He chose Balliol College because that was the College where his elder brother had studied but, since his elder brother had read chemistry, Graham decided he had to be different in some respect and so, despite holding a natural sciences scolarship, he chose to read mathematics.
Siya napili Balliol College dahil na ay ang College na kung saan ang kanyang kuya had-aral ngunit, dahil sa kanyang kuya had read kimika, Graham nagpasya niya sa iba't-ibang sa ilang mga paggalang at sa gayon, sa kabila na may hawak na isang natural na siyensiya scolarship, siya pinili upang basahin ang matematika .