Regents Park - HELP!!!

Ok So I apply to St. Peter's to read Theology and then get an Interview at Regents Park. It looked nice enough although its not big and theres no noticable TV in the JCR. So I get my letter and Ive got a place at Regents. At the time I was thinking; "Yes!, I got into Oxford". However as time has passed and ive spoken to people ive got a mixed response. I really want to have a good university experience and id like to think that im a really sociable. Its just that almost every current oxford student has winced when ive told them that ive got a place at Regents. What is it actually like? is it really religious? are you not allowed to drink etc.? Im extremely apprehensive at the moment and im seriously considering going to Bristol or Durham instead! Please HELP!

Opinions from current Regents people and other college people would be appreciated (even though ChCh people have already informed me of its reputation as 'Rejects College' - Thanks)

Thanks

Reply 1

henryt

17

Oh please - it's only college banter - who cares if ChCh's back gate is bigger than any other college's front gate anyway :p:

. Have a look around properly before making any decisions. I know I didn't get a very good impression of St. Hugh's when I had my second interview there. I essentially walked down a corridor, sat down, was ushered into a small room, ushered out and then walked out back down the same corridor. I only really got a feel for Merton after staying there, and that probably still won't even compare to college life when I do get there (assuming my exams go fine). If you don't like it after looking at it, you should also remember that you don't actually have to spend much time there if you don't want to - you can stay in town and go to lectures and just sleep and eat in college! And to be honest, there's no way it can be *that* bad :smile:

Don't despair!

Reply 2

henryt

17

And about the drinking - I've just been on thier JCR website, and there's a guy brandishing a can of stella :p:

Reply 3

thomasjtl

9

First off, ignore anyone who tells you it's a rejects college. People get pooled to other colleges all the time, but it's not because you weren't good enough for the college you applied to- the peter's tutors clearly thought you were good enough for a place, but simply were too oversubscribed to be able to take everyone they wanted. Everyone loves their college, and thinks everywhere else is a loser college, so don't get worked up because chch tossers slagged it off.

While it's true that PPHs will have a greater regard for religion that other colleges, many non christian people end up in them (have a look through these forums- you're at least the third person with the same concerns!). No one is gonna force you to participate in church services and it certainly won't be expected that you'll be a christian.

I'm not sure whether regents has it's own bar- it's baptist so might not, but i very much doubt they ban alcohol. There are many opportunities outside your college to socialise as well- the oxford union, conservative assoc/labour club, and clubs for just about any interest you can think of, which invariably have pub socials or the like.

If it means anything, there's only ever a handful of regents students at christian union meetings.

Reply 4

Geo123

1

Hey, im sure at Regents Park you'll still have a good Uni experience there seem to have been a lot of people on here pooled there and also if you're bio is serious i think i met you one night during interviews. Or maybe not.

Reply 5

theidlecool

OP

ha it is serious, where did we meet?

Reply 6

Geo123

1

Well myself and a few other Geography people were in the JCR, i recall a chip van and a crazy homeless person. It's going to sound really random if it wasn't you lol

Reply 7

Russell_G

one of my housemates is at regents and she really enjoys it. she's as atheist as they come and she says she fits right in - she really does love it there. if i were you - it's an offer from oxford - take it!!

Reply 8

Athena

6

Someone on TSR Pm'd me (he may pop up in this thread) with similar concerns to you, so I PM'd a first year doing English at Regent's on Facebook. Here's her reply:

First year at RPC

Hmm the bops at Regent's are I think generally similar to those at other colleges, although obviously on a smaller scale as there are only about thirty students in each year. Also, dressing up/themes, etc. seem a bit half-hearted/lame, or at least they have this term. The new social secretary has promised to liven things up a bit, but we shall see. Everyone's generally very friendly and laid-back about work and stuff. It's not too religious, although a lot of people are pretty into the CU and I think sometimes people who are hardcore anti-religion can get a bit annoyed by it, sometimes. Generally hang around with people from college and does sometimes get a bit claustrophobic, but it's definitely not impossible to make friends outside college and I've managed to make a few. The tone of sounds a bit overly negative; Regent's is really great and I would personally recommend your friends accepts their offer! Hope this helps.

Reply 9

sat41

5

theidlecool

Ok So I apply to St. Peter's to read Theology and then get an Interview at Regents Park. It looked nice enough although its not big and theres no noticable TV in the JCR. So I get my letter and Ive got a place at Regents. At the time I was thinking; "Yes!, I got into Oxford". However as time has passed and ive spoken to people ive got a mixed response. I really want to have a good university experience and id like to think that im a really sociable. Its just that almost every current oxford student has winced when ive told them that ive got a place at Regents. What is it actually like? is it really religious? are you not allowed to drink etc.? Im extremely apprehensive at the moment and im seriously considering going to Bristol or Durham instead! Please HELP!

Opinions from current Regents people and other college people would be appreciated (even though ChCh people have already informed me of its reputation as 'Rejects College' - Thanks)

Thanks

These posts are officially annoying me now. I applied to Oriel for Classics, but got my offer from Greyfriars (another PPH). I'm not what anyone would call a religious person, and often get annoyed (OK, perhaps I get annoyed a lot, lol) when people try to force their religion on me. When I went to Greyfriars, I was nervous as to what a PPH would be like given all of the stereotypical trash I had heard about it beforehand. But I loved it there. Everyone was so unjudgemental, and they actually took an interest in me, my likes and dislikes. I felt like a person rather than some arbitrary applicant. I've heard lovely things about Regent's Park too, from people with offers, to current students. It's known as really relaxed and friendly. I've never been there personally, but I want to go just from what I've heard. Collegiate loyalty dictates that Greyfriars is literally the best place in Oxford (unsurprisingly), but if it turns out that you don't like Regent's Park, come to visit us in Iffley Road. We welcome anyone at any time, and you'd be more than welcome to come to our cocktail parties or anything else. Perhaps you should read the thread on PPHs, because there are lots of people there I've made friends with who are going to Regent's :smile:

All lovely people.

And don't listen to Ch Ch. Lots of them are so full of themselves they could literally burst, and they just have no idea on what they're missing out on. TAKE THE OFFER FROM OXFORD!! At the end of the day, University is what you make of it, and Oxford is the place to get a world class education.

Reply 10

thomasjtl

9

And don't listen to Ch Ch. Lots of them are so full of themselves they could literally burst

That's why they have such big gates :wink:

Reply 11

theidlecool

OP

wheres the PPH thread?

Reply 12

sat41

5

theidlecool

wheres the PPH thread?

Atm, they're both on Page 3 and are called "Pooled to a PPH". They're well worth reading.

Reply 13

themoat

How about trying this advice, theidlecool - go to Bristol or Durham instead.

Reply 14

theidlecool

OP

nah, id rather go to Oxford

Reply 15

sat41

5

theidlecool

nah, id rather go to Oxford

Then stop complaining and grow up! (Or just accept that themoat is speaking complete sense.)

Reply 16

thomasjtl

9

oh give him a break- uni is a very big decision, one the most influencial decisions of our lives to date. It's natural to not be certain, or at least be a little hesitant about it.

Reply 17

sat41

5

thomasjtl

oh give him a break- uni is a very big decision, one the most influencial decisions of our lives to date. It's natural to not be certain, or at least be a little hesitant about it.

I see what you're saying, but, as you said, UNI is a big decision, not the COLLEGE you go to. Being influenced by such matters is as bad as picking a College solely because it has pretty buildings.

Reply 18

xedx

that's exactly how i chose the college i applied to...

:frown:

Reply 19

sat41

5

xedx

that's exactly how i chose the college i applied to...

:frown:

Was that your only reason? If so, don't you think things such as atmosphere and a sense of community matter more? I think if one chooses a College for its buildings (and, let's face it, there are several in Oxford), then it's as bad as judging a book by its cover.

Regents Park - HELP!!!

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