Choosing an Oxford College
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You will be heartily mocked for any misuse of grammar in the University of Oxford. 
Wayi
I know that colleges at Oxford are under a mile walk but, tbh, I am one of the peeps who wakes up late.So really I need just under 20 minutes preferably 10 minutes walk from accommodation to Said/Econ dep't.
Look into BNC's rooms through the internet and IMO it look like a mess - I am sort of inclining to go there but the rooms are a bit of a turn off.I based my £4000 estimation from Bristol University's accommodations (that's per year by the way). And I know that they are completely different cities but I can't find any prices for the accommodation of these colleges: Hertford, Pembroke, St Hugh's, St Edmund, St Peter's (these + Brasenose are basically the colleges that have capture my attention).
I also love to cook, so a college that offers kitchen facilities would be a bonus. And a college that allows student to sit on the grass would be great, I heard some colleges don't allow this. Call me picky but I wouldn't want to spend three years in a college that doesn't suit me or doesn't have the things that I am looking for.
Thanks for all the help.
P.S. I have read a section that tells me that you can learn new languages or improve your grammar of the English language. Does anyone know what the centre's name is?
It offers help to students who would like to improve their grasp and understanding of the English language further. It would be great if you could provide personal information i.e. experience. Thanks.
Look into BNC's rooms through the internet and IMO it look like a mess - I am sort of inclining to go there but the rooms are a bit of a turn off.I based my £4000 estimation from Bristol University's accommodations (that's per year by the way). And I know that they are completely different cities but I can't find any prices for the accommodation of these colleges: Hertford, Pembroke, St Hugh's, St Edmund, St Peter's (these + Brasenose are basically the colleges that have capture my attention).
I also love to cook, so a college that offers kitchen facilities would be a bonus. And a college that allows student to sit on the grass would be great, I heard some colleges don't allow this. Call me picky but I wouldn't want to spend three years in a college that doesn't suit me or doesn't have the things that I am looking for.
Thanks for all the help.
P.S. I have read a section that tells me that you can learn new languages or improve your grammar of the English language. Does anyone know what the centre's name is?
It offers help to students who would like to improve their grasp and understanding of the English language further. It would be great if you could provide personal information i.e. experience. Thanks.
picky
(and, you wont spend 3 years of your life there. more like 1.5)
I wouldnt say our rooms at BNC are "dirty." Well mine is in all senses of the word. Most aren't
I would advise you most heartily to make actually getting in the subject of your so-called paranoia. Once you have done so, you will have plenty of time to sweat over the calibre of your accommodation, not that it will make even the slightest difference.
Wayi
Yes. Obviously if the mere thought of possibly having to live out for a year fills you with terror (although it's worth bearing in mind that the majority of people who actually do it think it's great), you can rule out colleges which can't guarantee you college accommodation for three years. Other than that, though, you'll have very little choice over which accommodation you'll end up in, so I don't think there's really much point in looking at pictures of rooms and deciding that St Anne's has *the* perfect room for you, when there's a strong chance that even if you get in, you either won't be at St Anne's or that you won't be put in that particular room if you are.
It is really hard to choose. Is there a guide here to help you choose a college?
I think there's a guide on the wiki somewhere. But really, you need to be aware that at the end of the day, all the criteria on the basis of which you can pick a college are quite arbitrary and superficial. The most important factors in whether you'll actually end up being happy at your college are the ones you can't influence (i.e. the people you meet, whether you get on well with your tutors, how well you're coping with the workload, the sports you decide to do). Of course you have to make an initial choice somehow, so you may as well go with arbitrary stuff like college size, location, what the rooms look like on the website, age, number of letters in the college name, etc, but I wouldn't take the whole thing too seriously if I were you. Most people do end up liking their colleges, even if it's not what they originally had in mind.
And about the University Language Centre (thanks for the link btw), yes you're right. There's nothing there related to improving grammar. But basing from my post, is my capability in English sufficient enough to meet Oxford's standard?
I can't see anything obviously wrong with it, if that's what you mean.
The reason behind this fuss is that I heard students will be writing 2 essays per week and therefore I wouldn't want to embarass myself from lacking the neccesary skills needed in writing a good essay i.e. free from simple grammatical errors and syntax. I also heard that some tutors are pretty harsh on these "stuffs" and would not mark your essay if it contains an overflowing set of grammatical errors. I would look like a pillock once I am at Oxford, if this was the case. Also, if other students know about my situation they might discriminate me for not being able to write perfect essays.
Erm, I think you may be getting a wee bit paranoid there.
Most people aren't used to writing two essays a week when they come to Oxford, but you get the hang of it after a while. If your grammar is truly atrocious, tutors may have an issue with that and refer you to style manuals, or whatever. But if it's just a matter of using a dodgy construction every once in a while, they're not going to be terribly fussed (although they may still point out glaring mistakes so you'll be able to correct them).I think I am prejudice: I perceive Oxford as a university where other students would gang up on you if your essays are not perfect or talk behind your back for getting into Oxford without being able to express yourself wholly in writing (I've been spending a lot of time on TSR and have seen many "abuses" on grammatical correctness, which really is overwhelming for a student like me. I support it though as they are "trying" to help the user in improving his/her grammar but the extent of it here on TSR is unbearable).
You're not actually being serious here, are you?
TSR is an internet forum. All internet forums are full of people picking on each other's sloppy grammar.Anyway, if you're genuinely worried: no, bullying people for having poor grammar skills isn't really the done thing here (or anywhere else for that matter) and you'd have to be extraordinarily unlucky to encounter people who actually do that in real life. None of your fellow students will even know what you write like, except for your tute partner, perhaps.
I picked Magdalen based on the fact that it had good kitchen facilities. Although it is impossible to get an en-suite in your first year.
I'm far too lazy to ever pick anything further from the Carfax tower than Mansfield (it would take so long to get a kebab from Broad Street!). If you want nice accommodations and good food, and be close to everything, I think Lincoln would do the job. Obviously I haven't seen rooms from other colleges, nor actually tasted the food, but it's not a very well-known college, which is a shame 'cause it's lovely.
However, about accommodation, if it's the same everywhere, your room will be huge and most have a sink (I think?). And to be honest, that will definitely do. Not being at Oxford (not that it's related or anything, it was just accoms at my uni) I lived in a tiny box and shared 2 showers/toilets with 8 other girls, last year, and it was fine, your standards will probably drop at uni anyway, as long as you have a bed on which you can crash…
However, about accommodation, if it's the same everywhere, your room will be huge and most have a sink (I think?). And to be honest, that will definitely do. Not being at Oxford (not that it's related or anything, it was just accoms at my uni) I lived in a tiny box and shared 2 showers/toilets with 8 other girls, last year, and it was fine, your standards will probably drop at uni anyway, as long as you have a bed on which you can crash…
Wayi
The reason behind this fuss is that I heard students will be writing 2 essays per week and therefore I wouldn't want to embarass myself from lacking the neccesary skills needed in writing a good essay i.e. free from simple grammatical errors and syntax.
If you need to work on those things though (although tbf from your post here your English is pretty reasonable) you're not gonna have the time to fit it in.
Also, if other students know about my situation they might discriminate me for not being able to write perfect essays.
Uh no, Oxford students are regular human beings, not class A weirdos... It is really hard to choose. Is there a guide here to help you choose a college?
The very first answer you received
Have a look at college pros and cons in my sig
Have a look at college pros and cons in my sig
Also there's another link there giving hints and tips on good and bad reasons for choosing a college.
Everyone at Oxford is ridiculously overwhelmed. Almost everyone tends to develop inferiority complexes at some point or other. These generally manifest themselves in either:
a) Group bitching sessions about tutors/work/Oxford/the smart kid
b) Curling up int he foetal position and crying yourself to sleep
I have never experienced people being mocked for being academically bad. You get mocked if you think you're a lot better than you are, but that's mostly independent of how good you really are.
Basically nice people are liked, not so nice people aren't. Academia gets everyone down enough already for us to not make it worse by hating each other as well as the work.
a) Group bitching sessions about tutors/work/Oxford/the smart kid
b) Curling up int he foetal position and crying yourself to sleep
I have never experienced people being mocked for being academically bad. You get mocked if you think you're a lot better than you are, but that's mostly independent of how good you really are.
Basically nice people are liked, not so nice people aren't. Academia gets everyone down enough already for us to not make it worse by hating each other as well as the work.
Plenty of people apply to one college and are moved to another for interviews. Not talking about the pooling system; I mean you're perfectly likely to not even get interviewed at the college of your choice. You still have a chance of getting an offer. Whatever. Beggars can't be choosers.
martin101
You cant forget though that Merton classically has a very high rent rate compared to the median.
I thought Merton rents were from the lower end of the spectrum?
Accommodation charges for 2009-2010
£2,697 for a bed sitting room or
£2,855 for a set of rooms comprising sitting room and bedroom
payable in 3 equal instalments
These sums include the price of the Services and 1,000 units of electricity supplied during each academic term.
£2,697 for a bed sitting room or
£2,855 for a set of rooms comprising sitting room and bedroom
payable in 3 equal instalments
These sums include the price of the Services and 1,000 units of electricity supplied during each academic term.
And I think the rents were raised by quite a bit for '09-'10.
For comparison, BNC annual rent is £2760-£4100 depending on accommodation band, Magdalen is £3250, Pembroke £2900-£4600 (for freshers, a little less after 1st year), University £2877, Mansfield £3000, St.Hugh's £3200, Wadham £3040, etc...
martin101
You cant forget though that Merton classically has a very high rent rate compared to the median.
Roundabout
I thought Merton rents were from the lower end of the spectrum?
I think last year it was the second cheapest. Where could you possibly have heard it was expensive?
Wayi
Merton is quite nice (accommodation-wise) but the competition is pretty tight and, as it is branded as the "workaholic" college, surely the workload is above the average work set by other colleges. So I am not sure with that either.
For my subject at least its by no means the most - christchurch seem to win that. It is a stupid stereotype really - even when merton did come top of the results tables it was always by lik 0.3%, the equivalent of like 1 person getting 1 higher grade or something - wow that must have meant that everyone worked really hard
hobnob
Yes. Obviously if the mere thought of possibly having to live out for a year fills you with terror (although it's worth bearing in mind that the majority of people who actually do it think it's great), you can rule out colleges which can't guarantee you college accommodation for three years. Other than that, though, you'll have very little choice over which accommodation you'll end up in, so I don't think there's really much point in looking at pictures of rooms and deciding that St Anne's has *the* perfect room for you, when there's a strong chance that even if you get in, you either won't be at St Anne's or that you won't be put in that particular room if you are.
I think there's a guide on the wiki somewhere. But really, you need to be aware that at the end of the day, all the criteria on the basis of which you can pick a college are quite arbitrary and superficial. The most important factors in whether you'll actually end up being happy at your college are the ones you can't influence (i.e. the people you meet, whether you get on well with your tutors, how well you're coping with the workload, the sports you decide to do). Of course you have to make an initial choice somehow, so you may as well go with arbitrary stuff like college size, location, what the rooms look like on the website, age, number of letters in the college name, etc, but I wouldn't take the whole thing too seriously if I were you. Most people do end up liking their colleges, even if it's not what they originally had in mind.
I can't see anything obviously wrong with it, if that's what you mean.
Erm, I think you may be getting a wee bit paranoid there. Most people aren't used to writing two essays a week when they come to Oxford, but you get the hang of it after a while. If your grammar is truly atrocious, tutors may have an issue with that and refer you to style manuals, or whatever. But if it's just a matter of using a dodgy construction every once in a while, they're not going to be terribly fussed (although they may still point out glaring mistakes so you'll be able to correct them).
You're not actually being serious here, are you? TSR is an internet forum. All internet forums are full of people picking on each other's sloppy grammar.
Anyway, if you're genuinely worried: no, bullying people for having poor grammar skills isn't really the done thing here (or anywhere else for that matter) and you'd have to be extraordinarily unlucky to encounter people who actually do that in real life. None of your fellow students will even know what you write like, except for your tute partner, perhaps.
I think there's a guide on the wiki somewhere. But really, you need to be aware that at the end of the day, all the criteria on the basis of which you can pick a college are quite arbitrary and superficial. The most important factors in whether you'll actually end up being happy at your college are the ones you can't influence (i.e. the people you meet, whether you get on well with your tutors, how well you're coping with the workload, the sports you decide to do). Of course you have to make an initial choice somehow, so you may as well go with arbitrary stuff like college size, location, what the rooms look like on the website, age, number of letters in the college name, etc, but I wouldn't take the whole thing too seriously if I were you. Most people do end up liking their colleges, even if it's not what they originally had in mind.
I can't see anything obviously wrong with it, if that's what you mean.
Erm, I think you may be getting a wee bit paranoid there.
Most people aren't used to writing two essays a week when they come to Oxford, but you get the hang of it after a while. If your grammar is truly atrocious, tutors may have an issue with that and refer you to style manuals, or whatever. But if it's just a matter of using a dodgy construction every once in a while, they're not going to be terribly fussed (although they may still point out glaring mistakes so you'll be able to correct them).You're not actually being serious here, are you?
TSR is an internet forum. All internet forums are full of people picking on each other's sloppy grammar.Anyway, if you're genuinely worried: no, bullying people for having poor grammar skills isn't really the done thing here (or anywhere else for that matter) and you'd have to be extraordinarily unlucky to encounter people who actually do that in real life. None of your fellow students will even know what you write like, except for your tute partner, perhaps.
Could you live out in your second year? I think it would be much cheaper staying out. Thanks for your advice. I felt more secured by reading your rather long post and is certainly reassured that Oxford is not full of evil gits but rather it is full of indignant angels.
I was going to base my choice on places but I guess that is a wrong criterion. I read a post where he had 10 colleges in his starting list then narrowed it down to 1 after he visited Oxford. I guess that's what I am going to do this coming summer.
Again, thanks.
Second year is usually the one that colleges have people live out for, and you can choose to do so at any college.
I think living in college for term-times only tends to cost roughly the same as renting for the year - obviously, the longer you spend in Oxford outside term, the better value your house is.
I think living in college for term-times only tends to cost roughly the same as renting for the year - obviously, the longer you spend in Oxford outside term, the better value your house is.
hi, I'm also
hi, I also intend to apply for E&M (2011) but I struggle at choosing a college. in fact I'm looking for some unusual facilities and it's hard to find out which college offers what.
so here are the points I search in a college:
_table tennis facilities (I'm a great fan of this sport)
_strong tradition in classical music (I play trumpet at a pretty high level and in loads of orchestra/chambers groups, so I'd like to join the college's orchestra)
_accomodation for the main part of the degree
_nice "old" buildings, nice JCR
And the ones I don't:
_rank on norrington table
_prestigeous or not
I was thinking about Jesus, Pembroke, Brasenose, (christ church? )
I'm open to all suggestions
so here are the points I search in a college:
_table tennis facilities (I'm a great fan of this sport)
_strong tradition in classical music (I play trumpet at a pretty high level and in loads of orchestra/chambers groups, so I'd like to join the college's orchestra)
_accomodation for the main part of the degree
_nice "old" buildings, nice JCR
And the ones I don't:
_rank on norrington table
_prestigeous or not
I was thinking about Jesus, Pembroke, Brasenose, (christ church?
)I'm open to all suggestions
john_13
hi, I also intend to apply for E&M (2011) but I struggle at choosing a college. in fact I'm looking for some unusual facilities and it's hard to find out which college offers what.
so here are the points I search in a college:
_table tennis facilities (I'm a great fan of this sport)
_strong tradition in classical music (I play trumpet at a pretty high level and in loads of orchestra/chambers groups, so I'd like to join the college's orchestra)
_accomodation for the main part of the degree
_nice "old" buildings, nice JCR
And the ones I don't:
_rank on norrington table
_prestigeous or not
I was thinking about Jesus, Pembroke, Brasenose, (christ church? )
I'm open to all suggestions
so here are the points I search in a college:
_table tennis facilities (I'm a great fan of this sport)
_strong tradition in classical music (I play trumpet at a pretty high level and in loads of orchestra/chambers groups, so I'd like to join the college's orchestra)
_accomodation for the main part of the degree
_nice "old" buildings, nice JCR
And the ones I don't:
_rank on norrington table
_prestigeous or not
I was thinking about Jesus, Pembroke, Brasenose, (christ church?
)I'm open to all suggestions
Merton has a table tennis table in the JCR! And our orchestra isn't *that* bad (I conduct it) but most college orchestras are shocking, you'll want to join the university stuff. We have nice old buildings, and our JCR is lovely but somewhat underused, people prefer the bar generally. And just because we usually come top of the norrington table doesn't mean you're under any more pressure, especially now the warden's leaving.
Wayi
I am struggling which college to choose to study E&M at Oxford.
Pembroke's and Lady Margaret Hall's accommodation look rather good - well that's from their websites so they might have deceive me by showing the "good" rooms [what yah think?].
I quite like Brasenose's "outside" buildings but the rooms.. they look quite dirty (no offence) - courtesy of BNC JCR's website.
Merton is quite nice (accommodation-wise) but the competition is pretty tight and, as it is branded as the "workaholic" college, surely the workload is above the average work set by other colleges. So I am not sure with that either.
Just really cant decide.. There are loads of colleges aside from the mention above that I am also considering and in deciding I am highly prioritising both accommodation (i.e. en-suite, fully furbished and cost about £4000) and distance to Said and Economics department (and probably the "language help centre" or something like that can't remember its name).
What do you think? I know that I need to go down to Oxford and actually see it. I might pop in next open day but it is not definite. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Pembroke's and Lady Margaret Hall's accommodation look rather good - well that's from their websites so they might have deceive me by showing the "good" rooms [what yah think?].
I quite like Brasenose's "outside" buildings but the rooms.. they look quite dirty (no offence) - courtesy of BNC JCR's website.
Merton is quite nice (accommodation-wise) but the competition is pretty tight and, as it is branded as the "workaholic" college, surely the workload is above the average work set by other colleges. So I am not sure with that either.
Just really cant decide.. There are loads of colleges aside from the mention above that I am also considering and in deciding I am highly prioritising both accommodation (i.e. en-suite, fully furbished and cost about £4000) and distance to Said and Economics department (and probably the "language help centre" or something like that can't remember its name).
What do you think? I know that I need to go down to Oxford and actually see it. I might pop in next open day but it is not definite. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Choose Pembroke. Well, ok, I may be a little biased as that is where my offer is from, but even looking at it objectively, it is clealry the best for Economics and Management in terms of numbers studying and tutors.
The accommodation is good, unlike other places you can choose what type of room you have etc. It has a nice atmosphere etc, traditional but not excessively so, relaxed, friendly just generally lovely
economics_girl
The accommodation is good, unlike other places you can choose what type of room you have etc. It has a nice atmosphere etc, traditional but not excessively so, relaxed, friendly just generally lovely
Also unlike other places, they charge an INSANE amount for that accommodation (TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS per term??? That's more than I paid for my FLAT!!) you have to opt OUT of meals, and formal is insanely expensive. That said, it's still one of my favourites
economics_girl
Choose Pembroke. Well, ok, I may be a little biased as that is where my offer is from, but even looking at it objectively, it is clealry the best for Economics and Management in terms of numbers studying and tutors.
The accommodation is good, unlike other places you can choose what type of room you have etc. It has a nice atmosphere etc, traditional but not excessively so, relaxed, friendly just generally lovely
The accommodation is good, unlike other places you can choose what type of room you have etc. It has a nice atmosphere etc, traditional but not excessively so, relaxed, friendly just generally lovely
I can't say about the E&M tutors, but the Mac is a pretty ugly building from what I've heard, and lots of first years live in that.
Also, it has the highest proportion of private school students, so can be a bit "rah"-y, which worries some people. Personally I couldn't care less, but some people seem to highlight it as an issue.
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