Help me understand the Oxford College system

[beansandsosages]

DS has just started year 12 and may want to apply for Oxford next year, to do maths, engineering or computing. We know students have to apply to a specific college, but don't understand how that works. For example, if there are 180 maths places across the whole university, are they evenly divided between the 45 colleges (4 each)? I guess not, so how do I find out which ones have the most maths places? Does he have more chance of getting in by applying to a college that has, say, 30 maths places than another that only has 15? What happens if he applies to the college that he likes the look of, does well in the admissions exam/interview, but they don't have any maths places left, do they pass his application to another college instead? Can you list colleges in order of preference? And where is all this explained (as I feel like the only person in the world who doesn't understand it)?

There are also multiple branches of Sainsbury's now. Balloon, Trinity and St John’s are all very close to both Sainsbury's and Tesco

I think perhaps i didn’t say what I meant clearly enough when I used the word “prep” for interviews. Many students are nervous. They might be wondering what will be thrown at them. They get psyched up for one interview. Most are expecting one interview - although I accept some are expecting more. I think if someone is expecting one interview but ends up going to three, it’s stressful. It might make you question belief in yourself. It might make you think you simply didn’t get on with the tutors who interviewed you and you are required to try again, and again at the end of an already stressful process. Irma I feel for your DS there.

I didn’t mean prep in terms of reading or swotting, I really meant mental prep and the need to be “on your A game” multiple times. That’s hard.

Guymere it's just the process. It's tough if it's hard. Getting through an Oxford degree is hard - which is exactly why they're valued.

Also can I just say if they bother to do even the vaguest of research - a useful skill for an Oxford applicant - then they'll know very well that even if they're going for a humanities subject they'll get at least two interviews at their first college and may well be pooled to a second or even, less often, a third. If they don't bother to find out - tant pis.

@goodbyestranger I didn't say it was all wrong, I just said a lot of it wasn't accurate. I was just trying to help with some information I've been told when helping with open days and from my own experiences/ those of my friends in choosing a college.

Also yes to PP who said OP's ds was applying to multiple interview subjects - sorry, I did say I didn't know which subjects had multiple college interviews off the top of my head (it could easily change anyway I expect).

Well my totally useless research turned up the Interview info posted by Oxford that clearly talks about applicants being interviewed at a college by normally two tutors and possibly one. I couldn’t see anything about multiple interviews at each college. So I respectfully suggest their info needs updating if it’s underplaying the number of times applicants are seen. I totally agree that applicants have to be hardy and tough to get through it. Hopefully robust students don’t have problems once they get there.

I can't see what you're describing on the Oxford website. It all looks accurate. Would you be able to link?

@MollyButton

There are also multiple branches of Sainsbury's now. Balloon, Trinity and St John’s are all very close to both Sainsbury's and Tesco

Balloon?

I think it should be renamed permanently.

I vaguely remember the St Peter’s/Pembroke wrangle over proximity to Sainsbury’s.

I’m useless at links but here are screen shots. I do understand about joint honours but it clearly says “a college” and not several interviews by numerous tutors as implied above - other than the courses named by posters. But they are not named on this bit of info.

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews

You probably need to read the page as a whole.

Balliol auto corrects!

Just to add, this all may be "academic" anyway, as we have no idea yet how the interviews are going to pan out this year. They will be on-line, but as yet we have no insight at all into how this will be handled with regards to passing, or pooling, or anything else. I am assuming they will be recorded, so perhaps no need to re-interview, who knows.

I wonder if people will have to go into school/college/test centre to have interviews, as if candidates are at home there could be a few security/privacy issues with candidates potentially recording their interviews, or people getting help from the wings.

@IrmaFayLear I can't see why. I know they are recruiting Police online, the only problems would be: those from more disadvantaged background who might struggle with adequate broadband/computing; AND those who really struggle with video interviews - it is very different to face to face. Especially that little image of yourself in the corner.
It would be pretty straightforward to request the applicant is alone in a private place, and with 2 interviewers at least shouldn't cause any safeguarding concerns. But you will need video to check they aren't being prompted etc.