Oxbridge application season is upon us, and one procedure baffles students every year – college selection. There are thirty-six undergraduate colleges at Oxford, and twenty-nine at Cambridge, so selecting colleges is no easy feat. Picking the right college can make or break your application, so selecting one carefully is essential. As a consultant who graduated from Oxford, here are the steps that I take with my students every year.

Firstly, we look through the available admissions statistics. Cambridge publishes their admissions results (by college and by subject) every year, so we should take advantage of that. Let’s take a look at an example.

Fig. 1 Admissions Statistics of Natural Science by Cambridge Colleges

Last year, my student, BC, was interested in Natural Science, so we ran through the admissions statistics together. After a bit of research, we figured out that a few colleges have higher admissions rates than the others (e.g. 43.5% for Lucy Cavendish vs 17.8% for St. Johns). With this data, we were able to shortlist 5-6 different colleges for further research. Afterwards, we looked at the demographic statistics. Some colleges are less likely to accept Asian students, so it’s essential to ensure that you are applying to a college that is friendly to your ethnicity.

Then, we had to do some academic research on the shortlisted university. One of the key attributes of successful Oxbridge applicants is their strong commitment and interest in their academic endeavors. As a result, any competitive candidates should demonstrate affinity towards certain subtopics in their desired academic fields. For example, BC was interested in cancer and genetics, which coincided with the professors’ research at Lucy Cavendish College. He ended up getting questions related to this field in his interview, which led to him doing exceptionally well. 

Another critical factor is your high school’s interaction with particular colleges at Oxbridge. Many professors don’t have a strong understanding of specific curriculums like the American AP system and Hong Kong DSE. As a result, some of the interviews are awkward because it takes some time for the college professors to figure out what they can ask in the interview. It’s essential to check with your school counselors about previous successful applications as they would know which colleges are friendlier to your school. Your counselor would also be mindful of other applicants from your school and their desired major and Oxbridge colleges, so make sure to coordinate with your counselor regarding your college choice. Applying to the same major and college as someone else from your school will significantly lower your chances of admissions, as they are unlikely to take in both students from the same school in the same year for the same programme.

The location of colleges is a very under-considered factor for applicants, but it could also  greatly impact applicants’ chances of admission. For example, Keble College, Oxford, is very close to the Chemistry Department, so they can get up to 7 times more Chemistry applicants than the average college. Even though most applicants are pooled to other colleges for interviews, Chemistry applicants at Keble still have to compete with about two times more candidates for a spot. Another example is Girton College, Cambridge, which has higher-than-average admissions rates as compared to the other colleges, but it’s so far from the city center that it has an entirely different postcode than the rest of the Cambridge colleges! 

Fig. 2 A Google map screenshot demonstrating the distance between Girton College and the Chemistry Department

Lastly, each college’s culture and facilities can also be considered. For example, Christ Church College, Oxford, is traditionally more politically right-wing and students are more likely to join events such as port and policies. On the other hand, students from historically women’s colleges like Lady Margaret Hall and St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, are more open to liberal ideas. In terms of facilities, some colleges have en suite bathrooms for even first-year undergraduate students, while others only offer them to second-year students or above. If you enjoy gardens, then Magdalene College has a deer park; if you play the organ, then Keble College has a beautiful organ; if you like rowing, then University College is quite close to the boathouse. My point is that each college has its charm, and the right college is different for each student.

In conclusion, different students have different priorities, and there are no one-size-fits-all strategies for picking colleges. I hope the factors I discussed in this article can help you think more deeply about your Oxbridge college choice and eventually pick the right one for you!

Quantum Prep is an education consultancy that focuses on placing their students at the best colleges or universities. We boast of diverse results. In addition to the traditional rap sheet of prestigious university acceptances, our consultants like to highlight the different paths they have sent students on. All of our students are different; we are proud of our one-on-one tailored approach towards university counselling. Contact us for a complimentary 30-minute initial meeting, where you can get tailored individualized advice on how to put your best foot forward. Read our reviews to see what our clients think of us.

By Anson Chung, Admissions Consulting Partner

Published 27-09-2024