What do you want to know about Oxford?
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| Important: please read these guidelines before posting about exams on The Student Room | 28-04-2013 | |
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?... join a creative writing class or something. Oxford isn't a freakin holiday camp.(Original post by SoNottingH)
...cultural activities... -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?This happens in extensive detail every year in schools up and down the country. Extensive databases of Oxford interview questions are built up for a minority of fortunate private/grammar students to benefit from. I think TSR has said it isn't allowed, and of course i would not advocate breaking the rules, but ethically there is nothing wrong with sharing interview help and if tutors are actually spending their time punishing people on here for just evening the playing field then they are extremely naive and need to stop wasting their time, open their eyes and go out into the real world. Nothing wrong with it at all.(Original post by medbh4805)
Unless, perhaps, you post something extremely objectionable (like e.g. talking about interview questions)
Its fine to have other interests. Ask about the 'cultural activities' if you want and hopefully you will get some helpful answers. However, Oxford spends its millions and millions of pounds every year on teaching keen students academic subjects. That is what Oxford is for. When someone comes along and says 'i want to be there for the culture', it becomes clear that your interests are not in line with Oxford's. You can apply if you want, of course, and if you are good enough maybe you will get in. That would be fine. Its just that by stating that you have no particular interest in learning you really aren't putting yourself in the best position to start with, you know?(Original post by SoNottingH)
No offence, but I got put down sharply for saying I fancied being at Oxford for the cultural life, but if it's football, that's apparently OK?Last edited by nexttime; 22-05-2012 at 21:56. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?I never for one moment assumed it would be. I was asking a delicate technical question, eg, which course has the least workload? I am certain they do vary but it's fine if you regard that as offensive or something, which you apparently do for some odd reason.(Original post by nexttime)
... join a creative writing class or something. Oxford isn't a freakin holiday camp. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?I made one or two jokey remarks but you didn't read my question. I know Oxford is highly academic and that is a key reason to be there. Another good reason to be there is all the other things that can be engaged with in University life. Obviously the work is central.(Original post by nexttime)
Its fine to have other interests. Ask about the 'cultural activities' if you want and hopefully you will get some helpful answers. However, Oxford spends its millions and millions of pounds every year on teaching keen students academic subjects. That is what Oxford is for. When someone comes along and says 'i want to be there for the culture', it becomes clear that your interests are not in line with Oxford's. You can apply if you want, of course, and if you are good enough maybe you will get in. That would be fine. Its just that by stating that you have no particular interest in learning you really aren't putting yourself in the best position to start with, you know? -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?I wasn't offended really(Original post by SoNottingH)
I never for one moment assumed it would be. I was asking a delicate technical question, eg, which course has the least workload? I am certain they do vary but it's fine if you regard that as offensive or something, which you apparently do for some odd reason.
See more serious response above.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Not really a "delicate technical question", is it? In any case, I think in degrees at any university you put in as much work as you want to. Some people in all subjects will put in 12 hours a day, and get corresponding fantastic marks. Others will do very little and scrape along. But there's no magic subject where you can be off enjoying Oxford's cultural life the whole time and still get a 2.i. in your degree (unless you're a genius? Maybe?).(Original post by SoNottingH)
I never for one moment assumed it would be. I was asking a delicate technical question, eg, which course has the least workload? I am certain they do vary but it's fine if you regard that as offensive or something, which you apparently do for some odd reason.
Of course it's possible to do lots of extra-curriculars and enjoy yourself and still do well. But my impression is that an Oxford degree involves a huge amount of work, and there will be times when you're trying to finish an essay at 3am, or incredibly stressed and upset by exams, or just generally snowed under, and if you don't really love your subject to start off with you've no chance getting through those times. Cultural life is a bonus (though probably not so different from other unis) but it shouldn't be your reason for applying. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Tbh, the fact that you recognise that the work is the most important thing and reason for being there didn't really come across that clearly. I think the amount of angsty replies you've received should indicate that to you(Original post by SoNottingH)
I made one or two jokey remarks but you didn't read my question. I know Oxford is highly academic and that is a key reason to be there. Another good reason to be there is all the other things that can be engaged with in University life. Obviously the work is central.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Thanks.(Original post by anyone_can_fly)
Not really a "delicate technical question", is it? In any case, I think in degrees at any university you put in as much work as you want to. Some people in all subjects will put in 12 hours a day, and get corresponding fantastic marks. Others will do very little and scrape along. But there's no magic subject where you can be off enjoying Oxford's cultural life the whole time and still get a 2.i. in your degree (unless you're a genius? Maybe?).
Of course it's possible to do lots of extra-curriculars and enjoy yourself and still do well. But my impression is that an Oxford degree involves a huge amount of work, and there will be times when you're trying to finish an essay at 3am, or incredibly stressed and upset by exams, or just generally snowed under, and if you don't really love your subject to start off with you've no chance getting through those times. Cultural life is a bonus (though probably not so different from other unis) but it shouldn't be your reason for applying.
If I'm honest, my attempts to make jokes about this are a little misplaced. Probably the truth is that I find the idea of the daunting workload everyone talks about a little scary, as it sounds like it will be no fun. The school I go to has a good track record of getting people into Oxbridge and I am hopeful but I would like to think it wouldn't be all work and no play, otherwise why not go elsewhere? I suspect this is true of a lot of Unis now and obviously I work hard now as the School puts a lot of pressure on all of us, but if it's just a treadmill - well, that would be hard. Sorry if I sound a little spoilt but I'm kind of used to getting a lot of achievement with possibly lower effort than I could have put in - I can well imagine I will get busted if I tried that at Oxford.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Some people at Oxford DO get away with doing less hours and stuff... but either they screw themselves over big time, or they're insanely insanely INSANELY intelligent (even by Oxbridge standards) and thus can do that and a zillion other things and still get at least a high 2.1.(Original post by SoNottingH)
Thanks.
If I'm honest, my attempts to make jokes about this are a little misplaced. Probably the truth is that I find the idea of the daunting workload everyone talks about a little scary, as it sounds like it will be no fun. The school I go to has a good track record of getting people into Oxbridge and I am hopeful but I would like to think it wouldn't be all work and no play, otherwise why not go elsewhere? I suspect this is true of a lot of Unis now and obviously I work hard now as the School puts a lot of pressure on all of us, but if it's just a treadmill - well, that would be hard. Sorry if I sound a little spoilt but I'm kind of used to getting a lot of achievement with possibly lower effort than I could have put in - I can well imagine I will get busted if I tried that at Oxford.
The reality of Oxford is that almost everyone is involved in something outside of the remit of their studies and the library alone. That can be a variety of things: sports, music, drama, dance, religious societies, debating, the Oxford Union, or indeed the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings societies. The stereotype of people being chained to their desks at all hours of the night isn't true for the overwhelming majority. And for those who DO do that... well, they would do that at WHATEVER university they could have ended up with.
So rest assured: we all know how to have a good time
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Obviously, jsut ask anyone who goes to Oxford.(Original post by pi=3)
Is it bettee than Cambridge? -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?(Original post by pi=3)
Is it bettee than Cambridge?
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Obviously.(Original post by pi=3)
Is it better than Cambridge?
As you can see, the responses you've got in this thread are completely objective and unbiased.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Quoted for truth(Original post by dbmag9)
All Oxford students are much more intelligent than all Cambridge students. And you can trust our opinion over theirs, since we're much cleverer.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?While this uses circular reasoning, thats OK because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works...(Original post by dbmag9)
All Oxford students are much more intelligent than all Cambridge students. And you can trust our opinion over theirs, since we're much cleverer.
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Oh wow, more pos points are being handed out for praising Oxford!
I love everything about Oxford students and particularly those who take part in this thread.
Not only are you cleverer than Cambridge students (self-flippin' evidently!) but you are more beautiful. Also, more modest.
EDIT: Ps. In case anyone from Cambridge sees this and does a drive-by neg, I am also going to go over to the Cambridge threads and praise you to the skies! My need for pos outweighs any trivial moral concerns.Last edited by zara55; 28-05-2012 at 09:28. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?(Original post by zara55)
Oh wow, more pos points are being handed out for praising Oxford!
I love everything about Oxford students and particularly those who take part in this thread.
Not only are you cleverer than Cambridge students (self-flippin' evidently!) but you are more beautiful. Also, more modest.
Don't forget Oxford is also older, and has been steeped in archaic traditions for almost a century longer than Cambridge. You forgot to mention that too.Last edited by Blutooth; 28-05-2012 at 00:06. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?I forgot to admit (my liege) that Oxford is in every way better than Cambridge, not only in the obvious ways anyone can think of, like the architecture or how beautiful the students are, but in all the ways you haven't already thought of, and all the ways yet to come.(Original post by Blutooth)
Don't forget Oxford is also older, and has been steeped in archaic traditions for almost a century longer than Cambridge. You forgot to mention that too.
EDIT LOL that I got a neg - driveby Cambridge loser.Last edited by zara55; 29-05-2012 at 09:22. -
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Re: What would you want to know about Oxford?Liege, I like the sound of that(Original post by zara55)
I forgot to admit (my liege) that Oxford is in every way better than Cambridge, not only in the obvious ways anyone can think of, like the architecture or how beautiful the students are, but in all the ways you haven't already thought of, and all the ways yet to come. but you can still call me as Mr Blutooth (Oxon) if you prefer.
See more serious response above.
