Applying to Oxford is academically demanding. No question. Students spend hundreds or thousands of hours exploring their subject super-curriculars through wider reading, independent research or practical experience with the aim of producing a personal statement to capture the attention of the admissions tutors. Clearly, this is a time-consuming intensive endeavour.
But that's only one part of making an application to Oxford - there's also the question of college choice. Oxford's world-famous collegiate system consists of 39 colleges, each with its own unique identity and atmosphere. The college plays a key role in academic development and university social life and so choosing the college that would best suit your needs can be a daunting task.
Here, I'll explore the key factors and offer you my recommendations that you should consider when choosing an Oxford college.
Course Availability
The first and foremost factor to consider when picking an Oxford college is the availability of your desired course. Colleges do not offer all subjects. There's no point falling in love with a college on an open day if it doesn't even offer your subject. You can check this on the University website here.
Accommodation
Some Oxford colleges have modern architecture, others offer a more traditional experience, akin to Hogwarts. Furthermore, not all colleges will offer on-site accommodation for all years of your undergraduate degree, and typical rent prices can vary between colleges substantially. There are key aesthetic and financial factors to take into account here and this is not something that should be taken lightly. You can check whether your desired college offers accommodation for all years here. Information about rent can be found on the college website directly.
Location
Although Oxford is a relatively small town, and the colleges are largely well-integrated into the social fabric of the city centre, some colleges are more conveniently located than others. You should consider the distance from your college to the nearest supermarkets, your main lecture halls and any sporting fields or facilities. Do you want to be able to walk on foot everywhere or are you happy to require the use of a bike? Over the course of a degree time spent travelling can really add up! In my case, I chose St John's, among other reasons for its close proximity to all of the following: Tesco, Oxford train station and the Biochemistry department/science area. I didn't even visit it during an open day.
College facilities
Your college will be your home for at least the 8 weeks of term, three times a year, for at least 3 years. As a result, you probably want to base yourself somewhere that has all of the facilities you could possibly need to feel at home. Maybe you'd like the convenience of an onsite gym. Perhaps a 24/7 library is an essential for you. Maybe you like to be in touch with nature as much as possible, and extensive lawns (that you can actually sit on) or garden space will give you the peace of mind to disconnect from your studies. Again, you can find most of this information here.
What not to consider!
1. 'Reputation/vibe'. Some Oxford colleges carry stereotypes or reptuations based on historical factors which are increasingly irrelevant. Merton is 'where fun goes to die'. Wadham is 'really left-wing and liberal'. Christ Church is 'basically a religious institution'. While there is some truth to these statements (sorry Merton), to choose / avoid a college on the basis of a stereotype goes against the very kind of critical thinking which Oxford is about! Do not believe that a certain college only attracts X type of person. Even if it did, the Oxford student body is so large and so diverse. Be it through lectures, sport or student society, you will eventually gravitate to the people that share your interests, inside or outside of your college.
Do your own research and make sure you are happy with the college.
2. The college tutor's academic expertise. The extent to which in college tutoring affects your academic experience is greatly overstated, can vary from college to college, and is not really a factor in your control. You might pick a college, applying to study physics, because the college tutor is an expert in astrophysics, your topic of interest. Fast forward to first term, and you realise that you absolutely hate astrophysics. Not only that but you realize that the college isn't really what you wanted in terms of accommodation or location. Not a great position to be in. Often, your tutorials will be held at different colleges, going to the tutors who have the most expertise in the specific subject topics, especially as you specialize in your final years.
Final recommendation: put the time in to research - don't make an 'open application'.
Some students simply prefer to avoid the hassle of having something else to think about and make an 'open application'. In 2021, the University of Oxford reported this was the case for 18% of successful applicants. An open application is where you do not pick a college. Instead, the university will allocate you to a college that received fewer successful applicants than they had places to offer. Given that entry standards are the same across colleges, it stands to reason that these colleges are likely to be the less 'desirable' colleges, based on the various factors I've outlined above on this post. I would strongly advise against an open application. Your Oxford University experience should be special and tailored to your needs and desires as much as possible. Your college choice is an important factor - I deliberated over my college choice almost as much as I did for my subject choice!
At Elvis Oxford Coaching and Tutoring, we're here to support you every step of the way on your academic journey.
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