[rainbow drops]

i'm going to apply for english later this year and i'm really torn between these two colleges. i've done the whole visit thing at the open day, before i went down to oxford i thought i was going to apply between exeter but after seeing hertford, i'm stuck between the two.

so, which one would you pick? it would be really helpful to me if you gave your reasoning. e.g. the accommodation offered, location, atmosphere (although they both seem to be really friendly) etc etc. it would also be really useful if you could tell me anything about the pros/cons of doing english at these two colleges.

thank you

[caustic87]

Hi, I'm at Exeter reading English, so obviously I'm going to say lovely things about it! But I think Hertford is great too - their bar is fab and has a brilliant atmosphere. I think Hertford can house all its undergrads for three years, which Exeter can't - although the number of people who choose to live out is high, so if you wanted a college-owned room for 3 years at Exeter, I'm sure you would get it. Also, living out is a valuable experience and lots of fun!

Exeter possibly has the upper hand on location - it's slightly more central than Hertford... by all of 500m or so. Saying that, Hertford is those 500m closer to the English Faculty - so swings and roundabouts really! You're right in thinking both are very friendly - students at both colleges are heavily involved in university life (especially student papers) and both colleges are very social places.

As for English, you might want to look at tutor specialisms. If there's an author/period you love, and one college has a tutor who's really expert in that area, that might swing it for you. The tutors at Exeter are great, and have really mixed approaches to texts, which is always helpful for developing your own critical standpoint. I think the ways of teaching (number of essays, order of papers) is similar at both colleges - although a friend at Hertford did Moderns and a special paper for mods, whereas at Exeter we did Victorians and Moderns. I think the Hertford people were taught Moderns in first term, which slightly goes against the lecture list.

Basically, you've picked two great colleges and I'm sure you'd be happy at either. Sit and think about it for a while, but don't tear yourself to pieces over it. If you end up at either place, you'll end up loving it.

[gruffyddd]

*Yawns* There is a thread like this every week. Both colleges are very similar, just read the TSR guides and see if there's any specifics that sway your decision. But like I said they have far more similarities than differences, it's not like choosing between Exeter and St Catherine's (v modern) or my college St Hugh's (far from centre), at the end of the day you would probably be happy at either college.

[dmw1989]

hertford has a cheaper bar. easy choice. thats the kinda trhing you dont get in a prospective