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Why is St Edmund Hall so good?
15
Hi, i've been looking around at colleges and all seem much of a muchness.
I've heard from 'they' that St Edmund hall is this magical place, and that its apparently more 'understanding' about grades and stuff than other colleges. Is this really the case?
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Consie.
I've heard from 'they' that St Edmund hall is this magical place, and that its apparently more 'understanding' about grades and stuff than other colleges. Is this really the case?
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Consie.
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
17
Firstly, St. Edmund's Hall is a great college. It's beautiful, and all the tutors are very nice. I emailed one of the History tutors there, and my God was the guy nice to me. I do not know to what degree they are understanding about grades, but from what I hear they are a little bit more lenient towards grades compared to other colleges such as Jesus or Magdalen.
Reply 2
15
Consie
Hi, i've been looking around at colleges and all seem much of a muchness.
I've heard from 'they' that St Edmund hall is this magical place, and that its apparently more 'understanding' about grades and stuff than other colleges. Is this really the case?
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Consie.
I've heard from 'they' that St Edmund hall is this magical place, and that its apparently more 'understanding' about grades and stuff than other colleges. Is this really the case?
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Consie.
Luck of the draw year on year, however don't apply to Corpus Christi - one year recently only 22 women matriculated.
Given your attitude, SEH seems pretty perfect.. I mean that in a nice way. They have a rep for sport and being laid back.
Reply 3
Consie
OP
15
Sweet.
Do you know if it's like Balliol and has done away with all tradition? I come from a working class background, but i still like the tradition of Oxford and quite like the idea of gowns and stuff, does still this happen at SEH? Oh yeah, is it as nice as Mansfield? It seems to me all of the quietest, nicest and most decent folk on the entire earth all go to Mansfield to study. As an example, when i mooched round there after straying from my Balliol college tour person, they were super nice, and it wasnt even an open day there! Is Mansfield really this incredibly nice? Is there anything else about SEH that is cool?
Another thing that has been bugging me is when on an open day at Oxford i seen a JCR that blew all other JCR's away. Instead of old wooden and fabric chairs, they had immaculate Chesterfield couches, which college is this?
Do you know if it's like Balliol and has done away with all tradition? I come from a working class background, but i still like the tradition of Oxford and quite like the idea of gowns and stuff, does still this happen at SEH? Oh yeah, is it as nice as Mansfield? It seems to me all of the quietest, nicest and most decent folk on the entire earth all go to Mansfield to study. As an example, when i mooched round there after straying from my Balliol college tour person, they were super nice, and it wasnt even an open day there! Is Mansfield really this incredibly nice? Is there anything else about SEH that is cool?
Another thing that has been bugging me is when on an open day at Oxford i seen a JCR that blew all other JCR's away. Instead of old wooden and fabric chairs, they had immaculate Chesterfield couches, which college is this?
Reply 4
exactly as said above - for you SEH seems perfect, others would hate it there, which is why college choice is so important.
Reply 5
When you say you want a 'big' college, do you mean in numbers or sheer physical size? Teddy Hall has a lot of students but the actual college site is quite small and compact.
Reply 6
kizer
Luck of the draw year on year, however don't apply to Corpus Christi - one year recently only 22 women matriculated.
Actually, Corpus is one of two Oxford colleges who've had girls appear in the national media's fashion pages. Because it's such a small college, random statistical variations can produce weird numbers like that - but they're actually very misleading. The previous year twice as many girls matriculated, and in terms of overall boy to girl ratio it's pretty even.
Reply 7
First off, a disclaimer- I applied to, and was accepted by Teddy Hall, so I'm hugely biased. I like the place, enough to want to make it my home for the next 3 years. Whether that happens depends on the A-levels, but I'm not exactly utterly impartial here!
I can't really comment about other colleges' "magical-ness", but Teddy Hall is something special. I was kicking myself after my 3.5 days of interview there- I had done what I promised myself I wouldn't, and fallen in love with it (I was kicking myself extra hard because I thought my interviews had gone crap and there was no way in hell I was going to be coming back).
In terms of being understanding about grades, I recently spoke to the philosophy tutor there (he is currently the tutor for undergraduates, although that will change very soon), and he told me they're "quite strict" about people making offers now. Infer from that what you will, but it got me nervous about my results.
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
Numbers are really too small to make generalisations like that (although if you're interested in one, apparently Oxford students get the least sex of any university in the country). There seems to be a strong sport ethic, although I've been told there's an emphasis on involvement rather than super-prowess.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
An FE college? I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. I do know that it is statistically one of the most (if not the most) independent school dominated colleges in Oxford. That might work in your favour as they, no doubt are looking to increase the number of state school students there (in the same way as a lot of top unis are), although they will not sacrifice ability for your background- that's the most important.
One last thing- they're prone to making clerical errors, or at least that's how I explain my offer!
Consie
I've heard from 'they' that St Edmund hall is this magical place, and that its apparently more 'understanding' about grades and stuff than other colleges. Is this really the case?
I can't really comment about other colleges' "magical-ness", but Teddy Hall is something special. I was kicking myself after my 3.5 days of interview there- I had done what I promised myself I wouldn't, and fallen in love with it (I was kicking myself extra hard because I thought my interviews had gone crap and there was no way in hell I was going to be coming back).
In terms of being understanding about grades, I recently spoke to the philosophy tutor there (he is currently the tutor for undergraduates, although that will change very soon), and he told me they're "quite strict" about people making offers now. Infer from that what you will, but it got me nervous about my results.
Personally, i was just looking for a big college with great sport, cheap beer and hot women, but if this place is what hear say says it is, then i'll probably go there. Plus its also big and has good sport.
Numbers are really too small to make generalisations like that (although if you're interested in one, apparently Oxford students get the least sex of any university in the country). There seems to be a strong sport ethic, although I've been told there's an emphasis on involvement rather than super-prowess.
So, whats the real deal with St Edmund Hall? I know its an FE college, which apparently helps state schoolies like me, but is it really that more understanding?
An FE college? I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. I do know that it is statistically one of the most (if not the most) independent school dominated colleges in Oxford. That might work in your favour as they, no doubt are looking to increase the number of state school students there (in the same way as a lot of top unis are), although they will not sacrifice ability for your background- that's the most important.
One last thing- they're prone to making clerical errors, or at least that's how I explain my offer!
Reply 8
15
sjuthani
An FE college? I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. I do know that it is statistically one of the most (if not the most) independent school dominated colleges in Oxford. That might work in your favour as they, no doubt are looking to increase the number of state school students there (in the same way as a lot of top unis are), although they will not sacrifice ability for your background- that's the most important.
An FE college? I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. I do know that it is statistically one of the most (if not the most) independent school dominated colleges in Oxford. That might work in your favour as they, no doubt are looking to increase the number of state school students there (in the same way as a lot of top unis are), although they will not sacrifice ability for your background- that's the most important.
It's one of the colleges in the FE Consortium, which between them fund the FE Access Initiative - I think this is what is meant
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mans1227/intro2.htm
Reply 9
Just to keep up the trend of SEH positivness, I've just finished my 2nd year there and I love it.
It does have a reputation for being quite public school and there are quite a few people from the kind of schools that send half their pupils to oxbridge, but don't let the put you off: I'm not really from that sort of background and I love it here- my friends are a total mix of public and private school and it's not really something that matters much between us.
I have never heard of it being more 'understanding' in terms of grades. It certainly doesn't have a great accademic reputation and ratios of applications to places are pretty low in many subjects (though, as everyone here will tell you, it's not sensible to play the numbers game). Expect a 3As offer- anything else is unusual though not unheard of. If you drop a grade they may let you in- this happened to a couple of my friends but it's not definite.
In terms of more general things to say, it's quite a sporty college (I believe this year we won cuppers mens and womens footbal, were about second in the rugby league, went head of the river in women's rowing, won cuppers women's darts(!)... can't remember what else).
We like to think of ourselves as a party college. it's difficult to know whether others do too as I think most colleges like to think of themselves as a party college, but our bops (college parties) are certainly popular and we are definately quite relaxed about life in general.
I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the college is as nice as Mansfield as I've never been there. When I was looking round the colleges I really loved the look of the place and the porters were incredibly friendly- they seemed to me to sum up the attitude of the place.
Hope that helps- if you have any more questions ask away.
It does have a reputation for being quite public school and there are quite a few people from the kind of schools that send half their pupils to oxbridge, but don't let the put you off: I'm not really from that sort of background and I love it here- my friends are a total mix of public and private school and it's not really something that matters much between us.
I have never heard of it being more 'understanding' in terms of grades. It certainly doesn't have a great accademic reputation and ratios of applications to places are pretty low in many subjects (though, as everyone here will tell you, it's not sensible to play the numbers game). Expect a 3As offer- anything else is unusual though not unheard of. If you drop a grade they may let you in- this happened to a couple of my friends but it's not definite.
In terms of more general things to say, it's quite a sporty college (I believe this year we won cuppers mens and womens footbal, were about second in the rugby league, went head of the river in women's rowing, won cuppers women's darts(!)... can't remember what else).
We like to think of ourselves as a party college. it's difficult to know whether others do too as I think most colleges like to think of themselves as a party college, but our bops (college parties) are certainly popular and we are definately quite relaxed about life in general.
I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the college is as nice as Mansfield as I've never been there. When I was looking round the colleges I really loved the look of the place and the porters were incredibly friendly- they seemed to me to sum up the attitude of the place.
Hope that helps- if you have any more questions ask away.
Reply 10
Wow, what an awesome thread.
I went to a bog-standard secondary school. I fell in love with Teddy Hall on the open day. It just felt, instantly, like home (which is why I'm terrified I've missed my offer). Other students from my school who had visited other colleges (Christ Church & Oriel) couldn't understand how I made my mind up so quickly.
It is quite small though, physically. This might be a problem if you're prone to making enemies
.
I went to a bog-standard secondary school. I fell in love with Teddy Hall on the open day. It just felt, instantly, like home (which is why I'm terrified I've missed my offer). Other students from my school who had visited other colleges (Christ Church & Oriel) couldn't understand how I made my mind up so quickly.
It is quite small though, physically. This might be a problem if you're prone to making enemies
.Reply 11
16
Maybe being located next to a cemetery has something to do with it! 
But yes, I've heard only wonderful stories and experiences from friends there.
But yes, I've heard only wonderful stories and experiences from friends there.
Reply 12
19
One thing a lot of people have said to be about Teddy Hall is that although it is quite independent-based it feels quite state based. I.e. it's got a lot of private school people, but not the ones who conform to the stereotype.
Reply 13
Hmm. I have a contrasting experience. I would say Teddy Hall is as public school as it gets at Oxford. It's massively rah, massively sporty, and produces a steady supply of drunken disorder incidents. Who's won rugby Cuppers 29 times? Who's Women's Head of the River? Who had about twenty supporters watching the qualifying races for summer eights?? From where were the guy who got set on fire wearing a mummy suit made of loo rool? The guys who nicked a disabled person's buggy and raced across Brasenose Quad, incurring a substantial fine?
It may be this is just a misleading public face, and 90% of college is perfectly normal but just doesn't venture out - but I doubt it. As someone who went to a very public school, watching Hall play the Rugby Cuppers final last year was eerily like being back at home. It wasn't just that their team was so good (though it certainly was). It wasn't just the 100+ crowd. It was the fact that 90% of that 100+ crowd were girls wearing at least two of the following: pashmina; black jumper; ballet shoes; thick belt; sunglasses; slouchy boots; or short pleated skirts.
It really got surreal when the bloke who scored the match winning try walked off the pitch with two girls hanging off each arm.
Not objecting to this, but the views posted so far do seem to me to be massively misleading. Even if the rah element is a minority at Hall, it's hugely active.
It may be this is just a misleading public face, and 90% of college is perfectly normal but just doesn't venture out - but I doubt it. As someone who went to a very public school, watching Hall play the Rugby Cuppers final last year was eerily like being back at home. It wasn't just that their team was so good (though it certainly was). It wasn't just the 100+ crowd. It was the fact that 90% of that 100+ crowd were girls wearing at least two of the following: pashmina; black jumper; ballet shoes; thick belt; sunglasses; slouchy boots; or short pleated skirts.
It really got surreal when the bloke who scored the match winning try walked off the pitch with two girls hanging off each arm.
Not objecting to this, but the views posted so far do seem to me to be massively misleading. Even if the rah element is a minority at Hall, it's hugely active.
Reply 14
15
Isaiah Berlin
Actually, Corpus is one of two Oxford colleges who've had girls appear in the national media's fashion pages. Because it's such a small college, random statistical variations can produce weird numbers like that - but they're actually very misleading. The previous year twice as many girls matriculated, and in terms of overall boy to girl ratio it's pretty even.
Taken from CCC website:
Current student population -
Girls 101
Boys 145
Ratio almost 3:2, boys:girls
Staff: Women 6, Men 35
Ratio almost 6:1 Men:Women
I don't see how having one student getting in the papers changes the fact that the college tends to have one of the least number of girls in a year of the colleges in the university.
Reply 15
15
trina
It does have a reputation for being quite public school and there are quite a few people from the kind of schools that send half their pupils to oxbridge, but don't let the put you off:
I'm eeeeeeevil
Seriously you don't want to get too close to us public schoolers, we drink your blood and then bugger you with a glass of pimms in one hand and a rowing oar in the other!
..or not.
Reply 16
Consie
OP
15
This place sounds great! Although i suppose if i opened a thread saying 'why is Christ Church so good' then all teh Christ Church people would say the same thing. It's quite suprising the place is so private school dominated (as other FE Colleges, such as Mansfield, want 75% of applicants to be from from state schools in a few years time). This doesnt bother me though; i have no problem with people from private schools and I'm not put off by it.
When you say small physical space but large number of students, are the quads and halls of residents all on top of each other (not literally)? I liked the look of Hertford, but the tiny square around which blocks of rooms were claustrophobically placed in the back put me off a bit - as i thought everyone would be in my face all the time.
Are the buildings honey coloured like the other super-old colleges in Oxford? How big is the bar (Keble's bar is incredible)? Is the chapel really ornate? (I'm not remotely religious, but i was really impressed by some of the chapels i seen).
I can't beleive i missed this place when i went on an open day there. Would i be able to sort one out were i could stay over during this summer holidays? Does the college need lots of notice?
Thanks to everyone for all the info so far, and keep it coming!
By the time i finished this post three more people had posted! The rah element i'm reasonably used to, as when i took up rugby after playing football for about 10years i encountered many, many public school rahs (along with many more nice, normal public school folk) at the local rugby club (who all worshipped me and put me at fly half because i could goal kick well after playing football for so long
). They don't bother me that much, but can get irritating if they're constantly being loud and rahish and hang round in their own groups. Most people have said this isnt the case, but some have, so i guess i'll just beleive the majority. Stories about stealing weelchairs and mummy immolation sounds great in my opinion; i dont really want a stuffy uptight place where rules are keenly observed. The girl/boy mismatch is a bit worrying - is homosexuality as big as it is in Balliol? (I've got nothing against homosexuals, I'm just wondering)
When you say small physical space but large number of students, are the quads and halls of residents all on top of each other (not literally)? I liked the look of Hertford, but the tiny square around which blocks of rooms were claustrophobically placed in the back put me off a bit - as i thought everyone would be in my face all the time.
Are the buildings honey coloured like the other super-old colleges in Oxford? How big is the bar (Keble's bar is incredible)? Is the chapel really ornate? (I'm not remotely religious, but i was really impressed by some of the chapels i seen).
I can't beleive i missed this place when i went on an open day there. Would i be able to sort one out were i could stay over during this summer holidays? Does the college need lots of notice?
Thanks to everyone for all the info so far, and keep it coming!
By the time i finished this post three more people had posted! The rah element i'm reasonably used to, as when i took up rugby after playing football for about 10years i encountered many, many public school rahs (along with many more nice, normal public school folk) at the local rugby club (who all worshipped me and put me at fly half because i could goal kick well after playing football for so long
). They don't bother me that much, but can get irritating if they're constantly being loud and rahish and hang round in their own groups. Most people have said this isnt the case, but some have, so i guess i'll just beleive the majority. Stories about stealing weelchairs and mummy immolation sounds great in my opinion; i dont really want a stuffy uptight place where rules are keenly observed. The girl/boy mismatch is a bit worrying - is homosexuality as big as it is in Balliol? (I've got nothing against homosexuals, I'm just wondering)Reply 17
It has one really old quad which is very pretty. Then you go through beyond that into a paved area where there are some 1960s concrete additions at the back. It also has an old churchyard which gives it informal open space and the church which is now the library. It's all quite small scale. You should really go and look around if you are thinking of applying.
Have a look at the virtual tour and other websites.
SEH Website
JCR website
Alternative prospectus
Virtual tour
Have a look at the virtual tour and other websites.
SEH Website
JCR website
Alternative prospectus
Virtual tour
Reply 18
Consie
The girl/boy mismatch is a bit worrying - is homosexuality as big as it is in Balliol? (I've got nothing against homosexuals, I'm just wondering)
For no real reason other than it being a field of special interest (!) I'm happy to reassure you that Teddy Hall is gloriously devoid of sexual deviants - there are just three that I know of. Incidentally, Balliol doesn't have that many either, as far as I know.
Oh, and all the girls at Teddy Hall look the same, I always find (tall-ish, blonde-ish, posh-ish). But if that's your bag, I'm sure you'll have fun.
Reply 19
19
[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]
That would be Jesus
Pretty much. It's not quite as compact as Jesus but it's close. But that's a good thing really - inspires friendliness. If you want your space then there's plenty of it
Isaiah Berlin
Who had about twenty supporters watching the qualifying races for summer eights??
That would be Jesus
Consie
When you say small physical space but large number of students, are the quads and halls of residents all on top of each other (not literally)? I liked the look of Hertford, but the tiny square around which blocks of rooms were claustrophobically placed in the back put me off a bit - as i thought everyone would be in my face all the time.
Pretty much. It's not quite as compact as Jesus but it's close. But that's a good thing really - inspires friendliness. If you want your space then there's plenty of it
Are the buildings honey coloured like the other super-old colleges in Oxford? QUOTE]
Sadly no
Some bits are really pretty but there's some dodgy concreteness as well!
I very much doubt you'd be able to stay in college - for one thing they get a lot of money renting out the rooms for conferences etc. IFIRC there's an open day toward the end of September but most colleges will let you come in and wander around for the day, especially if you say you want to apply. If you really can't do a day trip then you could always stay in the back packers hostel.
Sadly no
Some bits are really pretty but there's some dodgy concreteness as well! I can't beleive i missed this place when i went on an open day there. Would i be able to sort one out were i could stay over during this summer holidays? Does the college need lots of notice?
I very much doubt you'd be able to stay in college - for one thing they get a lot of money renting out the rooms for conferences etc. IFIRC there's an open day toward the end of September but most colleges will let you come in and wander around for the day, especially if you say you want to apply. If you really can't do a day trip then you could always stay in the back packers hostel.
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