A part of your application which you have not yet considered
Have you already decided which Oxford college you would like to go to? That is the question you will be faced with in the final steps before submitting your application to the University of Oxford, just when you thought you had everything ready (personal statement, reference letters…).
If your first answer to that question is “I have no clue” or “What is a college?”… Tag along, and we will unveil that one with you!
What is a college?
The college system is one of the many distinctive features of uni life in places like Oxford and Cambridge. After accepting an offer to study at Oxford, every graduate student is assigned both to a department (i.e. History, Chemistry, Classics, Mathematics…) and to one of the 45 different colleges that constitute the University of Oxford.
It is this system that inspired J. K. Rowling to come up with the four houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Similarly to Harry Potter’s world, each Oxford college has its crest, colours, motto, sports teams, dining hall, and… Some rivalries, of course!
Colleges are a vital part of the university. They administer all the aspects of student life that are not strictly related to the academic part of your degree, which is run by the departments.
This includes student accommodation, catering, dining halls, and social events as well as most of the facilities and funds available to you as an Oxford University student. Each college, with its perks and flaws, offers a unique student experience.
Which is the right college for me?
All colleges are great places to be, but studying at one or the other is an important factor in your life at Oxford. This is why it is important to be prepared and well-informed when you will be asked to select a preference in the final steps of your Oxford application.
There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a college, for example, its location, funding availability, social life, the quality of accommodation, and so on.
Only some of this info can be found online, and it changes year after year. Is it better to go to a college with a lot of members, or a smaller one? Do colleges in the city centre have a more convenient location, or would it be better for you to live close to your department? Will you spend most of your free time doing sports, drinking at the student bar, or studying in a library?
Still haven’t figured any of this out? No worries, but do not pick at random! Our team at DreamanDo assesses your situation and helps you find a college that will be the right fit for you. You will be provided with all the first-hand information you need, and if you are still unsure, we will put you in touch with a current student to answer your questions