The Student Room Logo
Applying to Uni for 2024? Find your Uni here and chat with others! >>
Applying to Uni for 2024? Find your Uni here and chat with others! >>
Applying to Uni for 2024? Find your Uni here and chat with others! >>

Choosing an Oxford College

Scroll to see replies

Original post by emer_
yeah that'd be great if you could!


Well it's a reasonably sized college, pretty close to the shops, also right next to the exam schools which is very useful around exam time! It's got a pretty friendly and relaxed atmosphere according to everyone I know there!

It's quite rich so accommodation/food is decently priced but obviously not as cheap as places like St. John's. It's got a lovely boat house if you're interested in rowing or just going down to the river!

It's the oldest college (although some may disagree), has a pet tortoise, they do provide accommodation for all years but in your 3rd year it would be on their site on Staverton road (10 min walk from the shops) or most people just live out :smile:

Anything else you want to know?
Reply 4201
Avatar for emer_
emer_
Original post by Lucilou101
Well it's a reasonably sized college, pretty close to the shops, also right next to the exam schools which is very useful around exam time! It's got a pretty friendly and relaxed atmosphere according to everyone I know there!

It's quite rich so accommodation/food is decently priced but obviously not as cheap as places like St. John's. It's got a lovely boat house if you're interested in rowing or just going down to the river!

It's the oldest college (although some may disagree), has a pet tortoise, they do provide accommodation for all years but in your 3rd year it would be on their site on Staverton road (10 min walk from the shops) or most people just live out :smile:

Anything else you want to know?


aw I'd love a tortoise at my college! What's the atmosphere like? I'm sure it's very friendly but is it a sporty college, particularly political, anything like that?
Original post by emer_
aw I'd love a tortoise at my college! What's the atmosphere like? I'm sure it's very friendly but is it a sporty college, particularly political, anything like that?


It's not very political, which is probably a good thing as you can get involved in it without having your opinions being shouted at!
Similarly with sports, it has a lot of opportunities for sports, but isn't particularly renowned for any! So you can quite easily get involved in any clubs you want to!
Hi!

I will be applying for History&Politics (less likely only History) and I am an EU applicant. Unfortunately, I have not really have the opportunity to look around Oxford for a suitable college. I will have to ask for your assitence and opinions so my conditions are:
-a bigger college
-build before 1750
-not one of the most sportish one
-possibly (not necessarily) with cheaper accomodation
I have been thinking of Christ Church for being build in Tudor times, which is my favourite historical period :smile:
Any suggestions would be greeted :smile:

Cheers!
Original post by ceco_moev
Hi!

I will be applying for History&Politics (less likely only History) and I am an EU applicant. Unfortunately, I have not really have the opportunity to look around Oxford for a suitable college. I will have to ask for your assitence and opinions so my conditions are:
-a bigger college
-build before 1750
-not one of the most sportish one
-possibly (not necessarily) with cheaper accomodation
I have been thinking of Christ Church for being build in Tudor times, which is my favourite historical period :smile:
Any suggestions would be greeted :smile:

Cheers!


Consider New. It's one of the largest, was opened in 1379 and is bloody gorgeous. Accommodation is around £22 per night this year including dinner and around £18.5 per night excluding it, making it on the cheaper side.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Lucilou101

It's the oldest college (although some may disagree), has a pet tortoise, they do provide accommodation for all years but in your 3rd year it would be on their site on Staverton road (10 min walk from the shops) or most people just live out :smile:


Just to clarify, when you mean shops, I'm guessing you're referring to the shops in Jericho? As far as I know, Staverton Road is pretty far from the city centre (past St Hugh's), and it's pretty much impossible to walk to Stav from say, Cornmarket, in 10 minutes. Google maps puts it at around 27 minutes. Or you could take a bus into town and stop at Magdalen Street East - my friend from Trinity who also lived at Stav did that I think.

You could feasibly cycle to Cornmarket in 10 minutes, although with the traffic and all, I think 15-20 is probably more likely (I do tend to cycle slowly though, so :tongue:)
Original post by mishieru07
Just to clarify, when you mean shops, I'm guessing you're referring to the shops in Jericho? As far as I know, Staverton Road is pretty far from the city centre (past St Hugh's), and it's pretty much impossible to walk to Stav from say, Cornmarket, in 10 minutes. Google maps puts it at around 27 minutes. Or you could take a bus into town and stop at Magdalen Street East - my friend from Trinity who also lived at Stav did that I think.

You could feasibly cycle to Cornmarket in 10 minutes, although with the traffic and all, I think 15-20 is probably more likely (I do tend to cycle slowly though, so :tongue:)


I may have been thinking of cycling :L this is the problem with multi-tasking!

It's only just over a mile to Cornmarket though, I always find google maps exaggerates for walking times. I used to walk just over a mile and a half to college in 25 mins, sometimes 20 if I walked fast. So I would put Staverton to Cornmarket in the 15 minute area! :smile:
Thanks for ur help! I really appreciate it since I didn't have any other info source for the colleges there, except few websites and Tsr.
I will certainly have New in mind but it is not so sportish, right? Are there many international students?
Thanks again!
Original post by ceco_moev
Hi!

I will be applying for History&Politics (less likely only History) and I am an EU applicant. Unfortunately, I have not really have the opportunity to look around Oxford for a suitable college. I will have to ask for your assitence and opinions so my conditions are:
-a bigger college
-build before 1750
-not one of the most sportish one
-possibly (not necessarily) with cheaper accomodation
I have been thinking of Christ Church for being build in Tudor times, which is my favourite historical period :smile:
Any suggestions would be greeted :smile:

Cheers!


You could consider Univ maybe?

It's the oldest college built in 1249, it's not considered large compared to Christ Church but is a reasonable size, it has opportunities for sport but it's particularly good at any, accommodation is reasonably priced (£3600 for the year).

Are there any other factors you would like to know about to consider? :smile:
Original post by Lucilou101
You could consider Univ maybe?

It's the oldest college built in 1249, it's not considered large compared to Christ Church but is a reasonable size, it has opportunities for sport but it's particularly good at any, accommodation is reasonably priced (£3600 for the year).

Are there any other factors you would like to know about to consider? :smile:


Hi,
thanks for ur help! I really appreciate any help :smile: well, may be one with more international students but this is not necessary. I don't mind a college which is not so close to the history or politics departments cuz I like walking. I can really think of any other factors to consider though I looked at the TSR guide for colleges.
Cheers!
Original post by amol_chalis447
Consider New. It's one of the largest, was opened in 1379 and is bloody gorgeous. Accommodation is around £22 per night this year including dinner and around £18.5 per night excluding it, making it on the cheaper side.

Posted from TSR Mobile


Thanks! I will take a note certainly! It sounds really persuading :biggrin:
Original post by amol_chalis447
Consider New. It's one of the largest, was opened in 1379 and is bloody gorgeous. Accommodation is around £22 per night this year including dinner and around £18.5 per night excluding it, making it on the cheaper side.

Posted from TSR Mobile


Thanks for ur help! I really appreciate it since I didn't have any other info source for the colleges there, except few websites and Tsr.
I will certainly have New in mind but it is not so sportish, right? Are there many international students?
Thanks again!
Original post by ceco_moev
Hi,
thanks for ur help! I really appreciate any help :smile: well, may be one with more international students but this is not necessary. I don't mind a college which is not so close to the history or politics departments cuz I like walking. I can really think of any other factors to consider though I looked at the TSR guide for colleges.
Cheers!


Univ is quite international because it attracts a lot of international students who don't understand the college system and mistake it as the University. But it also has a great atmosphere etc which makes it good for internationals - although saying that so do most colleges!

If you want to compare the daily price, Univ is around £17 a night :smile:
Original post by ceco_moev
Thanks for ur help! I really appreciate it since I didn't have any other info source for the colleges there, except few websites and Tsr.
I will certainly have New in mind but it is not so sportish, right? Are there many international students?
Thanks again!


It doesn't too focused on sports to me but there's enough people playing every sport so you van participate.

I'm an international myself and in this year's incoming batch there appear to be between 15 and 20 of us internationals. I don't know how it is elsewhere but I'm quite happy with that number :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Lucilou101
Univ is quite international because it attracts a lot of international students who don't understand the college system and mistake it as the University. But it also has a great atmosphere etc which makes it good for internationals - although saying that so do most colleges!

If you want to compare the daily price, Univ is around £17 a night :smile:


Haha :biggrin: you've made a strong point when you said that internationals thought that it's the University :biggrin: Thanks for the info and it seems affordable :smile: but I menioned in my 1st post that I am thinking of Christ Church. What's your opinion on it?
Original post by amol_chalis447
It doesn't too focused on sports to me but there's enough people playing every sport so you van participate.

I'm an international myself and in this year's incoming batch there appear to be between 15 and 20 of us internationals. I don't know how it is elsewhere but I'm quite happy with that number :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile


It's a relief that it does not emphsise on sport :smile: the number is Ok, I think plus I got at least 3 people from my school also applying to Oxford, so hopefully I will not feel as a total stranger if we got offers :smile:
Original post by ceco_moev
It's a relief that it does not emphsise on sport :smile: the number is Ok, I think plus I got at least 3 people from my school also applying to Oxford, so hopefully I will not feel as a total stranger if we got offers :smile:


I wouldn't worry much at all about feeling out of place as a international. There are loads of international societies. Further, your college will usually have an international welfare representative who will help you feel comfortable and organise events for internationals.

Plus, given you want to move to the UK for college I'd suggest you also get comfortable with the idea with most of the people being...well, British. They're not bad at all :lol:
Pros and cons of the above from those in the know please?

I want to do an MEng but am unsure which college to apply for. Truthfully, how does one decide? Where is the info that would sway you to one college above others?

If I don't have that info is an open application the way forward?
Original post by cherriesjubilee
Pros and cons of the above from those in the know please?

I want to do an MEng but am unsure which college to apply for. Truthfully, how does one decide? Where is the info that would sway you to one college above others?

If I don't have that info is an open application the way forward?



Official information is here.
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics/college-choice

The admissions people claim:
(i) That nobody will be disadvantaged by applying to an oversubscribed college.
(ii) That colleges do not know which of the candidates offered to them are open applications.


Let us assume they are right but the statistics offered seem neither to prove or disprove.

The statistics do seem to show that most imports go to the undersubscribed (i.e. unpopular) colleges. What makes these colleges unpopular is much harder to fathom. Location I understand (although that can work both ways - some people don’t want to be near the steamy centre) but position in the Norrington table is a nonsense. Also, the idea that you will be better off at a richer college seems cloud cuckoo. Perhaps someone could explain that to me.

There is a whole thread devoted to choosing an Oxford college and it is worth looking through it but I must say I meet very few old Oxonians who tell me they chose the wrong college. And how could they tell? It is impossible to be an undergraduate at more than one college.
When I was looking at colleges, I was looking at the following things:

1) Which colleges did music, obviously
2) Which colleges were not too far from the Music Faculty (I'm a lazy so-and-so, plus I can't ride a bike...)
3) Which provided three years' worth of accommodation (I didn't wanna have to find my own place and deal with landlords)
4) Which colleges would let me have a kitchen
5) Which had additional bursary-type stuff

This was the stuff that was important to me. Based on it, my sister (who studied at Oxford) suggested Wadham. I pointed out they didn't take music students :tongue: So she said Worcester. I went to Woosta, fell in love with it and the rest was history! :biggrin:

You need to figure out what exactly is important to you. Do you want a big college, or a small one? One near the centre or one further out, where there's more space (usually, not always)? Do you want to be accommodated for your second year, your third year, or all years? Do you want extra money for things like books, or for being an instrumentalist/choral scholar, etc?

Only you can know what you need from a college :yep: These are just my little thoughts about how I personally went about it :h:

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Trending

Latest