<p>Hi Im applying to Oxford this year and Im debating whether to apply Open Application or not. If I apply to a specific College, say Christ’s Church, and I get rejected there will I then be thrown back into the “pool” with the Open Application people?</p>
<p>My question pretty much: I know its “easier” to go Open App, but does it hurt if I put a 1st choice?</p>
<p>Though an Open App technically won’t disadvantage you, it certainly won’t benefit you. Colleges are such an important part of your social life you really should choose one you like. It will make no difference to your chances if you specify a college.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what happens if you’re pooled, i assume that you will just be considered by less popular colleges if they have spaces.</p>
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<p>Not exactly. Applications to colleges are very uneven. basically if one college appears in the background of a Harry Potter movie or something, they are flooded with applications. The vast majority of people pick a college they saw on TV or the one which is closest to their lectures (so they can stay in bed late). Most people are no more scientific about it than that (and most people love their eventual college whatever! So don’t worry too much about it). A college with lots of applicants will re-distribute some of them to college with less than average numbers of applicants in that particular subject. BUT if you are a poor candidate you will just be straight out rejected.</p>
<p>For example:
College A has 30 applicants for 6 places to study History.
10 of these are good applicants which the college wants to accept, but has no space.
College B has 10 Applicants for 6 places to study history.
Only 2 of these are good applicants which college B wants to accept.
College A accepts the best 6 applicants and the next best 4 are sent to college B.
College B may accept all the applicants from College A, or may reject them (sometimes there are second interviews).</p>
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It doesn’t matter that much either way. The vast majority of applicants choose a college, but many international students choose open. Like I said, most people come to love their college so it doesn’t matter too much. Or at leats a lot LESS than you think at this stage. I stressed about it too and I was pooled at Cambridge for undergrad and then at Oxford for graduate studies! In both cases I was happy.</p>