[Socrates]

Wasn't sure whether to put this here, or in the Colleges forum, but I'm sure someone will move it if they see fit.
Right, I will hopefully be applying for a DPhil at Oxford (in IR/area studies) starting 2009/2010. So I'd like a bit of help from you guys.

In terms of graduate accomodation, how would you rate the following colleges from 1 to 7:

Worcestor
New
Univ
Trinity
Balliol
St. Hughs
Keble

Anything else about the colleges that might be useful, feel free to add.

Thank-ee

[probably not]

if you're applying for ir/area studies you'd be stupid not to apply to st antony's (or maybe nuffield)

[Socrates]

Well I would, but I'd rather I was in a college that wasn't grad only.

[probably not]

why?

[Socrates]

I don't want be around grumpy old graduates the whole time.

[probably not]

hmm

in that case you won't want to apply to trinity or balliol or keble or univ. or most colleges as jcr-mcr mingling tends to be pretty limited at best. or oxford generally, if you're going to veto emphatically the best academic environment for your course...

[Socrates]

I'm not vetoeing anything, I just wanted some opinions, to keep my options open.

[cpchem]

Balliol - because Holywell Manor is awesome.

[Socrates]

Originally Posted by cpchem

Balliol - because Holywell Manor is awesome.

Do you know what the grad accomodation is like there?

Thank you for a helpful answer

[probably not]

holywell manor is nice but reeeeally expensive (as with most things in balliol) - it'll be near your department if you do ir but not if you do area studies.

i'm not sure why you've gone for those colleges as a shortlist, given they don't obviously have a lot in common? i'm honestly trying to be helpful here.

[cpchem]

I don't think it's that expensive.
I can only really point you towards http://www.balliolmcr.com/Manor/Accommodation/, which isn't much help, I'll admit. Suffice it to say that it's the most applied to college in Oxford for graduates, and it has an awesome bar.

[His Grace]

You're applying to Oxford and yet you don't know how to spell Worcester. I despair.

For what it's worth, my own research has indicated that grads rarely get to live on the main college site, if that is what you were hoping for. My short answer would be that if you are primarily concerned with on-site accommodation, then go for a graduate college. If you are more bothered with old buildings and reputations, go for an old undergrad college, but be aware that unless you are a very fortunate international student, you won't live on the college site, instead being housed in a college-owned house, or perhaps a modern annexe if your college has built one, often some distance away. It is also fair to say that old, rich undergrad colleges are cheaper all round, including accommodation.

[cpchem]

Originally Posted by His Grace

You're applying to Oxford and yet you don't know how to spell Worcester. I despair.

For what it's worth, my own research has indicated that grads rarely get to live on the main college site, if that is what you were hoping for. My short answer would be that if you are primarily concerned with on-site accommodation, then go for a graduate college. If you are more bothered with old buildings and reputations, go for an old undergrad college, but be aware that unless you are a very fortunate international student, you won't live on the college site, instead being housed in a college-owned house, or perhaps a modern annexe if your college has built one, often some distance away. It is also fair to say that old, rich undergrad colleges are cheaper all round, including accommodation.

Or a fifteenth-century annexe, if they've bought one!

[Angelil]

There's virtually no JCR-MCR mingling, so I wouldn't pick your college on the basis that you'll be wanting to mix with undergrads as much as with grads (chances are you'll be disappointed).

Of the colleges on your list, I would only really recommend Worcester for its virtually equal proximity to town and the station, and St Hugh's for the fact that it isn't so touristy.
I would also recommend my college, LMH, as we have a strong grad community and I also had the chance to mix with undergrads, mainly through choir (though if you're not musical that may be irrelevant).

[Socrates]

To whoever said I can't spell Worcester, one is surely allowed a typo.

Thanks for your help everyone else.

Originally Posted by Angelil

my college, LMH

Lady Margaret Hall, right?

[Angelil]

[Bekaboo]

I dunno about all these people saying JCRs and MCRs don't mix... the Jesus JCR / GCR mingle quite a bit! They all use our JCR because we have Val and the hatch

[Elles]

I'd say there was at mine - obviously not in terms of being neighbours, because there's different graduate accommodation* but there's scope for interaction through organized things (e.g. sports and societies - the boat club is probably the best example, then subject specific things like our medic-y society invites all the undergrads and postgrads in relevant subjects to talks and dinners; then there are some joint MCR/JCR bops) or just eating in Hall and meeting random people, it's pretty possible.

Perhaps it feels easier if you've done the JCR-MCR transition at the same place though.

*a perk of not being in the centre of the main college site = more 21st century bathroom and cooking facilities and user ratios! Also ours isn't really that far away (the annexes are other sides of roads) and the bulk technically is on the main site, but more peripheral/scenic/quiet. So it's not all bad.

[Angelil]

Gcr?

[Athena]

Graduate Common Room. Especially confusing if, like at Jesus, the GCR also includes people in the fourth year of undergraduate courses (chem, biochem, physics, maths...)