Interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge? You also need to be considering college choice - here are some key factors.
What are 'colleges' at Oxford and Cambridge?
At the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, all students are members of a college (or something similar, like a 'PPH'), which is a smaller subdivision of the university. For example, you might go to Oxford University, but you might be specifically part of Christ Church college.
Essentially, colleges are where you are based throughout your studies at Oxbridge. You will probably live on college grounds for much of your degree (though that depends on the college - see below for more details), and most of your teaching (through the tutorial system) will take place with your tutors in college (university-wide teaching usually takes place at a centralised hub for your subject - the faculty of English, or the faculty of Engineering.
How does college choice affect my Oxbridge application?
It is a common myth that your preferred choice of college that you select on your UCAS application form (once you've filled in your details, predicted grades, personal statement, etc) will affect your odds of getting in to Oxford or Cambridge as a whole.
While some colleges are more 'over subscribed' than others, applications are dealt with on a university-wide scale, meaning the best candidates will be always the ones who get into the university - if you have a strong application (the tutors see potential in you as a student) but you applied to an over-subscribed college, you will simply be 'pooled' to another college which has space. This ensures that your odds of admission will not change based on this factor. Some students even put 'open application' on their UCAS form - 'put me anywhere'.
In fact, in some recent years, almost half of students who were admitted to Oxford did not end up at their first choice college because of the pooling system. As a result, it's important not to get too hung up over college choice - in truth, your efforts should be focused far more on obtaining the necessary A Level/IB grades, perfecting your personal statement, and preparing for interviews. However, there are still some factors you can consider when picking between colleges, and this article outlines a few key considerations.
Oxbridge college choice: Location
Colleges are located all over the cities of Oxford and Cambridge. Some are very central, meaning easy access to local shops, bars, etc. Others are further out, perhaps requiring a short bike or bus ride to get into town (although as a result often have larger green space within their grounds). Considering the distance to your faculty (where you will likely be attending lectures) is also useful. You should weigh up your own personal preferences to make this decision.
Oxbridge college choice: Size
Colleges vary drastically in student population - the largest can often be four or five times larger than the smallest. If you're someone who wants a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone, then consider a smaller college. If you want to have a large pool of people to mix in and out of, a larger college might be your best bet.
Oxbridge college choice: Diversity
It is well known that, while Oxford and Cambridge have made efforts to improve their diversity statistics in recent years, they are still far from being reflective of diversity in society as a whole. Some colleges are known for being more diverse than others - for example Mansfield at Oxford has a large state school population. Others are known for higher percentages of BAME students. These figures are published annually by both universities and are easy to access online, so feel free to have a look if this is something which interests you.
Oxbridge college choice: Accommodation
Each college will have their own system of accommodation. At some colleges this will mean being provided with on-site accommodation for all years of your studies, while for others you might need to move out and rent privately (often for the middle/2nd year of a 3 year course). Some students like this sense of independence, while others view it as unnecessary hassle.
The accommodation itself will also vary from college to college. En-suite? Access to kitchens, or reliant on hall-cooked lunches? These are some points you could consider.
Oxbridge college choice: Cost
This is a point which is under-discussed in practice - prices for many everyday costs (especially accommodation) are not standardised across the universities. You might be expected to pay almost twice as much rent in one college as you would in another college across the road, which is a huge difference considering the budgetary constraints students often find themselves in.
It's also worth noting that the 'wealthier' colleges (you can get a rough idea by looking up the 'endowment' of each college online) tend to have more financial support available to students. While there are generous university-wide bursary schemes (like the Crankstart program at Oxford, for example), some colleges will also subsidise costs like food and accommodation on a means-tested basis.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, your Oxbridge college choice will not affect your odds of admission at either university, and isn't something to waste precious time thinking too deeply about. However, mulling over the points raised above can be a useful way to put an informed choice on your application form.
