the comedy of errors

After visiting Stratford upon Avon and Oxford (among others, i.e. Salisbury Plains, Betws y Coyd) I realize that I have many misconceptions about England, which no explaining over a blog can clear up. So so many misconceptions about Oxford in particular and learning about it has been quite a privilege.

On campus at Oxford (which isn't actually a university per se--it is a town/community of 42 colleges) there are 16,000 students enrolled and even more tourists. The way it works is as follows: When you apply to a certain college in the Oxford community, tutors from different colleges exchange information and meet to consider everyone applying to study their subject, to ensure that the best candidates get places, whichever college they chose. As well as your college of preference (or allocated college, if you make an open application), another college may also interview you and perhaps offer you a place. When you are enrolled (not at Oxford University, but rather a specific college) you are allowed to take classes of the arts and sciences in any college in the university's community.

However, on two occasions (when you matriculate and graduate) you are brought through a common building owned by Oxford University (not a particular college) called the Chaldean Theatre. They also take their examinations in a common hall, probably the most feared building on all of Oxford's High Street. Students wear full academic accoutrements (subfusc) during these occasions and when they've been found to have mastered the teachings, they graduate from "College" Oxford University. (I.e. Magdelen Oxford University) This is where I want to attend a few classes (pronounced Maudlin) for the exchange program I am enrolling in next year. One thing that really stuck out to me as superb is the tutorial system of fellows they have. Twice a week a student will meet with his/her fellow and argue a thesis until the fellow decides the argument is adequate. This way, a student will gain teaching skills and absorb the material better. Really, this is what Oxford University aims for: masters of subjects, not recipients of degrees.