College Allocation

6

I was accepted to the MSc GHSE on 6th Feb, yet to hear about college allocation. I selected no preference and am slightly worried that, as a result, I might be more likely to end up in a college like Wolfson. Slightly regretting my selection of no preference but can't change it now. If anyone has any advice on how the process works or when I'm likely to hear back that would be great!

Reply 1

sunflowers!

17

Maybe you can email the person back and specify your preference? Good luck 🤞

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post

by kryaan28733

I was accepted to the MSc GHSE on 6th Feb, yet to hear about college allocation. I selected no preference and am slightly worried that, as a result, I might be more likely to end up in a college like Wolfson. Slightly regretting my selection of no preference but can't change it now. If anyone has any advice on how the process works or when I'm likely to hear back that would be great!

I'm more concerned about getting Wolfson than about not getting an offer of admission 😂

Reply 3

Mu-tron

12

Original post

by kryaan28733

I was accepted to the MSc GHSE on 6th Feb, yet to hear about college allocation. I selected no preference and am slightly worried that, as a result, I might be more likely to end up in a college like Wolfson. Slightly regretting my selection of no preference but can't change it now. If anyone has any advice on how the process works or when I'm likely to hear back that would be great!

Unfortunately after you've applied you can't change your college preference (or lack thereof).

If you do get Wolfson (and I wouldn't want to go there either, even though the food's meant to be good), you could always just try again next year. Nobody who matters will think less of you for withdrawing and trying again. And trust me, the year will fly by. In the long run, a year's wait is not a lot.

Whatever you do decide, take some time and think carefully before you act - and about how you'll feel about each of your potential decisions in the future.

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Mu-tron

Unfortunately after you've applied you can't change your college preference (or lack thereof).
If you do get Wolfson (and I wouldn't want to go there either, even though the food's meant to be good), you could always just try again next year. Nobody who matters will think less of you for withdrawing and trying again. And trust me, the year will fly by. In the long run, a year's wait is not a lot.
Whatever you do decide, take some time and think carefully before you act - and about how you'll feel about each of your potential decisions in the future.

I’m really curious, is college allocation really so important that one would consider declining the offer just to try again next year? From my understanding, colleges are far more important for undergrads than they are for grad students? I mean no offence, just genuinely curious.

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post

by Anonymous

I’m really curious, is college allocation really so important that one would consider declining the offer just to try again next year? From my understanding, colleges are far more important for undergrads than they are for grad students? I mean no offence, just genuinely curious.

I don’t think so. I was at St Antony’s and while I didn’t like my college too much, I wouldn’t leave my spot for the hope of a different college

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Also, with PG admissions there are so many other variables involved that there is no certainty of getting again. And even if you do, you might get the same college again 😂

Reply 7

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Anonymous

Also, with PG admissions there are so many other variables involved that there is no certainty of getting again. And even if you do, you might get the same college again 😂

Oh I completely agree. I definitely do not want to go through the admissions process and interviews again. Nightmarish.

Reply 8

Mu-tron

12

Original post

by Anonymous

I’m really curious, is college allocation really so important that one would consider declining the offer just to try again next year? From my understanding, colleges are far more important for undergrads than they are for grad students? I mean no offence, just genuinely curious.

That depends entirely on you and what you care about. Personally, it mattered to me. I would have rejected Wolfson. Fortunately I didn't get it lol.

Colleges are more important to undergrads because their tutorials are provided by the college, unlike postgrads. Also, undergrads live in college accommodation for at least their first year, and often longer. College accommodation for postgrads does exist but there is less of it.

Your choice of college dictates:-

•

the standard and cost of college accommodation (if you live in it - poorer colleges tend to charge more)

•

the quality of the food in the dining hall (varies widely)

•

how many sports teams there are (even if you don't do sports, you might be surprised to find yourself rowing for the college boat club)

•

the facilities available onsite and off (have you got free university gym access? Is there a college gym? How many function rooms are there?

•

the amount of funding available for student activities, such as travel grants

•

the size, character and liveliness of the middle common room (MCR; basically a mini students' union for the graduate students in the college)

•

whether you have a college with nice buildings

•

the people you meet in college - and how many of them there are. Some colleges have fewer than 100 graduate students; others have over 300. The more there are, the more likely you are to find like-minded people

•

how many student support staff there are (e.g. welfare officers, counsellors)

•

whether you have a college bar (most colleges do) and how nice it is

Reply 9

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Mu-tron

That depends entirely on you and what you care about. Personally, it mattered to me. I would have rejected Wolfson. Fortunately I didn't get it lol.
Colleges are more important to undergrads because their tutorials are provided by the college, unlike postgrads. Also, undergrads live in college accommodation for at least their first year, and often longer. College accommodation for postgrads does exist but there is less of it.
Your choice of college dictates:-

•

the standard and cost of college accommodation (if you live in it - poorer colleges tend to charge more)

•

the quality of the food in the dining hall (varies widely)

•

how many sports teams there are (even if you don't do sports, you might be surprised to find yourself rowing for the college boat club)

•

the facilities available onsite and off (have you got free university gym access? Is there a college gym? How many function rooms are there?

•

the amount of funding available for student activities, such as travel grants

•

the size, character and liveliness of the middle common room (MCR; basically a mini students' union for the graduate students in the college)

•

whether you have a college with nice buildings

•

the people you meet in college - and how many of them there are. Some colleges have fewer than 100 graduate students; others have over 300. The more there are, the more likely you are to find like-minded people

•

how many student support staff there are (e.g. welfare officers, counsellors)

•

whether you have a college bar (most colleges do) and how nice it is

I see, those are some great points, some of which I definitely didn't consider. Personally, the most important factor would probably be the cost, the rest wouldn't make a college a deal-breaker for me. I do see how they might be for other applicants though. Thanks for the reply!