Choosing an Oxford College

Original post by nulli tertius

I think you are confused.

The Apostles are at Cambridge or perhaps Moscow

whoosh

Reply 2983

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Five

Original post by around

whoosh

Reply 2984

around

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Five

Original post by Good bloke

Yes, I do in fact know who the Cambridge five are. Thank you for the link anyway.

PS here's a picture of a cat:

Reply 2985

Original post by around

Yes, I do in fact know who the Cambridge five are. Thank you for the link anyway.

I apologise. I thought you meant that the reference to Moscow and Cambridge in connection with the Apostles flew right over your head and I was trying to explain it for you. I clearly misinterpreted your post.

Reply 2986

Somethingundecided

What is the social life at New College like?

Reply 2987

Somethingundecided

I'm having difficulty deciding which college to apply to - New, St Catz or Wadham. New and Wadham have tutorial fellows in my subject, whereas St Catz doesn't - this is apparently not so good, as the subject isn't so 'strong' in colleges who don't have tutorial fellows.
Could you guys also tell me about what the food is like?
But mainly I'm concerend about the social scene. I want a college that is outgoing and friendly, has a good bar and fun Entz/bops, as well as students who like parties/clubs and not just working.

So if you guys could help out, that would be amazing! Thank you :smile:

Reply 2988

SamF1992

1

Dinner at Wadham is prety meh, lunch and breakfast/brunch are very good though, particularly the latter. Wadham has all the things you mention, apart from our bar being a bit quiet. We have lots of bops (more than any other college I believe) including Wadstock (our own music festival) and Queerfest (massive fancy dress party in our gardens with music, food, alcohol, comedy, and various other things (we had a drag act last year). Always plenty of people up for going out too.

Reply 2989

Somethingundecided

Original post by SamF1992

Dinner at Wadham is prety meh, lunch and breakfast/brunch are very good though, particularly the latter. Wadham has all the things you mention, apart from our bar being a bit quiet. We have lots of bops (more than any other college I believe) including Wadstock (our own music festival) and Queerfest (massive fancy dress party in our gardens with music, food, alcohol, comedy, and various other things (we had a drag act last year). Always plenty of people up for going out too.

thank you for replying so quickly! :smile:

When people say dinner isn't good, does that just mean there's a poor choice, or the actual food tastes bad, or what?
What about accommodation?
And would you say its easy to make friends and people mix easily? Or is it quite cliquey and are there social 'divides'? (I come from a school where this is a massive thing and I don't want a repeat of that)

Reply 2990

SamF1992

1

Original post by Somethingundecided

thank you for replying so quickly! :smile:

When people say dinner isn't good, does that just mean there's a poor choice, or the actual food tastes bad, or what?
What about accommodation?
And would you say its easy to make friends and people mix easily? Or is it quite cliquey and are there social 'divides'? (I come from a school where this is a massive thing and I don't want a repeat of that)

Well, dinner isn't bad, it's just meh, they do some stuff which is really nice, some which I didn't bother going to dinner for (not to say that it's necessarily bad, I just didn't like it), and most stuff is somewhere in between, eatable, but not particularly exciting or brilliant, just average. Tends to be quite carb heavy and we serve courgettes a lot. There also isn't any choice for dinner (though I'm not sure if this is the same everywhere). The menu is set before hand, unlike lunch where there's a choice of 4 or 5 dishes. This all sounds really negative, but it's not that bad, just average really. And you can always cook yourself or get food from somewhere else if you don't want what's on for dinner on a given night.

Accommodation is really good, there's a mix of old, modern and somewhere in between. You get a guaranteed room in college in 1st and 3rd year, and we have the cheapest accommodation of any Oxford college I believe. You live out in 2nd year.

Wadham isn't at all cliquey in my experience, very easy to make friends, very relaxed and outgoing in general. Everyone is just really lovely in general. Also one of the benefits we have of being a very large college in terms of student numbers means it's really easy to find people who you get along with.

Reply 2991

Lumos

I know this question has been asked a million times before... but which colleges are less competitive? They say that it doesn't matter which college you apply to and it won't affect your chance of success, but obviously applying to christ church, for example, is a risk. The ones I'm considering are the ones in the area around the bodleian - just away from the high street. Hertford, trinity, exeter, brasenose and balliol in particular. however I've heard that balliol and brasenose are very intense academically, as well as competitive. is this true? what about the others?

I have looked at the norrington table but it's so hard to get any real information from it - plenty of colleges have jumped up or down 15 places just since last year. However there must be some kind of continuity? Brasenose has gone down the table and balliol up, but both of them are considered very competitive.

If anyone can shed some light on this it would be very useful. I just want a middling college- not really intense, and not at the bottom of the pile either. please help!

Reply 2992

Original post by Lumos

it would be very useful.

It really wouldn't. Any attempt to find a college that is easier to get in to or academically "better" is futile. Just pick one based on factors that are important to you such as location, accommodation, catering, sport o, architecture.

Reply 2993

warndog

I'm planning on applying to PPE at Brasenose.
My friend has put me off slightly by saying it is the college for "hooray henry's" as apparently it has one of the highest public school percentages. Also, David Cameron studied PPE there. Also, its jumped to 2nd in Norrington, suggesting its become more academically strict/focused
When I went there it seemed fairly chilled out and fun so I'm not sure what to think.
Any people from Brasenose care to tell me what it's REALLY like? Would be much appreciated!
Cheers

Reply 2994

Lumos

Original post by Good bloke

It really wouldn't. Any attempt to find a college that is easier to get in to or academically "better" is futile. Just pick one based on factors that are important to you such as location, accommodation, catering, sport o, architecture.

Then how do you explain certain colleges always being the ones that take applicants from the pool? And I've heard "it's easier to fly to the moon than study history at magdalen/balliol/Christ church" more than enough times to make me think its not just a false reputation.

Reply 2995

nexttime

22

I have looked at the norrington table but it's so hard to get any real information from it - plenty of colleges have jumped up or down 15 places just since last year.

Do you not perhaps think this variability tells you something? Perhaps that ratings of 'academicness' are foundless and just a bit silly?

Original post by Lumos

but obviously applying to christ church, for example, is a risk.

Christ Church is not one of the most popular colleges, so perhaps its less "obvious" than you think.

Some colleges attract more applicants than others, but its highly variable, not related to academia and importantly doesn't affect your chance of getting into Oxford.

Reply 2996

Original post by Lumos

Then how do you explain certain colleges always being the ones that take applicants from the pool?

I don't. The system is set up so that those applicants that are deemed good enough to study there are the ones that get in, regardless of the college they applied to.

And I've heard "it's easier to fly to the moon than study history at magdalen/balliol/Christ church" more than enough times to make me think its not just a false reputation.

This is mere pandering to prejudice.

Reply 2997

LouiseTaylor__

So I'm planning on applying to Oxford for Psychology and Philosophy joint honors but I'm having a tricky time choosing a college. My preference would be not too unbelievably formal, socially vibrant and friendly. It doesn't bother me whether it is self-catered or fully catered but I do have a preference towards en-suite accommodation, however that's not essential.

I've narrowed my favorites down to New College and Wadham.
Any advice would be really appreciated!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2998

Roshniroxy

14

Okay guys I need very good advice because I'm stuck between Magdalen and Balliol. My heart got set on balliol when I went to see it but for some reason Magdalen really appeals to me. Please someone help me out and make this decision.

Thanks ! :smile:

Reply 2999

Lumos