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Choosing an Oxford College

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Original post by BrasenoseAdm
There are differences between subjects - for example, Medicine (one of the most over-subscribed subjects) runs everything centrally. Most subjects that are over-subscribed and which experience variation in applicants across colleges use a system of ring-fencing. Colleges can retain so many students per quota place out of direct applicants and the rest are released but may be returned as part of a balanced interview pool (balanced = a pool that consists of candidates that are high, medium, or lower ranked according the the initial assessment, based on the UCAS form and admissions tests). If a college has a very large number of applicants it may be able to construct a balanced interview pool out of the direct applicants and will release the rest to be reallocated to interview pools at other colleges.

The main point is that, come interviews, all the admitting colleges will interview roughly the same number of applicants per place and they should all see a mix of high, medium, and lower ranked candidates based on the pre-interview assessment.



Take a candidate applying for a popular subject like PPE, English or History at an overscribed college like Worcester of Magdalen. Could Worcester of Magdalen just cherry pick all the strong candidates? And send the rest off to be reallocated? DOes it matter if you get your application in early or late?
Original post by personage
Take a candidate applying for a popular subject like PPE, English or History at an overscribed college like Worcester of Magdalen. Could Worcester of Magdalen just cherry pick all the strong candidates? And send the rest off to be reallocated? DOes it matter if you get your application in early or late?


To answer whether it matters if you send your application in early or late, it doesn't. When I applied last year, I was sent an email saying that applications will only be looked at after October 15th. Admittedly this wasn't for any of the subjects you mentioned but I'd be surprised if it were different for other subjects.

Regarding whether colleges cherry pick the strong looking candidates and send the others off for reallocation, I found this on the Physics Department's website:

Candidates for reallocation are selected at random, and are treated in exactly the same way at interview as other candidates.


So apparently no, they don't.
(edited 8 years ago)
Any opinions on Christ Church?
Original post by Plagioclase


Regarding whether colleges cherry pick the strong looking candidates and send the others off for reallocation, I found this on the Physics Department's website:

Candidates for reallocation are selected at random, and are treated in exactly the same way at interview as other candidates.So apparently no, they don't.



I'm not sure that's what the Phys dept is saying.

They want to ensure, as far as possible, that applicants get their college of choice. So whether it's done centrally or by the colleges the best candidates are cherry-picked. Then they will take a middle cohort and a lower cohort all from that college if they can. If they can't they will reallocate (randomly) to/from the college to get a balanced pool of 3 interviewees per place for that college.

The oversubscribed colleges make very few imports.
Which colleges generally get the least amount of applicants per place?
Original post by simbasdragon
Which colleges generally get the least amount of applicants per place?


Over the past few years, Somerville, St. Hugh's and Corpus Christi have accepted the highest proportion of candidates who applied to that college. You can filter by course with the controls at the top. Note that this isn't the same as the proportion of candidates accepted by the university as a whole.
Original post by personage
Take a candidate applying for a popular subject like PPE, English or History at an overscribed college like Worcester of Magdalen. Could Worcester of Magdalen just cherry pick all the strong candidates? And send the rest off to be reallocated?
Original post by Plagioclase
Regarding whether colleges cherry pick the strong looking candidates and send the others off for reallocation, I found this on the Physics Department's website:

So apparently no, they don't.

It's done differently for different courses
Original post by BrasenoseAdm
There are differences between subjects - for example, Medicine (one of the most over-subscribed subjects) runs everything centrally. Most subjects that are over-subscribed and which experience variation in applicants across colleges use a system of ring-fencing. Colleges can retain so many students per quota place out of direct applicants and the rest are released but may be returned as part of a balanced interview pool (balanced = a pool that consists of candidates that are high, medium, or lower ranked according the the initial assessment, based on the UCAS form and admissions tests). If a college has a very large number of applicants it may be able to construct a balanced interview pool out of the direct applicants and will release the rest to be reallocated to interview pools at other colleges.

The main point is that, come interviews, all the admitting colleges will interview roughly the same number of applicants per place and they should all see a mix of high, medium, and lower ranked candidates based on the pre-interview assessment.


Thank you.:smile:

Where I'm headed with this is that if you have been to open days and whittled down a shortlist of 3-4 colleges, an application to Brasenose or Worcester would 'probably' mean a place at a less popular college, whereas applying to one of the other colleges on your list would be more likely to result in a place at that college.

It seems a shame to do all that research then end up with pot luck.
I think you are right....might be better to opt for a mid-popular one.
Though to be honest, the "less popular" colleges are generally as nice if not nicer than the popular ones!
It's only usually a case of distance from centre (which isn't anything more than a nice brisk walk/bike ride) that makes some colleges less desirable.
In reality life at St Anne's, Hilda's, LMH, St Hugh's wont be signficiantly different from life at New College, Magdalen etc. You get cloisters at the grand old establishments, but it depends how much cloisters matter to you. x
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by personage
I think you are right....might be better to opt for a mid-popular one.
Though to be honest, the "less popular" colleges are generally as nice if not nicer than the popular ones!
It's only usually a case of distance from centre (which isn't anything more than a nice brisk walk/bike ride) that makes some colleges less desirable.
In reality life at St Anne's, Hilda's, LMH, St Hugh's wont be signficiantly different from life at New College, Magdalen etc. You get cloisters at the grand old establishments, but it depends how much cloisters matter to you. x


We agree that all the colleges offer an excellent academic experience.

Annual surveys also indicate that undergraduates are also happy with their college, almost without exception - regardless of whether the application was an open one or a direct one or whether or not an individual was reallocated during the admissions process.

We would also point out that about a third of the undergraduate student body turns over each year and so to a great extent the nature of social life at each college is shaped by the students themselves and their interactions with one another.
Any colleges particularly suited to your classic english student introvert who likes nature, old buildings and walks and who doesn't much like sports/ interaction...?
Original post by Historandpliny
Any colleges particularly suited to your classic english student introvert who likes nature, old buildings and walks and who doesn't much like sports/ interaction...?


Woosta (Worcester), LMH and Magdalen have particularly nice/spacious grounds, if that helps :smile:
Original post by Historandpliny
Any colleges particularly suited to your classic english student introvert who likes nature, old buildings and walks and who doesn't much like sports/ interaction...?


Maybe one of the colleges near University Parks or the Botanical Gardens?
Original post by Plagioclase
Maybe one of the colleges near University Parks or the Botanical Gardens?


Thanks for this, as it's made me realise that Keble's maybe ideal.

Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Woosta (Worcester), LMH and Magdalen have particularly nice/spacious grounds, if that helps :smile:


Cool, thanks! The ones you've listed look pretty damn nice, I think i've realised that I'm gonna have to properly look at most colleges before choosing because it's looking pretty difficult at the moment.
Original post by Historandpliny
Thanks for this, as it's made me realise that Keble's maybe ideal.



Cool, thanks! The ones you've listed look pretty damn nice, I think i've realised that I'm gonna have to properly look at most colleges before choosing because it's looking pretty difficult at the moment.


Do you have any other criteria that might help narrow it down? Though a good consideration of all the colleges that offer your subject is no bad thing! :biggrin:
I'm trying to decide between Keble, LMH and St Hilda's. What are the stereotypes of each one? Is Keble very oversubscribed like Trinity and New?

I'm also interested in Worcester, what are its stereotypes and how oversubscribed is it? Just interested.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Historandpliny
Any colleges particularly suited to your classic english student introvert who likes nature, old buildings and walks and who doesn't much like sports/ interaction...?


I would say Merton fits that pretty well
Original post by simbasdragon
I'm trying to decide between Keble, LMH and St Hilda's. What are the stereotypes of each one? Is Keble very oversubscribed like Trinity and New?

I'm also interested in Worcester, what are its stereotypes and how oversubscribed is it? Just interested.


What subject are you doing?
Original post by Gome44
What subject are you doing?


English.
Original post by Historandpliny
Any colleges particularly suited to your classic english student introvert who likes nature, old buildings and walks and who doesn't much like sports/ interaction...?


Oxford's a great place for those who want both a functioning city and being close to the countryside. There are lots of green spaces to which you could consider proximity to in your college choice, though I guess it depends what you mean by 'nature' - lots of the colleges have lovely grounds and the University Parks for instance is green and lovely but they are far from natural! The river that runs alongside is more secluded and perhaps more what you mean. You've also got Christchurch Meadow which runs down to the river where the rowing takes place. The Thames Path runs for miles alongside the river in both directions. If you want to get away from people Boar's Hill is beyond to the south as are a couple of woodlands which are nature reserves, and yet you can do a loop around there in less than 12km which is pretty amazing. To the North-West is Port Meadow which is often very secluded (I can attest that you get some amazing sunrises from the river in the early morning). Beyond that is Wytham Woods which is a nature reserve, mainly for badgers I think. To the East is South Parks which have great views over Oxford and if you are willing to go past Headington you've got Shotover Country Park which leads down into Wheatley (makes a nice walk, get the bus back).

In terms of your other criteria, obviously there are lots of old colleges, almost all offer English, none are exactly going to force you into doing sports and its Oxford - the overwhelming characteristic is nerdiness and there are lots of introverts everywhere!

Basically there are lots of different places that fulfil your criteria, and many nice walks that are well within range. Have a look at the virtual tour. I'm going to specifically suggest Merton + Christchurch (close to ChCh meadow), LMH (Uni Parks and river).

The Walking Club do free walks every weekend plus trips away - worth looking into if you do get in!

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