Choosing an Oxford College

is Oriel's choir good?

Hey all, after working at the open days last week I decided I wanted to write something about choosing a college, since so many hundreds of people asked me questions about it! Since I've just noticed this thread (i'm really observant!) I thought some of you might want to read it to.

http://socyberty.com/education/choosing-a-college-at-oxford-university/

Hope it helps, feel free to send any questions my way.

Gave it a quick read - is it finished? The 'further considerations (important bit!!)' section has only e 1 sub-title (location)?

I'd very much disagree with "...perhaps most importantly, they have different (academic and social) reputations..." - they are almost all just silly stereotypes with only vague hints of truth. I mean, Brasenose is stereotypically tory private-schooled posh people. Would you want potential applicants to base their decision on that?

Also, the location point has no mention of potential off-site accommodation. I mean, Exeter etc are very central, but in second year you are forced to go live in private accommodation which will likely be even further away that the furthest colleges. This is a particularly important point as its something applicants are very likely to overlook.

There's a second page
And yes, I agree with you about the reputation - the article goes into more detail on that near the end. I definitely don't encourage people to apply based on reputation, and I state clearly how it's 99% rumour, but at the same time I think we have to accept the fact that people consider it when applying, however much they shouldn't.

Another reader has also mentioned the off-site accommodation, and thanks for pointing it out. Yes, it is a big oversight and I can't believe I missed that while writing! I'll submit the edit this evening

There's a second page
And yes, I agree with you about the reputation - the article goes into more detail on that near the end. I definitely don't encourage people to apply based on reputation, and I state clearly how it's 99% rumour, but at the same time I think we have to accept the fact that people consider it when applying, however much they shouldn't.

Another reader has also mentioned the off-site accommodation, and thanks for pointing it out. Yes, it is a big oversight and I can't believe I missed that while writing! I'll submit the edit this evening

Hey all, after working at the open days last week I decided I wanted to write something about choosing a college, since so many hundreds of people asked me questions about it! Since I've just noticed this thread (i'm really observant!) I thought some of you might want to read it to.

http://socyberty.com/education/choosing-a-college-at-oxford-university/

Hope it helps, feel free to send any questions my way.

Are there any colleges that are undergraduate only, i.e. don't admit postgrads? I'm struggling to think of an example.

Interesting and generally very good - two very minor questions/quibbles:

Are there any colleges that are undergraduate only, i.e. don't admit postgrads? I'm struggling to think of an example.

Does All Souls admit any undergraduates? It's mentioned along with Blackfriars as having a very small intake but isn't it fellows only? It's not listed among the colleges for undergrads at http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/index.html

I know I'm being picky and I may be wrong but I thought it might improve the article further if these were picked up.

I'm hoping to be a 1st year PPEist at Oxford but i'm not really sure which college to go for (i've got a few idea), what I do know is that the social life is going to be a big factor in deciding which college to go to. When I say social life I mean alot of partying, club nights and pub quizzes etc etc. I've been trawling tsr for this kind of info but I've only really got general statement i.e "Brasenose is dull" (you get the idea). Any Oxford students can you please tell me what social life is like in your college please. Particularly Trinity, Exeter, New, Magdalen, Brasenose, St Edmunds Hall students (i dont ask for much ) but all are welcome as these are just general colleges which i kind of like but I'm not sure which college to apply for yet. In advance thank you for any responces

I think Bezzler had tutes at All Souls but certainly it doesn't admit undergraduates.

I'm hoping to be a 1st year PPEist at Oxford but i'm not really sure which college to go for (i've got a few idea), what I do know is that the social life is going to be a big factor in deciding which college to go to. When I say social life I mean alot of partying, club nights and pub quizzes etc etc. I've been trawling tsr for this kind of info but I've only really got general statement i.e "Brasenose is dull" (you get the idea). Any Oxford students can you please tell me what social life is like in your college please. Particularly Trinity, Exeter, New, Magdalen, Brasenose, St Edmunds Hall students (i dont ask for much ) but all are welcome as these are just general colleges which i kind of like but I'm not sure which college to apply for yet. In advance thank you for any responces

I'm hoping to be a 1st year PPEist at Oxford but i'm not really sure which college to go for (i've got a few idea), what I do know is that the social life is going to be a big factor in deciding which college to go to. When I say social life I mean alot of partying, club nights and pub quizzes etc etc. I've been trawling tsr for this kind of info but I've only really got general statement i.e "Brasenose is dull" (you get the idea). Any Oxford students can you please tell me what social life is like in your college please. Particularly Trinity, Exeter, New, Magdalen, Brasenose, St Edmunds Hall students (i dont ask for much ) but all are welcome as these are just general colleges which i kind of like but I'm not sure which college to apply for yet. In advance thank you for any responces

I'm a Brasenose student
And it is most definitely not dull. As people have said, as with anywhere you'll get people who love clubbing and going out, and people who don't. That's not just with colleges, that's with life. But almost any club night in Oxford, especially in the first term, tends to have a Brasenose contingent. A particular favourite at the moment is Camera, on Tuesdays and Fridays, but it varies from term to term and what's good at the time. Since everyone in the year pretty much knows each other (and an awful lot of people from other years), you're basically guaranteed to see another Brasenose face out. I imagine this is probably the same for a lot of college, but I can say it for us.
Quiz nights, we've done a few down the bar and they've been really fun, plus a few of us have been a couple of times to the pub quiz at Far From the Madding Crowd, which is a nearby pub, and Magdalen have an alternative quiz which is open to anyone from any college.
Also our bops are awesome, usually we have a few hours in the bar (last time with jelly shots and free uv paint), then went to Babylove which is a club literally just across the road, which was hired out and decorated just for us, plus some free shots there. So good!

So basically, BNC is awesome.

I have a few in consideration but I have no clue which one to pick! Some help would be appreciated. I stayed over for a residential at St Edmund Hall but it was very small for my liking although I still loved it. Next door Queen's seemed absolutely brilliant as well. I haven't actually seen Christ Church but I love the really large colleges and the large dining halls. I wasn't able to visit many other colleges due to time restraints.

So in summary I'm considering

St Edmund Hall
The Queen's college
Christ Church
(and also Brasenose maybe)

But I have no idea which one to apply to!

I concur with everything she says :P
Also, if you got there early enough, "some" free shots was an understatement.