Choosing an Oxford College

I want to study EP and have narrowed my list down to New, Brasenose, Christchurch and Magdalen. I'm looking for a large college with good accommodation and food. Which ones of my shortlist has the best of those two criteria? Are any of these 'party' colleges (I've heard Brasenose is)? Also, out of interest, do any have a particularly 'private school' feel?

The tutor I spoke to on an open day from Magdalen was the loveliest person ever so that may be the dealbreaker here.. but I am also slightly tempted by New's larger intake of undergraduates to the course (I know I shouldn't play the statistics game!).


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and allocates rooms based on your exam results in 2nd and 3rd years which actually discriminates against people doing subjects like law/history/classics where people typically get less firsts and are more likely to get 2.2's in mods vs their scientific/mathematical peers.

I went to Brasenose, and I certainly am not a party animal at all. That said, I think a pretty good contingent goes to the clubs, so you won't be in want of company if you do decide to go.

If you're looking for a large college, I wouldn't recommend Brasenose - it's relatively small. I also wouldn't say that we have great food (I personally think it's fine and Formals are relatively cheap, but I also have a relatively high tolerance for bad food, so take it with a pinch of salt), but I would say we have some of the best locations in terms of undergrad accommodation. I didn't think Brasenose had that much of a "private school" vibe, but that's just me.

Personally, based on your criteria, I would actually recommend Worcester: huge grounds, nice food (not so sure about normal hall food, but I love Worcester formals ), and lots of en-suites!

Also, you're right that you shouldn't play a stats game, but having more people in your year might be a legitimate factor in any case. I went to a college with a large intake for my subject, and I quite liked the resulting camaraderie.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the case that for Arts subjects generally, you're very likely to get a 2i, but less likely to get a First or a 2ii (or below) as compared to Science subjects? At least that's how I understood it Or I might just be confused.

I'm not sure how it works for other colleges, but at Brasenose, it only really matters if you get a Distinction (or get promoted to Exhibitioner by other means). No one gets penalized accommodation-wise for getting a 2ii equivalent (or worse). Or rewarded extra for getting a high average/ university prizes. You're right in that statistically, getting a First/ Distinction is more difficult in Arts subjects (and sad to say, Law is somewhere at the bottom in terms of First/ Distinction rates, although the faculty's supposedly making a concerted effort to mark more generously).

Personally, I really like the system used by Magdalen: Random ballot for 2nd year, and then reversed in 3rd year. I think that's pretty fair to everyone

Completely off-topic, but can I PM you regarding the BCL?

Completely off-topic, but can I PM you regarding the BCL?

You are right. While you are more likely to get a first in MPLS (although I don't know any subject that awards over 40% firsts in finals within MPLS as jenkinsear said) you are also much more likely to get a 2:2 than you are in the arts. This is largely down to the fact that it's much easier in something like a mathematics paper to see when someone isn't "2:1 standard" - compared to with an essay-based exam it pretty much has to be unanimously abhorrent for a 2:2, or below, to be awarded.

Did I say finals?

Plus from what I hear Physics may well have crossed that 40% figure. Apparently it really was a very good year- 2 or 3 Colleges had every one of their finalists get a first.

I'm in no way calling science subjects easier by the way, it's simply very different. I do think saying a 2.2 standard has to be 'unanimously abhorrent' is pretty harsh though. A lot of essays that get say 58 at Oxford would be high 2.1's at other Universities (at least in law).

You inferred it heavily.

Regent's is a bit of a unique one, so I'm sure it warrants the comparison you tried to draw in your previous post...




That's just a cop out for having said something totally stupid. I'm almost tempted to dig out who the Exeter JCR admissions rep is and email them to ask them to come on here and clarify for us how many aristocrats and royals they currently have lurking the corridors. I suspect it won't be many at all.

What makes Exeter more "formal" than any of the other Colleges? As for your previous point about private schools, the figures here (http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics/school-type) seem to suggest it is pretty on par with most of the other Colleges for that. So is it not just a general point about Oxford, not Exeter specifically?

For the sake of amusement, talk me through why Exeter is so "upper class"?



Well unfortunately you're trying to pass these "opinions" off as facts, which sadly aren't true. Your "opinions" are also straight out of a manual of out of date Oxford stereotypes, and laughable to anyone who went there. I mean really, you've tried to draw a distinction between Exeter and "smaller, newer Colleges" when Exeter is actually one of the smaller Colleges, and a number of the ones that are smaller than it are either older than, or a similar age to Exeter. I suspect you're just trolling.

I feel little need to justify myself to you, but feel that I could clarify some of my original points (although I think you're being rather pedantic (and somewhat disrespectful)).

The fact that the comparison exists between Exeter and Regents Park exists makes it a valid one. In response to your previous remark, a number of smaller colleges are newer than Exeter college, which is itself 700 years old and the fourth oldest of Oxford's colleges. With its age comes great tradition and ceremony, a fact that I feel makes the college "feel" formal (indeed many people apply for this exact reason). Indeed, tradition attracts a certain type of student who values history and the prestige that comes with it - this needn't necessarily be exclusive to 'aristocrats and royals', although the college does attract legacy applicants etc. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal opinion and thus depends upon an individual's tastes. Regardless of what you seem to think, an individual's opinion counts for a lot when choosing a college.

Univ is the oldest though (or one of depending on your view) and has neither a formal nor traditional feel IMO

I think the point that is being made, is that when you think of large, formal, traditional colleges - Exeter is not the first that would jump to most people's minds!

As already discussed, this is a matter of opinion. For me, Exeter was rather formal when compared with other colleges that I visited. For the sake of the discussion, formal should not be equated with unfriendly or rigid but rather tradition... I never intended to enrage, I swear!

I feel little need to justify myself to you, but feel that I could clarify some of my original points (although I think you're being rather pedantic (and somewhat disrespectful)).

The fact that the comparison exists between Exeter and Regents Park exists makes it a valid one.

In response to your previous remark, a number of smaller colleges are newer than Exeter college, which is itself 700 years old and the fourth oldest of Oxford's colleges. With its age comes great tradition and ceremony, a fact that I feel makes the college "feel" formal (indeed many people apply for this exact reason).

Indeed, tradition attracts a certain type of student who values history and the prestige that comes with it - this needn't necessarily be exclusive to 'aristocrats and royals', although the college does attract legacy applicants etc.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal opinion and thus depends upon an individual's tastes. Regardless of what you seem to think, an individual's opinion counts for a lot when choosing a college.

Univ is the oldest though (or one of depending on your view) and has neither a formal nor traditional feel IMO

I think the point that is being made, is that when you think of large, formal, traditional colleges - Exeter is not the first that would jump to most people's minds!

I fear we're wasting our time with him. Trolls will be trolls, even those who think they share the corridors with a hoard of aristocrats with certain "tastes".

He's an offer holder for History at Worcester! Perhaps not trolling - but misinformed? :P

Good detective work- that totally explains it: doesn't actually go there, but decided to spout some absolute crap pretending they had a clue. My lord, you do get some funny ones on here don't you?

I sense he's going to get a new rear end torn at Worcester. Probably about as unpretentious and laid back as you get. Certainly no "formalities and great tradition" or "legacy applicants" or "upper class" students there...

(well unless you count their weird formal hall ritual with the gable and the sung grace on sunday...)

With you being nice to Lucilou101, I started thinking you got up on the right side of bed this morning... then I carried on reading.

As you've probably guessed Noble, I am totally blunt and don't beat around the bush

Plus, Lucilou earned my respect after a number of disagreements. Even Jenks after getting out of the wrong side of bed is semi-nice to people she respects

That's alright, I'm pretty much the same (probably moreso in real life than on here). I'll just choose to ignore certain posts on here now-a-days - usually when it's a topic I've discussed to death numerous times and I can't be bothered with trying to logically set out an argument to someone who has no interest in reading what anyone else has to say.

Hi guys. Applying for Theology and Religion for 2015 entry. Want a wealthy college close to town with fun people [a 'party college'] and a liberal environment. I don't want to be chained to my desk academically. Trying to choose between Trinity, Christ Church, Worcester, Pembroke, Oriel or Keble. Can anybody tell me which of the colleges closest fit the criteria? Thanks

I want to study EP and have narrowed my list down to New, Brasenose, Christchurch and Magdalen. I'm looking for a large college with good accommodation and food. Which ones of my shortlist has the best of those two criteria? Are any of these 'party' colleges (I've heard Brasenose is)? Also, out of interest, do any have a particularly 'private school' feel?

The tutor I spoke to on an open day from Magdalen was the loveliest person ever so that may be the dealbreaker here.. but I am also slightly tempted by New's larger intake of undergraduates to the course (I know I shouldn't play the statistics game!).


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Quoting pak1994 here, as I remember she's doing EP at New so it might be helpful

I want to study EP and have narrowed my list down to New, Brasenose, Christchurch and Magdalen. I'm looking for a large college with good accommodation and food. Which ones of my shortlist has the best of those two criteria? Are any of these 'party' colleges (I've heard Brasenose is)? Also, out of interest, do any have a particularly 'private school' feel?

The tutor I spoke to on an open day from Magdalen was the loveliest person ever so that may be the dealbreaker here.. but I am also slightly tempted by New's larger intake of undergraduates to the course (I know I shouldn't play the statistics game!).