Choosing an Oxford College

Can anyone tell me what the differences between large (400) and smaller
(280) colleges are? It seems that size is one of the main decision factors for students, but I can't imagine there would be too much difference.

Keble all the way!! Which new building do you mean? The new ARCO building is lush, just like a hotel!

That glass building, I don't know what it's called :')

How long does it take to walk to the train station/high street/cowley road from Keble?

I like the location of Brasenose, and some of the buildings and the chapel are amazing! But Keble felt more homely and I really liked the accommodation I saw, the room I saw at Brasenose was pretty small. Some of the Keble buildings are nice, but the new one wasn't great. Is it noisy at Brasenose, since it's right in the centre?

Google Maps is your friend But certainly further than from Brasenose, but since you'll be doing those trips less frequently, it's probably not a big deal.

Can anyone tell me what the differences between large (400) and smaller
(280) colleges are? It seems that size is one of the main decision factors for students, but I can't imagine there would be too much difference.

In terms of undergraduates, the numbers (according to Wikipedia, so probably a bit out of date) go 214 Mansfield, 252 Corpus Christi, 300 Merton through to 448 Wadham and 487 St Catz.

Anyhow, the difference is the number of people in your year group. So there are about 115 in my year, but if I was at Mansfield that would be nearer 65. Or 145 at St Catz. Less people means you'll know them all (and I guess most other people in college). But perhaps a bigger year group means you're more likely to find good friends. I'm sure others will have views on this... but I haven't noticed anyone raving/moaning about something because of their college size

Personally then I feel a bit too much emphasis is put on college size... People often say suggest my college (St John's) has a lot of students, but in fact, 392 puts it bang on median. Clearly the difference between 214 and 487 seems big - but does it really affect your experience that much? Remember most of the colleges are pretty similarly sized.

In terms of undergraduates, the numbers (according to Wikipedia, so probably a bit out of date) go 214 Mansfield, 252 Corpus Christi, 300 Merton through to 448 Wadham and 487 St Catz.

Anyhow, the difference is the number of people in your year group. So there are about 115 in my year, but if I was at Mansfield that would be nearer 65. Or 145 at St Catz. Less people means you'll know them all (and I guess most other people in college). But perhaps a bigger year group means you're more likely to find good friends. I'm sure others will have views on this... but I haven't noticed anyone raving/moaning about something because of their college size

Personally then I feel a bit too much emphasis is put on college size... People often say suggest my college (St John's) has a lot of students, but in fact, 392 puts it bang on median. Clearly the difference between 214 and 487 seems big - but does it really affect your experience that much? Remember most of the colleges are pretty similarly sized.

Our rooms are tiered so some of the cheaper rooms can be a tad tiny (especially the F ones in Frewin Annexe I think). I've gone for rooms in the middle bracket for the last two years and they're of a reasonable size IMO.

I don't find it noisy, but then again my room never faced High Street/ Oxford Union. My friend did have a room overlooking High Street in first year but she said the noise never bothered her because apparently the windows are double-glazed or something. The few times I was in there, I didn't really notice the noise either. The junior deans are quite on the ball about maintaining peace and quiet in the college at night, which is nice because we don't get people making a ruckus in the quads and disturbing the rest.

That said, I think Keble is a lovely college (Although the last time I ate there, I felt that their hall food left something to be desired ) If you feel happier with Keble, go for it!

I think you mean the Hayward / De Breyne / the college bar. Which is confusing since they're not the newest buildings in Keble Assuming that is what you mean, I stayed in one of those rooms once, and whilst they're not beautiful from the outside, they are nice rooms!

Google Maps is your friend But certainly further than from Brasenose, but since you'll be doing those trips less frequently, it's probably not a big deal.

Decided on Brasenose in the end Made a list of the things I wanted from a college to compare the two, and that one came out on top, Keble was a close second though! Thank you both for your help

Could I know what was included in your pros and cons list?

I was originally thinking of Trinity, then I saw that the E&M tutor at Brasenose is one of the top 3 teachers in oxford, and this might change my mind... also Brasenose admits six E&Mers, so if I get in, I would have more people to interact with in regards to E&M or PPE.

Location, how nice the buildings are, accommodation, number of students studying my course, the feel of the place, things I read on the pros and cons list

My mind is telling me to apply for Brasenose, but the information I have about Trinity is far greater than that for Brasenose... (firsthand experience at Trinity, which I don't have for Brasenose..)

Ah I will see. Thanks!
What are you applying for by the way?

Chemistry how about you?

Also, if it were me, I wouldn't apply to a college I hadn't visited, you might go there and hate it! Just go with whatever feels right

Yes, although you can apply for vacation residence (vac res) which is where you pay per night to stay in college during the vac. You can also apply for vacation study grants. A lot of students also have to move their stuff out at the end of each term, because their rooms are used by conference guests/interviewees.

I have been there but didn't have the chance to actually experience its accommodation. But then again, the room I had at Trinity wasn't great either, so I don't know. meh.

I'm going for E&M. Getting real nervous as the stat shows that the acceptance ratio is 3.4% for international applicants

Ooh, where are you from?

Decided on Brasenose in the end Made a list of the things I wanted from a college to compare the two, and that one came out on top, Keble was a close second though! Thank you both for your help

I have been there but didn't have the chance to actually experience its accommodation. But then again, the room I had at Trinity wasn't great either, so I don't know. meh.

I'm going for E&M. Getting real nervous as the stat shows that the acceptance ratio is 3.4% for international applicants

Yay! Excellent choice there.



Don't worry about it - I'm an international student and my country has quite a few E&Mers. Just focus on making the best application you can and really nailing the TSA

Personally, I think Trinity has really good food. And it's a beautiful college (lovely lawns!) The only downside for me is they house their 3rd years quite far off (Summertown I think, past St Hugh's?) I'm quite lazy so I definitely appreciate the convenience of living right smack in the city centre (which Brasenose provides because college is on Radcliffe Square and Frewin Annexe is next to the Union).

South Korean, living in Germany.
But the oxford admissions told me that the figure is somewhat inflated, so I am putting my hopes on that

Can anyone tell me what the differences between large (400) and smaller
(280) colleges are? It seems that size is one of the main decision factors for students, but I can't imagine there would be too much difference.

As a student at the largest college (St Catz), I think it does make a difference - but I think the greater difference is whether or not the majority of people are housed on or off site. Catz isn't that much bigger than other colleges, but it feels it because you're on site for all three years, rather than living out or being put in an off-site annexe. So rather than a year of 145, you're interacting with pretty much all 487 people regularly, plus whatever postgrads decide to stay in college (we have around 250 total). So there's a lot of community between the years that might be missing in a college that doesn't have room to house everyone. But the trade off with that is that there will be people you don't know - there are plenty, even in my year, that I've never spoken to. I'm sometimes jealous of the closeness that occurs in, say, Pembroke, where everyone knows everyone. So it's down to what sort of atmosphere you prefer really.