<p>I hear about the different colleges at Oxford University </p>
<p>Colleges</a> - University of Oxford </p>
<p>and at Cambridge University </p>
<p>University</a> of Cambridge: The Colleges </p>
<p>but I'm still puzzled about how the colleges differ. Is it a big deal to choose what college to apply to? Do most in-the-know Britons distinguish students at one college from students at another college in the same university? </p>
<p>Thanks for any information you can provide.</p>
<p>College matcher: Choose</a> Your Oxford College</p>
<p>I'm hesitant to link to this since it will probably be deleted, but it's extremely helpful nevertheless:
<a href="http://www.the-studentroom.co.uk/wiki/Choosing_an_Oxford_College%5B/url%5D">http://www.the-studentroom.co.uk/wiki/Choosing_an_Oxford_College</a> (remove the dash)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is it a big deal to choose what college to apply to? Do most in-the-know Britons distinguish students at one college from students at another college in the same university?
[/quote]
Colleges do not accept students for all courses (subjects/majors); each college has certain courses it encourages. On a more superficial level, many things differentiate the colleges- size, location, age (and consequently endowment), facilities, etc.</p>
<p>Picking a college is a big deal, because it's where you'll be spending the next 3 to 6 years of your life. Some are traditional...others not. Some are centrally located...others aren't (but possibly nearer to ones department. The list can go on and on. The general public in the UK doesn't know the difference between all colleges though. Unless you're speaking to an alum of one of the universities, college probably won't enter the convo.</p>
<p>Everyone really stressed about this - and then when you get in you find out it doesn't matter! Everyone thinks that all the other applicants must know everything about all the colleges and have some magical way of picking the perfect college for them. But actually 99% of people are clueless and are using the web-site just like you. The other 1% are applying the the college their parents went to and don't know anything about the others. About 1 in 5 students ends up 'pooled' to a college they didn't apply to anyway. Most people have some gripes about their college - yet love it just the same and will vigourously defend it in the face of criticism from others. It's very common for students just to choose the college that is next to their department so they won't have to get up early for lectures! My friend told an interviewer she chose Sidney Sussex college because it was the nearest to the supermarket (don't try this. she didn't get in)</p>
<p>No-one who didn't attend Oxbridge themselves will ever ask you which college you attended or be able to identify more than one or two, even in the UK (and most people outside the UK won't know that 'colleges' in this sense even exist). It's totally fine to say you picked the college because you liked the architecture, or the gym or something. They don't expect you to be a college expert. I wasn't asked why I chose my college at interview, but some people are.</p>
<p>it will make a big difference when you're actually at oxford or cambridge, even if next to no one in the US knows what you're talking about. at the graduate level, it doesn't matter too much, but as an undergraduate at oxford, i can tell you that it's like 90% of your life socially, academically, extra-curricularly, etc., and since different colleges have drastically different resources and even academic results, it becomes a big deal.
there's this thing called the norrington table that could consult, which is a list of the best colleges academically (i.e. which college's students perform the best on the university-wide final exams)... of course, the ones at the very top are harder to get into, but you will also probably end up with better (read: more intense) tutorials and probably more essays to write as well. additionally, the wealth of the college (which translates into a better library, etc) is a small factor... you can also look at famous alumni, because that's just fun.
no, it's not important how you answer that question in interview at all (I said-- good drama and poetry societies! and he was like... okay...) but it is important whether you select one where you really 'fit'. you can get a general idea from looking at the JCR (=undergraduate body) websites.
xoxox</p>