Choosing an Oxford College

I thought that was obvious myself, but fair enough. The point is, even when applicants can see the figures they are clearly not deterred from applying to the popular colleges all that much. This would be even more true of Oxford as no one really knows the popular/unpopular colleges. Hence, a popular college one year is unlikely to suddenly change the next, hence la-dauphine's point is valid, and yours is largely not (although it could make a slight difference).

Like many current students, offer-holders, and indeed the university itself ( http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/how_do_i_choose_a_college/index.html), I feel that applicants in general (la-dauphine in this case) tend to over-worry about college choice. This may manifest itself in relatively unproductive speculation regarding issues like under/oversubscription and pooling, amongst others. As you correctly say above, 'no one really knows the popular/unpopular colleges' and this is particularly the case when further considered by subject within a college (which my post carefully specified, a fact I believe that you have overlooked in your replies to me).

My post #1782 was intended to be a light hearted way of defusing the issue of college choice by attempting to show logically (not necessarily in practice, although you appear to concede that there may be at least some such effect), that second-guessing the admissions process isn't worth the effort. You know, like people who buy toasters as wedding gifts, on the basis that everyone else will think that everyone else will buy toasters so won't buy them (the problem being that everyone else thinks the same ). I wasn't trying to make any sweeping claims that your college will suddenly plummet in popularity.

My subsequent post, the one that you replied to, was just meant to fairly gently point out that la-dauphine may not realise that she is in an Oxford forum (similar threads exist in the more general Oxbridge section). That said, the Cambridge stats arguably provide some evidence to support rather than refute the existence of the effect that I have described. Jesus may be the best example, though several others have the characteristic yoyo-ing up and down of total numbers.

What you've said about Teddy Hall is false, I think - I'm pretty sure they don't have their bops in college, they just go to clubs, and you have to pay to go to them - they don't have the largest dance floor in Oxford! Also I think you have to pay to use the table football/pool table in SPC, though I may be wrong there.

I think there is pretty good evidence that Worcester and Balliol are constantly very popular, and that some others are constantly not, and if there was a case where a candidate was really torn between two colleges (say, worcester and merton), then it would be logical to take this into consideration.

As it happens, I am tending a bit towards Merton. (Not for this reason especially, though - and anyway, Merton seems a likely one to be oversubscribed too.)

For as much as courses are centralized by the university, I'd appreciate any insights on the differences in college experience that a PPEist might have at these three colleges. I am an international student and look to a career in politics in my home country. I also study hard, take myself too seriously and am not one to party or drink much (for now, at least ), but also do enjoy meeting people and consider networking opportunities as an important factor. Do any of these have any particular ties to the Oxford Union and debate? Lastly, what are the tutors like? (For someone interested in taking the Politics-Philosophy track)

How do these three compare? I like Magdalen because it seems the most studious, and has buildings that rival Christ Church (whose beauty makes it hard to pass up, and seems to capture the quintessential "Oxford experience" - at least for an international!). Then again, Balliol has that reputation for PPE, with tutors like Bob Hargrave and Adam Swift, and the Cerberus PPE society. I read though that it's more of a party atmosphere there, and not as traditionally "Oxford" without formal hall. Would PPE at Magdalen or Christ Church be any less than at Balliol, without the star tutors and PPE society? Thanks for reading!

Professor Caney teaches politics, specialising in Marx and is a big dog in left wing theory.

I would, of course, recommend Magdalen. Not only do we get great academic results (record Norrington score last year) and have fantastic tutors, but we also are establishing a political tradition with five alumni currently in the cabinet. We are fantastically located for PPE - we are between the exam schools/philosophy library and social science library - and despite being further out of town, you get three years on site accommodation, which I don't think is the case at Balliol / Christ Church. We are on the river and have our own punts on site. We have our own squash courts, tennis courts, and pitches on site. Er....plus we've won University Challenge twice as many times as the next best institution!

I would begrudgingly accept that Christ Church is a better college to run from in the Union simply because of the distance, although if you run from Magdalen you will be unlikely to be against someone from your own college at the start, whereas at Christ Church there are always loads of people running, so you'll face internal competition at the start.

Architecture: I always think Christ Church is grand whereas Magdalen is beautiful. Tom quad is huge but not that pretty in my opinion.

I didn't intend to make any assertions about Cambridge; I'm an Oxford offer holder (and you're in an Oxford forum/thread )

but I like lots of colleges and it could mean the d€ifference between at worst an offer or a rejection, or at best going to a college I like or a college I hate.

Lincoln & Jesus are compared to New, Brasenose and Oriel.

Nobody at all?

I'm applying for undergraduate. I need a FRIENDLY atmosphere where I can meet alot of new friends, preferably more males to female ratio. Maybe even next to a few good clubs or places to chill at? Not too stressing.

Any recommendations would be great, thank you

TEDDY HALL!!!!

We're renowned for being really friendly, welcoming, there's a great Hall atmosphere where everyone gets along. We're also generally good at sport and stuff... and although like anywhere, you're expected to work, we're not a Merton-esque college. We're not that close to clubs...but we're not far from the Kings Arms and the Turf, and we're right over the road from a cocktail bar.

Our year (First) has a 81:39 male:female ratio too.

Ignore Bezzler, we DO have bops in college, just not all of them. We claim to have the largest dance floor in Oxford, although not sure if its true. Depends what you call a dancefloor really...You have to pay for the pool table, but not the table football.