How intense is it to study at Oxford?

[pinkyslippers]

My DD may apply to Oxford, we know little about it , but anecdotally were told that the majority of teaching is small group not lecture based and that a number of students who go there do find it too intense.

DD is very able, sociable, happy and quite a gifted communicator but there is a but - when she is over stimulated can become anxious and can't sleep . We know someone who dropped out of Cambridge for this reason and went elsewhere.

Seems a shame not to try for something special but she needs to be happy and feel she can progress.

Are their some knowledgeable opinions or experiences on this theme?

Had I not spent my three nights in Oxford as a candidate getting plastered with my fellow candidates I might have been offered a place ...😀

At cambridge the following year I stayed over and had a nice time with fellow interviewees but laid off the drink....

All very helpful. DD is very sociable and would do better in a more laid back college. Do they exist at Oxford.

She is hardworking but does better with friends who do not fret about work despite being able achievers but . I wonder if Oxbridge is full of perfectionists?

I know you can't stereotype but these are the niggling worries

Sorry on my phone. Lots of typos above.
I'm basically asking - anymore college suggestions?

It's supposed to be harder to apply for joint honours as each department can't understand why you'd want to dilute your time studying by doing another subject.

While I think Merton is the only obvious mistake if you're looking for a college which isn't too intense on the work front, I really can't see that you can protect your daughter from the general pressure that exists everywhere in Oxford. It doesn't even sound as though she has serious indicators which would make her high risk for not being able to manage, and there's a good chance she might be pooled however carefully you analyse college choice. St Catz might be one to think about though. The Oxford website shows the stats for pooling and if you're absolutely determined to try to go for a more relaxed atmosphere plus less chance of pooling then Catz might be on the radar. But my own view is (for what it's worth!) that you should not name Merton but beyond that don't overthink it.

No, I don't think Oxbridge is entirely full of perfectionists! However, no college is going to be laidback in terms of work really - there's a lot to cover, and only 8 weeks to do it in. I guess maybe look at the ones in the bottom half of the Norrington table? (Lol, but sort of half serious ...) Although yes, historians did seem to have a universal reputation for having an easy life! But go to open days and chat to students, get a feel for the place.

MFL degrees vary greatly in terms of the proportions of language/culture that is taught, the variety of culture modules, and also how it is taught. (E.g. My dd at a non-Oxbridge uni has more language classes than her Oxbridge friends, and from the second year has most of her lectures in the target language which I don't think happens at Oxford.) So make sure you're getting what you want from a degree course.

(Btw, classics mods are late, not early - 5th term of the 4 year course.)

Sorry yes quite right about Classics. Out of kilter is what I meant. The other two are early though and History is the very end of first year.

most Cambridge candidates do not have an overnight stay and socialise with other candidates.

My DD applied this year - she could have stayed in the college the night before interview but because of logistical reasons didn't. However, she got a pool offer from Murray Edwards, they did a very nice offer holders' event last week, overnight stay on a first-year's floor, dinner etc, attend a couple of lectures (or for the non-STEM, eat marshmallows with the gardener, apparently ). However, I gather this level of welcome is the exception rather than the rule.

My Dd could have stayed the night before interview as well but it's probably geared at providing accommodation for those with long journeys rather than social/meet other candidates aims. College also did offer holders lunch and tours last week though. On the other hand. I think the oxford experience - staying over and expecting to mix with confident candidates many of whom are there en mass in big groups from schools who send large numbers to oxford can can be daunting/offputting for the shy or less confident student.

User1469 I take your point about groups of friends from some selective schools (although that does n't mean that they are mainly confident types). However it is unlikely that they will all be clustered at the same Oxford colleges and most prospective students are keen to meet new people and share interview experiences. A very shy candidate at worst will have experienced college accommodation and meals plus had free lodgings from which to explore Oxford in between interviews.

I would say it is intense, yes, and in more ways than the workload.
Terms are short - just 8 weeks - which puts a big pressure on solidifying friendships as well as extra-curricular stuff like training for sport/practising for performances etc
It is also quite an intense environment - intimidating gothic architecture and very busy bustling city.
And yes, there are some incredibly intense people there.

I think the key is to be prepared for it and manage it. Make sure you have some extra-curricular stuff which looks good on your CV, but also some stuff you just enjoy doing for pure relaxation - whether that's an organised club or just kicking back with mates. Plan to go up as early as you can at the start of each term to settle in. Do as much reading as you can in the holidays to buy yourself some breathing space. Choose a college with some green space around it - the meadow and parks are beautiful and very good for de-stressing. And plan to come home or go and see friends at another uni around week 5/6 for a bit of R&R.

Merton was pretty intense and competitive ten years ago when I was there. Can't imagine it has changed. The guys studying history at Somerville didn't seem too stressed from what I could see! until third year
^I would definitely apply if I were her!
DD is very able, sociable, happy and quite a gifted communicator but there is a but - when she is over stimulated can become anxious and can't sleep^
That describes pretty much all Oxford students! It is a personality type necessary for success

Fair point Sendsummer and good to get the college experience but I think sometimes the confident public school image is seen at oxford interview more so than Cambridge for that reason and candidates need to know that's not the norm there are plenty of quieter 'ordinary' candidates at both

Oxford is very intense! I studied medicine at merton 15yrs ago. I live in Oxford now. It is a very academic college with high standards - I think you would be better off at one of the slightly less pressurising colleges (often but not entirely the newer colleges), and I also noticed that students doing joint honours are often busier and mroe stressed than single honours. Oxford is a fantastic experience but not for the faint hearted! Think carefully - your dd might do better somewhere where she will find it slightly easier to do well (self esteem boost) and there is less pressure ( reducing anxiety ) and more time for other pursuits /student life pre starting work. Good luck!

I have a friend who chose Merton because it was beautiful and had great food - I personally think it was the wrong choice for her. Another friend from a tenant farming background was treated like shit by some of her tutors at St John's 'go back to Shropshire and look after your pigs' etc. Difficult to say avoid these colleges as they are clearly fantastic places and have lots of resources and money to offer, but intense they certainly are from the outside. I didn't study at Oxford myself light blue FTW but have always understood that St Catherine's aims for a more open approach.

annandale how long ago was the St John's college incident?

Yes, fair cop, a long time ago.

Hiya, I graduated from Oxford within the last 3 years (History.)
A couple of things that I wanted to say, in response to earlier posts...
Firstly, yes, Oxford is intense. It can be stressful, very difficult, and terrifying at times. But it's also truly one of the best - and not just in the country, but in the world. My Oxford degree took everything I had, but it's also something that is going to benefit me for the rest of my life. It really is second to none.
In terms of how you can make Oxford a bit less stressful... The fact that your daughter is thinking of History and MFL was a bit of a red flag for me. Any Oxford degree is demanding, but the joint honours courses are notorious for being particularly dreadful. There's a real lack of communication between the faculties, which can make it harder for students. Additionally, rather than doing 50% of one subject and 50% of another, it seems more like 75% of one syllabus and 75% of the other!! It's a LOT of work. Maybe something for your daughter to think about more.
Finally, in terms of colleges - I would perhaps look more to the more modern colleges (usually those that used to be all women) as places that tend to be a little more relaxed and informal. That's certainly not to say the quality of the education is any less, but given how stressful Oxford is, why make it even harder for yourself? St Hugh's, St Anne's, St Hilda's, Catz, St Peter's all come to mind.
If you have any questions, please say! Would be happy to help as a recent grad.

Thank you so much for your P.M., Judgejudy1. Informative and really appreciated!

One of my D.C. was really worried she wouldn't be able to cope with her course but we all took the view that it was worth a try and that it was ok if she dropped out if it really wasn't working for her. You can research things as much as you like but there are still a lot of variables that you can't control. We even looked into finances etc if she did drop out before she had even started the course. Knowing that it wouldn't be a complete disaster if it was too much for her gave her more confidence to give it a go. As we suspected it turns out it was exactly the right course for her and that she is living it and doing well.

Drop out rates for Oxford are low especially as (I think 🤔) rustification doesnt show up in the stats as 'dropping out'. Even so it's not unheard of.

I went to New College (10 years ago! Yikes!). Academically it was incredibly intense, and honestly I left hating my degree subject (maths). Going from a very average state school, I didn't feel prepared and I was on the back foot from the start. If there is any chance of a summer course there, I would highly recommend that!!

But! It taught me a lot about myself, and what hard work entails. It got me my current job, which I love. And socially, it was an incredible experience. I made great friends, who I still see today. New is incredibly sociable (or it was when I was there) and is a pretty big college, so lots of things going on. The chapel choir is all boys though, although they have a mixed choir too!

The Oxford University website has a nice little tool to help you choose a college.
It is very intense because the terms are so short, so you do 8 week sprints and then use part of the vacations (hopefully) for reflection/catching up as well as relaxation/earning money.
I would not say most students hate the intensity, most in my observation thrive on it - and continue to thrive on that intensity afterwards, which is why some are so successful.