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Suzy_vet
Reputation for being rather pretencious, snobby and scary. Look at private school to state ratio, i believe its high on the private school side.
But maybes its not.
But maybes its not.
One of the best for history. Excellent facilities and some good accomodation. There is a definite public school set there - more prominent than at most other colleges.
Suzy_vet
Reputation for being rather pretencious, snobby and scary. Look at private school to state ratio, i believe its high on the private school side.
But maybes its not.
But maybes its not.
lol, you seem obsessed with private schools.
Magdalen usually gets the highest number of applicants, so it's the hardest college to get in to.
I applied there this year for medicine and got an interview (but was rejected afterwards). Absolutely beautiful college, my room overlooked the deer park and was lovely. I thought it was worth the competition to get in because i wouldn't have liked any other college as much! Good luck x
I have an offer from Magdalen.
When I went there for the interview I found the students very friendly and down to earth, even the ones from state schools. Everything was perfectly organised, more so than at other colleges. However I did find some of the fellow applicants rather snobby.
Well they say Magdalen is probably the most beautiful college in all of Oxbridge and ofcourse with some great accommodation. I had a bedroom and a living room in the cloisters. It was kind of cold. The facilities are great, I found the JCR shop very useful.
When I went there for the interview I found the students very friendly and down to earth, even the ones from state schools. Everything was perfectly organised, more so than at other colleges. However I did find some of the fellow applicants rather snobby.
Well they say Magdalen is probably the most beautiful college in all of Oxbridge and ofcourse with some great accommodation. I had a bedroom and a living room in the cloisters. It was kind of cold. The facilities are great, I found the JCR shop very useful.
Suzy_vet
Reputation for being rather pretencious, snobby and scary. Look at private school to state ratio, i believe its high on the private school side.
But maybes its not.
But maybes its not.
You are just guessing. This is what I read from the JCR website:
In 2002 58% of our candidates were from state schools and 42% from independent schools: roughly the same proportions as in 2001. Our offers divide equally: 50% to state schools and 50% to independent schools.
Compared to other colleges, I think Magdalen has a lower private-to-state-school ratio than the average oxbridge college.
way2go
You are just guessing. This is what I read from the JCR website:
Compared to other colleges, I think Magdalen has a lower private-to-state-school ratio than the average oxbridge college.
Compared to other colleges, I think Magdalen has a lower private-to-state-school ratio than the average oxbridge college.
Not sure that's true, but the overall numbers aren't important. Magdalen is one of the best colleges, but it does have a distinct public school set that isn't as visible at most other colleges. However I've never found that your school is an issue for most people at Oxford apart from with a few small cliques. In reality your school is only a topic of conversation for about two minutes in the first few days. Nevertheless Magdalen does have a somewhat 'posh' reputation and like many Oxford stories there is a grain of truth there. But it shouldn't deter anyone from applying - it seems like a really good place to be a student.
Speak to Grey Faerie. She's reading Classics at Magdalen and she went to state school.
Im sorry, i just think its an important statistic to look at...
I live near oxford and have some interesting experiences with the 'mordalen set'. Standing on the corners of streets by pubs singing latin choir songs for one (and seriously too), and being very snobby to some friends from merton in an indian restuarant. my maths teacher had a terrible and very intimaidating interview there. Im sure theres some very nice people, ive just never met any of them. visitng is the best way to find out though isnt it! wouldnt take much notice of other peoples opinions.
I live near oxford and have some interesting experiences with the 'mordalen set'. Standing on the corners of streets by pubs singing latin choir songs for one (and seriously too), and being very snobby to some friends from merton in an indian restuarant. my maths teacher had a terrible and very intimaidating interview there. Im sure theres some very nice people, ive just never met any of them. visitng is the best way to find out though isnt it! wouldnt take much notice of other peoples opinions.
Suzy_vet
Im sorry, i just think its an important statistic to look at...
I live near oxford and have some interesting experiences with the 'mordalen set'. Standing on the corners of streets by pubs singing latin choir songs for one (and seriously too)
I live near oxford and have some interesting experiences with the 'mordalen set'. Standing on the corners of streets by pubs singing latin choir songs for one (and seriously too)
I don't think it's a particularly important statistic, the variance from the mean isn't particularly big either way for most colleges; and as way2go points out there are actually fewer than average from independent schools in a recent Magdalen intake. Also scanner says (who is actually at Oxford university) what school people went to isn't felt to be particularly important once they're at uni. And what's wrong with independent school people anyway? If someone from an independent school were to be pejorative about Mansfield or St John's because they have a higher-than-average state school contingent they would get a slating.
Also, what's wrong with Latin choir songs? I think they're quite beautiful.
(I'm a bit defensive about Magdalen College as I go to Magdalen College School)
Alexander
I don't think it's a particularly important statistic, the variance from the mean isn't particularly big either way for most colleges; and as way2go points out there are actually fewer than average from independent schools in a recent Magdalen intake. Also scanner says (who is actually at Oxford university) what school people went to isn't felt to be particularly important once they're at uni. And what's wrong with independent school people anyway? If someone from an independent school were to be pejorative about Mansfield or St John's because they have a higher-than-average state school contingent they would get a slating.
Also, what's wrong with Latin choir songs? I think they're quite beautiful.
(I'm a bit defensive about Magdalen College as I go to Magdalen College School)
Also, what's wrong with Latin choir songs? I think they're quite beautiful.
(I'm a bit defensive about Magdalen College as I go to Magdalen College School)
I think the term 'public school' and 'state school' can be very misguiding. In the statistics, grant maintained schools such as the one the Blair's kids go to are 'state'. Alternatively all the former grammar schools which went independent when comprehensives were introduced are counted as 'public'. Conversely the grammar schools that still exist in LEAs that didn't change over (I think Birmingham is one) are considered 'state'.
Clearly the experiences of life you'll have had will be very different if you go to, for example, Eton and Bradford Grammar School. Yet for the purposes of statistics Eton and BGS are both 'public schools'. Similarly you'll have had very different experiences if you go to, for example, The London Oratory School and Pendleton 6th Form College - both are state schools.
There is clearly a continuum of how 'posh' a school is and splitting between public and state does not tell the full story, although its difficult to see how to do things better. In short, generally, everyone wants to associate with people they consider to be similar to themselves and are hence worried they won't fit in with the stereotype. In my experience, most people settle into a fairly smallish group of mates that they tend to hang around with etc.. This group may be a group of 4, or 6 or 8 or maybe more but it gives you an idea of the numbers. The average Oxford college takes in something like 100-150 undergraduates a year. The exact make-up of the entrants obviously varies dramatically from year to year and can't be predicted. If you can't find 3 other people you can get on with out of 100 then you should be looking at yourself rather than saying everyone's up their own arse. Personally if you look round a college and walk away thinking 'yeah that looks good, I can imagine living here for a couple of years' (like I did with Worcester) then apply there, if you think 'I'm not sure about this, I'm not convinced this is the place for me' (like I did with Keble) then don't.
davey_boy
I think the term 'public school' and 'state school' can be very misguiding. In the statistics, grant maintained schools such as the one the Blair's kids go to are 'state'. Alternatively all the former grammar schools which went independent when comprehensives were introduced are counted as 'public'. Conversely the grammar schools that still exist in LEAs that didn't change over (I think Birmingham is one) are considered 'state'.
Clearly the experiences of life you'll have had will be very different if you go to, for example, Eton and Bradford Grammar School. Yet for the purposes of statistics Eton and BGS are both 'public schools'. Similarly you'll have had very different experiences if you go to, for example, The London Oratory School and Pendleton 6th Form College - both are state schools.
There is clearly a continuum of how 'posh' a school is and splitting between public and state does not tell the full story, although its difficult to see how to do things better. In short, generally, everyone wants to associate with people they consider to be similar to themselves and are hence worried they won't fit in with the stereotype. In my experience, most people settle into a fairly smallish group of mates that they tend to hang around with etc.. This group may be a group of 4, or 6 or 8 or maybe more but it gives you an idea of the numbers. The average Oxford college takes in something like 100-150 undergraduates a year. The exact make-up of the entrants obviously varies dramatically from year to year and can't be predicted. If you can't find 3 other people you can get on with out of 100 then you should be looking at yourself rather than saying everyone's up their own arse. Personally if you look round a college and walk away thinking 'yeah that looks good, I can imagine living here for a couple of years' (like I did with Worcester) then apply there, if you think 'I'm not sure about this, I'm not convinced this is the place for me' (like I did with Keble) then don't.
Clearly the experiences of life you'll have had will be very different if you go to, for example, Eton and Bradford Grammar School. Yet for the purposes of statistics Eton and BGS are both 'public schools'. Similarly you'll have had very different experiences if you go to, for example, The London Oratory School and Pendleton 6th Form College - both are state schools.
There is clearly a continuum of how 'posh' a school is and splitting between public and state does not tell the full story, although its difficult to see how to do things better. In short, generally, everyone wants to associate with people they consider to be similar to themselves and are hence worried they won't fit in with the stereotype. In my experience, most people settle into a fairly smallish group of mates that they tend to hang around with etc.. This group may be a group of 4, or 6 or 8 or maybe more but it gives you an idea of the numbers. The average Oxford college takes in something like 100-150 undergraduates a year. The exact make-up of the entrants obviously varies dramatically from year to year and can't be predicted. If you can't find 3 other people you can get on with out of 100 then you should be looking at yourself rather than saying everyone's up their own arse. Personally if you look round a college and walk away thinking 'yeah that looks good, I can imagine living here for a couple of years' (like I did with Worcester) then apply there, if you think 'I'm not sure about this, I'm not convinced this is the place for me' (like I did with Keble) then don't.
Agree with that. One of the things that is hidden is that a very high percentage of people at Oxford and I assume at Cambridge attended elite schools of some type. That means one of the better indpendent schools - there are many who have very few successful Oxbridge candidates or a high performing state school - far more academic sixth forms around in the state sector than many of its critics imagine. Certainly the one I attended tends to attracts people out of the independent sector because it outperforms most of them locally. But more generally the base of schools Oxford draws from is still too narrow,
On college choice most people make a choice around what feels comfortable and perhaps its orientation towards the subject. For some reputation matters but far more of us select somewhere we feel we would be happy, find like minded people, have a good time etc. Many people do the same sort of thing - short list, wander round a few, like one or two, dislike one or two, undecided about others and somehow stumble across one that feels right.
http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/
The deer Park is nice in the summer. My friend ran the only Mag MCR bar to end up with huge losses att he end of the academic year - was a good year though
The deer Park is nice in the summer. My friend ran the only Mag MCR bar to end up with huge losses att he end of the academic year - was a good year though
Suzy_vet
Reputation for being rather pretencious, snobby and scary. Look at private school to state ratio, i believe its high on the private school side.
But maybes its not.
But maybes its not.
In the same way that I would be insulted if someone judged me on my school background, I will not judge people just because they have been to a private school.
Personally I love my college; I have friends from similar backgrounds to myself, and also friends who come from very different backgrounds, including some extraordianarily privelleged ones. I think an important aspect of university is that it is the first time people mix with a cross section of society - in school, people tend to be from a very similar background. The best thing to do is just to go and have a look round colleges that you're interested in and chat to students to see if you like the vibe. Don't be put of by stereotypes/out of date images that people project unfairly - just go for somewher that you like
grey faerie
In the same way that I would be insulted if someone judged me on my school background, I will not judge people just because they have been to a private school.
Personally I love my college; I have friends from similar backgrounds to myself, and also friends who come from very different backgrounds, including some extraordianarily privelleged ones. I think an important aspect of university is that it is the first time people mix with a cross section of society - in school, people tend to be from a very similar background. The best thing to do is just to go and have a look round colleges that you're interested in and chat to students to see if you like the vibe. Don't be put of by stereotypes/out of date images that people project unfairly - just go for somewher that you like
Personally I love my college; I have friends from similar backgrounds to myself, and also friends who come from very different backgrounds, including some extraordianarily privelleged ones. I think an important aspect of university is that it is the first time people mix with a cross section of society - in school, people tend to be from a very similar background. The best thing to do is just to go and have a look round colleges that you're interested in and chat to students to see if you like the vibe. Don't be put of by stereotypes/out of date images that people project unfairly - just go for somewher that you like
Agree totally with your point about friendships and looking round but I'm not sure that Magadalen or Oxford genuinely has a cross section of society! There is still a long way to go on this for all colleges.
Oh dear, people are over reacting to what i say again.
Theres nothing wrong with people from private schools!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE 'em, ok?!
BUt... on the realistic side, when deciding on colleges its an ineteresting factor to look at. I wasnt going to apply to a college that was predominantly private school, becasue i didnt think it would give me the best chance. for ever 2 lovely private school students theres often a not so nice one. I went for 50/50, casue its good mix, and i think if a college is predominantly private it says something about their admissions, i.e maybe a bit biased, maybe, perhaps, on one hand.
Anyway, dont want to get into that argument again. I was just SAYING, ok.
I love choir music. Just find it weird on street corners, but each to their own.
I am looking forward to meeting a good mix of people at uni.
Theres nothing wrong with people from private schools!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE 'em, ok?!
BUt... on the realistic side, when deciding on colleges its an ineteresting factor to look at. I wasnt going to apply to a college that was predominantly private school, becasue i didnt think it would give me the best chance. for ever 2 lovely private school students theres often a not so nice one. I went for 50/50, casue its good mix, and i think if a college is predominantly private it says something about their admissions, i.e maybe a bit biased, maybe, perhaps, on one hand.
Anyway, dont want to get into that argument again. I was just SAYING, ok.
I love choir music. Just find it weird on street corners, but each to their own.
I am looking forward to meeting a good mix of people at uni.
Suzy_vet
I wasnt going to apply to a college that was predominantly private school, becasue i didnt think it would give me the best chance.
Wouldn't you have more chance applying to a college which was predominatly private school because they are under more stress to accept more state school applicants and also less state school people would apply? Or do you mean 'chance' in another way?
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