Oxford Chemistry Students and Applicants

Ok, thanks. I really want to apply to Oxford but I'm not sure I want to do a 4th year as I don't really have an interest in a career in Chemistry. I think I'll just apply and decide whether I want to go if I get an offer .

If you don't have any interest in a chemistry-related career, why would you want to study chemistry @ university?

It's something to do. If the careers you're interested in demand a degree, you've got to get it in something. At any rate, not really having an interest in something is perhaps not the same as not having any interest in it.

If you don't have any interest in a chemistry-related career, why would you want to study chemistry @ university?

Struggling to finalise my college choice here.

Narrowed it down to these colleges:

Brasenose
Christ Church
Corpus Christi
Exeter
Jesus
Lincoln
New College
Queen's
Trinity
University College
Worcester

I know it is a lot but its so hard to choose.

Can anyone give me some information on accommodation at these colleges (years living in college, room size, ensuite etc), distance and ease of getting to chemistry department (although also want to be fairly close to centre). Finally any info on what subjects these colleges like. I know a few colleges prefer their applicants to do Physics in addition to chem and maths. I do maths, chem and biology so are there any colleges that don't mind people having biology over physics. I also do FM AS if that helps.

I applied to Univ in 2010 and I'm about to start there in a couple of weeks

Univ is on the High Street so it is right next to all of the shops. It's about a 10-15 minute walk from the department, although it's obviously a lot quicker by bike.

I'm not going to lie, Univ does like applicants who have Physics A level. Having said that, I do know of at least two other freshers who didn't do Physics and I'm sure there were more.

Accommodation wise, at Univ you live in college for the first two years. First years don't have en-suite rooms. Everyone is entered into the room ballot for second year and I think that there are some en-suite rooms but there are more at other colleges. In third/fourth year, you can move out or live in college owned flats in north Oxford.

Try looking at the college pros and cons wiki to narrow it down a bit further?

I think it depends on how many applicants they get this year. If it is something similar to the last few years before 2010/2011, then it shouldn't be a problem. If it is like last year, you'll still stand a good chance but you could be rejected pre-interview. You might want to get some A* predictions though, as they will require one starting this year.

So I must have at least one A* predicted to be even accepted for interview?

Schools should be happy to predict A*s for competent students now, particularly in the sciences. If you're not predicted at least one A*, it's probably going to reduce your chance of being interviewed.

Thanks. I should be predicted an A* - whether the b*****d school will though is another matter. They said they had a "policy" of "not predicting A*s"........wtf!!!

Thanks. I should be predicted an A* - whether the b*****d school will though is another matter. They said they had a "policy" of "not predicting A*s"........wtf!!!

I applied the last year and had the same problem. Although the standard offer was only AAA, it was really annoying as I knew that most other applicants would have A* predictions. If you have high UMS marks, you could get your teacher to put them in your reference so that Oxford can see that you have the potential to get at least one A*. My college also said in my reference that they don't give A* predictions so maybe yours could do the same?

How well did you do?

I applied to Univ in 2010 and I'm about to start there in a couple of weeks

*waves* I'm a third year chemist at Univ! I'm loving it, be prepared for four years of awesomeness xx