Pooling units?

I've heard that if your first choice college can't find room for you after interview they can give you another interview at another college.

But I also heard that there's a specific group of colleges that you can get 'pooled' to in this way - as in, if you applied to Wadham for example, you can only be transferred for another interview to certain colleges.

Does anyone know what colleges are in which groups?

Many thanks!

Reply 1

F1 fanatic

16

lazzyfuzzylou

I've heard that if your first choice college can't find room for you after interview they can give you another interview at another college.

But I also heard that there's a specific group of colleges that you can get 'pooled' to in this way - as in, if you applied to Wadham for example, you can only be transferred for another interview to certain colleges.

Does anyone know what colleges are in which groups?

Many thanks!

I think there are communication groups - ie some groups of colleges meet to discuss things rather than all of the colleges together at once. However, as far as i am aware you can be pooled to any other college.

Reply 2

sat41

5

lazzyfuzzylou

I've heard that if your first choice college can't find room for you after interview they can give you another interview at another college.

But I also heard that there's a specific group of colleges that you can get 'pooled' to in this way - as in, if you applied to Wadham for example, you can only be transferred for another interview to certain colleges.

Does anyone know what colleges are in which groups?

Many thanks!

I had interviews at 4 different Colleges. As far as I know, you can get pooled anywhere, or even get an open offer. I was pooled from the College I'd applied to...I'm not sure if it's changing now, though, because aren't they centralising admissions or something?

Reply 3

Hoofbeat

14

I think the "pooling units" are only important when Oxford allocate you your second and third colleges (which are actually completely irrelevant). I had a 2nd interview at my 3rd choice college, but other people had interviews at random colleges and I ended up receiving an open offer and some of them received offers from a different college to which they were interviewed at.

The "pooling units" are completely pointless and you needn't worry about them.

Reply 4

Cirsium

19

It will depend on subject. English, I think for instance, actually has specific published pools between which they transfer candidates. Biology, on the other hand, has centralised admissions so although you're interviewed at two colleges, when it comes down to who they decide to accept it's one big departmental meeting and you can get sent literally anywhere.

Reply 5

Aj_deity

4

The only subjects which had official publicised pooling "groups" last year were English and PPE, which put them in the back of the prospectus. There are quite possibly informal ones in other subjects, though, and I have no idea if it's staying the same for this year.

Reply 6

lazzyfuzzylou

OP

Yes I'd heard something about subject specific ones - Thank you very much for all your replies!

Reply 7

packupthemoon

9

Where could I find the pooling groups for English? I can't seem to find them on the uni/department websites, the main prospectus or just random googling.

Reply 8

Turdburger

16

The pooling groups are for PPE and English only and are as follows:

Group 1: Brasenose, Christ Church, Jesus, Lincoln, Magdalen, Mansfield, Merton, Oriel, St. Hilda's, Somerville

Group 2: Balliol, Exeter, Keble, Pembroke, St. Anne's, St Edmund's Hall, St Johns, St Peters, Wadam

Group 3: Corpus Christi, Hertford, Lady Margaret Hall, New, Queen's, St. Catherines, St Hughs, Trinity, University, Worcester, Harris Manchester.

Pooling units?

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