excellence but is adjusting its approach to state-school proportions and contextual admissions. In the US, fluctuating testing requirements, and the pressure around legacy admissions (preference to applicants with family alumni) make the admissions environment unpredictable.
In the UK, many grammar schools – and some notable state schools - consistently outperform elite private schools for Oxbridge acceptance. The “private school penalty” is real and we’ve covered it before. Universities are under pressure to widen participation and so are looking favourably on students that apply from other educational pathways, such as state-schooled and homeschooled pupils. For some families, moving a child from private school into a strong state school for A levels, supported by a specialist tutor, is a genuinely strategic decision. Others choose full-time private homeschooling, where a bespoke curriculum allows a student to learn at the pace and depth these universities reward.
The quality of the educational support matters just as much as where or how they’re schooled. The students who thrive at Oxford or Cambridge aren’t the ones who memorise model answers. They’re students who have been taught to think. They read widely, write confidently, question ideas, and show genuine intellectual independence.
For some families, that means a supplementary tutor who deepens subject mastery and strengthens essay writing alongside school. For others, the best route is a full-time private tutor delivering a tailored curriculum that supports advanced study, independent projects and the development of a coherent academic identity.
Timing is also important. Starting early enough to build depth gives students time to grow into genuine thinkers. Excellence develops through sustained curiosity, rather than a year of interview rehearsals.
This advice holds true for US-bound applicants as well, but with the added pressure that ever-changing policies brings. Kate explains:
“US admissions are often misunderstood: testing policies shift year to year, and ‘holistic review’ is often misread as subjective, when in reality selective universities continue to prioritise rigour, evidence of depth, and sustained intellectual engagement.”
The strongest Ivy League candidates combine rigorous academics with the freedom to grow into their interests. Specialist tutoring or a tailored homeschooling programme can provide room for advanced coursework, research projects, meaningful extracurriculars, and intellectual maturity that stands out among the competition.
In the end, there is no “inside track” to Oxford, Cambridge or the Ivy League, and no consultant can manufacture the qualities admissions tutors are looking for. What really improves your child’s chances is a strong academic environment, expert guidance that builds genuine mastery, and the time and space to grow into an independent thinker.
“There’s nothing wrong with seeking expert guidance. We do it in every other part of our lives. What is wrong is when families are sold promises no one can deliver, leaving parents misled and students unprepared for the reality that arrives in the post,” Kate iterates.
Like our partners at Archer Franklin, we focus on the only advantage that endures: a student’s intellectual maturity. Universities respond to independence, depth and curiosity, not packaging. Families deserve guidance that builds those qualities, not promises no one can honour.
