Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

Looks like the ball is finally rolling a little faster! Anyone who applied to any of the MSt English strands heard anything yet?

Reply 1621

hobnob

14

Original post by Gridiron-Gangster

Gosh is it that competitive? I went with St John's in the end.

Well, it's just that a lot of people apply your kind of reasoning when choosing colleges, so yes, St John's is a very popular choice, and so are the others. Obviously that doesn't mean you can't still get in, but you'll need a bit of luck, because nearly half of all places are at the graduate-only colleges (which hardly anybody puts as their first choice), so it's quite common for graduate applicants to end up at colleges other than the ones they applied to.

Reply 1622

Gridiron-Gangster

5

Original post by hobnob

Well, it's just that a lot of people apply your kind of reasoning when choosing colleges, so yes, St John's is a very popular choice, and so are the others. Obviously that doesn't mean you can't still get in, but you'll need a bit of luck, because nearly half of all places are at the graduate-only colleges (which hardly anybody puts as their first choice), so it's quite common for graduate applicants to end up at colleges other than the ones they applied to.

Oh I gathered that much. But way I see it I'm happy just to get an offer as long as it's Oxford I don't mind too much about the college. Although we have more freedom of choice at postgrad level than undergrad (where college choice can affect your chances of admissions) whereas here we apply to the department and if they make an offer then it goes to your college choice.

Reply 1623

Crusty the Clown

Original post by hobnob

Well, it's just that a lot of people apply your kind of reasoning when choosing colleges, so yes, St John's is a very popular choice, and so are the others. Obviously that doesn't mean you can't still get in, but you'll need a bit of luck, because nearly half of all places are at the graduate-only colleges (which hardly anybody puts as their first choice), so it's quite common for graduate applicants to end up at colleges other than the ones they applied to.

Hi there, been browsing for a while so thought I pop my head above the parapet... interesting to see we're getting close to the end of the beginning now. Best of luck to everyone!

Was interested to see, in the above post, that you thought half of all grad places were at grad colleges. Suits me, as it happens. Also surprises me that more people don't apply to these for grad study. But then, I'm a mature student so my needs are different I guess. Also, I'd rather have the bliss of ignorance for another week if I'm going to get an 'unsuccessful'. So guess I'm a bit odd.

Hey ho.

Reply 1624

hobnob

14

Original post by Crusty the Clown

Was interested to see, in the above post, that you thought half of all grad places were at grad colleges.

Well, the graduate prospectus contains rough figures for the number of postgraduates colleges admit each year, and I added them up at some point: together, the graduate colleges have nearly as many places as all the others.

Suits me, as it happens. Also surprises me that more people don't apply to these for grad study. But then, I'm a mature student so my needs are different I guess. Also, I'd rather have the bliss of ignorance for another week if I'm going to get an 'unsuccessful'. So guess I'm a bit odd.

No, that's perfectly sensible. And actually when you're at a 'mixed' college, the emphasis put on undergraduates can occasionally grate a bit, because it's pretty clear that college life revolves around them - and the fact that most postgraduates live off-site and therefore only get to see those pretty old buildings when they use the library or have dinner in hall (which may not even be very practical) doesn't really help.
But I suppose a lot of people just dream of the 'Oxford experience', and for most that involves a nice old college with green quads, lots of famous alumni and an instantly recognisable name. An no-one can blame them for that, it's just that when you've been envisioning yourself swanning around Christ Church or Balliol and you then get pooled to Wolfson or St Cross, the contrast can be a bit stark. :dontknow:

Reply 1625

AmericanLit

Original post by fadingwinters

Looks like the ball is finally rolling a little faster! Anyone who applied to any of the MSt English strands heard anything yet?

Hello you! No we haven't heard and it's driving me mad! You could always ask for an early response (as apparently decisions are already made & offers are waiting to go out) but unless you need to know maybe it's unfair on the cohort who are all waiting. How did Cambridge go?

Reply 1626

lureynol

Original post by HLS

The decisions have all been taken but not communicated (yet). Some people have contacted the department requesting advanced notification because they have time-conditional offers from other Universities and need clarification early.

I think this explains the few early offers surfacing. Away from this forum I am in personal contact with a number of applicants none of whom have yet heard anything.

Do we know how the history department sends out news? When my application was held back they sent a physical letter, but on here, email seems to be the norm. I just want to know which mailbox to check.

Reply 1627

HLS

Original post by lureynol

Do we know how the history department sends out news? When my application was held back they sent a physical letter, but on here, email seems to be the norm. I just want to know which mailbox to check.

They ordinarily send out decisions by post I am told. I have requested to be notified in advance via email but I've no idea whether they'll comply with this request as the email I sent to them hasn't been acknowledged.

Reply 1628

WaSaDa

Original post by HLS

They ordinarily send out decisions by post I am told. I have requested to be notified in advance via email but I've no idea whether they'll comply with this request as the email I sent to them hasn't been acknowledged.

By post? Noooooo!! I thought it was e-mail! Apart from living in what seems to be the country with the snail-iest of postal systems in the world, my housemate is after heading off on holiday - with the only key for the postbox! Oh dear.

Reply 1629

sj27

14

Original post by lureynol

I just want to know which mailbox to check.

All of them. All the time. Compulsively.

Reply 1630

HLS

Original post by WaSaDa

By post? Noooooo!! I thought it was e-mail! Apart from living in what seems to be the country with the snail-iest of postal systems in the world, my housemate is after heading off on holiday - with the only key for the postbox! Oh dear.

My other half guards our post box key like a state secret, so I have to try and jam my hand through the letter guard and reach in to retrieve mail!

Reply 1631

WaSaDa

haha! I'm just imagining the havoc that compulsively jamming my hand into the postbox several times a day is going to have on my arms. And ours is the really high up one too!

This does cause some extra problems though (apart from the issue of an increased spending in germaline and bandages for my poor arms). I've got an offer from another university that said they wanted a response by next week. Half feel like calling if I haven't gotten a response by Monday but not sure I could survive being rejected by phone.

Reply 1632

HLS

Original post by WaSaDa

haha! I'm just imagining the havoc that compulsively jamming my hand into the postbox several times a day is going to have on my arms. And ours is the really high up one too!

This does cause some extra problems though (apart from the issue of an increased spending in germaline and bandages for my poor arms). I've got an offer from another university that said they wanted a response by next week. Half feel like calling if I haven't gotten a response by Monday but not sure I could survive being rejected by phone.

Heh, yes I have almost exactly the same dilemma. I did telephone and ask, and the decisions had all been made, but they said they only had access to results for people who's surnames begin with A and B! This was on Monday, mind.

I'm going to tough it out until next week. If I've still not heard anything I'll have to phone and risk blubbering like a child down the phone to some unsuspecting admissions officer.

And yes, the post box does give my arm pretty rough grazes when I jam my hand in!

Reply 1633

2natural

Hey guys,

I am in my gap year, and I heard that there was a London based mathematics competition/awards going on I think annually is this true? If not, is there a mathematics competition for all age in the UK?

Reply 1634

Gridiron-Gangster

5

Christ Church is my dream college I have to be honest. But I guess for a lot of people applying it's their dream college too.....doh!

Reply 1635

cyberpoet

Original post by americanshx

I just called the English department and they said that decisions haven't been made...? Also, apparently decisions are being mailed instead of emailed...?!?!?!

Snail mail?...yikes! Thanks for letting us know though.

Reply 1636

AmericanLit

Original post by americanshx

I just called the English department and they said that decisions haven't been made...? Also, apparently decisions are being mailed instead of emailed...?!?!?!

Wow good to know...I read earlier in this thread they had been (or was that MSt courses generally?) did the person give you a mailing date?

Reply 1637

AOOG

Hello everyone! I apologize if this question has already been brought up and answered. I am a bit confused about the timing of funding decisions at Oxford. I got an offer yesterday from the School of Geography and the Environment (DPhil) that expires on March 30. I also have an offer from Cambridge. The Ox offer contains no information about funding, which is pretty typical, I assume. I applied for a handful of scholarships and I am wondering when those decisions are usually made and communicated to prospective students.

Thank you very much for your help.

Reply 1638

QHF

11

Original post by americanshx

But according to gradcafe, past applicants have, in fact, received their application outcomes via email.

Last year they definitely posted their MSt offers to applicants in physical letters, at least applicants within the UK.

Reply 1639

HLS

Original post by americanshx

I just called the English department and they said that decisions haven't been made...? Also, apparently decisions are being mailed instead of emailed...?!?!?!

Yep, History results being mailed too apparently. Given the rate at which Royal Snail work, I won't hold my breath.

Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

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