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Choosing an Oxford College

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Original post by laura_bird88
Thus, both the sports reputation and academic reputation worry me slightly... Am I being completely ridiculous? :tongue:


Never heard of either of those :dontknow: It really won't matter, honestly.
Reply 2021
Avatar for zuzanna
zuzanna
Which is the best college at oxford? why? Thankful for an answer ;D
best adj 1 most excellent, suitable or desirable

Best for what? For who? How are we measuring this?

There is no 'best' college.

Too many parameters, we all look for something different in our college.
St John's.
oxford brookes - lol sorry couldnt help it
Reply 2025
Avatar for Mellete
Mellete
7
Original post by misterb123
oxford brookes - lol sorry couldnt help it


Oxford Brookes is lovely. It's the people who go to Brookes College, Oxford which I can't stand :hmmm:
(edited 12 years ago)
Magdalen. Because.
Woosta. Coz I went there. And there's a lake with ducks and great food :yeah:
Original post by tuesday91
I don't know tons about Oriel, but I had some tutes there this year and know some people there and it seems pretty much like everywhere in that there are all sorts. The reputations really don't mean very much, as every college will have some sporty people, some people who study really hard, some who party every night, etc. etc. My college has a reputation of being really posh, and whilst there are posh people, there are also tons who aren't. It depends so much on the people who get in that year. More important are the facilities and things like that, and they seem fine at Oriel to me. All the people I've met for there are lovely, as is the person I know starting next year!



Original post by nexttime
Never heard of either of those :dontknow: It really won't matter, honestly.


Thanks to both of you. I guess the reputations are exaggerated in various places. I also know myself, and now results are over I've just invented something else to worry about :s-smilie:
Just a quick question for oxford chemists. I cant decide between applying to Merton or Balliol for chemistry. Currently im mostly wondering about whether the fact that Balliol accepts 8 chemists (as opposed to 6 by Merton) would affect my chances of an offer. does anyone know the amount of applicants in recent years to either of the colleges. I heard that it was 18 for merton (though most had 2 interviews), which makes it quite competitive i suppose. thanks!
Reply 2030
Avatar for henryt
henryt
17
It's unlikely it will make a difference to your application. If you're good enough, but there's not room at your chosen college, room will be found elsewhere. Choose the college you prefer.
Reply 2031
Avatar for BJack
BJack
19
18 applicants for 6 places would be fairly typical for chemistry. Do as henryt suggests and apply to your preferred college. If you really can't choose between the two, pick Merton.
Original post by overninethousand
Just a quick question for oxford chemists. I cant decide between applying to Merton or Balliol for chemistry. Currently im mostly wondering about whether the fact that Balliol accepts 8 chemists (as opposed to 6 by Merton) would affect my chances of an offer. does anyone know the amount of applicants in recent years to either of the colleges. I heard that it was 18 for merton (though most had 2 interviews), which makes it quite competitive i suppose. thanks!


One of the Chemistry tutors at Merton once flew from Singapore to Merton, gave her tutorial, then flew back an hour later. Dedication :wink: (yes she is known for her eccentricity).

Balliol is a really nice college, and among my favourite non-Merton colleges, and i think has some very reasonable room rates etc. However, i'm going to go ahead and point out that Balliol seems to be having some financial difficulties of late which nearly resulted in them charging students an extra £500 a year. This didn't go ahead, but the money will still have to be made up somewhere. Just saying. :dontknow:
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by BJack
18 applicants for 6 places would be fairly typical for chemistry. Do as henryt suggests and apply to your preferred college. If you really can't choose between the two, pick Merton.


just the answer i was looking for :smile:, i shall do just that!

Edit: nexttime thanks as well! :smile:
(edited 12 years ago)
I am strongly interested in applying to the University of Oxford for an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

The problem is I don't understand the University structure !

What are colleges and what happens in a college ? Do I get taught there ? Will only certain lectures be held there ?

Do certain colleges specialize in chemistry or are all just as good as each other ? What if I am put into a college that isn't so good ?
Anyone ?
No college specialise in chemistry, but of course the quality of the tutors may vary slightly. You could go for a college with tutors in all disciplines of chemistry, and also for a college with a strong academic reputation.

(And to answer your first question: Colleges are entities in which you live, probably eat, and have (most) tutorials. For Chemistry you will also have lectures, classes and labs with people from the whole university.)
(edited 12 years ago)
Hi, have you checked the load of info on their www site?

http://www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/
Original post by Cyborgasm
Hi, have you checked the load of info on their www site?

http://www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/


Yes, but each college sounds just as good as the other and additionally I wanted confirmation from actual students as to what they do in the college.
Original post by Ari Ben Canaan

Original post by Ari Ben Canaan
Yes, but each college sounds just as good as the other and additionally I wanted confirmation from actual students as to what they do in the college.


A fair chunk of Oxford life is be based around your college, e.g. accomodation, food, very small group teaching (tutorials) and some sport/social activities. But the colleges are more similar than they are different. More or less the same things go on in each college. You belong only to one college (although you can sometimes participate in other college's events/clubs, e.g. the "St Anne's and St John's Orchestra" is open to people from any Oxford college.

There's no "best college", that's the good thing about Oxford's college system. Some have a reputation for different things, e.g. being more academic, being better at sports, having older buildings, have better parties, being rich, etc. But the colleges are more similar than they are different.

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