Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by unknownpleasures
I'll give it a go, depending on my AS Level results. I don't want to build myself up for anything yet. I don't think my application would be very impressive either.... good grades but not much of anything else I don't even know what I want to apply for - History or English or possibly Law but I don't think I'd stand much of a chance against public school kids who have like a month's work experience at their uncle's law firm in the City under their belt already.
I wouldn't let that put you off applying! It doesnt matter if you don't have any work experience you could explain how you are interested in Law on your PS in other ways.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by **CutiePie**
Actually your offers don't come for a while. You have to be picked, assessed, interviewed and then they take a few weeks to make their decision.
You certainly wont get your offers in September/October...More than likely not even till after christmas as you could get pool'ed first.
No. Oxford usually give out their decisions roughly a week after your interview (if you get one). This is around late December, certainly before Christmas. Though if you are pooled then it is probably different.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Oxford does its' 'pooling' at the interview stage, with people being asked to interview at other colleges whilst they are still in Oxford. Cambridge has a pooling system which means people have interviews at a seperate time if they are pooled. A friend of mine was 'pooled' and she got her offer in the post before I did and I got an offer at the college I origionally applied for.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
I'll hopefully (grades permitting) be applying to do History. I think my favourite college is Balliol, but apparently thats super competitive for History and my teacher/form tutor/head of sixth form who is also ex oxford history student said to apply for a "worse" college to increase my chances of getting in.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by moody28028
I'll hopefully (grades permitting) be applying to do History. I think my favourite college is Balliol, but apparently thats super competitive for History and my teacher/form tutor/head of sixth form who is also ex oxford history student said to apply for a "worse" college to increase my chances of getting in.
There is of course a logic to that, but two things to bear in mind:
1) For all you know, said "worse" college could be seriously popular for History without you realising. Certain colleges are hugely oversubscribed for certain subjects. So you may think you're applying to a "worse" college with less competition, but you may be wrong!
2) If a college is one of the "worst", it's at the bottom of the hierarchy. Whilst the "better" or more popular colleges may be hugely oversubscribed, their popularity allows them, to a certain extent, more power to place candidates they deem worthy of an Oxford place (but who they can't/won't take themselves) at other colleges. Like my college is hugely oversubscribed for Music. When I applied, there were 40 applicants for 3 spaces. My tutor thought 9 of us deserved a place but could only make three offers, but he used his influence to make sure the other candidates got places at other colleges, even if they hadn't been interviewed at those colleges
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by moody28028
I'll hopefully (grades permitting) be applying to do History. I think my favourite college is Balliol, but apparently thats super competitive for History and my teacher/form tutor/head of sixth form who is also ex oxford history student said to apply for a "worse" college to increase my chances of getting in.
There's two minds on that:
The official line is that it doesn't matter where you apply, if you're good enough you will get in, which I suppose is true in the case of really oustanding candidates. If you are not good enough to get a place at your original college, they can offer you a place at another college, so the reallocation system is supposed to iron out any advantages.
My take is that, like any other system, the reallocation system isn't perfect. It relies on tutors at highly oversubscribed colleges being able to notice you, and to reallocate you if you're not good enough for a place at your original choice. I personally thought applying to a slightly less competitive college was an advantage, because it meant I could make a good impression against the initial applicants, rather than hoping for reallocation against a more competitive field of applicants at another college.
I may have been mistaken, but that was my personal approach to the admissions process. And everything TLG says is correct, it's just that I didn't personally trust the reallocation system myself.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by Andy the Anarchist
There's two minds on that:
The official line is that it doesn't matter where you apply, if you're good enough you will get in, which I suppose is true in the case of really oustanding candidates. If you are not good enough to get a place at your original college, they can offer you a place at another college, so the reallocation system is supposed to iron out any advantages.
My take is that, like any other system, the reallocation system isn't perfect. It relies on tutors at highly oversubscribed colleges being able to notice you, and to reallocate you if you're not good enough for a place at your original choice. I personally thought applying to a slightly less competitive college was an advantage, because it meant I could make a good impression against the initial applicants, rather than hoping for reallocation against a more competitive field of applicants at another college.
I may have been mistaken, but that was my personal approach to the admissions process. And everything TLG says is correct, it's just that I didn't personally trust the reallocation system myself.
That is, of course, one of the big advantages of applying to a less competitive college
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
Originally Posted by Andy the Anarchist
It relies on tutors at highly oversubscribed colleges being able to notice you, and to reallocate you if you're not good enough for a place at your original choice.
You're underestimating the mechanisms which are in place. Most reallocation methods do not rely just on word-of-mouth between colleagues (except in small Humanities subjects where that's all that's needed); for large subjects - History included - there are formal procedures for moving applicants around appropriately. Central coordinators monitor the process to ensure each applicant is treated fairly and the best students are accepted regardless of college choice.
Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
I'm applying this October, I'm still in huge doubt concerning the subjects: Classics (& English), History (& English) or Law... Colleges: Merton, Oriel, Worcester, Exeter...
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Re: The Oxford Applicants Thread (For Entry in 2010)
I don't even know what I want to apply for - History or English or possibly Law but I don't think I'd stand much of a chance against public school kids who have like a month's work experience at their uncle's law firm in the City under their belt already.
