Magdalen or ChCh?

I'm applying to Oxford to read law, and (though not my primary concern) I'm having some difficulty deciding which college to apply to. Both Magdalen and Christ Church appeal to me, but I'm not entirely sure which one to choose. Any Oxonians that could possibly help with this?

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

For some background, I’m looking for a college with an outstanding reputation in law, a strong alumni network, well-regarded societies, and really good tutors. I’m also a huge foodie so I’d greatly appreciate really good hall food. I don’t mind this too much, but I would also like spacious and modern accommodation, housing on college grounds for most of the course, and ensuite facilities.

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

If you wish for spacious and modern accommodation and ensuite facilities, bear in mind that these are not generally available at Oxford. Colleges tend to have a mixture of old and new accommodation, and only some of the rooms have en suite bathrooms. Some rooms are big, some are small.

Every college that offers law is good for law. Every college has a strong alumni network, societies (NB many societies are university-wide), and good tutors.

Magdalen is led by Dinah Rose KC, arguably the best barrister of her generation. She read Modern History at Magdalen before becoming a lawyer, and is about half way through her term as President of the college. Jonathan Sumption is a Fellow of Magdalen.

Christ Church is great, but can be inundated with Harry Potter tourists,who might sometimes get on your nerves.

If you go to Magdalen, you will spend the rest of your life telling people "It's Maudlin, not Mag-dah-len". If you go to Christ Church you will tell the rest of your life telling people "It's Christ Church, not Christ Church College", and explaining that a Student is a Fellow. Toss a coin.

(edited 4 weeks ago)

Reply 3

thegeek888

Original post by Anonymous

Look at: "The Oxford University Alternative Prospectus" 🙂

College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus (oxfordsu.org)

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by Stiffy Byng

If you wish for spacious and modern accommodation and ensuite facilities, bear in mind that these are not generally available at Oxford. Colleges tend to have a mixture of old and new accommodation, and only some of the rooms have en suite bathrooms. Some rooms are big, some are small.
Every college that offers law is good for law. Every college has a strong alumni network, societies (NB many societies are university-wide), and good tutors.
Magdalen is led by Dinah Rose KC, arguably the best barrister of her generation. She read Modern History at Magdalen before becoming a lawyer, and is about half way through her term as President of the college. Jonathan Sumption is a Fellow of Magdalen.
Christ Church is great, but can be inundated with Harry Potter tourists,who might sometimes get on your nerves.
If you go to Magdalen, you will spend the rest of your life telling people "It's Maudlin, not Mag-dah-len". If you go to Christ Church you will tell the rest of your life telling people "It's Christ Church, not Christ Church College", and explaining that a Student is a Fellow. Toss a coin.

Thank you so much, this is all really helpful! What could you say about the social/academic culture at either of these colleges?

Reply 5

Stiffy Byng

Original post by Anonymous

Thank you so much, this is all really helpful! What could you say about the social/academic culture at either of these colleges?

All of the colleges have social life. All of the colleges are academic. I am never quite sure that I agree with Tolstoy's observation in Anna Karenina that all happy families are happy in the same way, while each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, but colleges are in a broad sense comparable to families, and are therefore broadly the same whilst also being individual.

Bear in mind that, if you are offered a place at any college, there is a roughly one in four chance that the place will be at a college other than the one you applied to.

If I were applying to Oxford tomorrow and had to choose between Magdalen and Christ Church I would probably choose Magdalen, but for no especially compelling reasons. Ask me again the day after and I might choose Christ Church. I was at Wadham, by the way, but I am so old that I almost know Dorothy Wadham. I had some tutorials with a mad psephologist JRF at Magdalen who had the world's most untidy room. He was bonkers. I wonder what became of him.

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 6

thegeek888

Original post by Anonymous

Take a look at: "The Richest Colleges in Oxford University 2024 List" 🙂

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7522611

Magdalen is slightly ahead of Christ Church. 😉

Reply 7

Stiffy Byng

Original post by thegeek888

Take a look at: "The Richest Colleges in Oxford University 2024 List" 🙂
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7522611
Magdalen is slightly ahead of Christ Church. 😉

If I were old fashioned, I might say that your obsession with money is vulgar. There's more to life than cash. Anyway, neither Christ Church nor Magdalen is short of a few quid. Your post is not relevant to the OP's question.

Reply 8

thegeek888

Original post by Stiffy Byng

"Wealth and sons are the adornment of the present world; but the abiding things, the deeds of righteousness, are better with God in reward, and better in hope."

The Quranic Arabic Corpus - Translation

Reply 9

Stiffy Byng

Indeed, money is pretty meaningless, so long as a person has enough to meet their basic needs. The wealth of an organisation or a person is not an indication of moral virtue, or any other quality. Money is useful stuff, but it's just money.

A saying: if you wish to know what God thinks about money, look at the sort of people whom he gives it to. Elon Musk, anyone?