Oriel College (Oxford) Students and Applicants

It's always funny how things work out though ... I bumped into a guy on the Park&Ride bus coming into Oxford for interviews and it turned out that he had also applied to Oriel, for History. We both got in and two years later he's one of my best friends here.
Coincidence is far more fun that probability. :grin:

Reply 142

Hi!

I got an offer from Oriel College and now I have to pick a level for my accomodation. I will be a grad student so I can pick between A and B-rated rooms at Rectory Road or C and D-rated rooms at Island site. From what I understand: Rectory Road is further away from my Department (Pharmacology Department at Mansfield Rd) but the rooms are fancier.

Could you please comment on this and maybe describe the differences between the rooms (size, looks, etc)?

Thank you!

Reply 143

Seasons

Oooh, another Oriel postgrad! :hello:

I've been wondering the same thing, though a tight budget is encouraging me to go for the C or D rooms no matter their location or size. The Island Site is much closer to my libraries, etc., but I was thinking that the further distance of Rectory Road accommodation would encourage me to spend less time in my room, where it can be a bit difficult to work to my highest potential. :smile:

I also really like the fact that there's a small gym in JMH. Where did you find out that C & D is only at the Island Site?

Reply 144

I called Joseph Cole and asked :biggrin:

So yea, he said that basically Island site is C and D and are typical "student rooms" (as if I was supposed to know what that means, lol) and JMH is all shiny and really nice. That's why I thought maybe someone can give me an advice on the rooms. I guess Island site would be better as it is closer to my department and cheaper, but then again I am not sure about loud undergrads and all that.

What are you gonna study?

Reply 145

bumbieriitis

So yea, he said that basically Island site is C and D and are typical "student rooms" (as if I was supposed to know what that means, lol) and JMH is all shiny and really nice. That's why I thought maybe someone can give me an advice on the rooms. I guess Island site would be better as it is closer to my department and cheaper, but then again I am not sure about loud undergrads and all that.

I wasn't aware that there were any C/D grade rooms on the Island site ... Most of the rooms there are A or A/B, as lots of them are quite nice and new and have either ensuites or a shared bathroom with one other room. The graduate staircases might be a bit different though. I lived in a C/D grade room in 3rd quad last year though and it was perfectly fine - a little bit rough round the edges but once you've decorated it with your stuff it's not a problem.

I'm living at JMH next year and Joe Cole's right, it is pretty new and a lot more modern. It's really not that far away from stuff in the grand scheme of things (15 minutes walk from the city centre would seem like nothing at most universities) and if you get a bike then that's even less of an issue. Kitchen provision is much better, so what you pay extra for in room cost you will probably be able to save by cooking for yourself.

Reply 146

Thanks a lot for your answer! So you're saying that there are absolutey no kitchens in the Main building? Also - what about living off campus? Would it perhaps be cheaper to look for a room outside from college?

Reply 147

Seasons

bumbieriitis

What are you gonna study?

Sorry it's taken me a little while to get back to this; I was out of town without internet access for a few days. Anyway, I'll be reading for an M.St in Medieval Studies. You?

Mook

x

Athena

x

Yeah, I'm not feeling so bad about asking for C/D rooms now. Thanks for all the information, guys! :smile:

Reply 148

bumbieriitis

Thanks a lot for your answer! So you're saying that there are absolutey no kitchens in the Main building? Also - what about living off campus? Would it perhaps be cheaper to look for a room outside from college?

No, you can cook for yourself (there are three proper kitchens that I know of, and other random microwaves and hobs scattered around various staircases) but depending on where you live you may not have one in your immediate vicinity. It's only likely going to be 2-3 minutes away tops, but if you want to cook all the time then it might be a little bit of a hassle.

As for living out, it again depends. If you are likely to want to stay in Oxford for a fair bit of the vacations as well then getting a house can work out to be a sensible option, but then you are responsible for everything. In college you will only pay for when you are actually in residence, your room will be hovered at least once a week, your bins will be emptied everyday and your bathroom cleaned virtually every day. Plus Oriel is pretty much as central as you could want to be - sure I'm biased but I really think it is a perfect location.

Reply 149

Thank you! I actually just re-read the email Mr. Cole sent me after our phone conversation and C/D rooms are in the main College site which includes the Island site, so they can be in either. Sorry about that, my bad. I am still slightly confused about all the different locations and what is what :smile:

Seasons - I'll be studying (reading? :smile:

) ) for MSc in Pharmacology.

Reply 150

Sappho

13

sat41

Still, don't worry, I won't abandon you, meus parvus servus, Sarah et ego te amamus... :P x

Your vocative is wrong. Sorry for disturbing :p:

Reply 151

HarryMc

Does anyone know anything about when we hear?? :biggrin:

+ I'm "too enthusiastic" Harry who was interviewing for History, so if anyone I met sees this send me a message! :smile:

Reply 152

alcie

Original post by HarryMc

Does anyone know anything about when we hear?? :biggrin:

+ I'm "too enthusiastic" Harry who was interviewing for History, so if anyone I met sees this send me a message! :smile:

I can't remember if you were the guy I met or not! Hahaha... this will be totally awkward if you're not. I can't even remember if his name was Harry. He was going for history, but possibly history and german.... anyway Hi!! I'm going for English and French, got an offer but for 2012 entry... weird as!

Reply 153

Jon101

Hi everyone!

Just rekindling this thread to see if I could get some advice from current Orielinios.

Money: how much do things cost? I'm thinking mostly about food. I know there's a formal hall option nearly every night of the week; how often do students usually choose this? I want to go with the flow of everyone else as much as possible, but I also want to watch the pennies.

I'm thinking of pretty much never going to breakfast and just having cereal in my bedroom. I'm not much of a breakfast person, and the idea of forking out each day to have to get dressed early each morning for food I'm not interested in seems silly!

If you don't mind sharing (pm if you don't want to publicly post), how much is your end-of-term bill, and what did that consist of for you? (Which grade room etc.?)

Quite a few questions, but I'm just trying to be realistic and get organised so I know how much I ought to save whilst working this summer.

Many thanks :smile:

Reply 154

JGR

Formal (and informal) hall is every night except Saturday I believe.
I've not been to hall for a few terms and never went that often, but I'm an exception and they're rather popular, especially Sunday formal hall.
The food is quite good and fairly cheap too. The main annoyance (for me at least) is the need to book in advance (by 11am on the day, or by Friday for weekend meals). Lunch and breakfast do not require booking though.
I can't remember exactly how much they are and can't seem to find the figures either...

My room is an A grade and the termly accommodation charge is £1,044.58, plus around £50 for the few days I'm back before term starts.
There's also around £15 of little charges like hardship/scholarship funds, carbon offsetting, events, etc.
If you get a scholarship or good exam/collection results, you may get cash prizes. I got £200 credited to last term's battel that way, and similar things in previous terms.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 155

Original post by Jon101

I'm thinking of pretty much never going to breakfast and just having cereal in my bedroom. I'm not much of a breakfast person, and the idea of forking out each day to have to get dressed early each morning for food I'm not interested in seems silly!

I think your other questions have been pretty much answered already, but just to reassure you that the majority of people have cereal in their rooms rather than going to hall breakfast. It makes a nice change once in a while, but in general the only people who tend to go are rowers coming back from morning outings and some science people who like to have a proper meal before a morning's worth of lectures.

As for the room costs, if you request a lower grade room (i.e. a B, C or D) then you will probably be on one of the fresher staircases in 3rd quad, the largest of which has a rather scruffy kitchen that you can use to cook evening meals. Your best bet will probably be to go to hall lunch, as that tends to be the most sociable meal of the day and pretty good value for money for a sizeable meal. Then you can just have the student staples of toasties/pasta/tortellini in the evening.

Reply 156

kingjohno

Hey Guys,

I'll (hopefully!) be arriving at Oriel in September to study medicine.

I was wondering, do you have Wi-fi access in your rooms? And, if not, could you plug your own wireless router into the Ethernet connection?

Reply 157

JGR

Original post by kingjohno

Hey Guys,

I'll (hopefully!) be arriving at Oriel in September to study medicine.

I was wondering, do you have Wi-fi access in your rooms? And, if not, could you plug your own wireless router into the Ethernet connection?

At present, there's only wifi in the JCR and *maybe* the library (not sure).
There's certainly no wifi in the rooms, each room does have an ethernet connection though.

If I remember correctly, connecting (wireless) routers, switches, hubs, etc to the network is against regulations, but you should check that with college.

Generally people just use a length of CAT 5e.

Reply 158

kingjohno

Original post by JGR

At present, there's only wifi in the JCR and *maybe* the library (not sure).
There's certainly no wifi in the rooms, each room does have an ethernet connection though.

If I remember correctly, connecting (wireless) routers, switches, hubs, etc to the network is against regulations, but you should check that with college.

Generally people just use a length of CAT 5e.

Major annoyance!! Haha!

Was considering purchasing an iPad, but now I'm thinking that I might not!

Although, at this rate, if I manage to get to Oxford, it could be a minor miracle! I hate maths! If only the offer was AAB not AAA!!! I would be far more relaxed!

Reply 159

JGR