University of Oxford

Oxford

Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

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I wonder if that means they will contact people today or whether the decision was made today but emails will be sent out later. Either way, I guess we can presume if we haven't heard anything by the end of next week (roughly) we didn't get our first choice! eek :/

University of Oxford

Oxford

Reply 3001

HLS

My first choice college did not contact me to tell me I had been unsuccessful, I had to contact them.

Reply 3002

HLS

Original post by ACC_21

That is probably a safe assumption. The internal deadline is for the Colleges to notify the University of their decision, so I expect it may take a while beyond this to communicate outcomes to candidates.

Reply 3003

ACC_21

I just wish they were consistent - sending us all emails or all paper letters , notifying us all of rejections instead of notifying some and others just receiving (not first choice) college offers seemingly out of the blue .... *sigh*

Reply 3004

HLS

I agree some certainty would be nice but it would be difficult to be consistent given the collegiate system. The Cambridge application system seems somewhat more robust in this regard.

Reply 3005

cyberpoet

Original post by HLS

My first choice college did not contact me to tell me I had been unsuccessful, I had to contact them.

At least they did tell you though; mine is 'unable' to inform me of anything and although I have a sneaky suspicion that my application's been returned to the faculty, I really dont think I should bother the department any more than I have already.

Reply 3006

HLS

Original post by cyberpoet

Mine were reluctant but I have a habit of getting people to tell me things that I want to know!

Reply 3007

alexreg

I envy you folk all talking about colleges and their decision deadlines already...

I am a January applicant and still waiting to hear decision from the university/department! Grrr...

Reply 3008

ExeterHistStudent

Hello all,

To preempt the next admissions cycle slightly, what sort of essays have applicants sent to fulfil the criteria of two 2,000 word essays?

I.e., do people submit pieces they have handed in in their second or third years, or are entirely unique ones written? And what would be an acceptable deviation from the wordcount?

Thanks!

Reply 3009

ACC_21

Original post by ExeterHistStudent

Personally, I sent essays that I was writing at the time for university. I wasnt sure about the word count either so I wrote essays around 2500-3000 words and wrote "(2000 WORDS HERE)" at the 2000 point so they could keep reading if they wanted :smile:

Reply 3010

ExeterHistStudent

Original post by ACC_21

Sly

Reply 3011

ACC_21

well the website said "approx 2000 words " or "extract from longer essay" - I found a compromise between the two :smile:

Reply 3012

cyberpoet

Original post by Noldorin

I envy you folk all talking about colleges and their decision deadlines already...

I am a January applicant and still waiting to hear decision from the university/department! Grrr...

Sorry about that and hope you hear soon. Which course did you apply to?

Reply 3013

*Corinna*

Original post by ExeterHistStudent

Sly

many people do that. Our department told us that they simply don't read more.

Thanks all

Original post by ExeterHistStudent

I sent two essays, one 2,000 and one 3,000. Ordinarily if you send two essays to the History department they need to be ~2,000 words each. However you can send one longer essay of up to 5,000.

Both of my essays were written in what was (chronologically) my second year but I did not take any second year modules (my entire degree was composed of final year modules).

I recall from the Humanities open day that the essays are not required to be those you have submitted during your degree.

Reply 3016

RadiantJewel

Original post by ExeterHistStudent

I've sent one third year essay and an unfinished chapter of my dissertation that I was still writing. I chose these two pieces since I believed they demonstrated originality in subject and methodology. Since my essay already had a 2000 word limit it worked out. The chapter was slightly over it, like 300 words.

Reply 3017

Rams

Original post by k.i.ivanov

Hey Rams,

I am also very much at ease with Wolfson being the college that has offered me a place! :smile:

it's truly a piece of heaven away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre :wink:

As to the accommodation provided on-site, there's plenty of choice and I remember distinctively I had a hard time filling in the form (so yes, I've applied already!) :smile:

How about you? Are going for the newer buildings or the slightly less state-of-the-art ones?

I put in my preference for a flat in the main building.....it looks like they may have the best views. What about you?

So I was a little concerned about accommodation because couple acco is kind of limited. But it's allocated on a first come first serve basis, and the college has told me I was the first person to have applied! So fairly confident I will get the flat of my choice.... :smile:

Now if only I were so lucky with funding...

Reply 3018

Rams

Original post by ExeterHistStudent

One of my essays was an assignment I had submitted for a previous course I had taken and was 1900 words. The other essay was something I had written at work and was 2400 words. I chose these two piece because (a) the topics were very closely related to the field I was studying in (b) they were well-written and had received very good feedback (c) they kind of re-emphasised that both the courses I had taken and the work I had done was closely related to the field I was studying in.

Many of the academics I know don't take kindly to the word limit being exceeded so I would stick to max 2500 words.

Reply 3019

janjanmmm

Original post by ACC_21

If they did that (stop at 2000 words) they would be unable to see your conclusion and evaluate the overall strength of the essay, so I hope they did not do that :wink: