What you wish you'd been told before coming to Oxford
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordMy first essay was rather good (it was the ones in Hilary when I burdened myself with a ******** of extra curriculars that were the problem).
Lectures are optional, especially for an arts student, it's often more productive to make your own notes than go to a lecture which is pitched at a stupidly basic level (my thoughts about the British politics lectures).
Work hard constantly, but take breaks, relax, stay on top of things, and take first year as a learning experience rather than a case of do or die (this is the only way I kept sane for prelims).
Try to find somewhere you can work (my preferred spot was the radcam, it's to my disservice that I didn't study there more regularly, I was far more easily distracted in the college library).
Keep a regular routine and don't let things slip.
I'm sure I've forgotten something, but oh well. -
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordAndy's point reminds me of something: it's not the end of the world if you don't hand in an essay on time, or if it's not any good! My tutor had us thinking we were awful people if we did anything slightly wrong
Also: extra-curriculars are some of the best things you'll do during your time at Oxford and they're important - regardless of what tutors may think
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordI know others have mentioned this but I want to quote it for emphasis. Part of my big struggle in first year was that I just COULDN'T work in my room, and the library kinda scared me. I only really hit my rhythm at the end of 2nd year when I started working in the Bod in some twisted kind of plan to be closer to D(Original post by Andy the Anarchist)
Try to find somewhere you can work (my preferred spot was the radcam, it's to my disservice that I didn't study there more regularly, I was far more easily distracted in the college library).
and then later in the Meyricke. If you're easily distracted but like the library feel, the union has a lovely little reading room at the top that nobody seems to know exists...
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordI agree with this, but shhh, don't tell them about it! I've been lucky enough to have that room to myself a few times, and if more people start using it...well, it's not the same.(Original post by Bekaboo)
the union has a lovely little reading room at the top that nobody seems to know exists...
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordThe poetry room? It always has people in it, hence why I never use it (that and I don't like the Union as a building that much)
I only use the library for their current affairs magazines (which are awesome )
Extra curriculars wise, they're good, but in Hilary mine took up 2-3 days per week on average, which isn't something I plan to repeat. -
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordLol, OK, that maybe is a bit much. Mine basically consumed my entire Hilary but we hid it from my tutors and since I was on a forced sabbatical anyway, it didn't have a negative impact. It was in fact one of the best things I did my entire time at Ox(Original post by Andy the Anarchist)
Extra curriculars wise, they're good, but in Hilary mine took up 2-3 days per week on average, which isn't something I plan to repeat.
Also:(Original post by Athena)
That there is no justice in the world, and some people will do sweet f.a. and still get firsts; that your tutors are not necessarily going to be any good at pastoral care, and that's their failing (not something wrong with you); that you shouldn't out off doing all the touristy stuff (ie Bod tour, open top bus) by telling yourself you'll get round to it - you will never get round to it!
- That Mods and Finals results have sweet f.a. to do with intelligence, or indeed any kinda logic whatsoever in some cases...
- That just because your tutor thinks he's good at pastoral care, you don't need to humour him by letting him think that he is
- That you don't have to do the 12 labours of Hercules to get access to Duke Humphries. I spent years thinking I wasn't allowed in there at all under any circumstances and thus deprived myself of valuable Harry Potter time
Last edited by The_Lonely_Goatherd; 28-06-2010 at 15:55. -
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordCan you just turn up, then? I've been wanting to go there for aaages.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
- That you don't have to do the 12 labours of Hercules to get access to Duke Humphries. I spent years thinking I wasn't allowed in there at all under any circumstances and thus deprived myself of valuable Harry Potter time
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordI was a bit out of it when I went, so I don't quite remember how I got in there, but I think you just rock up with your Bod card and leave your bag or something. In any case, it was much easier than I thought(Original post by bysshe)
Can you just turn up, then? I've been wanting to go there for aaages.
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordIf you just want to look at Art's End, you don't have to do anything, you can simply walk in. Art's End is fine if you just want to soak in the Harry Potter atmosphere.(Original post by bysshe)
Can you just turn up, then? I've been wanting to go there for aaages. If you want to go past the barrier and actually work there, you'll also have to bring a see-through bag (or just leave your bag downstairs, because there's nowhere to leave them in the DH proper) and remember that you're only allowed to write in pencil. And then you just walk up to the librarian, let him note down your bod-card number and you're in.
By the way, if you're willing to go through a bit of fuss, you can take guests up to see the DH as well. It's free and you'll only need to go to the Clarendon Building to register for a visitor slot in advance. Very nice when your parents come to visit you.
Last edited by hobnob; 28-06-2010 at 19:42. -
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordJust because you manage to do the occasional piece of work through late-night franting bashing of keys all at once, it doesn't mean that that's the optimum way for you to work. And doing it that way doesn't make you cooler or more interesting than people who work during the usual times.
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordI wish someone had told me that I would get ill literally at the end of every term.
I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but I'm barely ever ill even for a day during term time (with the exception of alcohol-related incapacity) - it's as if my body knows it doesn't have time to get sick. But then as soon as I finish for term, I get ill, as if my brain somehow decides I have time to be ill then. It's really, really annoying.
*cough* -
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordIt's absolutely not the way to write the thesis that counts for a quarter of your final classification. However, sometimes (like when chemistry only cooperates in the two weeks prior to hand-in) there's no choice but to do it...(Original post by Huw Davies)
Just because you manage to do the occasional piece of work through late-night franting bashing of keys all at once, it doesn't mean that that's the optimum way for you to work. And doing it that way doesn't make you cooler or more interesting than people who work during the usual times.
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to Oxford(Original post by *pitseleh*)
I wish someone had told me that I would get ill literally at the end of every term.
I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but I'm barely ever ill even for a day during term time (with the exception of alcohol-related incapacity) - it's as if my body knows it doesn't have time to get sick. But then as soon as I finish for term, I get ill, as if my brain somehow decides I have time to be ill then. It's really, really annoying.
*cough*
At least count yourself lucky it works that way round. It's not very helpful when it works the other way round...
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordThanks, that is very true.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
At least count yourself lucky it works that way round. It's not very helpful when it works the other way round...
Glad I'm rarely ill in term-time!
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Re: What you wish you'd been told before coming to OxfordMajority of people absolutely love it and I'm sure you will too(Original post by Bobo1234)
I have to say this thread kinda depresses me now I'm starting to think I might actually hate it :/
