College Ideas?

nice_guy_eddie

Thanks all.
Is the location of St Hugh's a real problem? (it appears to be some way from the centre)

It's a long way out, how big a problem that is depends on the individual. Put it this way, most students at any normal university would kill to be within a 20 minues walk of the main teaching facilities.

Reply 7

Brown Patrick Bateman

10

tomcoolinguk

apparently further maths really helps, but I know someone who has just graduated with a 1st who didn't have fm

That's the exception rather than the norm. Doing Physics without A-Level Further Maths is pretty tough, and you'd need to do a lot of catch-up work independently.

tomcoolinguk

2. Magdalen is quite a distance from the centre of Oxford (in Oxford terms) and from the faculty.

Not that bad really, especially when he's considering St Hughs. Magdalen's at the end of the High Street so a 5 minute walk gets you into the centre. And if you cut through the RadCam / Hertford area it's not too far from the faculty either.

Reply 8

CHilL

Vasconcellos Scholarship
Every year an award can be made to a student (not necessarily a music student) who wishes to have private lessons in singing or instrumental performance. This scholarship yields nearly £500 and has been endowed in memory of Domingos Vasconcellos, a former Magdalen student who perished in the Marchioness disaster in the Thames.

http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/college_life/awards.shtml

The musical and theatrical lives of the college are particularly strong and there is a new state-of-the-art auditorium with full-scale film projection facilities. We possess our own dark room, two music practice rooms, and a new modern languages room. Musical opportunities abound - as well as the famous Magdalen Choir, the Magdalen Singers, the Magdalen Orchestra, student bands and jazz groups are active.

http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges/magd.shtml

Reply 9

Hoofbeat

tomcoolinguk

For a subject like physics, you have to appreciate how relatively unimportant the interview is probably going to be.

I applied for Physics last October to New College (v.gd college can definitely recommend it!) and feel that the interviews were actually quite important. We had 2 spread over 2days (Sun & Mon) with a total of 3different tutors in all and they didnt ask anything about "why oxford/college/physics?" we just got strate into the maths and physics questions and for a good 30-40mins that was all we were grilled on. The maths test we had was very important I feel but it was do-able! I don't know much about the other colleges but New is within easy walking distance of everything and is quite well known for their music - they have lovely cloisters were they hold xmas concerts where evryone drinks egg nog and listens to carols!

If you need any more advice, contact me as I received an Open Offer for MPhys this year (New college had no room, so sent me to St Hilda's for 2 more interviews, who couldn't take me so I got an Open Offer!) WITHOUT Further Maths as well!

Reply 10

tomcoolinguk

13

Hoofbeat

I applied for Physics last October to New College (v.gd college can definitely recommend it!) and feel that the interviews were actually quite important. We had 2 spread over 2days (Sun & Mon) with a total of 3different tutors in all and they didnt ask anything about "why oxford/college/physics?" we just got strate into the maths and physics questions and for a good 30-40mins that was all we were grilled on. The maths test we had was very important I feel but it was do-able! I don't know much about the other colleges but New is within easy walking distance of everything and is quite well known for their music - they have lovely cloisters were they hold xmas concerts where evryone drinks egg nog and listens to carols!

If you need any more advice, contact me as I received an Open Offer for MPhys this year (New college had no room, so sent me to St Hilda's for 2 more interviews, who couldn't take me so I got an Open Offer!) WITHOUT Further Maths as well!

Yeah I apologise for generalising about the interview stuff, having just flicked through the prospectus I see the success rate has plummetted in the past few years- when Chris (he is 6 years older than me) went it was 1 in 2! So are you glad you missed out on Hilda's??

It's funny- although I'm leaning more towards Cam at the moment, New is also a college (a long with merton) i'm considering at Oxford. I love it so much!

To Jools- the forum is meant to be encouraging and positive! People can do Physics at Oxford without Further Mathematics, and many people distinguish themselves in doing so.

Reply 11

tomcoolinguk

To Jools- the forum is meant to be encouraging and positive! People can do Physics at Oxford without Further Mathematics, and many people distinguish themselves in doing so.

I prefer realistic. If you want "positive and encouraging" read the prospectus or any other form of propaganda the university chose to release; whereas here, and it's very much a good thing, prospective students have the chance to ask current or past Oxonians question and get the HONEST answer. The Further Maths and Physics scenario is like the Economics and Maths one: of course some people get invited to read Physics without Further Maths, and some of those individuals do really well; but it still stands that a healthy proportion of student have Further Maths, and a noticeable majority of those students who go on to get Firsts have studied Further Maths.

Reply 12

BazTheMoney

I prefer realistic. If you want "positive and encouraging" read the prospectus or any other form of propaganda the university chose to release; whereas here, and it's very much a good thing, prospective students have the chance to ask current or past Oxonians question and get the HONEST answer. The Further Maths and Physics scenario is like the Economics and Maths one: of course some people get invited to read Physics without Further Maths, and some of those individuals do really well; but it still stands that a healthy proportion of student have Further Maths, and a noticeable majority of those students who go on to get Firsts have studied Further Maths.

Points I'd like to make:

1.) I feel that doing 6 pure modules before you start university Physics is really helpful, and obviously important - I reckon if you do the right modules, AS Further Maths is adequate.

2.) I agree with Baz, that saying not doing more Maths than the standard A-Level is "fine" for Ox Physics, is being naive. However, I wouldn't say it's that big a dilemma.

3.) "The Further Maths and Physics scenario is like the Economics and Maths one:" - Incorrect.

Oxford website: For Physics - "An AS Level in Further Mathematics or more, is considered helpful for some parts of the course."

For Economics - "A Full A-Level is Mathematics is highly recommended; ask the college you apply to regarding this issue if you son't have it."

In no way is that a balanced analogy...

Reply 13

Invisible

3.) "The Further Maths and Physics scenario is like the Economics and Maths one:" - Incorrect.

Oxford website: For Physics - "An AS Level in Further Mathematics or more, is considered helpful for some parts of the course."

For Economics - "A Full A-Level is Mathematics is highly recommended; ask the college you apply to regarding this issue if you son't have it."

In no way is that a balanced analogy...

It wasn't an analogy, I was just saying that statically the amount of non F. Maths Physists who gets firsts is similar to the amout of non-maths Economists that obtain Firsts; basically not very many. As for Economics the website is useless, unlike Physics there is no (at best limited) departmental cooperation, some college very keen on Maths, others are don't considet it as important; the departemnt don't really have a stance on the issue

Reply 14

BazTheMoney

It wasn't an analogy, I was just saying that statically the amount of non F. Maths Physists who gets firsts is similar to the amout of non-maths Economists that obtain Firsts; basically not very many. As for Economics the website is useless, unlike Physics there is no (at best limited) departmental cooperation, some college very keen on Maths, others are don't considet it as important; the departemnt don't really have a stance on the issue

The website says that Further Maths isn't too important for Ox Physics, whereas it says that A-Level Maths is pretty much a necessity for Economics, else ask the college.

That's all I was referring to. You made the analogy between the two situations, but they weren't too similar; the analogy wasn't just regarding the % of firsts obtained, read back. Maths is definitely more important for Econ than F. Maths is for Physics, that's all I was saying.

Reply 15

Invisible

The website says that Further Maths isn't too important for Ox Physics, whereas it says that A-Level Maths is pretty much a necessity for Economics, else ask the college.

That's all I was referring to. You made the analogy between the two situations, but they weren't too similar; the analogy wasn't just regarding the % of firsts obtained, read back. Maths is definitely more important for Econ than F. Maths is for Physics, that's all I was saying.

Hang on a minute, you've never studied Physics at Oxford, how do you know. You're going on what is said on a website; and Oxford try to play down everything so no one is put off applying; whereas I'm coming from 3 years experience! About 90% of all Physics Students I have spoken too, or heard speak about the matter have said Further is a big help, they may all be talking out their arse, who knows; but I'd rather trust a Finalist, than a bias website put together to attract applicants.

Reply 16

BazTheMoney

Hang on a minute, you've never studied Physics at Oxford, how do you know. You're going on what is said on a website; and Oxford try to play down everything so no one is put off applying; whereas I'm coming from 3 years experience! About 90% of all Physics Students I have spoken too, or heard speak about the matter have said Further is a big help, they may all be talking out their arse, who knows; but I'd rather trust a Finalist, than a bias website put together to attract applicants.

"Hang on a minute, you've never studied Physics at Oxford, how do you know." - Ahh, but you know everything, that's how it works. Have you studied it Baz? Well? Ahh, you haven't. OK. :rolleyes:

"You're going on what is said on a website" - And what other physics students have said, what Oxford Physics proffesors have said, the Oxford Phys department and what UKL members such as elpaw and Hoofbeat have said.

And anyway; if the website is slightly biased, why would the amount of bias be more for Physics than Economics? It would still be biased on both accounts, but with Further Maths being less important for Phys than Econ is for Maths, whatever the extent.

Reply 17

Invisible

"Hang on a minute, you've never studied Physics at Oxford, how do you know." - Ahh, but you know everything, that's how it works. Have you studied it Baz? Well? Ahh, you haven't. OK. :rolleyes:

No, but I was there for 3 years, and considering my 2 best friends happened to have studied the subject, and I know a hell of a lot of them, I hope I can speak with some credibility. These aren't my opinions, I couldn't care less, I'm just being a parrot and saying exactly what I have been told.

"You're going on what is said on a website" - And what other physics students have said, what Oxford Physics professors have said, the Oxford Phys department and what UKL members such as elpaw and Hoofbeat have said.

I've worked on Open days, and what everyone from my college was told to do was go with the department or college stance on the matter; which often isn't completely true. Remember people are paid to do they things, most students are willing to pull the party line when such incentives are offered. AS for the Department and Professors, naturally they are going to say exactly the same they do on their website, you've got too, credibility counts. As for elpaw, that's only one student (albeit a very good one) out of 800, I could find you an equally good students (eg, got a First) who is adamant that Further Maths should be moved up from "Helpful" to "Recommended".

And anyway; if the website is slightly biased, why would the amount of bias be more for Physics than Economics? It would still be biased on both accounts, but with Further Maths being less important for Phys than Econ is for Maths, whatever the extent.

When have a ever quoted a website? For Economics I going on my experience and for Physics I going on what I've been told; all the websites are promotional, thus they all down play things that may but off candidates.

Reply 18

BazTheMoney

No, but I was there for 3 years, and considering my 2 best friends happened to have studied the subject, and I know a hell of a lot of them, I hope I can speak with some credibility. These aren't my opinions, I couldn't care less, I'm just being a parrot and saying exactly what I have been told.

I've worked on Open days, and what everyone from my college was told to do was go with the department or college stance on the matter; which often isn't completely true. Remember people are paid to do they things, most students are willing to pull the party line when such incentives are offered. AS for the Department and Professors, naturally they are going to say exactly the same they do on their website, you've got too, credibility counts. As for elpaw, that's only one student (albeit a very good one) out of 800, I could find you an equally good students (eg, got a First) who is adamant that Further Maths should be moved up from "Helpful" to "Recommended".

When have a ever quoted a website? For Economics I going on my experience and for Physics I going on what I've been told; all the websites are promotional, thus they all down play things that may but off candidates.

"No, but I was there for 3 years" - You attempted to dismiss my views as I hadn't studied Physics there, yet you hadn't either. Interesting. I've also talked to Physics students as well, so no/little difference there then.

"When have a ever quoted a website? For Economics I going on my experience and for Physics I going on what I've been told; all the websites are promotional, thus they all down play things that may but off candidates." - You used the website bias argument to dismiss my claim that your analogy was unbalanced between FM and Phys, and Econ and Maths. I don't see how it does, the amount of bias would be the same for each, hence despitte the bias from the Ox website, the differences would remain nevertheless...

"As for elpaw, that's only one student (albeit a very good one) out of 800, I could find you an equally good students (eg, got a First) who is adamant that Further Maths should be moved up from "Helpful" to "Recommended"." - elpaw says that if your normal maths is strong enough, Further Maths isn't required; and he studies there. Hoofbeat got a Physics offer, she does single Maths.

"adamant that Further Maths should be moved up from "Helpful" to "Recommended"." - In terms of admissions criteria, that wouldn't be true though.

Anyway, I'm off to bed now. Night night. :smile:

Reply 19