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Classics at Oxford

Hi, I'm thinking of applying to take Classics (course IIA or IIB, not sure which yet) at Oxford, and I have a few questions.

-Which colleges are generally thought to be best for Classics?
-What kind of questions do they ask during the interview?
-I know that you have to submit two essays, but what kind? What topic should they be on and about what length should they be?
-What kind of extra-curricular activities would be useful? Do you think attempting to learn a bit of Greek or Latin by myself would help me at all?

Any information would be of great help, thanks!
:smile:

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Reply 1
Zem
Hi, I'm thinking of applying to take Classics (course IIA or IIB, not sure which yet) at Oxford, and I have a few questions.

-Which colleges are generally thought to be best for Classics?
-What kind of questions do they ask during the interview?
-I know that you have to submit two essays, but what kind? What topic should they be on and about what length should they be?
-What kind of extra-curricular activities would be useful? Do you think attempting to learn a bit of Greek or Latin by myself would help me at all?

Any information would be of great help, thanks!
:smile:

I just PMed you, so feel free to throw any questions at me and I'll try and answer :smile:

In short (just because its late and I really should be getting off this computer soon!):
- controversial; not one easy answer there.
- Interview questions can span just about anything, but normally from a starting point taken from you - eg they ask you what you have read, you say something, they take it from there. There's also usually a philosophy interview, but they don't expect any prior knowledge of the subject.
- Coursework essays maybe? Or any other decent length essay - anything that shows some good analysis etc...
- Nothing extra-curricular needed; probably good idea to read up a bit - for example, if you're doing the unit on epic, read all of the Odyssey/Iliad rather than just the required Books and have some ideas about the poems as a whole. Starting on the language would certainly show enthusiasm and dedication (although it is not a necessity - they will send you on a beginners summer school if you get a place); perhaps best to go for the one you are interested in learning first, rather than trying both.
Reply 2
Zem
Hi, I'm thinking of applying to take Classics (course IIA or IIB, not sure which yet) at Oxford, and I have a few questions.

-Which colleges are generally thought to be best for Classics?
-What kind of questions do they ask during the interview?
-I know that you have to submit two essays, but what kind? What topic should they be on and about what length should they be?
-What kind of extra-curricular activities would be useful? Do you think attempting to learn a bit of Greek or Latin by myself would help me at all?

Any information would be of great help, thanks!
:smile:


Why Oxford? Classics at Cambridge is much better! (I'm not at all biased)
Reply 3
naelse
Why Oxford? Classics at Cambridge is much better! (I'm not at all biased)


Erm, since when? Oxford is absolutely world renowned for being the best place to study Classics. Just look at how many well-known people from all walks of life have actually read Classics at Oxford. :confused:
I agree that Oxford is probably a great place to study classics, but the fact that a lot of well-known people have, in the past, studied there, is hardly proof that it is the best now.
Reply 5
Corpus Christi and Balliol have a good reputation for classics. Balliol are losing two of their three big name tutors to retirement this year, though.

I reckon you should definitely learn some Latin and/or Greek before your interview - it might seem surprising if you don't.
Reply 6
oldthrashbarg
I agree that Oxford is probably a great place to study classics, but the fact that a lot of well-known people have, in the past, studied there, is hardly proof that it is the best now.


Classics at Oxford has had a huge impact on public life in Britain, 'though. In the 19th Century, it was seen as so important that Gladstone's dying regrets were that he hadn't influenced the classics curriculum at Oxford and, secondarily, that he hadn't brought peace to Ireland.
Reply 7
d750

I reckon you should definitely learn some Latin and/or Greek before your interview - it might seem surprising if you don't.

It won't seem at all surprising if you are applying for Course II. They want aptitude for language, not knowledge of it.
Reply 8
grey faerie
It won't seem at all surprising if you are applying for Course II. They want aptitude for language, not knowledge of it.


But they surely want to see that a student is interested in it, and there must be time to at least get started before coming up.
Reply 9
I don't know anything for definite but I'm planning to apply for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (a course run by the Classics department without the languages and more, well, archaeology and history based), and i've taken Latin GCSE outside of college because it wasn't run by my school. The website says that if your school lets you take classics or related subjects you probably should have, but if like me you come from a school where you didn't get the option then apparently they don't mind at all but...

also, i've been told by loads of people that corpus is top college for classics, but as most of them went there you never know for sure. However, it has about 7-9 places going i think, i'd definitely have a look on the website it seems great.

by the way, just want to say again that i have no idea about any of this for sure and am just passing on what i have heard.
Reply 10
d750
But they surely want to see that a student is interested in it, and there must be time to at least get started before coming up.

If they give you an offer, they will expect you to go on a JACT summer school the summer before coming up (after A2 exams). They don't expect you to start learning a language in addition to your A levels in order to prove anything. Sure you need an interest in the subject, but reading in translation, reading up on areas that interest you etc... are equally good ways of doing so.
Reply 11
d750
Corpus Christi and Balliol have a good reputation for classics. Balliol are losing two of their three big name tutors to retirement this year, though.

I reckon you should definitely learn some Latin and/or Greek before your interview - it might seem surprising if you don't.


ah! just had a mini heart attack over this news - do you know the names of the tutors from balliol who are retiring? it's not Jasper Griffin and Oswyn Murray is it? ahhhh, i will die if it is, doh...
Reply 12
Schmelen
ah! just had a mini heart attack over this news - do you know the names of the tutors from balliol who are retiring? it's not Jasper Griffin and Oswyn Murray is it? ahhhh, i will die if it is, doh...

Jasper Griffin is definitely one of them.
Reply 13
oh no. i am perhaps the most gutted i have ever been. i wonder if he would reconcider if he knew he was in with a chance of bumping into me? hmmmm.... :tongue:
Reply 14
Yup. It's Griffin and Murray. Still Lyne, though.
hildabeast
Erm, since when? Oxford is absolutely world renowned for being the best place to study Classics. Just look at how many well-known people from all walks of life have actually read Classics at Oxford. :confused:


This is true but I chose Cambridge over Oxford due to the fact that the degree is 4 years long there. Cambridge is a 3 year course which made the choice easy :smile:
Joey_Johns
This is true but I chose Cambridge over Oxford due to the fact that the degree is 4 years long there. Cambridge is a 3 year course which made the choice easy :smile:


Why do you prefer three years to four years though? Is it just because you'd have less debt at the end of it?
hildabeast
Why do you prefer three years to four years though? Is it just because you'd have less debt at the end of it?


I'd just like to second those questions -- surely if you loved Classics you'd want to spend as long as possible doing it?
Reply 18
Alexander
I'd just like to second those questions -- surely if you loved Classics you'd want to spend as long as possible doing it?


There are some obvious advantages to Cambridge, 'though. More breadth / choice about courses, and a faculty building which isn't just (essentially) a single room.
d750
There are some obvious advantages to Cambridge, 'though. More breadth / choice about courses, and a faculty building which isn't just (essentially) a single room.


But the chap at whom those questions were addressed said that the shorter length of the course was virtually his only reason for choosing Cam over Ox.