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Oxford graduate applicants 2009/2010

threedaystar

Jesus and Merton = both full according to the Politics graduate secretary.

I'm under consideration by St. Cross. Not overly thrilled, but it's better than nothing.

Who wants to help an American who knows next to nothing about the layout of Oxford with where ST. Cross is and what type of place it would be like?

I looked a lot into St Cross in the last couple of days so can tell you a little bit about it. It might also be helpful to read a current Ox student's response in another thread I had started two days ago: Oxford University: Wolfson v. St Cross.

In any case, St Cross was founded in 1965 and has a very central location, meaning you are never very far from anywhere. From the looks of it, the college architecture is also "Oxfordish": old and picturesque. There are only about 350 or so all-graduate residents total in the college and apparently the students and fellows share a very informal, cordial relationship. They don't have a high table either.

On the downside, it seemed like the college might in fact be too small. They do not assure housing for first year students; their housing availability is far less than the total demand. While lunch is served five times a week, dinner is only available on Thursdays (or sometimes Tuesdays) as Formal Hall. For other dinners during the rest of the week, St Cross has a deal with Balliol where you can eat there for cash. St Cross hardly has any recreational or extra curricular facility but has deals with other colleges (sports teams mostly with Wolfson, squash court with St Johns, etc.)

I hope this information is helpful, and good luck with your college application!

Reply 1641

purple_kitten

To be honest, and from my perspective having been at a Cambridge college as an undergrad for 3 years, the dinner issue isn't that much of a problem. Although my college did provide both lunch and dinner for most nights of the week, after about the first few weeks, people generally seemed to prefer to cook for themselves in the evening. For me at least, it's so much more convenient not to have regimented mealtimes, it's often far cheaper to cook for yourself than to eat in hall (whatever's said about 'subsidised' meals!), you can eat what you like (i'm veggie with a courgette allergy, so that limited my choice in college meals, which were often just pasta pasta pasta every night!), and given that we'll mostly all be living out anyway, the cooking facilities probably won't be that bad where we live.

Also, re: recreational or extra curricular, my college was a small one, we often shared sports teams for things like women's rugby. That wasn't a problem as you'd get to know people from other colleges, and also, pretty much anything you'd want to get involved with would be available on a uni level anyway.

Just my two cents :smile:

Reply 1642

LodovicoSettembrini

Hey guys! I got accepted to the MPhil Economics programme and have confirmed that I'll take up my place with both my college and the department (where the deadline is early July). Do you guys have any idea approximately when I'll get the official contract? I just don't want to be away on holiday somewhere and miss the deadline for sending it back. :smile:

Reply 1643

ZarNikolaus

After having sent the college all the financial information they wanted to have from me (like bank statement and stuff) it took about 6 weeks untill I received the contract from the department.

Reply 1644

chochu444

purple_kitten

To be honest, and from my perspective having been at a Cambridge college as an undergrad for 3 years, the dinner issue isn't that much of a problem. Although my college did provide both lunch and dinner for most nights of the week, after about the first few weeks, people generally seemed to prefer to cook for themselves in the evening. For me at least, it's so much more convenient not to have regimented mealtimes, it's often far cheaper to cook for yourself than to eat in hall (whatever's said about 'subsidised' meals!), you can eat what you like (i'm veggie with a courgette allergy, so that limited my choice in college meals, which were often just pasta pasta pasta every night!), and given that we'll mostly all be living out anyway, the cooking facilities probably won't be that bad where we live.

Also, re: recreational or extra curricular, my college was a small one, we often shared sports teams for things like women's rugby. That wasn't a problem as you'd get to know people from other colleges, and also, pretty much anything you'd want to get involved with would be available on a uni level anyway.

Just my two cents :smile:

I agree with you on most things; but I still chose to go the other way. I actually cooked almost every day when I was at Oxford but I still like the option of dining on campus when I feel like it. Further, and perhaps more importantly, I really did not want to have to look for housing on my own and St Cross weren't able to assure me that they will have accommodation for me whereas Wolfson has already guaranteed me that. While I actually think sharing sports teams is good (Wolfson and St Cross, coincidentally, do that), I liked Wolfson because of its facilities as I won't have to go around to other colleges looking for places to play.

That said, it really was a picky personal choice for me; I think St Cross will be an amazing experience as well and if somehow I were to end up there and not Wolfson I would not have any qualms. They just offer very different things, in my mind, but both are really good options. No offense to anyone from St. Catz but I really didn't want to go there; anywhere else is fine by me.

Reply 1645

Alice249

I'm currently taking a joint honours degree in Physics and Philosophy and I'm considering applying for Oxford's Mst in the Philosophy of Physics.

I gather this course only started last year. I have several questions I hope some people currently on the course could help me with.

-The two essays you submitted iwth the application, were they both physics or philosophy, or a combination? if it was physics - what general area was it about?

-Do you have to learn further physics - say learning relativity in more depth - in order to do the philosophy

-How helpful are your tutors etc. in discussing both philosophy and physics

and most importantly - are you enjoying the course?

Reply 1646

Altea

Is it unheard of to request another college after you've received a college offer? And, if not, would you contact BoGS or department to ask to be considered somewhere else? Thanks

Reply 1647

Athena

6

You'd have to have a really good reason for wanting to be somewhere else, rather than just not liking the college you've been given, eg. you wanted a female-only college, you wanted a college with couples/family accomm., you wanted to be considered for a particular college scholarship, you are disabled/have mobility problems so need to be close to the centre/department.

Reply 1648

hobnob

14

Athena

You'd have to have a really good reason for wanting to be somewhere else, rather than just not liking the college you've been given, eg. you wanted a female-only college, you wanted a college with couples/family accomm., you wanted to be considered for a particular college scholarship, you are disabled/have mobility problems so need to be close to the centre/department.

Well, in that case you'd be out of luck. :p:

Reply 1649

Athena

6

hobnob

Well, in that case you'd be out of luck. :p:

Serves me right for having the Oxford and Cambridge graduate app. threads open at once :p:

Reply 1650

swiftuk

Athena

you are disabled/have mobility problems so need to be close to the centre/department.

At this time of year, that one seems questionable if you have significant mobility issues. True if you get in early enough though! (even looking in March/April, a lot of the colleges I contacted could only do 2010 onwards).

Reply 1651

Altea

Thanks for your thoughts, I'll give it a try. Swiftuk: I'm surprised colleges you contacted gave you such direct answers. I've encountered a very 'don't ask, don't tell' attitude from colleges throughout.

Reply 1652

hobnob

14

Altea

Thanks for your thoughts, I'll give it a try. Swiftuk: I'm surprised colleges you contacted gave you such direct answers. I've encountered a very 'don't ask, don't tell' attitude from colleges throughout.

Why wouldn't they give direct answers? :confused:

Usually colleges only have one or two disabled rooms, after all. If they already know that there'll be second- or third-years in residence next year who will need those rooms, surely it's easiest for everybody involved if they just say so?

Reply 1653

TheConfuddledOne

10

I am really annoyed with Oxford now. I still have not got a college offer. I emailed them about this and both my first and second choice colleges were unable to place me. It seems like I will have to sort out my own private accommodation as the waiting list for single people on accommodation houses run by Oxford is a year ... and my course will have finished by then.

Is there any chance at all do you guys think that I will end up with a college place or not?

Reply 1654

TheConfuddledOne

10

Why is it that so many of us seem to be having no luck with colleges? At Cambridge I got my offer for Christs College really quickly and should *fingers crossed* be getting funding should I choose to go there. I really wish Oxford would sort this college stuff out as the course is meant to be better at Oxford and I preferred Oxford's library.

Reply 1655

Athena

6

You will get a place at a college somewhere, if might take until August though.

Reply 1656

threedaystar

Athena

You will get a place at a college somewhere, if might take until August though.

While I too am awaiting college placement, I can't help but wonder what happens if it does take until August and then I cannot get a visa and loan in time. Has this ever happened? The thing is - for US students, we have to have a college placement before we can apply for a loan, and have to have a loan to get a visa. It takes a month for a visa and you need the loan money for 28 days prior to your visa application.

So unless my college placement comes soon... I am scared that come October I will have no loan or no visa. *sigh*

Reply 1657

chochu444

threedaystar

While I too am awaiting college placement, I can't help but wonder what happens if it does take until August and then I cannot get a visa and loan in time. Has this ever happened? The thing is - for US students, we have to have a college placement before we can apply for a loan, and have to have a loan to get a visa. It takes a month for a visa and you need the loan money for 28 days prior to your visa application.

So unless my college placement comes soon... I am scared that come October I will have no loan or no visa. *sigh*

Two things:

1. The 28 day rule thing only starts in October 2009; for now you only need to have the required money in the bank on the day of your application.

2. I am pretty sure that this 28 day rule, even after October, is for self finance. As long as you have a letter from an appropriate Bank confirming your loan for the next year, I am pretty sure the Embassy will be fine with it. Besides, depending on the loan, some banks might not even directly release the funds to your account but have some direct deal with the institutions concerned.

Good luck!

Reply 1658

Athena

6

I suppose in that situation you could phone up and say "look, I really do need to hear from at least ONE college soon", and hopefully they can update you on how things are progressing.

Reply 1659

purple_kitten

TheConfuddledOne

I am really annoyed with Oxford now. I still have not got a college offer. I emailed them about this and both my first and second choice colleges were unable to place me. It seems like I will have to sort out my own private accommodation as the waiting list for single people on accommodation houses run by Oxford is a year ... and my course will have finished by then.

Is there any chance at all do you guys think that I will end up with a college place or not?

You will get a college offer, but it might be a bit later.

To be honest, I'd put your name down for the private accomm even though the list is 'a year' - my partner and I have been on the couple's list since April and we've already been offered something (albeit too small!)

Oxford graduate applicants 2009/2010

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