So I'm really excited about spending a year at Oxford next year, but I'm struggling to decide between the two programs I was admitted to, and was hoping for some help!
I've been admitted to both the Sarah Lawrence Programme at Wadham College and as a general JYA student at Mansfield College, and while I have an idea of program-specific pros and cons of each, I was wondering about the role that visiting students play in the overall Mansfield or Wadham environment. At Wadham, do Sarah Lawrence Programme students integrate well with the rest of the student body, despite living in separate accommodation off-campus? How do Wadham students view SLP students? Similarly, what do Mansfield students think of JYA students?
Any other advice in choosing between the two is much appreciated as well. As for other information about me, I'll largely be following the History & Politics track and am hoping to play on the hockey and/or tennis team of my chosen college as well.
So I'm really excited about spending a year at Oxford next year, but I'm struggling to decide between the two programs I was admitted to, and was hoping for some help!
I've been admitted to both the Sarah Lawrence Programme at Wadham College and as a general JYA student at Mansfield College, and while I have an idea of program-specific pros and cons of each, I was wondering about the role that visiting students play in the overall Mansfield or Wadham environment. At Wadham, do Sarah Lawrence Programme students integrate well with the rest of the student body, despite living in separate accommodation off-campus? How do Wadham students view SLP students? Similarly, what do Mansfield students think of JYA students?
Any other advice in choosing between the two is much appreciated as well. As for other information about me, I'll largely be following the History & Politics track and am hoping to play on the hockey and/or tennis team of my chosen college as well.
Come to Wadham Come to Wadham Come to Wadham!
The Sarah Lawrencers are great, the Wadhamites love them. You effectively become freshers, SLP students have their own rep on the SU (JCR), there's a transatlantic magazine that Wadhamites and Sarah Lawrencers both contribute to, there are picnics and special SL organised-bops, Super Bowl party, the INFAMOUS SL Hallowe'en house party, beer pong, special Thanks Giving dinner in Hall... Come to Wadham, we're so much better than Mansfield on every level
The Sarah Lawrencers are great, the Wadhamites love them. You effectively become freshers, SLP students have their own rep on the SU (JCR), there's a transatlantic magazine that Wadhamites and Sarah Lawrencers both contribute to, there are picnics and special SL organised-bops, Super Bowl party, the INFAMOUS SL Hallowe'en house party, beer pong, special Thanks Giving dinner in Hall... Come to Wadham, we're so much better than Mansfield on every level
I'd really love to offer some rebuttal, purely as a means of defending Mansfield, but I'm not a current student, and thus I cannot give a first hand account.
Also, you mentioned Wadham visiting students living out of college. My guess is that, by implication, Mansfield visiting students do not. Therefore, if you'd prefer to stay in college during the year, then Mansfield appears the better bet, but if not, then Wadham would be ideal.
Sorry I can't be of any more help, I repeat that I'm not a current student so I can't give detailed advice. I like Mansfield as a college, having visited both in the summer on an Open Day, and in the Winter for interviews. From my limited experience it seems welcoming and friendly, albeit a little small (it's the smallest undergraduate college that isn't solely for mature students).
Is it possible to make a visit beforehand? The only advice I can truly give is to look around before you decide, but if this isn't possible, then try to get a list of pros and cons of both colleges.
Yeah, Mansfield doesn't put you in college, but you do live in Ablethorpe with Mansfield students, I believe.
I won't be visiting (have to decide by the end of this week!) but I'm leaning towards Wadham, I think. It sounds like a really great (and fun) community!
Also, SLP students live on Iffley Road - do a lot of Oxford students who live out of college also live in the Cowley area?
Yeah, Mansfield doesn't put you in college, but you do live in Ablethorpe with Mansfield students, I believe.
I won't be visiting (have to decide by the end of this week!) but I'm leaning towards Wadham, I think. It sounds like a really great (and fun) community!
Also, SLP students live on Iffley Road - do a lot of Oxford students who live out of college also live in the Cowley area?
Some get put in Merifield with the 4th years now, as well. And pretty all the Wadham 2nd years live out, either at Merifield or on the Cowley and Iffley Roads.
Go to Wadham. Despite what the college probably claims, JYAs at Mansfield aren't actually integrated very well at all. You would be living w/ other Mansfield students, yes, but they'd be cliquey finalists who didn't do very well in the room ballot rather than fellow freshers -- I've heard Ablethorpe referred to more than once as the 'American ghetto'. Though there are a few good integrating events (house parties, Super Bowl party, Thanksgiving formal, &c.), it really just comes down to money/motive: Wadham takes American students as part of an established exchange program; Mansfield seems to take them because they need a bit of extra cash.
[Disclaimer: this is just the opinion of a normal Mansfielder who happens to know a few JYAs. If you'd like to talk to one of them yourself, I'd be happy to put you in facebook-contact or something.]
Last edited by Franc Vouloir : 07-04-2009 at 20:05.
Go to Wadham. Despite what the college probably claims, JYAs at Mansfield aren't actually integrated very well at all. You would be living w/ other Mansfield students, yes, but they'd be cliquey finalists who didn't do very well in the room ballot rather than fellow freshers -- I've heard Ablethorpe referred to more than once as the 'American ghetto'. Though there are a few good integrating events (house parties, Super Bowl party, Thanksgiving formal, &c.), it really just comes down to money/motive: Wadham takes American students as part of an established exchange program; Mansfield seems to takes them because they need a bit of extra cash.
That's really good to know, thanks!
Looks like I'll be at Wadham next year. Thanks for all the help everyone!
I'm at mansfield and would agree that JYA's do not integrate that well, which is a shame. That said I really really love Mansfield. But if I could choose any other college to go to it would be Wadham
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JYA at Oxford - Wadham or Mansfield?
