[michael321]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Just to let you know, there aren't colleges that are more inclined to accept state school students. What DOES happen is that people hear the same rumours as you and thus apply to certain college, making there a much wider pool of state school applicants at that college, which means more are likely to be accepted. If that makes sense? It's a self-perpetuating thing

I'm not entirely sure that's quite the case. For instance, Mansfield has recently massively increased its uptake of state students. Notwithstanding that you may get pooled away before interview etc., whilst no college will look down on state applicants, I think some will be more inclined than others to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Bax-man]

(Original post by michael321)
I'm not entirely sure that's quite the case. For instance, Mansfield has recently massively increased its uptake of state students. Notwithstanding that you may get pooled away before interview etc., whilst no college will look down on state applicants, I think some will be more inclined than others to give them the benefit of the doubt.

That's quite possibly as a result of the particular distribution of applicants rather than any conscious shift towards giving offers to more students from the state sector.

[mishieru07]

(Original post by La_Mignonne)
I don't mind walking but anything over a 40 minute walk from the Law Faculty would be a little too much hassle for me.

I'm at a college that's roughly 10 minutes walk away from the Law Faculty and even then I find it a hassle at times! Probably just me being lazy though

Hmm we're looking solely at proximity, St Catz is definitely the nearest! The other nearby colleges are New, Mansfield, Harris Manchester, Magdalen and Wadham I think. Worcester's on the other side of town but definitely within 40 minutes walk (One of my tutor's there; lovely college )

I shall be shameless and nominate my college (Brasenose) for your consideration - we have a relatively large law intake (approximately 10 students per year), are a medium/ small-sized college (100 students per batch), have a great location (College itself is on Radcliffe Square, the accommodation annexe is also in the city centre next to the Oxford Union and you should be able to get accommodation for all years) and have really good law tutors. We also have our own law library and the seniors are very nice and helpful so overall, it's a really good atmosphere.

[michael321]

(Original post by Bax-man)
That's quite possibly as a result of the particular distribution of applicants rather than any conscious shift towards giving offers to more students from the state sector.

Take Mansfield College as an example though - they have actively stated that they want to increase the success of state applicants, and their Principal is a very big fan of taking applicants' background into account. This has coincided with a massive increase in the success rate of state pupils there. You could argue that this is in part due to better state-schooled kids trying their luck there because they perceive the college to be more suited to them, but I doubt that's the whole story.

I didn't take it into account in my application (tbh I was rather haphazard in picking a college) but if I were doing it again, I would think very carefully as a private school applicant before applying to one or two particular colleges - especially Mansfield.

I am a supporter, to an extent, of the notion that admissions tutors should take background into account. But given statistics and rhetoric, I think it's naive to think that some colleges don't do so rather more than others.

[nexttime]

(Original post by michael321)
Take Mansfield College as an example though - they have actively stated that they want to increase the success of state applicants, and their Principal is a very big fan of taking applicants' background into account. This has coincided with a massive increase in the success rate of state pupils there. You could argue that this is in part due to better state-schooled kids trying their luck there because they perceive the college to be more suited to them, but I doubt that's the whole story.

I didn't take it into account in my application (tbh I was rather haphazard in picking a college) but if I were doing it again, I would think very carefully as a private school applicant before applying to one or two particular colleges - especially Mansfield.

I am a supporter, to an extent, of the notion that admissions tutors should take background into account. But given statistics and rhetoric, I think it's naive to think that some colleges don't do so rather more than others.

Oriel, Teddy Hall, Lincoln, Exeter and Somerville all showed greater success proportional rates for state applicants than Mansfield though, colleges that don't have a particularly high state proportion at all. Its one thing to encourage state applicants (which Mansfield has done well), its another to take steps to actually skew the admissions in favor of them. I don't think there is evidence of the latter.

[michael321]

(Original post by nexttime)
Oriel, Teddy Hall, Lincoln, Exeter and Somerville all showed greater success proportional rates for state applicants than Mansfield though, colleges that don't have a particularly high state proportion at all. Its one thing to encourage state applicants (which Mansfield has done well), its another to take steps to actually skew the admissions in favor of them. I don't think there is evidence of the latter.

Hmm, having looked at the tables again, I didn't realise that the applications from the state sector had also risen quite that fast. I stand corrected. Encouraging state applicants is a very good thing, to be sure; though Helena Kennedy's rhetoric on the issue has been quite confrontational, it doesn't seem to have carried through into negative policy.

[_becca]

(Original post by ElizaDoolittle)
Hi,

I am uncertain as to which Oxford College (2013) I should apply to. I would like to read Modern History.

I have 10 A*s and 1 A at GCSE, and am predicted 3 Higher Level 7s at IB (HL subjects: English, History and Spanish, with 43/45 points altogether).

I very much enjoy Choir, Public Speaking and Debating, Modern Foreign Languages, Young Enterprise and Politics.

I am from a private school (I know some colleges are more left-wing than others).
My interests are in Intellectual History, Eighteenth-Century England, and China.

Could anyone help?

Thank you!

It sounds like you've already chosen a period of History which particularly appeals to you (Modern) so in your decision you might want to look at the interests and research areas of the tutors. Would give you something in common in the interview (although they'll be more likely to grill you mercilessly on it so be careful when writing your PS and interview prep :P ). Plus if you get accepted your interests will match the tutors'.

Other than that it's really just personal taste, preference for large/small colleges, central/further out, academic/relaxed, old and traditional/new, catered/self catered, formal hall/no formals etc etc.

[_becca]

(Original post by icycreamy6)
I've been doing a lot of research and reading comments on the Student Room. I'm actually interested in University College (I'd like to study law), but it seems like not much is said about it.

Has anyone been there?

Thanks!

I live in Ox and have been in Univ a few times.

It's on the High Street, so as central as you can get! It's neighboured by All Souls and Teddy Hall on the High Street and then Merton round the back so it's in a cluster of colleges - whether this is good or bad depends on whether you like the immediacy of the town centre (and it's close to exam schools I think) despite this it's got quite large grounds and seems spacious.

Also, it's one of the oldest colleges and is quite traditional - so you get bragging rights but also tourists (though not as many as ChCh or Magdalen who always seem to have more tourists in than students haha). Seems to do well academically.


This might also help although it's quite biased! haha http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki...ersity_College

[rosiesaurus]

Im looking (hopefully! ) to read Geography at Oxford, but one of the main decisions involved in picking a College is if it is at all feasible to go totally self catered, and at which colleges this is possible
thanks

[la-dauphine]

(Original post by rosiesaurus)
Im looking (hopefully! ) to read Geography at Oxford, but one of the main decisions involved in picking a College is if it is at all feasible to go totally self catered, and at which colleges this is possible
thanks

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=686132 This thread might help

[nulli tertius]

(Original post by _becca)
It's on the High Street, so as central as you can get! It's neighboured by All Souls and Teddy Hall on the High Street and then Merton round the back so it's in a cluster of colleges

Wasn't this there when you were at Univ



They had certainly built it by last Sunday

[_becca]

(Original post by nulli tertius)
Wasn't this there when you were at Univ



They had certainly built it by last Sunday

Hehehe nope, never seen it in my life lol. what would this thread do without your watchful eye eh??

[Chocochip26]

Does anyone know much about Kellogg college or have an opinion on it ?

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Chocochip26)
Does anyone know much about Kellogg college or have an opinion on it ?

You probably won't find much about it on here, since it's a postgraduate college and most of the people on here are undergrads or former undergrads

[nulli tertius]

(Original post by Chocochip26)
Does anyone know much about Kellogg college or have an opinion on it ?

Most part-time students in the University (about 575 of them) are members of Kellogg. Many of them will rarely, if ever, be seen there. There are only about 200 full-time students.

[Flavia Munteanu]

I am one of the many confused Oxford applicants, who has got no clue which college to apply for. After attending an open day, I have equally loved New College and Christ Church.
New College happens to be the college attended by my father, so it would be nice if I could continue the family tradition; I also like the fact that it's quite large, doesn't have a stereotype like other Oxford colleges do and seems to offer a good social life. However, I would need to live out in the third year and I would much rather prefer living in. Oh..and apparently the food is not great either.
Now about Christ Church - it looks amazing, no doubts about that and it offers accommodation for the entire length of the degree. However, my concern is the posh reputation it has and although I am currently attending a private school, I want a college with with people from all kinds of backgrounds. I wouldn't enjoy being surrounded by arrogant students who form the so-called 'elite' groups and don't socialize with others. Are the stereotypes true or is it an exaggeration? Any advice? Thanks a lot in advance

[fudgesundae]

(Original post by Flavia Munteanu)
I am one of the many confused Oxford applicants, who has got no clue which college to apply for. After attending an open day, I have equally loved New College and Christ Church.
New College happens to be the college attended by my father, so it would be nice if I could continue the family tradition; I also like the fact that it's quite large, doesn't have a stereotype like other Oxford colleges do and seems to offer a good social life. However, I would need to live out in the third year and I would much rather prefer living in. Oh..and apparently the food is not great either.
Now about Christ Church - it looks amazing, no doubts about that and it offers accommodation for the entire length of the degree. However, my concern is the posh reputation it has and although I am currently attending a private school, I want a college with with people from all kinds of backgrounds. I wouldn't enjoy being surrounded by arrogant students who form the so-called 'elite' groups and don't socialize with others. Are the stereotypes true or is it an exaggeration? Any advice? Thanks a lot in advance

They are an exaggeration. Looking at the statistics New actually admits more students from private schools than ChCh and is quite a similar college tbh, I have heard both described as 'rah' colleges. Even so at both colleges at least 50% of the students are from state schools so I wouldn't worry about diversity or being surrounded by elitist students.

Also I think about 50% of 3rd years do end up living in at New. Just pick the college you prefer the most, which from your post sounds like New. Don't fret about the possibility of living out, many people actually say that it is a very enjoyable part of their university career.

[Flavia Munteanu]

(Original post by fudgesundae)
They are an exaggeration. Looking at the statistics New actually admits more students from private schools than ChCh and is quite a similar college tbh, I have heard both described as 'rah' colleges. Even so at both colleges at least 50% of the students are from state schools so I wouldn't worry about diversity or being surrounded by elitist students.

Also I think about 50% of 3rd years do end up living in at New. Just pick the college you prefer the most, which from your post sounds like New. Don't fret about the possibility of living out, many people actually say that it is a very enjoyable part of their university career.

I wouldn't say I prefer New at the moment, I keep changing my mind every 2 minutes...I definitely like its atmosphere, but I also admire Christ Church for the amazing scenery.
One more question - I have heard of people choosing unpopular colleges, as they fear applying to oversubscribed ones, like Balliol or Magdalen. Does the popularity of the College influence one's chances of getting in?
Thanks a lot

[Chocochip26]

(Original post by nulli tertius)
Most part-time students in the University (about 575 of them) are members of Kellogg. Many of them will rarely, if ever, be seen there. There are only about 200 full-time students.

Okay thanks. It's closest to my department so I've chosen to go there.(probably not the best method to select a college) I just hope it doesn't get too empty.

[bubblle]

(Original post by Flavia Munteanu)
I wouldn't say I prefer New at the moment, I keep changing my mind every 2 minutes...I definitely like its atmosphere, but I also admire Christ Church for the amazing scenery.
One more question - I have heard of people choosing unpopular colleges, as they fear applying to oversubscribed ones, like Balliol or Magdalen. Does the popularity of the College influence one's chances of getting in?
Thanks a lot

Applying to a popular college (Balliol, Magdalen, Worcester etc) won't hurt your chances of getting into Oxford at all. Obviously it will make it less likely that you will get into your first choice college, but the majority of people will be called to a second (or sometimes even third) college for interviews anyway, so that's not something to worry about massively. I applied to Balliol and got an offer from LMH, and I know that only one of the second year biologists at Christ Church actually applied there.

I would stress too much about college choice - it seems like a massive thing, and obviously it does make a difference, but chances are you'll end up loving whatever college you end up at anyway.