[nuodai]

Hey folks! I wonder if any of you can help me out here. I'm not bothered about reputation or league table scores at this point, I'm bothered about deciding which of Oxford or Cambridge would suit me better. Don't be fooled by my sig, though; it's by no means final yet.

I've visited both unis and visited both Computer Science departments, and seen information about both of the courses, and I really can't decide which is better. FYI, if I went to Oxford I'd probably apply to Keble College, and if I went to Cambridge I'd apply to Robinson College. Also, I'm not doing the whole "Oxford or Cambridge" thing because I want to go to Oxbridge for the sake of it; I genuinely like both of the universities and I don't see why I should relinquish the chance of getting a degree from one of them, since they both have top reputations.

Advantages of Oxford:
- I prefer the city
- It's possible to do the 4-year MCompSci degree
- It's probably easier for me to get in*
- The course has a lot of emphasis on the deep-down roots of Computer Science

Advantages of Cambridge:
- There's more flexibility in the first year
- The accomodation at Robinson is droolworthily good (even if the college itself is ugly)
- My grades are probably still good enough*
- The course has a lot depth but also a great deal of breadth

* My AS results were AAAAB (the B was in General Studies, and was one mark off an A), averaging 88% across all the modules.

My vision is to go into research/lecturing in Computer Science and perhaps do little side-projects that I can get more money from and develop my own interests in.

Can you people help point to things that Oxford offers but Cambridge doesn't, and that Cambridge offers but Oxford doesn't? That'd help me make up my mind better Thanks!

[rangers_mad]

Neither? Go somewhere else instead?

[nuodai]

Originally Posted by rangers_mad

Neither? Go somewhere else instead?

Helpful.

[laser]

I personally was more impressed with Cambridge and the William Gates Centre than Oxford (although I ended up applying to neither) for CS. I've lived in Oxford for a year though and it is a fantastic city.

I just get the impression that Cambridge is better than Oxford for science in general.

Have you been to open days for both?

[UltimateJ]

Oxford is bigger and more "city like". There is probably less to do in Cambridge. Meh. Go with your gut.

[Arka]

Have you contacted with any of the guys who'll possibly be your college tutors.
Maybe they could give you a better idea about which course would be better tailored to your needs.

Keble
http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/academics/...-stephen-clark
http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/academics/...tephen-cameron

Robinson
http://rich.recoil.org/
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~arb33/

[Titch89]

Do you know what career prospects are like?

Also,it's not just about the degree - you'll have to live there for 3/4 years as well.

[mituozo]

The comp. sci course at cambridge is the best rated in the country, from everything I read there's quite a gap between Cambridge and anything else.. And Imperial I think probably takes the pinch over Oxford these days for comp sci.

What were your AS results in (subject wise, not just grades).. Oxford's probably easier to get into I'd imagine.

[OCC++]

Although some may perceive Oxford as easier to get into than Cambridge for CompSci, if i am not wrong, Oxford admit lesser students per year than Cambridge.

From their websites, average entry for Cambridge is 90 while that of Oxford is 40. The number of your peers might be a factor in your consideration.

[nuodai]

Originally Posted by mituozo

What were your AS results in (subject wise, not just grades).. Oxford's probably easier to get into I'd imagine.

I've done AS Music Tech and I'm taking Maths, Further Maths, French and Psychology to full A-level. No Physics, but bleh.

[mituozo]

Well for Cambridge you need atleast 1 natural science.. As you have to take 1/4 of your first year doing it.. Either that, or you can do half maths, half comp sci.. But you need to take step and the like then.

[nuodai]

Originally Posted by mituozo

Well for Cambridge you need atleast 1 natural science.. As you have to take 1/4 of your first year doing it.. Either that, or you can do half maths, half comp sci.. But you need to take step and the like then.

Nah, you can do Psychology with no hard sciences, which is what I'm going to do. I'd have no objection to taking STEP (which I'm probably going to do anyway) and doing Maths in the first half, but I'd prefer to broaden my interests a little.

I think I'm going to choose Cambridge. As much as I like Oxford as a place and a uni, the Cambridge course seems to suit me better, and there are things the Cambridge course can offer me that the Oxford course just can't

[Scipio90]

There is no psychology in 1A natsci.

Evolution & behaviour, Geology, MMS and Physiology of organisms have no required A-levels, but all have science as highly desirable. You'd probably be better off with 50% maths.

[nuodai]

Originally Posted by Scipio90

There is no psychology in 1A natsci.

Evolution & behaviour, Geology, MMS and Physiology of organisms have no required A-levels, but all have science as highly desirable. You'd probably be better off with 50% maths.

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/admissions/u.../intro/#part1a
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/admissions/u...uirements.html

It's possible to do Psychology in the first year of the Comp Sci degree, not just natural sciences.

[Scipio90]

Ah, ok. Didn't know that.