[ThomasElliott]

Hey all,

I was wondering if anybody here has had any experience with college open days at Oxford -- in particular either Christ Church or Balliol but any would do.

Basically, I missed the open day I had booked today at St. John's (it was 30th of June, most are tomorrow on July 1st and 2nd) because my mum was suddenly unable to drive me. I had reeaaally wanted to go so was planning to go up there tomorrow (I have booked a coach) and attempt to get into some other College open days.

What I am asking is, did you ever actually have to present your name? Was there some kind of register? I wouldn't normally do this, but if I just turned up to Christ Church tomorrow morning (chosen that college because it's the second largest after St John's and therefore more free spaces if people don't turn up) and just ask where the open day is....would I get away with it?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

TE.

[35mm_]

I would also like to know this.

[Dan.T]

I didn't book any colleges last year, but was still able to get into some colleges. Obviously didnt recieve lunch as I would have if i'd booked. It may have helped that my really confident friend was with me who just blagged our way in.

[drencharmstrong]

I went last year to the Oxford open day and didn't book onto anything because my brother (who goes to Oxford) told me I didn't need to.
Unless they've changed this from last year, you really don't need to book so don't worry about it. If I remember correctly we just wandered around all of the colleges. Make sure you ask at the porters lodge for a college prospectus/alternative prospectus. That way you can actually remember the colleges at the end of the day...they do tend to sort of merge when you've been walking around all day in the heat!
Alternative prospectuses also help because the general 'tone' can give an indicator of what the college is like.

[Meliae]

You can go into (most) colleges without booking in the afternoon anyway, but I don't know whether you'd be able to sneak into the booked part in the morning. Check the website for a list of the times they're open to people not booked in.

[j_w]

Loads... some colleges might just give you a prospectus and let you wonder around, but most put on tours/students to speak to, etc. You won't be able to join a specially organized open day, but you really don't need to, the alternatives for people wandering in are just as useful.

Even if it wasn't an open day... most operate a 'prospective applicants always welcome' kind of thing and will usually sort something out for you if you just ask!

[rainbow drops]

The colleges just let you in to walk around, and students are there to hand out subject brochures and alternative prospectuses. I booked my place, but that was because I live ageeess away so I stayed overnight in a college with some other people from my school. Just make sure that you don't try and get into Christ Church when it's not even obvious that they've stopped letting visitors in free, or else the porters will yell at you as they did at my friends and I.

[Clements-]

You didn't have to book for the uni itself. As for colleges, it appears that pretty much all that are available tomorrow have both booked sessions but also drop-in sessions i.e. I've booked a morning in Hertford and am checking out Pembroke and Jesus in the afternoon.

[j_w]

Originally Posted by Clements-

You didn't have to book for the uni itself. As for colleges, it appears that pretty much all that are available tomorrow have both booked sessions but also drop-in sessions i.e. I've booked a morning in Hertford and am checking out Pembroke and Jesus in the afternoon.

The Jesus one should be good - when I went a few years ago they were amazingly helpful... made a really big effort to find people doing my subject to talk to and so on, and it sounds like its going to be the same this year.

[Clements-]

Originally Posted by j_w

The Jesus one should be good - when I went a few years ago they were amazingly helpful... made a really big effort to find people doing my subject to talk to and so on, and it sounds like its going to be the same this year.

Jesus had filled their bookings before I even realised bookings had opened Drop-in should be fine though, especially since I already visited them last year. Only thing that puts me off about Jesus is it's physically a little small I thought.

[Bekaboo]

Hehe Jesus are teh awesome - we know how to do open days (Are applications have sky rocketed relative to the university average in recent years). Basically, for departments you won't need to book. For most colleges you will be able to get in, have a guided tour and talk to students (which in my opinion is far and away the most useful thing for you to do) without having booked. You'll probably find yourself unable to attend talks in college (although some colleges will repeat one or two talks at regular intervals all day, so do check that) or have lunch there, but you should be able to do all the important stuff.

@ Clements - don't forget you only live in college in first year. On the one hand, it is a shame there aren't pretty grounds (I didn't bother looking around other colleges when I applied so didn't realise what i was missing out on!!) but then when you live out in 2nd and 3rd year you have the only grass hockey pitch in Oxford on your doorstep and plenty of space

[ThomasElliott]

That's helpful, thanks for the responses everyone!

Originally Posted by rainbow drops

The colleges just let you in to walk around, and students are there to hand out subject brochures and alternative prospectuses. I booked my place, but that was because I live ageeess away so I stayed overnight in a college with some other people from my school. Just make sure that you don't try and get into Christ Church when it's not even obvious that they've stopped letting visitors in free, or else the porters will yell at you as they did at my friends and I.

Oh no! So should I just avoid Christ Church all together? Don't reakon I could just turn up and blag my way into the open day crowd? I even mean the lunch, lectures etc. I ask this because at other open days at Unis I have booked and they never asked for my name.

Is it worth ringing the college first thing and asking if they have any cancellations? If so, who should I ring (and at what time :P)

TE.

[rainbow drops]

No you can go into Christ Church, it's just that my friends and I went at the wrong time unaware that the open day visiting hours were over there, and got scolded by a porter wearing a bowler hat that looked very cross with us. If you really want to look at ChCh then just make sure it's at the right time.

*is an Oxford reject... runs away from the forum*

[explosions hurt]

Originally Posted by Bekaboo

...

You seem to know your stuff! Basically I don't know that much regarding the colleges but could you recommend me 4 to have a look at during the open day that you think are pretty good! I have managed to book a St Catz open day for tomorrow though it is a bit of a trek away from the train station . I would like to study maths, or maths with something if that makes a difference.
I just need to narrow down what i should look at tomorrow if that makes sense.
Thanks

[RichE]

Originally Posted by explosions hurt

You seem to know your stuff! Basically I don't know that much regarding the colleges but could you recommend me 4 to have a look at during the open day that you think are pretty good! I have managed to book a St Catz open day for tomorrow though it is a bit of a trek away from the train station . I would like to study maths, or maths with something if that makes a difference.
I just need to narrow down what i should look at tomorrow if that makes sense.
Thanks

There are talks in the maths dept 1030-1200 and repeated 230-400 if you can make any of those alongside your college visit.

[atypicalsurreygirl]

Originally Posted by ThomasElliott

TE.

Ok. Fully appreciate if this isn't you... but your full initials don't happen to be TOJPEC, do they?

Anyway, you can call up any of the colleges and visit them independently, i think.

x

[Choirboy]

Originally Posted by ThomasElliott

I ask this because at other open days at Unis I have booked and they never asked for my name....


TE.

At Imperial College they called out the registered names before letting applicants into the lecture halls.

[LizB]

Originally Posted by explosions hurt

You seem to know your stuff! Basically I don't know that much regarding the colleges but could you recommend me 4 to have a look at during the open day that you think are pretty good! I have managed to book a St Catz open day for tomorrow though it is a bit of a trek away from the train station . I would like to study maths, or maths with something if that makes a difference.
I just need to narrow down what i should look at tomorrow if that makes sense.
Thanks

This wasn't directed at me but:

To be fair it depends what you are looking for in a college. St Catz is a modern college as far as they go. You won't find the kind of architecture you'd see at one of the older ones. That's not necessarily a bad thing some people prefer it. So what are your criteria :Big or small?
Modern or Old?
Central or further out?
How many years accomadation?
How many places on offer?

Oh and as for it being a bit of a trek it's not that bad in the end. It's doable and the directions they have on the website are pretty good as far as I remember.

[explosions hurt]

Originally Posted by LizB

This wasn't directed at me but:

To be fair it depends what you are looking for in a college. St Catz is a modern college as far as they go. You won't find the kind of architecture you'd see at one of the older ones. That's not necessarily a bad thing some people prefer it. So what are your criteria :Big or small?
Modern or Old?
Central or further out?
How many years accomadation?
How many places on offer?

Oh and as for it being a bit of a trek it's not that bad in the end. It's doable and the directions they have on the website are pretty good as far as I remember.

Decent food, an en suite, not a ridiculously competitive college (medium sized preferably). Not too bothered about how old a college is etc.

[socksy]

I went to the open today at St John's, and they asked for school /college and name at the door, so yeah you kinda need to book for those. There were subject talks which I suspect were arranged from the bookings, where you had to specify what subject you wanted to do.

For wednesday, departments are open for all (at least I believe they are for most subjects), and the colleges are open from about 2 to the general public for tours and you will probably be able to talk to students.