Help?

[nemoorange]

I'm a Year 12 student, studying English Language and Literature (Combined course), French, Maths and Computing up in Lancashire. I'm thinking of applying to Balliol or possibly Magdalen College to study English; I was wondering if anyone studying the course could give me some information on it. I've looked at the course outline several times, but

Comments

[smellingbottle]

I'd agree with others that Oxford may not be the best place for you. Quite apart from anything else, the fact that your real interests seem to be outside the study of English literature as such is likely to come across in an interview and damage your chances of a place at very competitive colleges - I'm afraid wanting to be at a college which is 'old' (which includes the majority of them, by the way) isn't going to help you there. Although I confess to not understanding precisely why you would consider studying English, when you don't seem massively enthusiastic about it (not trying to be offensive here, but you sound as though you have all kinds of reservations, and would rather be doing something else!) - I'd also suggest you do a lot more research into other universities at which you could do a joint degree in English and Creative Writing.

But if you want to be a novelist, there's nothing stopping you just doing it, alongside whatever you do end up studying/doing for a living. I know quite a few, and not a single one is the product of a creative writing programme.