An Overview of Oxford University

Advantages: High academic standards, reputation, university can be the best years of your life
Disadvantages: Can be seen as stuffy and old-fashioned, a lot of work, may not suit all

...and tutorials. It’s a real benefit though to be taught by famous names in your field (sometimes) and work doesn’t totally rule life, except in the approach to exams! The year is divided into three terms, Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity. Each of these last eight weeks (which are numbered, so dates in Oxford tend to be given as ‘Tuesday of 5th’ rather than by the more conventional calendar). Normally you’re required to be present in 0th week, however, for tests and expected to do a lot of work over holidays too. There are university exams at the end of the first year (‘Prelims’ or ‘Mods’, depending on subject) that have to be passed (although this is fairly easy). Degrees awarded, however, depend entirely upon ‘finals’ (and sometimes a thesis or other project) – so my grade will...

a-true-ben 06.01.2002 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

Oxford University - love it or hate it?

Advantages: You either love it
Disadvantages: or you hate it

...I studied at Oxford for seven and a half years. I had never even thought about studying at Oxford (or Cambridge which I visited often as a child) when one day I was on a school open day at New College. I walked into the college and I simply fell in love with it. I knew then that I wanted to study there and have not regretted it. The application procedure for Oxford and Cambridge is slightly more complicated than for other Universities. There is a separate form which has to be filled in and returned, and the deadline to send this in is earlier than for the UCAS form. When I applied there was still an entrance exam, but now that has disappeared. You pick a first choice college (and second and third if you want, or if you don't want to pick you will be assigned them "by computer") and if you are invited for interview you will be...

newc0597 05.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

10 reasons to love Oxford University...

Advantages: Good Facilities, Friendly People, Nice City
Disadvantages: Work!

......assuming I can think of ten that is. Still shouldn't be too difficult given what a great place it is. So here we go in no particular order... Buildings: As in historical and beautiful. Many of the colleges are very pretty: Magdalen, Christ Church, The Chapel at Balliol. Plus outside of the colleges is amongst other things The Sheldonian and the Church of St Mary The Virgin - the most visited church in Britain. Oxford Union: 'The Last Bastion of Free Speech', run by elected students and famous for its speakers from the world of Politics, Sport and Entertainment. Visitors in recent years include Michael Jackson, Rolf Harris, The Dalai Lama, OJ Simpson and Kermit the Frog. David Trimble & John Hume spoke in a debate on Northern Ireland there last Tuesday. The Union also runs social events and has a Bar offering Pound a Pint as...

Sweep1 12.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

Keble College, Oxford University

Advantages: Beauftiful, grand, Oxford as a whole is prestigious
Disadvantages: Grand, daunting, har to get into

...igh street chains, plus a few other shops, both cheap and not so cheap! There are plenty of bars and clubs around, which is only to be expected in a city with not one, but two universities I guess... Oh and I got rejected from Oxford, which is a shame, but it does mean I'm off to Durham this September! Wooo!...

kozwoz 25.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

Oxford Brookes is a good University in a beautiful city

Advantages: Good facilities for teaching, socialising and sports
Disadvantages: Very expensive

...As a Postgraduate Student at Oxford Brookes I had high hope when I enrolled. I have found the the teaching facilities and equipment very good. The buildings themselves in some departments are a little old fashioned on the exterior, but the interior makes up for it. There are many societies and clubs which are very active within the Students' Union. The nightlife on campus is good with events happening on most nights at the different bars around campus. Being within easy reach of the city, I feel, means that you can tailor your student experience in the way you want. Oxford itself has more of a pub than club culture, but there are some good clubs out there too, which I think compliment the club nights at the Student Union very well. Accommodation is of a high standard. The Sports Centre is particularly noteworthy as it has very high...

twinkle321 29.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Oxford Brookes University

Why Oxford?

Advantages: Friendly students and social life, Fantastic societies to get involved with, Proximity to London
Disadvantages: Very academic! Highly pressurised and very stressful

...The aura surrounding Oxford is one which contributes significantly to the pressure on students who are accepted to the university. Not only do they have to contend with very intense workloads and deadlines, but they have to finish term without collapsing and return home to face the curiosity (and often anticipation) of friends and family - making it difficult to admit that the experience may not be as rewarding as it seemed initially. My own experience of Oxford (so far, as a 1st year) has been very mixed and very intense. Without a doubt, the college you find yourself at and the course you have chosen can make or break your time at the university - because there is simply no time to turn back once term has begun. The intensity of the institution demands excellent self-organisation and motivation, because despite the well-known tutorial...

teenage_legend 11.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

Oxford - land of opportunity

Advantages: Excellent reputation and the best tutors going
Disadvantages: A little archaic sometimes but good

...The thing about Oxford university is that if you get the chance to go, or someone around you, a teacher or one of your peers tells you that they think you have the ability, you have to try and go. The reasoning for this is simple - an Oxford degree is one of the best things you can ever put on your CV. People know what it stands for and what to expect from you, and you will have an automatic advantage when applying for any job. Criticized in the media most wrongly for its elitism, the university does suffer from being a little archaic in places and so might seem stuffy or wrapped up in itself sometimes but the fact of the matter is that three or four years there offers an open ticket for a great job of your choice for your whole working life...

BIGHORSE 09.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

The Oxford Bar Review

Advantages: Bars have their own individual character
Disadvantages: No centralised student venue

...After attempting to drink at as many college bars as I could (for research purpose of course) I came to the conclusion that without a reliable guide a new student might find themselves rather lost. So I took it upon myself to write this article just in case someone should be tempted by the false delights of St John's bar. The other opinions on the thread are slightly out of date aswell. Each college has its own bar. Since there is no central student union the bars are the focal points of university and college life. The quality varies, but in general they offer cheap beverages and a friendly atmosphere. Most of the bars open at about 6pm but don't expect to find anyone in them until about 8pm. All the bars close at 11pm but they sometimes get extension if they have a bop going on (a bop is a stupid oxford word for a party, a college...

Duncan1 21.04.2001 (11.06.2001) · Read review
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Review of Oxford University

Congratulations! It's a calendar.

Advantages: Emotional, Sentimental but fun
Disadvantages: A bit slow at times

...In the sleepy Yorkshire town of Rylestone, not a lot happens. Each week the local women venture down to the local church hall for the regular WI meetings, where they learn about Arts and Crafts and Broccoli. When the husband of Annie, one of the WI members, dies from Leukemia, her best friend Chris comes up with a plan to raise funds for the local hospital, which treated him, by having the women of the WI appear in an arty, nude calendar. After much cajoling, they manage to convince enough members of the WI to join in, and after a bit of opposition from the WI's president, the calendar gets the go ahead and is created. Too their surprise, the calendar is a huge success and causes quite a stir both in England and across the waters in America. As the media frenzy around the calendar reaches fever pitch, the strain starts to take its toll...

christianfilmcritic 11.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

How to get into Oxford

Advantages: See op
Disadvantages: See op

...Hello. So you want to know how to get into Oxbridge? I got a place to do mathematics in Exeter college, Oxford, 3 years ago, and here's how I managed it... For starters, you need to apply by the deadline, which is before the other Universities expect their UCAS forms... That aside, your UCAS form should really be faultless. I did mine on the pc, which meant that the finished result was flawless, and my application looked lovely. Your academic achievements are, obviously, rather fixed, and you really don't have much flexibility over how you quote them, and your personal statement is, to be honest, your gateway to getting an interview at Oxbridge. You need to appear confident and capable in your studies, and evidence of having done well is always useful. Having applied for mathematics myself, I feel that it...

LouisaNott 14.02.2002 · Read review
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Review of Oxford University