Oxford Demystified - Chapter 5 - If you get in

Oxford Mum

By A....- elder son of Oxford Mum

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 1

Oxford Mum

“Anything is possible”

Oxford University Prospectus

So you’ve finally received track update, offering you a place at Oxford.

All your dreams have now come true. You can scarcely believe your eyes. Oxford must have made a mistake. (This feeling will carry on well into the first term).

The very next thing you need to do is to knuckle down and get the grades specified by your college. Now you have struggled this far, make sure you do not fall at the final hurdle. You could have had the perfect interview, but if you don’t make the cut, you won’t get in no matter how hard you plead. You will be sent an automatic rejection letter on results day (this would have happened if you were at my college – Exeter).

This is not the case, though, with every college. It is always worth a phone call to check whether you are still going to Oxford.

Another thing worth doing is checking if you are eligible for a bursary. Oxford colleges have a history of wealthy alumni, wealth which often flows back to students in the form of bursaries or scholarships.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/fees-funding/ug-funding/oxford-support?wssl=1

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/oxford-support?wssl=1

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/student-life/help-with-the-cost/college-support

According to the University of Oxford Prospectus 2017, 1 in 4 UK students gets a bursary (myself included). Here are some comments from present Oxford students taken from the prospectus:

“I think the bursary has allowed me to enjoy myself more, as I am not constantly worrying about whether I have enough money to do something or not”
Seamus, 2nd year

“The bursary has offered me the financial security I’ve needed to be able to focus on the academic and social sides of my degree without fear of becoming overdrawn or needing to seek employment during term time”
Matthew, 2nd year

“Oxford has the most generous bursary package I’ve come across”
Elizabeth, 1st year

“My time at Oxford has been absolutely incredible so far, and that would not have been possible without the bursary support I have received. It has allowed me to purchase essential things such as textbooks and meet daily living costs, without having the constant worry of money hanging over my head. It has also allowed me to engage in social activities with my friends which I never thought I would be able to afford or consider. It really has been life changing”.
Amy, 2nd year

Some colleges will even give out free copies of set texts for you to borrow for the duration of your course (M…’s college and course are a case in point).

Listen to Chloe, a second year student:

“I think the big realisation for me was that you actually don’t need to buy that much. So much is provided for you: for example, as a History student, I’ve never ever had to buy a book or course materials. Everything I need is in a library, somewhere!”

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 2

Oxford Mum

What about the food in the wood panelled, stained glass windowed halls? Surely it must cost a fortune. It may surprise you to know that a lunch at my brother’s college costs £3.85, and a three course formal dinner only £5.70 (£15 per guest).

The accommodation is quite reasonably priced (depends on which room band you go for) and unlike private accommodation, you only pay fees for the college terms.

In Oxford, this can include beautiful historic rooms with original fireplaces, mullioned windows and ensuite facilities.

https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/life-oriel/living-oriel/accommodation

Oh, and your own cleaner, who is called a scout. Even my rooms - which were a bit more modern - were spacious and well equipped, coming in at about the same price. The cost of rent per college really does vary according to the college and their circumstances at the time you apply. It’s best to sniff around and find the college that is best for you before putting your name down, as some are cheaper than others.

Whatever happens, you will still need to fund your course. You’ll be given details for student finance fairly early on and it is recommended you get started as soon as you can log on and create an account.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login

You may need documents such as your parent’s decree absolute (if they are divorced), so make sure you leave enough time to get copies of important documents in good time.

Reply 3

Oxford Mum

So let’s assume you have the grades and the guaranteed place. You have the financing secured. You are now a member of one of the best universities in the entire world.

But what now? When you picture Oxford, you probably have a specific picture of what it looks like that you’ve built up after watching Lewis, Harry Potter or The Riot Club.

The truth is that there is no one singular Oxford experience. Certainly if you go looking for that “olde worlde” traditional feeling you will find it. Oxford is full of pubs, chapels, choirs and celebrates everything from Diwali to Burns Night with formal dinners. Look beyond that though and Oxford has a varied nightlife, great charities you can join and many societies for politics and activism. There’s a place for all faiths and none and hundreds of opportunities for trying something new - from wine tasting and opera to journalism and finance.

Here’s the latest Oxford prospectus, to give you an idea of what your experience may be like:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/UGP%202020%20what%20you%20make%20it%20%28hyperlinks%291.pdf

You might also be worried that you’ll only be studying with Lord Snooty and his cronies, but I’ve found that the people who get places at Oxford rarely tend to be arrogant or self-important lords. Oxford is as much of a home to activist movements run by young BAME people such as Rhodes must fall , Libdems and Labour supporters as it is to the Conservative association. What makes Oxford Oxford is this incredible diversity of thought.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 4

Oxford Mum

Preparing for Oxford begins long before the term starts in October. If you get in, you’ll almost certainly get a reading list within days which it is advisable to tackle. You will probably get a reading list for at least one term, but if it is for the entire year, I’d start by reading the books you’ll be studying first. You may also get a list with “primary” and “secondary” sources. The primary sources are the key texts you’ll be looking at, so I’d definitely start with them.
Then there’s what to take. You’ll need basics like clothes and toiletries, pots and pans, but also books. I’ve seen people take all kinds of things to Oxford- paintings, posters, glassware and bottles of wine, and if that’s what you want to want to bring, I won’t stop you. But remember that Oxford colleges are used as conference centres over the holidays, so you’ll probably need to bring all of it back home and then back again at the start of the next term!

When you first get to Oxford, it can all feel a little overwhelming. Fresher’s week is one endless loop of activity, starting almost as soon as you arrive. Student helpers organise social events like quiz nights and dinners to help you get to know people. In the day there
are talks on all the rules in College including consent workshops and fire safety demos - all important to watch and many of them mandatory. In the evenings, there’ll be more organised events. It can seem like a bit much, so it’s important to take the free time you have and rest. Not everything is compulsory, nobody expects you to go to everything and it is best to pace yourself and not try to do everything at once.

On the other hand, fresher’s week is an excellent opportunity to both make friends and start planning for the future. Being thrown together with a load of other students in the same boat means you’ll have plenty to talk about. The people you meet during this first week may be the people you share a house with in second year, they may even become your best friends for life - you never know…

https://cherwell.org/2017/09/19/how-to-survive-oxford-freshers-week/

https://thetab.com/uk/oxford/2013/10/07/freshers-guide-oxford-a-to-z-part-1-11145

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/firstweeks?wssl=1

During your first week, you’ll have a chance to look at the hundreds of clubs and societies Oxford has to offer. They literally offer everything from Tolkien societies to Gilbert and Sullivan, rifle shooting to water polo.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs?wssl=1

Don’t think you have to go to join everything at once - there’ll be plenty of time during your degree to try everything. You’ll probably end up joining several societies you won’t even go to, but so will everyone else. It’s good to go round their fairs just to see what’s on offer, or at least for the free pizza which you’ll feel you’ve earned once you’ve walked round a few times!

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/student-life/do-what-you-love/freshers-fair

It’s best to decide on joining certain societies early on, the clearest example being the Oxford Union. Membership of the Union can seem expensive, but apply early and you get a significant discount and can get financial aid. Whilst not for everyone, the Union’s line up of renowned or controversial speakers, their own library and cheap bar make it an attractive proposition. Membership is for life, which is worth bearing in mind.

https://www.oxford-union.org/

Fresher’s week can go by in a blur, but it’s important you pace yourself- you’ve still got several years left to try everything and doing it all at once will only hurt your wallet and liver. For some societies such as choirs, Fresher’s week may also be the week where they hold auditions - so maybe best not to overdo it the night before.

https://www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/about/chapel/

One defining bonding event is the “Fresher’s week bop,” a boozy fancy dress party on the last day of the week which signifies the end of Fresher’s week and marks the start of the more serious stuff.

Reply 5

Oxford Mum

Another thing worth mentioning that you might experience in those early days is “imposter syndrome,” where you feel inadequate, out of your depth and as if you didn’t even deserve your place at all. As crushing as it may be, remember that people you view as having “far greater minds” have probably felt the same. I’m sure even Stephen Hawking had moments of incredible self-doubt when he started as an undergrad. You’re new and with time you’ll realised you earned your place. Don’t panic, you’re almost certainly not alone.

https://cherwell.org/2018/02/20/lets-talk-about-imposter-syndrome/

Now that Fresher’s week is over, the real work begins. The Oxford workload is infamous for being relentless. There’s no point lying - you’ll do more work for an Oxford degree than a comparable degree at any other university in the country (barring Cambridge). It’s important to have coping strategies for this, whatever they may be. It’s best to plan ahead and set a clear routine to ensure you don’t fall behind, taking lectures and tutorials into account. It’s also a good idea to find your own rhythm.

Tutorials are usually scattered throughout the week. How they’ll unfold depends on subject. Invariably the main theme will be a discussion of your work - essays, translations, problem sheets or lab work. Like at your interview, you will be challenged on your theories and expected to back them up with evidence in your work. This goes for every subject across the board. If there’s anything you missed, your tutor will usually then fill in the gaps.
How much work you start off with depends on your tutors. Some like to “ease you in,” others not so much. In your first full week at Oxford, you’ll meet all your tutors for all the different papers you will be studying who will set out the standards and the schedule that you’ll need to adhere to. If there are any conflicts and clashes, make sure you report them immediately. Tutors are not always as inflexible as you imagine them to be. At first, it will certainly feel overwhelming; you’ve suddenly been set several essays, translations, problem sheets or assignments. If you start forward planning from day one, it’ll seem less stressful. After a while you’ll probably settle into the pattern of work and be able to get through comfortably, but the harsh reality of Oxford is that if you don’t want to work, you should apply elsewhere.

https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2014/12/24/the-art-of-blagging-your-way-through-a-tutorial/

Reply 6

Oxford Mum

A good way of coping with work is to find worthwhile distractions for your free time, which is where all those societies come in. It’s good to have something other than work to think about and good to have some reward at the end of a long day. Oxford feels almost built for socialising. There are around 89 pubs in the vicinity and all kinds of bars and clubs which offer a variety of diversions. If you join a society, you’ll no doubt be invited to all their social events, which is easily the best way to meet people from other colleges who you might form a bond with.

If you are at all sporty, Oxford offers almost every sport conceivable. Oxford was the home of Sir Roger Bannister, whose legacy continues in the form of a top-notch athletics centre. Each college has its own rowing teams and they compete against each other every term. Most colleges have their own gym or weights room, as well as their own football and rugby teams. Oxford even hosts niche sports such as Quidditch (believe it or not) which has a following amongst the University’s many Potter fans.

As you can see above, the college really is the heart of student life. Colleges have their own societies and charities, their own events and even their own committees.

Here are the societies for University College:

https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/live-at-univ/sport-and-societies/

These are run by students and called the JCR for undergraduates and the MCR for Postgraduates. There are several positions available which vary by college, but always include a president, treasurer, secretary and various “reps” who represent sports, run Fresher’s week and look after entertainment. In senior roles, you can be a real voice for students in your college.

Likewise, if you want to make a positive impact during your time at Oxford, there are also plenty of charitable causes you can sign up for. Your college may have its own charity which you can become an active part of, or you can speak to members of the Oxford SU (student union, not to be confused with the Oxford union) who run university-wide charities. Some colleges fund charity work overseas whilst some can give you backing for projects in the UK. There are always plenty of charity events on, from bake sales to charity balls, including the RAG (Raise And Give) ball.

https://fixr.co/organiser/766

If you think you are more suited to activism, Oxford is full of political societies and liberation groups. There are the traditional groups such as the Oxford University Conservative association, Libdems, Women’s Equality Party and Labour club, or there are groups such as the Oxford Women’s Network, Oxford Women speak out, Oxford SU CRAE (Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality) and Oxford Queer Studies Network. Oxford students also organise demonstrations about things you may feel passionate about.

From Archbishop Cranmer refusing to convert to Catholicism onwards, Oxford has always had a history of dissent and critical thinking.

As I briefly touched upon with the Queer Studies Network,

https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/queerstudies

Oxford does have an active LGBTQ+ Scene. Most Oxford students take a liberal stance, with some colleges reporting that up to 15% of their students identify as LGBTQ+. Sadly, nowhere in this world is 100% free of trans- or homophobia, but besides other liberal cities, Oxford is one of the most friendly places that I, as someone who is openly gay, have been. Oxford has its own societies and events where you can meet other LGBTQ+ students.

The LGBTQsoc is the largest and most well-known,

http://www.oulgbtq.org/

but colleges have their own smaller societies, their own LGBTQ reps and their own events. Wadham has Queer week, for example, a week long extravaganza of films, talks and workshops culminating in “Queerfest,” a night of music and celebration.

https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/2017/november/queerfest-2017

Sadly, Oxford only has the one gay club, which is predictably very busy,
https://thetab.com/uk/brookes/2015/05/06/plush-best-nightclub-oxford-6210

but there are plenty of friendly venues in the City.

Reply 7

Oxford Mum

On the flipside, Oxford’s more conservative societies have attracted controversies in recent years. A debate on abortion was shut down by students at Christchurch, Steve Bannon was invited to speak at the Union and drew large protests. Marine La Pen had to be whisked away by police protection units. Oxford can put forward some very challenging viewpoints, an idea that was commended by one of the leading figures in the University- the Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson.

Don’t let that worry you. Oxford is a place where all points of view are free to be discussed and a place large enough that you can find your space to discuss yours and where you can find refuge if you need it. In terms of social life, Oxford has something for everyone.

The one thing to remember is the golden rule: your academic works comes above everything else, and tutors take a very dim view of those who think otherwise. No doubt things will come up that are more important than your degree in the short term (job interviews, housing applications, etc). However it’s important to prioritise your studies whenever possible and realise that such issues must be exceptions, not weekly occurrences. Your role in Pirates of Penzance might seem vital, but remember that you’re at Oxford to study a degree, not to ace the part of the Major-General. If your work is becoming too slipshod, you may find yourself at least being offered counselling services, in some cases having your issues passed on further and seeing your position reviewed.

If things are starting to get a bit much, the worst thing you can do is keep it to yourself. Oxford recognises that mental health can be an issue when people are under pressure and organisations such as the Oxford SU have resources to help you if you are stressed. There are services out there for you such as Nightline,

https://oxfordnightline.org/

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare?wssl=1

and colleges have their own “peer supporters” who are trained to deal with people who are struggling. Most chaplains and junior deans are also there to provide welfare to students and to give you an opportunity to discuss any issues in confidence with them. There’s no shame in being open about any problems you are facing; far better to confront and discuss them than to bottle them up inside.

If you truly are worried, there is no shame in taking a year out (referred to as “rusticating”) of your own free will and using the time to clear some much needed headspace. You’re not a coward or inadequate for doing so and I have known many people leave for a year and come back refreshed. You’re not going to have marks deducted from you for taking some time out and your tutors won’t think any less of you.
https://cherwell.org/2018/06/02/lets-talk-about-rustication/

Once you find your groove and settle in, you can start thinking about the future. Some colleges don’t have accommodation for your full course,

http://apply.oxfordsu.org/colleges/compare/undergraduate-accommodation/

so you’ll likely be living in private accommodation during your second year or more. Surprisingly, you’ll need to start thinking about this within a few weeks of arriving in Oxford if this is the case. Just make sure you find people you get along with for your house, don’t date anyone else in your house and make sure you’ll cooperate with your future housemates. Some colleges have property for second-year students, which you go for by putting your name on a ballot, all of which will be explained within the first few weeks. In others, it’s entirely down to you to find your own accommodation, though College will provide you with a few resources to point you in the right direction. Oxford being a university city, there’s plenty of properties out there. Your college may give you a list of approved letting agents which it is wise to stick to, as there are unscrupulous landlords looking to cash in on the number of students.

If you aren’t keen on finding your own flat, it may be worth looking before you apply at what your College can provide and applying for Colleges that can house you for your entire degree such as Univ, LMH or Christchurch. In many colleges, you can live in during second or third year if you have good reason to do so, such as health issues that would otherwise prevent you from living out. One of the advantages of living out of College is that most leases cover the entire 12 month period, so you won’t have to keep going back and forth at the end of term to pick up your belongings or find storage for personal items. You’ll still be able to attend college events and access college buildings, but you’ll have the freedom of living in your own house with your own friends. If you live in College, you’ll have the comfort and the central location, but if you wish to stay to revise outside term, you’ll have to fill in residence forms and pay extra per night, so do bear this in mind if you are budgeting for the term.

Reply 8

Oxford Mum

Ultimately, your first year will seem to pass by in a blur and you’ll probably walk into your prelims (first year exams) wondering how it all happened. In the run up to prelims, you’ll be given time to revise and go back to your tutors with any questions or to get any advice. The set up for exams can feel very formal (with strict dress codes) but can quickly dissipate when you get stuck in to the matter at hand.

https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/four-weird-oxford-university-exam-traditions-you-wont-have-heard

Exams will likely follow the pattern of the work you have been doing for tutorials. If you’re doing German (for example), you’ll be writing essays on the papers you have studied that are not dissimilar to what you’ve already written through the year, you’ll be asked to translate some texts and analyse others. Your entire first year is building up to prelims, to give you the tools to answer the questions correctly.

https://jcr.lmh.ox.ac.uk/guide-to-prelims/

Once you finish prelims, you may get more choice in the papers you study, though I can only speak for languages. This can seem like a veritable buffet of choices, but I find it best to go for the ones you are either best at, or the ones you think you’ll enjoy the most. Don’t worry too much if you don’t do outstandingly well in your prelims. So long as you don’t fail, there’s nothing to fret about- just remember that if you get a low mark you will have to up your game for finals. Finals themselves are much like prelims, except you are expected to draw on a far wider range of knowledge after three or four years than you are after one. Compared to prelims, finals are far more significant. Some jobs or postgraduate courses you are offered may be conditional and rely on you getting at least a 2:1. By the time you sit down in your first finals exam, you should have the knowledge to achieve the mark you want. Some of your finals papers may even be coursework based, which of course gives you the chance to edit your work and go over errors you made.

My best advice for Oxford is to make sure that you incorporate plenty of socialising and quality time with friends into your degree, but not at the cost of a good mark. Oxford is as much about who you know and what fun you had as it is about what you know.

In the long term, Oxford can also be a great boost to your career. Oxford always looks good on a CV, but some companies take things further and host networking events. Societies such as the Oxford Law Society have direct connections with leading firms across the country and will invite you to more upscale networking events.

https://www.oxfordlawsoc.com/

Not only this, but Oxford hosts general careers events frequently and offers career guidance for students.

https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/

There are also plenty of opportunities to meet other alumni and network a little.

https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/alumni-events

Oxford colleges regularly invite ex-students back for events and want to keep in touch with you after you graduate, so there’ll be plenty of excuses to return!

Even if a great career doesn’t immediately materialise, you may notice ways in which Oxford helps you grow as a person.

Reply 9

RogerOxon

Original post by Oxford Mum

When you picture Oxford, you probably have a specific picture of what it looks like that you’ve built up after watching Lewis, Harry Potter or The Riot Club.

Original post by Oxford Mum

What makes Oxford Oxford is this incredible diversity of thought.

This is what I think many miss when they claim that the university that you go to doesn't matter [much]. The best really make you wrestle to develop first-principles understanding.

Reply 10

Oxford Mum

Original post by RogerOxon

I described it as like Venice, but without the water. That was before I'd been to Venice though, which is somewhat less well cared for.

What about Endeavour and Morse? Granted, the latter is rather old now, but still worth the poor video quality and annoying aspect ratio, IMO.

This is what I think many miss when they claim that the university that you go to doesn't matter [much]. The best really make you wrestle to develop first-principles understanding.

My son loves Lewis best, and Endeavour. Morse collapsed on the front quad of his college (Exeter) and it was shown at Exeter's 700th anniversary celebrations. Morse was a bit before his time (hashtagfeelingold)