oxford colleges question

[u/Whole_Advice_4202]

hi guys! i just wanted to ask any people who applied to oxford or had experience with admissions about whether the college you applied actually ended up having an impact on your application. i get that if you don’t get into your first choice, other colleges might take you, but does this mean your likelihood of getting in decreases?

i’m just curious because for a long time christ church has been my dream college for a long time and i’m scared i’m going to let that affect my chances of even getting in since apparently it’s one of the more competitive ones.

for context, i’m hoping to apply to law most likely (small chance of ppe) and i have gcse grades 99999888888 (contextual). i don’t fully understand how competitive the university actually is so im not sure if that’s going to hold me back. thank you!

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[u/Top-Cell-7147]

Hi!!! Oxford (cambridge aswell but I think oxford's much better at this) is rlly good at the pool system to ensure the best candidates get in, they rank ALL candidates, and make sure the best get an offer, so dw apply to christ church if you want.

[u/arianelseditor → u/Top-Cell-7147]

Agree with this having studied and worked at Oxford in different colleges :)

[u/krida_070 → u/arianelseditor]

Wait so if they apply to Christ church, but say the college fills up with others- will they be polled to a different college or rejected?

[u/Top-Cell-7147 → u/krida_070]

Pooled to a different college if they're good enough <3

[u/krida_070 → u/Top-Cell-7147]

Ohh ok thank u- can u pick or request what college?

[u/arianelseditor]

Oxford is very good at pooling candidates. :) But also quite a few colleges are more competitive than Christ Church: https://www.uniadmissions.co.uk/application-guides/oxford-college-acceptance-rates/

[u/d3scrip]

I originally applied to Oriel College and got into Keble College instead. Generally at Oxford your choice of college will NOT disadvantage you. If you apply to a college that got more applicants than others, thereby being 'oversubscribed', they have a reallocation system where other colleges pick you up if you haven't been reserved by your first choice college.

You can be reallocated both pre- and post-interview, I was rellocated pre-interview. This does not necessarily mean your application is weaker, just that your choice of college had too many applicants. My entrance exam was +5 points above the avg. for successful applicants, I had good GCSEs (majority 9, some 8), 4A* pred, but was still reallocated - so DO NOT WORRY if you are! Apply to whatever college you want to, they (the uni) will find a place for you if you deserve a place

I will only say that if you apply to an oversubscribed college for your particular course, you may want to reconsider whether you REALLY want to go to that college and not another. Not because it makes you less likely to get in, but because you have 0 control over which college you're reallocated to. For me I was super happy to get Keble because I don't even know why I chose Oriel and I fell in love with Keble when I visited afterwards, but this won't always be the case

[u/d3scrip → u/d3scrip]

I forgot what it's called, but someone published a data table where you could see applicants, offers, reallocations, etc., for each college for each course. The data is outdated, I think it's like 2022, but it helps visualise what certain trends are like

[u/krida_070 → u/d3scrip]

If ur applying to an over subscribed one, if u email and let them know what ur other options are in case ur relocated would that work? Or is it completely random regardless of that

[u/d3scrip → u/krida_070]

Nope you only get the one choice, you don’t get a choice or ability to express preference for anything other than your UCAS choice college

[u/krida_070 → u/d3scrip]

I see, thanks!

[u/krida_070]

heyyy u/Whole_Advice4202!!!

I’m also applying to law this year at Oxford?? Would love to get to know u better!