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I received an email from a current student at Oxford College of Emory University. Apparently, a discussion we had on this board some time ago stirred up quite a bit of discussion among Oxford students and they asked me to give their viewpoints of their school. I'm happy to oblige.

For those of you who don't know, Oxford College is one of Emory's schools. Oxford is located on a separate campus and students take their first two years of classes there before completing their 4 year degree at Emory. Oxford statistics are as follows (this is directly from the Oxford web site): Number of students enrolled in freshman class 320, total enrolled in the school 600.
SAT test scores of accepted students: Middle 50% 1070-1280, Act 22-28, GPA middle 50% 3.1-3.7.
For Emory University overall, the stats are as follows: 1337 freshman, 25th-75th percentile of accepted students: SATs: 1300-1460, ACT 29-33, GPA average 3.8. Note: Oxford does have an honors type program called the Oxford Scholars. Students in this program have an SAT mean of 1390 and an ACT mean of 31.

Because of the discrepency between Oxford's accepted class and Emory overall, in a discussion here I and others indicated that Oxford was a way for students who didn't have the stats to get into Emory directly to still get an Emory education with all of its benefits.

Apparently, Oxford students are quite upset about this. Here's what the person who wrote to me had to say about his school:

"The focus of Oxford is not to aid students less prepared for college of for harder college work. By any means, Oxford is not an easy college...On a university conference, an Oxford graduate posted: 'I don't know about the rest of my peers but the two semesters of work that I have completed at Emory have been much easier than the four at Oxford. Note-my experience is limited to Sociology (where Emory seems like a joke after Dr. McQuaide), Math and CS"

"This student's comment also supports the idea that Oxford is no easier than Emory College. Oxford College is actually the birthplace of Emory College, Emorty University and Georgia Tech. Emory College is Oxford's daughter campus: Oxford is not a junior college. The history of Oxford is very interesting, worth reading, and is an abundant source of material. You can read it here: http://www.oxford.emory.edu/OXFORD/Welcome/history.html

Secondly, the idea that Oxford is a meer "back door" to Emory is not only degrading, it is just wrong. Oxford College is no less academically oriented than any of the other twelve schools with in the university, save for the fact that this is an undergraduate school. According to Academic Advisor Elizabeth Smith, there were students denied acceptance to Oxford College but were on the waiting list for Emory College. In fact, 95% of all Oxford graudates are accepted at their applied medical school, whereas only 32% of Emory College graduates are accepted at their applied medical schools."

I hope this clarifies things from the students' perspective. It sounds like Oxford is a great place to spend your first two years of college.

By Unmatchedsocks (Unmatchedsocks) on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Then why is there such a major difference in their admission statistics?

Also, why might one decide to go to Oxford instead of Emory? Seriously, the things listed seem like after-the-fact type deals.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 07:40 pm: Edit

Unmatchedsocks - Another email I just received from an Oxford student might answer your questions. Again, I think Oxford can be a good place to spend two years - it certainly doesn't sound like a school for slackers - and, at the very least, has VERY loyal students.

A message to Oxford students: Instead of emailing me, why not post here about the things you love about your school so that potential students can learn more?

"I chose to go to Oxford College. I DIDN'T EVEN APPLY to Emory. Sure the standards for getting in are lower, but the top 10% graduating class last year at Emory was 90% Oxford continuees. The president of the SGA at Emory is from Oxford. All of my Emory friends tell me how much more work their Oxford counterparts do and how well they do once they get to Emory. Oxford is one of the best kept secrets academically in the US. The workload here is far greater than that of Emory's undergraduates. Science and Math here are 10 times harder than at Emory.

While it is true the standards for getting into Oxford are lower, you will find that it is harder to stay in the school than it is to get in."

By Drusba (Drusba) on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 09:53 pm: Edit

Well, this does prove one thing. There are people out there other than high school students and their parents actually reading the stuff on this sight ... and they have the audacity to insist that we should actually know what we are talking about.

By Illinoisguy (Illinoisguy) on Saturday, December 06, 2003 - 10:52 am: Edit

I have also heard some very good things about oxford, it is a good example of how smaller schools actually better prepare their students. Though you can only go so far with a small school so I can see how oxford (2yrs) then Emory, Goizueta (Business) or Nursing can be a great plan for college.
I applied in time to their early decision (Nov 15) and would probably go if accepted, though I’d like to have some contact with some oxford students before I make my decision (my email is illinoisguy64@hotmail.com).

By Doddy1 (Doddy1) on Saturday, December 06, 2003 - 12:08 pm: Edit

how do you start a thread? does anybody know?

By Illinoisguy (Illinoisguy) on Saturday, December 06, 2003 - 01:26 pm: Edit

At the Bottom of each section there is a button "Create a Conversation".

By Doddy1 (Doddy1) on Sunday, December 07, 2003 - 08:52 am: Edit

thanking you.

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:00 pm: Edit

Hello there are many good questions addressed here in this conference and would be more than glad to add my point of view.

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:00 pm: Edit

I am currently an Oxford continuee here at the Emory college campus. I have worked as an Oxford college financial aid/admissions assistant and also worked for the Emory college admissions department for the Work-Study program for financial aid. I can answer many of the questions that you have about Oxford College with absolute confidence and honesty. Emory University is not solely “Emory College” itself (campus that you see in Atlanta) but consists of the Goizueta Business School, School of Medicine, Candler School of Theology, Gradauate school of Arts and Science, Rollins school of public health, school of law, Oxford college, school of nursing, and emory college. All of these “schools” make up the “Emory University,” as the living room, dining room, bedroom, and bathroom would make up “your house.” Emory University is a unique institution in higher learning in that if offers upcoming freshman a chance to decide where they want to start off their emory education or their education in general. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that none of the universities in the nation or the world gives upcoming freshmans this amazing opportunity, metaphorically saying, “you can decide emory college-large school setting with different attributes and oxford college-small school setting with different attributes

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:01 pm: Edit

(continues)

Students can either decide Emory college (referred as the Atlanta campus, emory university, or the main campus) or oxford college (referred to as old emory). There are many different qualities of these two schools (emory and oxford) that make “emory university” one of the best universities in the nation if not the world. Emory university (emory college) maybe be for students who like a large student environment, and a city setting. Like many reasons why a person would like the city (urban) compared to a suburban, or rural environment and oxford college may be for students who are seeking a small college composed of 600 students.

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:02 pm: Edit

(continues)

The big question is why do people choose Oxford College apposed to Emory College??

Oxford college has always provided small classes with a professor and student interaction (which is very important-trust me). Oxford college is not a research college, but a school solely concentrating in the area of a person’s academia rather than research. Therefore, the oxford college professors solely concentrates on academic teaching while the student gets all of the benefits of a student who attends the Atlanta campus (known as emory university). Oxford college consists of only the freshman and sophomore class, which is another amazing attribute of oxford college. All of the student run organizations are run by freshman and sophomore students. Leadership positions and roles are not given to senior and junior students always having the first pick, but are given to freshman and sophomores serious about leadership and playing key positions during the two years of college. All of this is recognized by the “Emory University” community and one of the reasons why oxford college is here today, to provide a small interactive community of “Emory University,” where learning is the main priority….and all of the other reasons that I stated on the previous slides.

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:02 pm: Edit

(continues)

The question is why is the admissions requirement for oxford college slightly lower than emory college??

This is a good but simple question. Emory college (referred to as emory university, vise-versa) gets at least 10 times more apllicatons than oxford college. When oxford college increased the admissions requirement one year the applications for admissions declined compared to the previous year when the admissions requirment was lower...until students truly understnad that oxford college is "emory university" will the admissions requirements go up, which is only one way for it to go up, excluding class sizes, professor-student interaction, etc.. which students maticulously look for in a college. So basically the admissions requirments are lower than emory college to attract more perspective students

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:03 pm: Edit

(continues)

The question is-Are there people that get accepted both to emory college and oxford college…but choose to go to oxford??

Again, very good question, but simple question. There are many students who get accepted both to Emory and Oxford but choose to enroll in Oxford college. The final decision after acceptance of both schools is bestowed upon the student. I am not sure the exact percentage of the oxford student body that also got accepted to emory, but have heard that it can consist anywhere from 5% to 26% each year.

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:04 pm: Edit

For perspective students

You can have a virtual visitation tour of oxford college of emory university by going to

http://www.emory.edu/OXFORD/CampusTour/ or

http://www.ecampustours.com/search/searchresults.aspx?SearchText=emory or main-website

www.emory.edu/OXFORD

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:04 pm: Edit

For perspective students

You can have a virtual visitation tour of oxford college of emory university by going to

http://www.emory.edu/OXFORD/CampusTour/ or

http://www.ecampustours.com/search/searchresults.aspx?SearchText=emory or main-website

www.emory.edu/OXFORD

By Korean_Stud04 (Korean_Stud04) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:04 pm: Edit

(continues)

As an oxford college alumni which I am proud of. I have witnessed the unity of the student body. I have not gone a day without many hugs from other oxford students, which can feel amazing after a long hard day or without saying "hi" and making conversation with a student in the dining room or passing by in the beautiful quad. I can just come here...take a deep breath...and relax.
I am glad that I could help, and I can confidently and honetly say that I back up everything that I said about oxford college of emory. If you have any questions you can contact me at deleted or just post in this conference. Again, I am glad I could clarify and help you on oxford college.