Lincoln College (Oxford) Students and Applicants

OP

lmao, I haven't watched Arthur in years, but I use to love that programme!

Reply 182

I'm thinking of applying to Lincoln for english. How strong is the english department and how does it compare to Brasenose?

Reply 183

unconvicted

Just a thought - before you come up for interview in English, you may want to revise correct use of apostrophes... ;-P

Apostrophes can be used to pluralize acronyms though, if an 's' alone would render the word misleading or ambiguous. For example, pluralizing AS with simply an 's'.....

Reply 184

OP

English at Lincoln seems to have been pretty strong the last few years - think we got a good number of firsts this year (but then overall we did very well this year - 8th in the Norrington table which is damn good for such a small college with less money and tutors than other larger colleges!) and I've heard from my friends studying English that our tutors are very good (one of them was the Dean last year). I don't know how it compared to BNC, but you should DEFINITELY pick Lincoln over BNC anyways as we're so much better - one example is that our formal hall is much nicer. Also, we're at war with BNC (looooong story!), but in all seriousness our college is the best. Everyone's really friendly, we have good food (it's not deep-fried crap like some other colleges), accomodation is guarateed for all 3years and the houses you can live in in your final year (and posibly in your 2nd year too) all have ensuite bathrooms and have all been recently refurbished. Our library's really pretty too and I'm guesing if you're going to be studying English then you'll be in there quite a bit. Our location is also fabulous - so near to everything, but Turl St isn't so full of tourists as some other areas are (eg. Radcliffe Square where BNC is :p:

) so you're right in the heart of Oxford but it doesn't feel too smothered.

Any more questions, feel free to ask.

Reply 185

Thanks for a great response.
Other questions:
How small is Lincoln? Do you mean small in terms of size or small in terms of no. of students or both?
In what ways do you think Lincoln differs to BNC? (in terms of attitudes etc.)
Is BNC a lot bigger than Lincoln?
As I'm from Lincolnshire, will this significantly increase my chances of success? I heard they have a quota to get state school students from Lincolnshire.

Reply 186

OP

t.w.

Thanks for a great response.
Other questions:
How small is Lincoln? Do you mean small in terms of size or small in terms of no. of students or both?

Physically, it's pretty small - we have 3quads which comprise the college itself. Then across the rd the college owns all the shop-buildings on Turl St and some 1st/most 2nd year accomodation is situated above this. They also own properties on the high st (where there is more 3rd year accomodation and a graduate annexe off Bear Lane which has flats with MASSIVE rooms). They also own a newer annexe on Museum Rd (handy for scientists) consisting of houses with ensuite rooms and kitchesn and then a modern science graduate complex called the EPA. Lincoln also owns various other houses on Ship St, St John's St and Divinty Rd. Regarding numbers of students their are about 303 undergrads in total and around 290 grads. BNC is probably covering bigger land and has a population of 353 and graduate 180, so Lincoln is smaller in both terms of physical size and numbers of undergrad students.

In what ways do you think Lincoln differs to BNC? (in terms of attitudes etc.)

I don't really know to be honest as I haven't studied at BNC. Personally, I think Lincoln has some great qualities. Like I said before, I like the fact we have guaranteed accomodation for at least 3years, food in hall is good, I like our location, the library, the atmosphere of the college - everyone's friendly. We're not too pretentious - no one cares whether you're from the UK/International or from a state/private/public school/home-tutored etc. We're apathetic so the JCR isn't really politically inclinded in one way or another - our JCR meetings are a lot more light-hearted than some colleges.

Ultimately, although I can tell you how amazing Lincoln is, the best thing you can do is visit both Lincoln and BNC and see which college you like the feel of - if you walk into the college and something feels right, then you'll know that's the college for you. Perhaps you should draw up a list of things that are important to you - do you want a small/big college? is cheap accomodation important? do you want to live out in your 2nd year or have guaranteed accomodation? do you want your college to be politically active? do you want one with good sports facilities or is drama/music more important to you?

Here are some summaries of each college:
http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/bras.shtml
http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/linc.shtml

As I'm from Lincolnshire, will this significantly increase my chances of success? I heard they have a quota to get state school students from Lincolnshire.

I can't confirm that Im afraid, but think I may have heard something similar. However, I doubt any "quota" would help your chances of getting in. If you're good enough then you'll get in, if you're not, then you won't. If they can't fill their quota one year then I'm sure they won't be bothered. If the applicants from lincolnshire that they interview arent good enough, then they won't take them and they may get applicants from other colleges pooled to them who they'll take instead.

Reply 187

Ok thanks a lot again for such detail. I'm going to an open day at Lincoln in six days time so will hopefully be able to make my mind up then.

Reply 188

thomasjtl

9

Also, we're at war with BNC (looooong story!)

Not really- we refused to let a BNC student into the college who was subsequently linched and killed by the angry mob chasing him. Now they don't like us very much.

I can confirm that there is no such quota for anyone at oxford, with the exception of international medics, who's numbers are restricted by the government. I have heard somewhere, however, that lincoln has or used to have some access inititive (going into schools and encouraging applications, rather than advantaging them in admissions) focussed on lincoln/lincolnshire. Can't remember where, though.

Reply 189

Laurz

Hi, are there any current linguists who can tell me how much they're enjoying the course and persuade me to apply to Lincoln? :wink:

Are any of you helping at the open day on Friday? If so, look out for a slightly older than most, pale looking (I've been recovering from illness for a couple of years) young lady, and please come and say hello because there won't be anyone accompanying me..... :rolleyes:

Reply 190

OP

Hi Laurz, I don't think we have any linguist lincolnites on here, so we may not be able to answer your specific queries. Which languages are you hoping to study at University, as then one of us may be able to speak to any linguist friends we have to see if they can give you any advice?

I'm not helping out at the Open Day on Friday, but they'll be lots of lovely people there I'm sure - our Academic Affairs officer is lovely (she's called Sophie) and she has an excellent team of assistants, so I'm sure someone will be able to answer all your questions and make you feel at home. I'm not in Oxford at the moment, but popped down for the day yesterday and I must say that our college looks absolutely stunningly beautiful at the moment. Of course, it always looks gorgeous, but this is the best time of the year to visit in my opinion as all the summer flowers are still out in front quad but at the same time, the climbing plants on some of the walls in front quad are starting to turn a nice autum colour (they're still green by hall, but becoming red over the lodge).

Anyways, sorry I can't offer you any specific help with regards to your queries, but I do know that all the linguists I know (French/German..don't know anyone really that's taking Spanish) have all had a fabulous time at Lincoln and have all just returned from their years abroad in their 3rd year having apparantely had the most amazing times ever! So I'm sure if you apply to Lincoln, you'll have equally as much fun! If you have any more geneal queries about the college, then please don't hesitate to post them and I'll try and answer them for you :smile:

Enjoy the Open Day!!!

PS. For all current students...we now have new sofa covers and cushions in the JCR!!!! And the JCR's been painted this lovely green and looks really nice!!! :smile:

Reply 191

thomasjtl

9

ooh- excellent. What colour are the sofas- same as before?

Reply 192

OP

thomasjtl

ooh- excellent. What colour are the sofas- same as before?

They're green, but they're a much nicer colour green. The cushions are really comfortable and the whole JCR looks much better just from the new sofa covers and a lick of paint!

Reply 193

calcium878

18

I liked Lincoln's JCR on the open day...very cosy :biggrin:

Reply 194

chrysalis7

Hey guys I was thinking about applying to Lincoln for PPE.. is the subjected in high demand in this college? Do you know lots of people who take the course here? Is Lincoln particularly competitive to get into compared to other colleges? Does anyone suggest leaving an open application and being sent to the pool? What is the atmosphere like there? Studious / formal / casual? Sorry the many questions but I'm extremely curious and would appreciate it as many people as possible just gave a couple of comments on the question :smile:

Thanx again

Reply 195

Drarren

1

Hi, I've just sent my UCAS form off and I'm hoping that I get an offer from Lincoln for this time next year. I came to the open day in June, and I fell in love with the college instantly :biggrin:

And everyone I talked to was so friendly.
I'm really hoping I can come!

Reply 196

OP

chrysalis7

Hey guys I was thinking about applying to Lincoln for PPE.. is the subjected in high demand in this college? Do you know lots of people who take the course here? Is Lincoln particularly competitive to get into compared to other colleges? Does anyone suggest leaving an open application and being sent to the pool? What is the atmosphere like there? Studious / formal / casual? Sorry the many questions but I'm extremely curious and would appreciate it as many people as possible just gave a couple of comments on the question :smile:

Thanx again

Hi Chrysalis, sorry no-one's replied to you yet. Unfortunately, we don't have any lincolnite PPEists on here so there's no one that can answer any specific questions about studying it at Lincoln. All I can tell you, is that usually about 10 students are admitted, which means that the PPE crowd at Lincoln is quite big. Lincoln is just as competitive as all the other colleges - if you're good enough to get in, then you will get in (if Lincoln can't take you, they'll make sure another colleges does) and if you're not good enough then you won't - it's as simple as that and is the same as other colleges. It's a bit pointless making an open application if a) there is a colege you like the look of or b) there is a college you really wouldn't be happy at. It won't help your chancs in anyways, as like I said if Lincoln were to be over-subscribed with very good applicants, then people will get sent to other colleges anyways, so if you like the look of Lincoln, just apply. I assume you've already looked at the following:
http://www.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/content/view/471/91/
Which is the PPE page on Lincoln's website.

Regarding the college itself, Lincoln's atmosphere is apathetic and fairly relaxed with a good work-play balance - we're not as work crazy as Merton, but we have done well in the Norrington Table for the last few years, especially for a small college, so like everywhere at Oxford, we do work hard. However, we have active sport/music/drama societies and people don't work all day! To give you an example, this term I'm in 2 plays, writing for a science magazine and am also involved in the production aspect of an opera. Other ppl I know, play netball and sing in the college choir and someone I know rowed for Oxford & Lincoln, was a member of the Oxford Air Squadron, regularly went on Business trips (he also has his own business) and still got a first (but he is immensely clever)! So it's easy to have a good work-life balance and still come out with a good degree.

Hope some of that helps! Good luck with your application!

Reply 197

OP