Choosing between Oxford colleges
Hello.
I have a couple of questions:
Firstly my daughter is looking to apply for a choral award at Oxford. She is going to the open day. On the form we have to put down which college she would like to preform evensong at.
Does it make a difference at this stage if she hasn't decided which college she would like to apply to?
Secondly, we've looked at the website and there are links to each college. Some offer more info than others, but we are non the wiser after reading about each one. I'm assuming that all colleges are academically equal and choice comes down to college campus, accommodation and size of college.
Can anyone currently at Oxford tell me what were the most influential factors in deciding which college you applied to please.
Many thanks
I have a couple of questions:
Firstly my daughter is looking to apply for a choral award at Oxford. She is going to the open day. On the form we have to put down which college she would like to preform evensong at.
Does it make a difference at this stage if she hasn't decided which college she would like to apply to?
Secondly, we've looked at the website and there are links to each college. Some offer more info than others, but we are non the wiser after reading about each one. I'm assuming that all colleges are academically equal and choice comes down to college campus, accommodation and size of college.
Can anyone currently at Oxford tell me what were the most influential factors in deciding which college you applied to please.
Many thanks
Reply 1
Not a current student, but an Oxford music alumna (wasn't an organ or choral scholar, mind you!) here 
I don't imagine it would matter which college she sings evensong at for the open day
My advice for narrowing down colleges is to think of your college as the primary place you eat, sleep, and socialise. Your daughter should ask herself some of the following questions.
Does she want:
Once she has thought about these things, she can narrow down colleges naturally, or use the SU website's college suggester!
I don't imagine it would matter which college she sings evensong at for the open day
My advice for narrowing down colleges is to think of your college as the primary place you eat, sleep, and socialise. Your daughter should ask herself some of the following questions.Does she want:
•
an old, more 'traditional-looking' Oxford college, or a newer, less formal one
•
somewhere in the city centre, or somewhere a bit quieter/further out/less on the tourist trail?
•
kitchen/self-catering provisions from year 1 onwards, or is she fine to eat in hall for every meal?
•
en suite provisions? Sports facilities on site/nearby?
•
somewhere near to her subject's Faculty buildings/the libraries?
•
to be able to live in college-owned accomodation throughout her degree? (Bear in mind, some of the college-owned accommmodation is not always within or that near the main college grounds)
Once she has thought about these things, she can narrow down colleges naturally, or use the SU website's college suggester!
Reply 2
PS. Bear in mind that 20-25% of Oxford undergrads receive an offer from a college they didn't originally apply to. So best not to get too fixated on any one college! 
Another thing to consider is green lawns you're allowed to walk on. Would she like that, or not too fussed?
Another thing to consider is green lawns you're allowed to walk on. Would she like that, or not too fussed?
Reply 3
Original post by Bobskikkat
Hello.
I have a couple of questions:
Firstly my daughter is looking to apply for a choral award at Oxford. She is going to the open day. On the form we have to put down which college she would like to preform evensong at.
Does it make a difference at this stage if she hasn't decided which college she would like to apply to?
Secondly, we've looked at the website and there are links to each college. Some offer more info than others, but we are non the wiser after reading about each one. I'm assuming that all colleges are academically equal and choice comes down to college campus, accommodation and size of college.
Can anyone currently at Oxford tell me what were the most influential factors in deciding which college you applied to please.
Many thanks
I have a couple of questions:
Firstly my daughter is looking to apply for a choral award at Oxford. She is going to the open day. On the form we have to put down which college she would like to preform evensong at.
Does it make a difference at this stage if she hasn't decided which college she would like to apply to?
Secondly, we've looked at the website and there are links to each college. Some offer more info than others, but we are non the wiser after reading about each one. I'm assuming that all colleges are academically equal and choice comes down to college campus, accommodation and size of college.
Can anyone currently at Oxford tell me what were the most influential factors in deciding which college you applied to please.
Many thanks
College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus
Reply 4
I do agree that the descriptions on college websites are just empty statements in identical corporate prose devoid of all character. So patronising that my child felt really dispirited and put off nearly to the point of not applying. And the student-written alternative prospectuses are even worse, painting an identikit picture that could be student life in any university in any country, bars, clubbing and ‘unintimidating’ mundanity (my own child found that very intimidating !!).
In answer to your question, the choral scholar system is hard to navigate. The most competitive choirs are extremely high level, especially for girls. Queen’s and Merton spring to mind. You can get a choral scholarship but then later be turned down for an academic place, which I find brutal. There are also ´softer’ options that you can apply for once you have your university place secured. And there are auditioned scholar places with non-audition choirs, where you lead the voice part and get some solos (´consort’ places at Jesus, for example). And plenty of others in between (e.g. St Peter’s: lovely auditioned choir, some places given in advance and some on arrival). Once you are at Oxford there is potential for a fair amount of movement between choirs too, and so very many outstanding choral opportunities.
So do inform yourself thoroughly about the detail of the system before applying.
I’d also say accommodation options make a very significant difference. At Queen’s, for example, the second and third years get split between 3 sites and it really fractures the community. Jesus has 2nd year accommodation that is a long way out, and the temptation is rarely to darken the doors of the college. SPC has lots of on-site accommodation now for 1st and 3rd years and annexes are really close to college, which makes for a great college community, but half the 2nd years have to live out, which can be expensive and isolating (though some find fun).
Lots to think about!
In answer to your question, the choral scholar system is hard to navigate. The most competitive choirs are extremely high level, especially for girls. Queen’s and Merton spring to mind. You can get a choral scholarship but then later be turned down for an academic place, which I find brutal. There are also ´softer’ options that you can apply for once you have your university place secured. And there are auditioned scholar places with non-audition choirs, where you lead the voice part and get some solos (´consort’ places at Jesus, for example). And plenty of others in between (e.g. St Peter’s: lovely auditioned choir, some places given in advance and some on arrival). Once you are at Oxford there is potential for a fair amount of movement between choirs too, and so very many outstanding choral opportunities.
So do inform yourself thoroughly about the detail of the system before applying.
I’d also say accommodation options make a very significant difference. At Queen’s, for example, the second and third years get split between 3 sites and it really fractures the community. Jesus has 2nd year accommodation that is a long way out, and the temptation is rarely to darken the doors of the college. SPC has lots of on-site accommodation now for 1st and 3rd years and annexes are really close to college, which makes for a great college community, but half the 2nd years have to live out, which can be expensive and isolating (though some find fun).
Lots to think about!
Reply 5
Also, almost all college choirs post evensong on YouTube (since covid!), so you can compare the various styles and standards. Though recording quality varies. (Jesus choir uses an iPhone in the organ loft!!)
Reply 6
Although I notice that Lady Margaret Hall seems to be missing!
Reply 7
Original post by Anonymous
Although I notice that Lady Margaret Hall seems to be missing!
It is the Oxford Students Union who manages the website.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 8
I suggest that the only really good way to get a feel for a college is to visit it on an open day.
My daughter looked at Christchurch, Lincoln, and St Peter's. She chose St Peter's and St Peter's chose her.
I chose Wadham long ago after a chat in the sunlit garden with Mary Anne Sieghart, then a second year undergraduate.
I lived out for two years, which was fun.
My daughter looked at Christchurch, Lincoln, and St Peter's. She chose St Peter's and St Peter's chose her.
I chose Wadham long ago after a chat in the sunlit garden with Mary Anne Sieghart, then a second year undergraduate.
I lived out for two years, which was fun.
Reply 9
At the Maths open day, one of the speakers said that whichever college you ended up would be your favourite. If I could rewind and be 18 again, I'd be pretty ecstatic to get an offer from any of them!
Reply 10
For choral awards specifically, a big question is what level of commitment the choir involves and is this what you want. There is a huge difference between being a choral scholar at one of the choral
foundations, and at a college which rehearses a couple of times a week. The former is an incredible opportunity for musical training but also a huge level of commitment. So I would look into that before anything else.
foundations, and at a college which rehearses a couple of times a week. The former is an incredible opportunity for musical training but also a huge level of commitment. So I would look into that before anything else.
Reply 11
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Not a current student, but an Oxford music alumna (wasn't an organ or choral scholar, mind you!) here
I don't imagine it would matter which college she sings evensong at for the open day My advice for narrowing down colleges is to think of your college as the primary place you eat, sleep, and socialise. Your daughter should ask herself some of the following questions.
Does she want:
Once she has thought about these things, she can narrow down colleges naturally, or use the SU website's college suggester!
I don't imagine it would matter which college she sings evensong at for the open day
My advice for narrowing down colleges is to think of your college as the primary place you eat, sleep, and socialise. Your daughter should ask herself some of the following questions.Does she want:
•
an old, more 'traditional-looking' Oxford college, or a newer, less formal one
•
somewhere in the city centre, or somewhere a bit quieter/further out/less on the tourist trail?
•
kitchen/self-catering provisions from year 1 onwards, or is she fine to eat in hall for every meal?
•
en suite provisions? Sports facilities on site/nearby?
•
somewhere near to her subject's Faculty buildings/the libraries?
•
to be able to live in college-owned accomodation throughout her degree? (Bear in mind, some of the college-owned accommmodation is not always within or that near the main college grounds)
Once she has thought about these things, she can narrow down colleges naturally, or use the SU website's college suggester!
Thanks that's really useful. I think an en-suit room is more important to her than anything else! 😂
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