boringname

Unless by "invest" you mean "put your money somewhere besides your mattress," then no, it is by no means stupid not to invest the paltry amount of stipend you're able to save. (Hmm, enough negatives there?) Although you can afford to ride out the ups and downs of the stock market if you really won't be needing your money for a long time, you can't take as many risks if you're likely to need your money within the near future. But kudos if you've won a stipend that allows you to day-trade....

I did get a Clarendon in 2006, and notification was via e-mail--in case that helps you gauge when you should start expecting to hear (and whether you should be hanging around the mailbox or obsessively clicking Send/Receive, Send/Receive, Send/Receive...). Good luck to you!

The Clarendon is only for international students. Most of your questions can be answered in a quick Googling--see, for example, the the Clarendon FAQ: http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io/funding/cl ... 2008-9.pdf. This does not say what proportion of the awards were for full stipend, tuition, and fees; but overall last year there were 104 awards (4.6% of applicants). I don't know whether they notify people all at once or in batches, but in 2006 I heard back on 31 March. I think I know of someone in Classics on a Clarendon, so I don't think they discriminate against impractical fields.