[harr]

Possibly (the biography seems to suggest that though the wikipedia article doesn't), though I'd have thought that he could have applied to a different college

[CamSPSer]

(Original post by harr)
Possibly (the biography seems to suggest that though the wikipedia article doesn't), though I'd have thought that he could have applied to a different college

University College was the college his father had attended, college choice was made before course

[Inspiron]

Cambridge and Oxford mathmos at each others throats. You gotta love it

[Elles]

So, back to the question...

Oxford Medicine = location primarily, it was the one i was more familiar with & completed the compass points of 4 medical schools around my hometown!
With hindsight, the selection criteria/requirements there probably suited me more - at the time Cambridge were even more into their "three science or maths" subjects & I was just doing Biology & Chemistry with 2 more artsy humanities subjects at A2.

When it came to re-deciding for Clinicals I actually momentarily considered Cambridge... but this time decided against based on people who'd still be in Oxford for a while longer, I loved the sound of the Oxford course & thought I'd find Cambridge too quiet to live in.

[JohnStuartMill]

Cambridge for History as the course is a lot more flexible and the faculty has a better reputation. I visited both Oxford and Cambridge but there wasn't as much choice as I'd like at Oxford.

[harr]

(Original post by CamSPSer)
University College was the college his father had attended, college choice was made before course

Fair enough. Seems a strange way to do it though (I suppose he wasn't very certain about which course he wanted to do then).

[CamSPSer]

(Original post by harr)
Fair enough. Seems a strange way to do it though (I suppose he wasn't very certain about which course he wanted to do then).

Meh, different times. Public schools used to have links with particular colleges and send kiddies there etc etc. Not as meritocratic and open as it is today

[tenjon]

PPE is the best degree of its sort in the country.

And I much preferred Oxford as a city, although Cambridge is prettier.

(Original post by CamSPSer)
I guess not everyone can get into the greatest university in the country, and Oxford is a good consolation prize

yet you're doing SPS? ^o)

note to any zealots: joke!

[CamSPSer]

(Original post by tom391)
PPE is the best degree of its sort in the country.

And I much preferred Oxford as a city, although Cambridge is prettier.



yet you're doing SPS? ^o)

note to any zealots: joke!

SPS is the subject that all the intelligent people do:
Get a Cambridge degree... for half the work required usually!

[henryt]

I think that we should all just agree to disagree about why Cambridge and Oxford are better - I'd imagine different aspects appeal to different people. Having said that, most Oxons would rather be a 'tab than go to St. John's, and I've heard similar sentiments from Cantabs about going to their St. John's... So at least we can agree on something

[sTe\/o]

(Original post by henryt)
I think that we should all just agree to disagree about why Cambridge and Oxford are better - I'd imagine different aspects appeal to different people. Having said that, most Oxons would rather be a 'tab than go to St. John's, and I've heard similar sentiments from Cantabs about going to their St. John's... So at least we can agree on something

How dare you forsake the name of my alma mater, the great College of St John the Evangelist?!!

[kizer]

(Original post by henryt)
most Oxons would rather be a 'tab than go to St. John's,

What wondeful weasel words! Have you ever heard anyone at Oxford say that?? It's a Cambridge thing.

St John's is fantastic, I visited it today. Actually all the Oxford colleges are great.

[henryt]

(Original post by kizer)
What wondeful weasel words! Have you ever heard anyone at Oxford say that?? It's a Cambridge thing.

St John's is fantastic, I visited it today. Actually all the Oxford colleges are great.

St. John's were, unfortunately, rather cold with me!! I've heard a few Oxons say that... But I think it's far bigger at Cam than at Ox . Perhaps it's just the minority of Oxons that actually want to go to Cambridge that say that

[kizer]

^^ Really? How? Seeing as I am going there in a month I'd be intereted to know who to avoid...

[henryt]

They gave my group of 4 the cold-shoulder. All of the other colleges that we'd visited on the day (that being: Corpus, Christ Church, Trinity, Worcester, Bailiol, Merton, New, Oriel and Magdelen) were at least accomodating enough to let us inside without barking at us - some college porters even offered to show us around! But at St. John's there was an angry porter, and some angry students - looked like medics, but I couldn't be sure!!
Anyhow, I'm sure St. John's is a great place I'm just going on personal experiences, but I suppose that's exactly what you do have to go on to choose your college! If you've had a good vibe from them, just ignore me!!
It's a shame really, because I was also under the impression that all Oxford colleges were wonderful too, but St. John's sort of shattered that image for me. Ah well. I guess I'll be happy trying to get in somewhere else

[sTe\/o]

(Original post by henryt)
St. John's were, unfortunately, rather cold with me!! I've heard a few Oxons say that... But I think it's far bigger at Cam than at Ox .

That's a shame, because I'd heard that SJC Oxford was one of the best colleges in Oxford, and easily the richest. I don't think it has the bad rep you think it has - this is mainly people getting confused between SJC Cambridge and SJC Oxford, which is easily done. St Johns is the college everyone loves to hate in Cambridge, mainly due to a lot of success in sports since... forever.. and being more loaded than people may think we deserve. St John's Oxford is a completely different beast, mainly known for being an academic powerhouse and exceedingly rich (okay, the rich part is the same).

Anyway, my point is that I don't think SJC Oxford has a bad rep - quite the contrary. You shouldn't dismiss it because of a few grumpy porters and a certain infamy based largely on mistaken identity. As for the angry medical students, why do I find that slightly hard to believe? You don't usually see students walking around college "being angry". Were they having an argument with the porters? I think you really ought to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one! I know you can only go by your own experiences, but I think you would probably have a much more positive experience on another day; it was probably down to bad luck.

Good luck to you, anyway. Where do you think you want to apply at the moment? I promise not to pontificate any more.

[kizer]

(Original post by henryt)
They gave my group of 4 the cold-shoulder. All of the other colleges that we'd visited on the day (that being: Corpus, Christ Church, Trinity, Worcester, Bailiol, Merton, New, Oriel and Magdelen) were at least accomodating enough to let us inside without barking at us - some college porters even offered to show us around! But at St. John's there was an angry porter, and some angry students - looked like medics, but I couldn't be sure!!
Anyhow, I'm sure St. John's is a great place I'm just going on personal experiences, but I suppose that's exactly what you do have to go on to choose your college! If you've had a good vibe from them, just ignore me!!
It's a shame really, because I was also under the impression that all Oxford colleges were wonderful too, but St. John's sort of shattered that image for me. Ah well. I guess I'll be happy trying to get in somewhere else

Ah well, with so many great colleges you can afford to let one bad experience stop you applying somewhere! It's a shame though because everyone at SJC was incredibly friendly when I was there, and it has a very strong rep. for maths as well. Still, all those other colleges are great too.

[henryt]

(Original post by kizer)
Ah well, with so many great colleges you can afford to let one bad experience stop you applying somewhere! It's a shame though because everyone at SJC was incredibly friendly when I was there, and it has a very strong rep. for maths as well. Still, all those other colleges are great too.

I think my heart is at Merton anyway!! I was personally breathtaken by the people and the college, and both Mrs Harris and Mr Feltham have advised me to go there

[chocolate-haze]

(Original post by Peter_The_Great)
Oxford, because it has an x in its name, and the x makes it sound cool.

loooooooooool

Oxford because it accepted students under 18
and I thought Oxford was more friendly

[Schmeevey]

i went to both open days, cambridge just freaked me out - it was so quiet and i felt the buildings were just closing in on me.

applying for med at oxford