Oxford English Students and Applicants

1. Would anyone mind referring me to the reading list? Thank you!
2. What are some of the best colleges to apply to for an English major?

I was just wondering... If you mention some of your A2 texts in your PS is there any way a tutor would be able to tell that you haven't studied them independently rather than inside school, unless of course they ask you? It seems a silly question, but last year they didn't seem to differentiate with me which texts I studied outside the school syllabus. Was anyone asked SPECIFICALLY which texts they studied inside school and which they hadn't? There are so many different exam boards it seems impossible for them to definitively know (especially as the exam syllabus has changed this year for some boards!).

I was asked that what I was studying in college at the moment and reading outside.
(Rather embarrassing I had to say I had finished college eighteen months before).
You can use the word 'independently' or the like if you have read something at home, but that might be on someone's curriculum somewhere. For example, one of the more 'popular' authors on A-Level curriculum (I did combined so I asked this question to people who had done straight Literature).

Also, does you choice of college you're applying to ACTUALLY make a difference to your chances if receiving an offer? They say officially "no it doesn't at all! Follow your heart little one! You'll be fine. " in their extra-friendly, noticeably down-to-earth promotion, such as an oxbridge seminar I went to at a higher education fair, but in an admissions report I got a different view.

It was Keble College I think that gave an admissions report that said students who applied to "over-subscribed" colleges got swapped around other colleges but perhaps lost out on places as others were being filled by one's who applied directly.

If I'm honest, if I'm ever going to get a place, it'll be by the skin of my teeth as I'm applying post-A Levels after illness and a confused AQA marking system made my AS Levels look terrible. Is it safer to apply to the lesser-subscribed colleges? Is there a difference in applying to somewhere like Christ Church as opposed to Mansfield? I really have no idea what college I want to go for. Christ Church sounds amazing but perhaps I should go for a less-prestigious one to be safe?


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I can answer some of these questions. First of all you need to hurry up, October 15th. You MUST talk about literature if you are applying to English at Oxford. I know that it says that it has a language component but it is mainly literature, mention maybe one book of philosophy/linguistics MAX.

As to the colleges, it REALLY doesn't matter. Christ Church is actually about mid-popularity in the last few admission processes; Magdalene, Balliol, Wadham and Worcester are the most applied to. It wouldn't even matter if you did apply to one of those, REALLOCATION should change that from before you even get to interview. My advice, focus on the literature of the ELAT and the interviews and forget 'the game'.

Also, does you choice of college you're applying to ACTUALLY make a difference to your chances if receiving an offer? They say officially "no it doesn't at all! Follow your heart little one! You'll be fine. " in their extra-friendly, noticeably down-to-earth promotion, such as an oxbridge seminar I went to at a higher education fair, but in an admissions report I got a different view.

It was Keble College I think that gave an admissions report that said students who applied to "over-subscribed" colleges got swapped around other colleges but perhaps lost out on places as others were being filled by one's who applied directly.

If I'm honest, if I'm ever going to get a place, it'll be by the skin of my teeth as I'm applying post-A Levels after illness and a confused AQA marking system made my AS Levels look terrible. Is it safer to apply to the lesser-subscribed colleges? Is there a difference in applying to somewhere like Christ Church as opposed to Mansfield? I really have no idea what college I want to go for. Christ Church sounds amazing but perhaps I should go for a less-prestigious one to be safe?


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I applied to Balliol for English this year just gone, but was reallocated to another college. If you're good enough they will move you around. Follow what you desire.

I can second this.

KingMessi, what would your major tips for the ELAT be, I noticed that you did very well...?