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Oxford Colleges

Although I went to the open day, I still have no idea on which college to pick.
I was wondering which college had the best accommodation (we stayed in St Johns and my room sadly looked and smelt like Scouts accommodation) and, without sounding shallow, which colleges have more sociable reputations and the best party atmosphere/nightlife? Also, which colleges offer no kitchen facilities because I don't think I could survive without a microwave and kettle haha
(edited 7 years ago)
All colleges have a range of accommodation, from dodgy to good, tbh.

Did you get to look around Worcester College? 72% of accommodation is en suite with access to good kitchen facilities (that's an old percentage, so it could be even higher now!). We tend to have a reputation as a college that is full of people doing lots of partying/socialising/stuff with societies, rather than working lots :ninja: Plus we have a lake and ducks and big green lawns that you can walk/sit/sunbathe/picnic on :awesome:

Most colleges would let you have a kettle in your room, I'd imagine :yep:
Reply 2
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
All colleges have a range of accommodation, from dodgy to good, tbh.

Did you get to look around Worcester College? 72% of accommodation is en suite with access to good kitchen facilities (that's an old percentage, so it could be even higher now!). We tend to have a reputation as a college that is full of people doing lots of partying/socialising/stuff with societies, rather than working lots :ninja: Plus we have a lake and ducks and big green lawns that you can walk/sit/sunbathe/picnic on :awesome:

Most colleges would let you have a kettle in your room, I'd imagine :yep:


Thanks for the help! And no I didn't, but I'll look into it!:':wink:
I remember looking around New College, Christ Church, Balliol, Wadham, Trinity and St Cats; what would you say they were like (in general or relating to my previous requirements hahah)?
I'm hoping to study English btw:smile:
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Apple26
Thanks for the help! And no I didn't, but I'll look into it!:':wink:
I remember looking around New College, Christ Church, Balliol, Wadham, Trinity and St Cats; what would you say they were like (in general or relating to my previous requirements hahah)?
I'm hoping to study English btw:smile:


I can't vouch for their kitchen access but Wadham and Catz are the two more sociable/party colleges out of that list afaik. New College has a nice bar though :yes:

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Original post by Apple26

I was wondering which college had the best accommodation (we stayed in St Johns and my room sadly looked and smelt like Scouts accommodation)


I initially read this as you attacking the college's cleaners.

You'll get it if you get in.

and, without sounding shallow, which colleges have more sociable reputations and the best party atmosphere/nightlife?

Very difficult to tell in reality. Depends on who you meet. People try to drum up stereotypes (mainly about how their college is a 'party college') but I've not seen any way in which that translates to reality.

Here's an account of a college bar crawl for entertainment in the meantime.

http://versanews.co.uk/2015/04/07/porters-port-college-pride-bars/

Also, which colleges offer no kitchen facilities because I don't think I could survive without a microwave and kettle haha


You can have a kettle in your room unless the college is very anal.
Reply 5
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
I can't vouch for their kitchen access but Wadham and Catz are the two more sociable/party colleges out of that list afaik. New College has a nice bar though :yes:

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Ok, thank you! Yeah I thought New College was probably the most beautiful, I just heard there was no kitchen access and since it's like 2nd in the Norrington table I thought it might be a bit too 'studious' (but I could be being completely presumptuous so correct me if I'm wrong)
Then on paper, Wadham seems amazing, but I just didn't find it that pretty- which I know is very petty
Reply 6
Original post by nexttime
I initially read this as you attacking the college's cleaners.

You'll get it if you get in.



Very difficult to tell in reality. Depends on who you meet. People try to drum up stereotypes (mainly about how their college is a 'party college':wink: but I've not seen any way in which that translates to reality.

Here's an account of a college bar crawl for entertainment in the meantime.

http://versanews.co.uk/2015/04/07/porters-port-college-pride-bars/



You can have a kettle in your room unless the college is very anal.


Hahaha thanks, that bar crawl was v entertaining and enlightening:wink:
And yeah I gathered most of what I hear will be stereotypical, but if I hear the same stereotype repeated, I'm hoping it may be slightly true:wink:
Can I ask which college you go/went to?
Original post by Apple26
Thanks for the help! And no I didn't, but I'll look into it!:':wink:
I remember looking around New College, Christ Church, Balliol, Wadham, Trinity and St Cats; what would you say they were like (in general or relating to my previous requirements hahah)?
I'm hoping to study English btw:smile:


Generally, no kitchen access in ChCh, though there's off-site accommodation in Liddell where approx half of second years live which have kitchens, and St. Aldates quad across the road from college which also has kitchen access (generally 4th years/graduates there). You can have a kettle and toaster in essentially all college rooms though, or there will be an allocated point in the staircase where a communal kettle, toaster and microwave will be.

I found ChCh to be social, always plenty going out etc. But would agree with the above that what matters more is who you hang around with. There's also socialising within societies and other colleges too anyway.
Original post by Apple26
but if I hear the same [thing] repeated, I'm hoping it may be slightly true:wink:


That's what they said about treating people with leeches, or using asbestos!

Merton. It was a lot of fun, good bar and has good kitchen access.
Reply 9
Original post by brendan.
Generally, no kitchen access in ChCh, though there's off-site accommodation in Liddell where approx half of second years live which have kitchens, and St. Aldates quad across the road from college which also has kitchen access (generally 4th years/graduates there). You can have a kettle and toaster in essentially all college rooms though, or there will be an allocated point in the staircase where a communal kettle, toaster and microwave will be.

I found ChCh to be social, always plenty going out etc. But would agree with the above that what matters more is who you hang around with. There's also socialising within societies and other colleges too anyway.


Ah ok thank you!And yeah, I can imagine it's more about your social circle- just hoping for a pretty decent sized circle haha:h:
Reply 10
Original post by nexttime
That's what they said about treating people with leeches, or using asbestos!

Merton. It was a lot of fun, good bar and has good kitchen access.


Well I'd like to hope that falling for an incorrect College stereotype would be less devastating than direct contact with asbestos:wink:
And ah I've never really given Merton a second thought- was it your first choice?
Original post by Apple26
Well I'd like to hope that falling for an incorrect College stereotype would be less devastating than direct contact with asbestos:wink:
And ah I've never really given Merton a second thought- was it your first choice?


Yes - small, pretty, great location, and cheap were the main reasons. I had a great time.

I'm not a militant college fanatic any more though (unlike some! :wink: ) - I just encourage you to be as objective as possible with your choice, but mostly not to worry too much. As with the rest of life, the main influence will be the people you share it with, and that is impossible to predict.
Reply 12
Original post by nexttime
Yes - small, pretty, great location, and cheap were the main reasons. I had a great time.

I'm not a militant college fanatic any more though (unlike some! :wink: ) - I just encourage you to be as objective as possible with your choice, but mostly not to worry too much. As with the rest of life, the main influence will be the people you share it with, and that is impossible to predict.


Aw yes, thank you! I'm just going to narrow it down to fairly big, a central location, friendly reputation (??) and a pretty building always helps haha (although that one's pretty much most:wink:)
Original post by nexttime


I'm not a militant college fanatic any more though (unlike some! :wink: )


:tongue:

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