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DPhil college places

OP

Are you saying that your entry into the university was deferred a year because they couldn't find a college place for you?

No, sorry - to clarify, I applied in 2003, got a department place and then deferred (before my application even went to any colleges), owing to lack of funds. This meant my application was supposedly on top of the pile for college places this year - and in fact my first choice college told me there shouldn't be a problem. And then of course it went through six choices! I don't know why this happened, but it's definitely not a case of 'first come, first served'!

I asked the faculty why it was taking so long - they said next year the system is being changed and there won't be this long delay. Apparently the departmental place is the most important thing. So, I wouldn't take college rejections personally.

Reply 41

Guiscard

Ah, that clears things up. This whole college application process seems like a big mystery still. I guess all we can do is hope and wait.

Reply 42

babyballerina

Fluffy

If you can move quickly, then you move up the waiting list. My partner and I were on it for 2 weeks before we got offered a 1 bed flat. Most other peeps on the list are locked into contracts on other properties and so can only move at certain times of the year - i.e usually at the beginning of the academic year

So this is what I should do then? Wait till a week before I am kicked out of college and claim homelessness? It's so unfair that I am penalised for being organised and getting myself on to the list early.

Reply 43

shiny

12

Maybe they're going to give me the Dean's place? :smile:

Reply 44

Fluffy

15

babyballerina

So this is what I should do then? Wait till a week before I am kicked out of college and claim homelessness? It's so unfair that I am penalised for being organised and getting myself on to the list early.

But then again, it's not fair that the university get stuck with unlet rooms waiting for the next person ont he list to get out of their contract. When me and my boyf put our names onthe list we expected a good 12 months wait. When a flat came up as quickly as it did, we were not ready to move. However, when my best friend killed herself in College and I was desperate to move out, the accomm office found us a flat very rapidly.

The thing you have to remember (and it took me a while to figure it!) is that the University is ran a business, and one that would happily phuck you over int he name of money!

Reply 45

Guiscard

Another question: does each college let you know if they accept/reject you? And how long, on average, do colleges take to make a decision?

Reply 46

fireplace

this is a really helpful discussion (and calms a few nerves)...but what's the latest time at which a college will realistically allocate a college place? Is it worth contacting the faculty to ask about college places?

Also, I'm holding an offer from lse - as a fallback - which will lapse in mid-june...any advice on what I should do?

Reply 47

babyballerina

fireplace

this is a really helpful discussion (and calms a few nerves)...but what's the latest time at which a college will realistically allocate a college place? Is it worth contacting the faculty to ask about college places?

Also, I'm holding an offer from lse - as a fallback - which will lapse in mid-june...any advice on what I should do?

Yes, contact your faculty. My PhD supervisor rang round colleges and yelled at them, so that's how I got my college place.

Reply 48

shiny

12

I've contacted Queens. They won't know whether they can give me accommodation until August and recommend that I find my own place. Great. :rolleyes:

Reply 49

sanders

OP

Another question: does each college let you know if they accept/reject you? And how long, on average, do colleges take to make a decision?

The colleges send out acceptance letters pretty promptly, but they won't let you know if they've rejected you - they just pass it on to the next college on the list. If you want to keep tabs on where the application is, you can check by phone with the Graduate Admissions Office at Wellington Square. The number for enquiries is 01865 270059. The people there are very pleasant & helpful. If there's no news they may suggest you ring colleges directly to see if a decision has been made.

The colleges are supposed to make a decision within a week in order not to hold up applications, but in reality (in my case) they kept them far longer than that (eg about a month - though admittedly that included the Easter holidays).

Reply 50

tommyboy

1

Fluffy

If your course starts in Oct 2004, you have definitely left it a little late for the colleges you mention.

No, not me - they have left it a little late. These are the colleges I put down on my application form back before Christmas; it just took the Faculty of Modern History more than four months to make me an offer.
Doesn't really matter though, as I will most probably turn down their offer anyway. I also applied to Cambridge, got a Faculty offer after about a month, a college offer after another three weeks (including guaranteed accommodation - already sent off my accommodation application form before Easter), and applied for funding for the Cambridge course - that basically ties me to Cambridge (and I'm not necessarily unhappy with that).

Reply 51

Guiscard

Is it safe to assume that most colleges have filled all their graduate places already?

Reply 52

shiny

12

Guiscard

Is it safe to assume that most colleges have filled all their graduate places already?

Presumably. Queens said they couldn't guarantee accommodation because they are oversubscribed or something. Although that might change after the funding competition results are announced.

Reply 53

sanders

OP

It depends what you mean by 'places': college membership, or actual accommodation? I was given a long list of colleges that still had graduate places available for my subject. You can ask the Graduate Admissions Office for this information. If you have a departmental place you're almost guaranteed a college place. On the other hand, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have accommodation: if you mean 'places' as in actual rooms, then perhaps you're right.

Reply 54

Guiscard

sanders

It depends what you mean by 'places': college membership, or actual accommodation? I was given a long list of colleges that still had graduate places available for my subject. You can ask the Graduate Admissions Office for this information. If you have a departmental place you're almost guaranteed a college place. On the other hand, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have accommodation: if you mean 'places' as in actual rooms, then perhaps you're right.

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I won't get college accomodation, so I'm really hoping to get a college place at a college I like without accomodation. Would it help if I told the graduate admissions office that?

Reply 55

sanders

OP

I don't know if this would make any difference, but it's worth asking them.

If you look at the research interests of college fellows in your subject (usually displayed on the college's website), you might get an idea of how keen they would be to take you on. They'll be the ones looking at your application, and perhaps acting as your college advisor, so if you work in a similar field that helps.

Reply 56

Guiscard

sanders

If you look at the research interests of college fellows in your subject (usually displayed on the college's website), you might get an idea of how keen they would be to take you on. They'll be the ones looking at your application, and perhaps acting as your college advisor, so if you work in a similar field that helps.