The Student Room Group
Reply 1
Elistriell
Can anyone tell me which out Magdalen and University college has the least competition for places?


a) depends on subject

b) You shouldn't choose a college based on this. It's been said hundreds of times before ... search previous threads for more detailed explanations!
Reply 2
though moord'lin probably pips it, both have a high enough application ratios to merit the question pointless.
Reply 3
You won't be the only person trying to play the applicants to places ratio game, just apply to the one you want to go to. If you're good enough, you may be pooled anyway.
Reply 4
As said, very close. Magdalen probably harder for most things, but it's subject specific and almost entirely useless trying to pick that way.
Reply 5
srmcit
though moord'lin probably pips it, both have a high enough application ratios to merit the question pointless.

I'd argue the question is pointless no matter what college you are talking about :smile:
but i think it does matter sometimes ie merton vs. mansfield, i think obviously mansfield is easier than merton, but i think its true that its pointless for everything else
Reply 7
http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/adstats.pdf

three year averages.
for the subjects they both do, quick look suggests Magd has higher ratios.

but as others have said..have some damn faith in your ability & just apply where you like most! :p: if you're good enough you'll most likely get in somewhere...


edit - of the suggested merton v. mansfield importance - it seems that actually there are ~7 subjects that they don't both do.. so they're not exactly catering for the same market anyway.. so there are probably far more important differences between them than the numbers-game that only reflect first choice applicants (i.e. not open applications or people being pooled) in the first place! the smaller print to the side of the table, stating that ~20% end up in colleges oher than their first choice is perhaps pretty significant..
Reply 8
Elles
http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/adstats.pdf

three year averages.
for the subjects they both do, quick look suggests Magd has higher ratios.

but as others have said..have some damn faith in your ability & just apply where you like most! :p: if you're good enough you'll most likely get in somewhere...


edit - of the suggested merton v. mansfield importance - it seems that actually there are ~7 subjects that they don't both do.. so they're not exactly catering for the same market anyway.. so there are probably far more important differences between them than the numbers-game that only reflect first choice applicants (i.e. not open applications or people being pooled) in the first place! the smaller print to the side of the table, stating that ~20% end up in colleges oher than their first choice is perhaps pretty significant..


Yes, yes yes! agree with everything in that post! :smile:

I really wouldn't say in a general statement that "Mansfield is easier to get into that Merton" !!
Reply 9
oxymoron
I really wouldn't say in a general statement that "Mansfield is easier to get into that Merton" !!

well...
Reply 10
I agree with you in a way Oxymoron, because if one isn't going to get into Magdalen, they're not going to get into Magdalen, are they? (At least, this was the way that I rationalised applying to Magdalen...and probably why I'm certain of rejection!!)
Reply 11
srmcit
well...


i imagine it's certainly 'easier' to get into mansfield than merton say for, geography, theology & engineering, no..?


Queen A, Magdalen successfully pool oodles of people. which is why those official stats have the key caveat of 'first choice applicants by subject and college to the number of offers made' - the stats i saw at the open day i attended for Magd applicants overall uni successes were mostly ~ the uni averages, or even better - reflecting stronger applicants less likely to be detered by stats? who knows.. but if you don't apply to a certain college you like then eventually getting an offer from them is even slimmer!
Reply 12
What I meant was...my use of logic was why I was going to get rejected, not my application to Magdalen!
im guessing univ, is easier to get into.

Im having the same debate. I think i might just take a gap year...i think ive left it too late, and way too stressy...

i havent even written my personal statement. Well i have, but im being made to rewrite because ive written a load of 'lecturing waffle'
Reply 14
The reason I am asking is because I like both colleges and I'm torn over which to apply for. The subject I'm thinking about applying for is English with Classics :smile:
Elistriell
The reason I am asking is because I like both colleges and I'm torn over which to apply for. The subject I'm thinking about applying for is English with Classics :smile:


Defenitely Magdalen...its like THE Classics college.
Reply 16
ThornsnRoses
Defenitely Magdalen...its like THE Classics college.


that depends how much you like Oliver Taplin. ;p

oh, and personally i think that should be Classics with English, not the other way around. :wink:
Reply 17
So does that mean Magdalen gets the most applications for Classics?
Reply 18
i already gave you (post number 8) a link, to the official uni statistics for first choice applications numbers to offers made by subject & college.. :eek: *incredulous*
Reply 19
Elistriell
So does that mean Magdalen gets the most applications for Classics?


Not necessarily. Some years, yes, some, no. Equally univ. could....
The point is that because a lot of people look at the statistics to try and work out where is 'easier' to get in, the result is that you often find a lot of people applying for the 'less competitive colleges', which thus makes that college, statistically, 'more competitive'...
In other words you should just decide which you prefer. Go visit. Find out about the tutors for your subjects, and make your mind up for yourself, irrespective of who else will be applying there. For instance Oriel isn't generally hugely popular for Classics, but this year, by chance, it had a huge number of applicants for very few places.
You may as well flip a coin to decide which is likely to be more competitive this year. Ish.