Oxford Applicants 2016 Entry & Interview chat

Course: History & Politics or PPE (leaning towards History & Politics)
GCSE grades: 3 A*s, 10 As
AS-Levels: AAAA predicted for English Literature, Maths, Government & Politics and History
College: I'll probably make an open application

Oh why do you wanna do an open application? Everyone's saying it's not advised as you could be put anywhere and have no choice but if you do put down one college they can pass your application onto another one if they can't offer you a place, so at least you could have a shot at a preferred place?

Any Classicists here going up to the 2/7 open day?

Well idm really, most colleges offer the courses I want to do and it's Oxford so all will be of good standard. I did love St John's when I saw it on the study day but I'll feel so limited if I only apply to one!

Also how could I possibly pick from the extensive range of colleges? They're all great and I don't have the time to look around every single one, and meticulously choose. It's just a hard decision

If I had to pick maybe Brasenose or St John's

That's true, I see where you're coming from, that's the two I was looking at, and I've been to Brasenose its so nice! Although I still have a strong preference for St. John's it's amazing!

Brasenose is extraordinary - isn't it where David Cameron studied?
I went into Blair's room at St John's.. my two least favourite (living) politicians haha

Oh why do you wanna do an open application? Everyone's saying it's not advised as you could be put anywhere and have no choice but if you do put down one college they can pass your application onto another one if they can't offer you a place, so at least you could have a shot at a preferred place?

Yes, that makes sense. And also remember, f you apply to an oversubscribed college be prepared you might be reallocated, even before interview. Nothing to do with quality of your application, just that they have too many candidates to interview.

I think the system has random elements to it. Reallocation and post- interview pooling happens to at least one third of candidates. For those with a burning passion for a certain college, it's worth applying to that college -- nothing to lose -- but otherwise perhaps an open application is a safe bet.

I'd love to go but not really sure if I'm even close (Seems to be about 1 or 2 people every five years get into Oxbridge from my school - but then very few actually apply).

Hey ho...

National 5's: 8 As (6 A1 and 2 A2)
Highers: Maths, English, Geography, History and Music
Advanced Highers: History, Geography and Modern Studies (as well as Higher RMPS)
Course: History
College: Balliol (though barely looked into this)

Hehe sorry for the super-late answer, but anyway.... Which day are you going? I am going to the 2nd Gonna stay overnight at Magdalen, and hopefully visit Lady Margaret, and some others during the day. Do you know if Keble (or Brasenose/Balliol) offer accommodation all three years?

That's why I'm probably going to make an open application, I'm indifferent to which college I could get into and it's unlikely I'll get the one I applied for anyway.

Open Applications are fine and nobody making an one will be disadvantaged in the sense of having to reach a different standard to gain a place. Most UK applicants though elect to make a direct application , particularly if they have been able to visit Oxford on an Open Day or similar. As stated by others on this forum, around a quarter of students making a direct application and gaining a place receive an offer from a different college - but by the same token around three-quarters receive the offer from their first choice college. Overseas candidates are generally more likely to make an Open Application - a key reason being that they are also less likely to attend an Open Day prior to applying.

Hey! Finally someone else applying for History! And I'm looking at Balliol too, it's one of my top colleges

My info:
9A* 2A 1B at GCSE
Predicted AAAA at AS
Doing History, English Lit, Philosophy and Economics (planning to drop Econ)

I'm guessing you're in Scotland if your doing Highers?


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That's why I'm probably going to make an open application, I'm indifferent to which college I could get into and it's unlikely I'll get the one I applied for anyway.

I tend to advise people against making open applications. Reason really is you put yourself completely at mercy of being sent to a College/PPH you may absolutely despise. You may not have even been aware of said College/PPH when you applied, assuming they were all broadly the same. They aren't. I had a friend who ended up at Mansfield (which gets the vast majority of its applicants via open applications/people being shifted College) which is a very small College, which they found very difficult to deal with.

You may of course still find yourself moved, but your odds of ending up somewhere you'd definitely not like are much less if you pick a College you are to all extents and purposes content with. Even if you pick the College because it didn't excite you either way on the open day, it's better than potentially ending up at a Catholic PPH hanging around with monks when you'd rather be anywhere else.

I tend to advise people against making open applications. Reason really is you put yourself completely at mercy of being sent to a College/PPH you may absolutely despise. You may not have even been aware of said College/PPH when you applied, assuming they were all broadly the same. They aren't. I had a friend who ended up at Mansfield (which gets the vast majority of its applicants via open applications/people being shifted College) which is a very small College, which they found very difficult to deal with.

You may of course still find yourself moved, but your odds of ending up somewhere you'd definitely not like are much less if you pick a College you are to all extents and purposes content with. Even if you pick the College because it didn't excite you either way on the open day, it's better than potentially ending up at a Catholic PPH hanging around with monks when you'd rather be anywhere else.