Choosing a College

Choosing a college can be daunting when you’re confronted with 30 to compare. However, while they do differ in a number of ways, if your first choice isn’t clear then don’t worry! The differences aren’t such that you’d be vastly disadvantaged by picking one college over another – and no matter where you go, you’ll meet at least some people you like.

If you can’t decide, you could always make an open application, in which you’re allocated a college at random. Your chances of getting in are exactly the same, and the tutors who interview you won’t know that you made an open application. Incidentally, you’ll never be asked “Why do you want to come to this college?” in interview.

You may though want to consider a few key points when deciding on a college:

Size and shape

Oxford colleges range from ancient to very modern. What would you rather have at your front door – red brick or Hogwarts? Do you like small gardens or rolling meadows (yes, we’ve got some of those)? Colleges range from about 200 to 500 undergraduates, and vary widely in physical size (though this doesn’t always correlate to number of students).

Location

How far is your college from your department building (where you’ll have lectures) and anywhere in Oxford you’re likely to want to spend time at (sports grounds, parks, music venues, shops)? Remember that Oxford is small, and even the furthest colleges are only 15 minutes away from the centre on foot.

Cost

Not all colleges cost the same to live in. The most significant factor is room rent, but meals and other charges (eg laundry, fines for losing keys etc) all contribute. Be careful when comparing rent figures, because every college seems to have a unique way of stating the cost – some include meals in the rent, for example.  Colleges also offer different levels of financial support to its students, from academic scholarships to bursaries and grants. The only way to get accurate details of these is to speak to the colleges directly.

Accommodation and facilities

All Oxford colleges offer a good standard of accommodation, usually for two years but often more. Basic facilities such as internet (via an Ethernet socket in your room) and laundry are always provided. Every college has a bar and JCR (Junior Common Room). However, some colleges are better equipped than others when it comes to music and sports facilities. Disabled access is not always available in every college, as many college buildings are hundreds of years old. If you have any special requirements, it’s best to check with the respective college or JCR.

A word on the (non-)importance of college choice

College choice is very unlikely to make or break your time at Oxford. While the colleges are different, you will find people you get on with in any college you pick, and most people eventually find their best friends in other colleges anyway. As long as your basic needs (such as disabled access or storage for international students) are satisfied, the rest isn’t so important. If you wanted to, you could always ask a current student (preferably at another college!) what they think about your choices – JCR committees are usually happy to help in this respect, and their contact details are on each JCR’s website.