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Maths at Oxford or Cambridge - How Did You Decide!?!?

Hi

I want to study Maths at Oxford or Cambridge but am yet to deviate between the two. You may have seen a couple of my threads in the Oxford and Cambridge forums trying to decide on my shortlist of colleges at each university. Unfortunately, I remain as confused as ever as to which university to apply to! Each has it's own pro's and con's, and everytime I manage to convince myself through logical reason to apply to one, I conjure up some sort of counter argument about why I should be applying to the other. Firstly, my shortlist of colleges in order of preference for each (not as yet definitive):

Oxford
St. John's
Wadham
Christ Church
St. Catz
Worcestor

Cambridge
King's
Churchill
St. John's
Queen's
Trinity

I am planning to go back to each university and visit every shortlisted college and will then come to my definite first choice college for each. Now for my personal list of thought processes for each university (which may differ in opinion to other's):

Oxford

•

Generally perceived to be 'less hard' to get into, and I definitely feel I have a greater chance of getting an offer

•

Oxford seems a nicer city to live in

•

Oxford is closer to home

•

I feel more attracted to some of my shortlisted colleges

•

An Oxford degree in Maths would be more than adequate for a good job in my desired line of work (Actuarial work) i.e. a Cambridge degree will not give an advantage, so why take the risk of not getting in?

•

All colleges give a test at interview, which I'd prefer

•

STEP papers are not part of the conditional offer

•

The Mathematical Institute building leaves much to be desired

•

Not all colleges provide accomodation for the duration of the course

Cambridge

•

Generally perceived as 'better' for Maths

•

Will provide the grandeur of having studied Maths at Cambridge

•

Will rid me of the underlying questions: 'Would I have got into Cambridge?' and 'What if I'd gone to Cambridge?'

•

Not all colleges give a test at interview, which is my preference so my choice of colleges is limited

•

The Mathematcial Institute building looks like something by NASA (which is good :wink: )

•

Cambridge colleges tend to have greater annual intakes of Mathematicians

•

Cambridge colleges tend to provide accomodation for the duration of the course

As you can see, I'm in quite a conundrum. Current students, or students with offers to study Maths at Oxbridge, how did you decide where to apply to!? Any feedback you can offer will be of paramount importance in terms of trying to decide where to apply, so many thanks in advance. I've incorporated a poll to make clear your recommendations, based on my opinions.

Reply 20

Chewwy

17

learn the ****ing organ.

Reply 21

Kolya

17

ShaneP

Finally, with regards to the haunting questions that Maths at Oxford entails, I would much rather be in that situation than apply to Cambridge and not get an offer. I really wouldn't want to study anywhere apart from Oxbridge, however naive that sounds. The question underlying this all is whether I could handle that disappointment or not.

If you would not be able to handle a rejection then do not apply to either, it is not worth it.

Reply 22

kizer

15

^^ How could you tell in advance whether you would be able to handle it? I don't think not getting in would ruin anyone's life.

Reply 23

ShaneP

OP

4

OK, some of your comments have been extremely helpful, and the fact that I may have as much chance of getting an offer from Cambridge as I do from Oxford has definitely helped make my decision easier.

I'm now pretty sure I want to apply to Cambridge, so will now arrange some visits to my shortlisted colleges and make a decision on which one to apply to.

Thanks for all your help! :yy:

Reply 24

Chumbaniya

17

ShaneP

OK, some of your comments have been extremely helpful, and the fact that I may have as much chance of getting an offer from Cambridge as I do from Oxford has definitely helped make my decision easier.

I'm now pretty sure I want to apply to Cambridge, so will now arrange some visits to my shortlisted colleges and make a decision on which one to apply to.

Thanks for all your help! :yy:

Hurrah! More competition! Well, I suppose not, really, since you're not considering Emmanuel, but still.

Reply 25

ad absurdum

2

Chumbaniya

Hurrah! More competition! Well, I suppose not, really, since you're not considering Emmanuel, but still.

Hehe, there actually seems to be an awful lot of people from this forum applying for maths at Cambridge :biggrin:

Reply 26

wanderer

2

ad absurdum

Hehe, there actually seems to be an awful lot of people from this forum applying for maths at Cambridge :biggrin:

There were last time round as well, and there are for Oxbridge generally.

Reply 27

Chumbaniya

17

ad absurdum

Hehe, there actually seems to be an awful lot of people from this forum applying for maths at Cambridge :biggrin:

True, but then Cambridge does have a very large undergraduate intake for maths, and in general it seems the people on TSR are academically above average, so it's what would be expected really. As far as I'm aware, the number of Oxbridge applications from TSR members is quite high, and I think I remember reading at some point that the sucess rate in obtaining offers among TSR members is better than the overall sucess rate. Good news for us, eh?

Reply 28

andy5788

14

Well I went for Oxford but thats because I'm a prospective Maths&Phil'er and Cambridge don't run that course.

But one serious point I would make is that the difference in prestige between Oxford and Cambridge is seriously unlikely to make a major impact on you. Much more likely to make an impact is a crap degree class because you chose a city you don't enjoy and consequently flunked.

So choose the place you think suits you best.

Reply 29

wanderer

2

Chumbaniya

True, but then Cambridge does have a very large undergraduate intake for maths, and in general it seems the people on TSR are academically above average, so it's what would be expected really. As far as I'm aware, the number of Oxbridge applications from TSR members is quite high, and I think I remember reading at some point that the sucess rate in obtaining offers among TSR members is better than the overall sucess rate. Good news for us, eh?

Its difficult to tell, on account of people with rejections being less likely to post about it, but members do seem to get quite a lot of offers compared to how many apply. A lot of the people applying probably come here looking for Oxbridge info in the first place (I did) and you'd expect the success rate to be higher among those who actively seek out that kind of help.

Reply 30

ShaneP

OP

4

One fairly pressing question. Where are lectures held for first year undergraduates at Cambridge? Is it at the Sir Isaac Newton Institute? If not, in what year are they held there?

That would be quite a disappointment because I love that building, and wanted to apply to Churchill primarily because it was right next to it!

Reply 31

Kolya

17

ShaneP

One fairly pressing question. Where are lectures held for first year undergraduates at Cambridge? Is it at the Sir Isaac Newton Institute? If not, in what year are they held there?

The Issac Newton Institute is for researchers, people who have completed their degrees.

I think it might only be post-doc research (post-PhD) but I cannot remember so do not quote me on this.

Reply 32

ShaneP

OP

4

Lusus Naturae

The Issac Newton Institute is for researchers, people who have completed their degrees.

I think it might only be post-doc research (post-PhD) but I cannot remember so do not quote me on this.

So where are lectures held then?

Reply 33

Illusionary

19

ShaneP

So where are lectures held then?

Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site

http://www.cam.ac.uk/map/v3/drawmap.cgi?mp=nmus;tl=New%20Museums%20Site

Reply 34

henryt

17

Wow! I was expecting Cambridge to have huge lead on Oxford - evidently not!! What I'm planning to do, if I turn out to be good at Maths (!), is go to Oxford, which is a realistic proposition, and then go for Part III at Cambridge. That way, I get to have a highly respected Maths degree, followed by the thing all mathmos / theoretical physicists want, Part III! I've not really got a problem with STEP, as such, it's just I have little self-confidence. I think my decision may well come down to what I'm being placed in for Maths next year. I was originally placed in Set 4 of 4, and then got boosted to Set 3 very quickly. But in position wise for my mock, I came at the bottom of Set 1 / top of Set 2, so I'm a little grumpy, but I'm still a Set 3 Mathematician, and traditionally, (successful) Cambridge Mathmos are from Sets 1 & 2. I'm in a bit of a muddle. Meh.

Reply 35

ShaneP

OP

4

Illusionary

Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site

http://www.cam.ac.uk/map/v3/drawmap.cgi?mp=nmus;tl=New%20Museums%20Site

Wow - that's quite far away. I may have to reconsider my college choice in that case.

But hey, a bike ride is sometimes good in the morning........rite? ;no;

Reply 36

wanderer

2

Illusionary

Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site

http://www.cam.ac.uk/map/v3/drawmap.cgi?mp=nmus;tl=New%20Museums%20Site

Excellent, if I get in I'll barely have to get out of bed in the morning.

Reply 37

Chumbaniya

17

henryt

Wow! I was expecting Cambridge to have huge lead on Oxford - evidently not!! What I'm planning to do, if I turn out to be good at Maths (!), is go to Oxford, which is a realistic proposition, and then go for Part III at Cambridge. That way, I get to have a highly respected Maths degree, followed by the thing all mathmos / theoretical physicists want, Part III! I've not really got a problem with STEP, as such, it's just I have little self-confidence. I think my decision may well come down to what I'm being placed in for Maths next year. I was originally placed in Set 4 of 4, and then got boosted to Set 3 very quickly. But in position wise for my mock, I came at the bottom of Set 1 / top of Set 2, so I'm a little grumpy, but I'm still a Set 3 Mathematician, and traditionally, (successful) Cambridge Mathmos are from Sets 1 & 2. I'm in a bit of a muddle. Meh.

Jesus, you must go to an amazing school if your third set of mathematicians apply to Oxford. In my college, out of a year of a thousand students, only three want to apply to Oxbridge maths degrees and most years the college won't have any sucessful applicants to read maths at either university, and only around 8 sucessful Oxbridge applications in total.

Reply 38

wanderer

2

Chumbaniya

Jesus, you must go to an amazing school if your third set of mathematicians apply to Oxford. In my college, out of a year of a thousand students, only three want to apply to Oxbridge maths degrees and most years the college won't have any sucessful applicants to read maths at either university, and only around 8 sucessful Oxbridge applications in total.

We have a year of about 100 and ~10 Oxbridge apps. Two maths offers from Cam this year but I don't think that happens that often, although we do have a very strong maths department. The idea of 2nd set people applying though - we don't even have sets!

Reply 39

henryt

17

Chumbaniya

Jesus, you must go to an amazing school if your third set of mathematicians apply to Oxford. In my college, out of a year of a thousand students, only three want to apply to Oxbridge maths degrees and most years the college won't have any sucessful applicants to read maths at either university, and only around 8 sucessful Oxbridge applications in total.

Unfortunately, going to an "amazing school" doesn't make you particularly clever/self-confident - it only has that effect after exam results! Also, I think my school is one of the better ones with Oxbridge admissions - 48% of students (last year) ~ 75 students getting places. And my school is very proud of it's record in Maths - it's basically the only subject where all the teachers are amazing. There are a few who have a really odd style, or a few who only like clever people, but they still make good mathematicians out of us! This year, there are 40 of us doing F. Maths, and about 110 doing Single (out of 180 - so only 30 people don't do Maths). But Set 3 is hardly great. We've got someone from Set 4 applying for Maths at Oxford too. But that's not really the dilemma... Arg.

Maths at Oxford or Cambridge - How Did You Decide!?!?

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