Oxford open day next week :how are we supposed to fit it all in? How do we know which colleges to look at

[Opendaymaddnes]

Hello I'm trying to get my head around the open day and distances. The subject talk is quite early but it looks like we could spend all day at the subject talk area meeting tutors but we need to look at accommodation options also and colleges.

I've googled the best colleges for her subject and I hope to visit three? Does this sound like a plan? Is this what uther people do?

So it's the stone??
Wow!

Brilliant day I feel mentally rejuvenated if not physically wiped out.
. A huge thanks so the incredibly helpful people on this thread 💐💐💐❤️

Nah!! It’s everyone trying to use their phones! It’s ok normally.

Having to use a real map was "quaint" thank goodness dh wasn't with us 😅

No it's not, it's bad.

Not when I’m in Oxford. Never had any issues.

I've had no problems with internet connection in Oxford either. Not been there during open days though.

When I was there in the dark ages, it was notoriously bad for phone coverage. You would see people standing on one of the platforms in the railway station to make calls.

@Hols23 It’s the open day influx of people that overwhelm coverage. It’s the same at some large sports gatherings, definitely Cheltenham races have issues like this.

Thank you for updating the thread, I'm so pleased you had a good and useful day! I really enjoyed the open day rounds too, but especially Oxford. Lots of happy engaging students excited to show you their college/course, and masses of parents and DC thrilled to be visiting with a legitimate academic interest, with a bit of incidental sightseeing thrown in. I hope today's visitors have an equally positive experience, and of course, to see you in future on Oxford parents threads!

And on the steps of the Sheldonian, I seem to remember!

@TenSheds thanks!

It's definitely helped her to understand if she wants too, she can try. I don't think it's understood enough just how put off so many dc are thinking it would never be for them even when they are getting stellar results and doing so well.
I think it raised her internal shutters a little that actually it isn't an unreachable goal.
But even with a high achiever hard worker she's been hesitant and I don't think her school has been particularly helpful either.

Accepting that maybe you are that good makes some people feel uncomfortable and it's a barrier which is why the dc may need more support and obviously not just oxbridge.

In contrast a friend with a child in a good but certainly not elite private school is now part of the gifted and talented program and is getting extra help and exposure, including a day to Oxford and how to apply. Ie his school is giving him firm affirmation that he can go for it.

Glad you enjoyed the open day.
My DC loves giving tours of their college, they are very proud of it. I hope they made you welcome if you met them!

When it came to choosing a college, my DC looked at a sensible choice (less popular, nearer their department, friendly at open day), Merton (because of the high amount of firsts) and I think a coupe of others (went with dad so i wasn't there).

In they end they applied to the one they liked best (which is an old, rich, beautiful, central college and therefore very popular and not strategic at all) and that was where they ended up. They were interviewed by another college and were impressed by how friendly they were at interview. (they are state educated and certainly not given much help from school).

When I asked them about this thread they said don't get too hung up on the college - all colleges are brilliant in their own way and a place at oxford is a place at oxford.

Good luck to everyone!

@Opendaymaddnes That's brilliant to hear, and so true. DD never had any doubt that this was where she belonged, but she was a pioneer for her state comprehensive, which this year was inspired by her success to encourage several people to apply. None got interviews, let alone offers - and from the latest admissions report, there are individual schools that send more people to Oxford each year than have gone from our entire region in the past 5 years! But the important thing is that the idea has been planted and willingness to support is there now.

On college choice, she ended up at one she hadn't even looked at - her main gripe is that it's expensive compared to other colleges and distant from the boathouse - rowing hadn't been remotely on her radar before starting. (She also feels it's exceptionally disorganised, but I have tried to point out this is academia all over!). In all other respects it's a brilliant place and she's very happy. All have pros and cons and it works out happily for most people.

@TenSheds I think with the disparity between what each college can give it will lead to a little resentment here and there. Two tour guides said this about funding and someone colleges I think new college make you pay upfront for food and you don't get any refunds.

Oooph. What a day!

I think we did well! Got to the Maths dept for the talks that DS wanted to hear and visited 7 colleges - we didn’t have full tours around them all but saw a lot and found out some key things about each of them.

It’s been a brilliant day but I’m exhausted now! DS seems more motivated than ever to knuckle down and prepare as well as he can for the MAT in October.

@Opendaymaddnes You have to take the place of your school don’t you. My DD was at a private school and the deputy head said she was wasting her time. Not all private schools know the time of day or care. She had no help at all apart from a couple of great teachers but they hadn’t been to Oxford and no one in our family had either. There are times when you just have to diy.

I think if you were resident there you'd be aware of the issues.

Yes there are certainly more dead spots in Oxford than most places, often when you are up against big stone walls of colleges. It may be worse on open days but it’s generally not great.

If you are a student or staff member you are connected to wifi most places in the city centre so it doesn’t matter. But if you aren’t, or if the WiFi goes down, you really notice it.

We went today, very well organised day.
Students we met today were all so helpful and enthusiastic about their subjects and colleges.

Dd is 16 and was unsure what to do initially , I accompanied her for her first college tour. She went and saw two more colleges.
we attended a law taster session and an admission talk, she found them useful and informative.

Had nice lunch in a restaurant and finished our day with coffee and cake in Knead bakery!

She knows that there is a stiff competition to get in and her chances are slim. Looks like she got most of the information she needs today, now it’s up to
her to decide if she wants to apply as her school does not give any extra help!
I am glad that our open day visits are over now and no more early waking up and driving hours for me!

@ProfessorLayton1 I feel like DD has seen quite a few but still only likes one potential we need more.

@Opendaymaddnes I’ve never known anyone worry so much about colleges! No one resents anyone! If dd gets in, she will be delighted. Who has the time for resentment. If she likes a college, put it down. Or do open. The more you contrast and compare the worse it will be regarding nitpicking. Students really do not care that much!

@Opendaymaddnes If she has one she likes and still wants to apply, put that one down! I don't think there's much benefit in trying to draw up a list if she's already expressed a preference. Or she could always do an open application. My daughter applied to the one she fell in love with and they made her an 'open offer'. It meant that we couldn't get too attached or do too much research etc before results day as even if she got in, she may have been reallocated. As it turned out she did end up at the college she applied to, but honestly I think she'd have settled anywhere. The vast majority of them really do love the college they end up at.

@WutheringConniption I didn't write that well she liked many colleges but in terms of other unis only likes one so fsr

Ah, I see. My daughter was only really enthusiastic about her top and insurance choices.

@Opendaymaddnes DS really loved the course set up and the tutorial system. It’s made the other courses that he’s looked at seem much less desirable in his eyes.

He definitely preferred some colleges to others - a big part of that was down to location but I imagine lots of students would prefer to live centrally.

He’d better knuckle down and do brilliantly in his MAT to keep the dream alive!