Trendy? Used to describe Cambridge Uni? What IS she thinking?!
Most people probably think of Cambridge as a uni just for snobs, for those who are either amazingly intelligent, or have a family who can afford to pay their way in. They think of Cambridge life revolving completely around work, ... Read review
Advantages: good atmosphere, great teaching, nice city Disadvantages: hard work, Cam life can be stressful!
Trendy? Used to describe Cambridge Uni? What IS she thinking?!
Most people probably think of Cambridge as a uni just for snobs, for those who are either amazingly intelligent, or have a family who can afford to pay their way in. They think of Cambridge life revolving completely around work, with the students having no fun at all and spending all of their time in the library. Not the case!
I speak from experience here ... ...want to apply to either Cambridge or "the other one" then you'll need an extra form to fill out. This form is basically a mini UCAS form - you will have another personal statement to write, this time all about why you want to go to one of these two universities. The form will cost £10 to send off and process (payable even if you don't get in!) so be warned when making this decision.
Trendy? Used to describe Cambridge Uni? What IS she thinking?!
Most people probably think of Cambridge as a uni just for snobs, for those who are either amazingly intelligent, or have a family who can afford to pay their way in. They think of Cambridge life revolving completely around work, with the students having no fun at all and spending all of their time in the library. Not the case!
I speak from experience here - I'm a second year undergraduate student at Cambridge Uni, and trust me, I wasn't expecting to get in when I applied. But since I started my uni life here, I've not looked back!
This op is going to be an attempt to describe some aspects of uni life - not all, as it would mean that you'd be reading this op for about a week...
APPLICATION PROCESS
When filling in your UCAS form, if you want to apply to either Cambridge or "the other one" then you'll need an extra form to fill out. This form is basically a mini UCAS form - you will have another personal statement to write, this time all about why you want to go to one of these two universities. The form will cost £10 to send off and process (payable even if you don't get in!) so be warned when making this decision.
When applying to Cambridge, you apply to a college rather than the university itself. The university is divided into 31 different colleges, each varying in size, reputation and facilities. It is advisable to pick your college carefully, as you will be living there for at least three years! Here are some things to take into consideration when choosing which college you wish to apply to:
- Location. Some colleges are right in the town centre, and so get thousands of tourists each year, some are 3 miles out of the town centre. Ideally you want to pick a college that is within easy reach of wherever you will be having your lectures.
- Size. Do you want to study at a big college or a tiny one? Trinity is the largest Cambridge college, but also has a reputation for housing pretentious rich students - you have been warned!
- Reputation. Some colleges are renowned for their sports teams, some for drama or music, some for other things. Take a look at the colleges' individual websites or the Cambridge prospectus to find a college that meets your needs.
Personally, I chose Queens. It was a decent size, the clubs, social activities and, of course, the bar all seemed excellent - and it was nice and close to the language faculty, which was ideal, as I didn't want a long trek to lectures...lectures at 9am is bad enough, let alone having to get up at 7!
If your application is successful, you will then be invited for an interview. Before the interview the college may ask you to send essays or projects you've done in the previous year - do not worry about this, just ask a teacher to help you pick the right ones to send.
The interview will probably be held with two members of the department (subject) that you'll be studying - and trust me, the myths are not true! Just be yourself and ignore the arrogant b*****ds in the waiting room - they probably won't get in anyway.
If your interview was successful, then you'll receive a letter confirming your place at the college (subject to grades) shortly afterwards. However, sometimes the colleges find people that they would like to take on, but they don't have enough places. In cases like this, people are put into the "pool". Here, other colleges can take a look at your application form and invite you for another interview if they so wish - this could mean, however, that you'll end up at a college you really don't want to go to....
However, this is precisely what happened to me. As I mentioned earlier, I applied to Queens, but was placed in the pool, then received a phone call from the admissions tutor at Downing, where I was accepted. It just goes to show that you may actually end up at a really good college despite being pooled...and wherever you're pooled to, I can guarantee you'll still have a good time!
TEACHING
As at most other universities, teaching comes in the form of lectures. Different subject areas have different numbers of lectures per week: it could be as few as 6 (such as for Linguistics, which I study) to around 15 for medics or scientists. In some subjects, such as languages, classes are given for a couple of hours each week, and the science and medical subjects also feature practical work.
In addition to these, Cambridge is slightly different from some other universities in that you are also given supervisions. These are small study groups, usually consisting of two or three students and a supervisor, who will be a lecturer (again, numbers vary from subject to subject) In each supervision you are given a task to complete, which you give in before the next supervision, in which you will discuss the work you have done. It's an excellent way of learning, and an ideal opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the subject.
This system is a very good one - lectures are ideal, as you are given handouts which help immensely with your course, but also supervisions. I am a big fan of this method of teaching - in supervisions you have a huge amount of attention from the supervisor, and plenty of opportunities to clarify anything about which you are unsure. Your supervision work is always discussed in great detail, so it's the perfect way of learning how you could improve in time for the exams.
LIBRARIES:
Each college has its own library, again, these vary in size depending on the college. Libraries have sections for each subject as well as a relatively small fiction section. Books can be borrowed for between a week and two weeks, and can be taken home during the holidays. Libraries also have desks at which you can work, as well as photocopying facilities, computers and also stacks of past exam papers - incredibly handy for revision!
In addition to the college libraries, each subject area has its own library - these are dotted all around the city. There is also the huge University Library which is a great source of any books you cannot find elsewhere.
The libraries are an ideal way of obtaining information without having to go and buy it. The Downing library is incredibly well stocked, and if there's a book you need that they don't have, all you have to do is fill out a form and they will get it shipped in. It's a nice, quiet area in which you can work without distractions, and right outside the bar, meaning if you want to pop out for a quick drink then it's so easy!
IT FACILITIES:
As mentioned earlier, the libraries all have computers with internet access, but each college and all of the departments also have a computer room. You also have the option of bringing your own computer, and for around £20 a term you can be connected to the university network, giving you internet access 24/7 for this small payment. It's pretty good value, except when the network crashes...
On the whole, I've found the computing facilities to be very good. I rarely use the computer rooms, but the network is excellent - especially for sharing music and other random stuff...and, of course, essays and lecture notes! If you've missed a lecture, just ask a friend in your college to share it on his/her computer, and you'll be able to download it for your perusal. As I mentioned earlier, the network does crash from time to time, but I've found that this problem is usually rectified very quickly.
SPORTS
Cambridge is renowned for its wide range of sporting activities, particularly rowing! Each college has its own boat club, but if you're hoping to row, then be prepared for 6am outings on the river!
Football, rugby, hockey, netball, lacrosse and all manner of other sports can be played in Cambridge - if you want to do it, you'll find somewhere where you can. Most colleges have fields and courts where you can play, and there are also sports and leisure centres in the city itself which do student discounts.
Personally, I haven't taken advantage of the sports facilities very much, as I'm incredibly lazy! However, I do sometimes play badminton - my college organises a session every Sunday at the local leisure centre. Not only is it a great way to get fit, but it's an inexpensive way to play (about 75p a session) and a good way of socialising.
ACCOMMODATION:
You are guaranteed university-provided accommodation for 3 years - if your course is longer than this then you'll have to find somewhere in the city to rent for your final year(s). Rent currently costs between £40 and £80 a week, depending on the size of your room and its facilities. All rooms have a telephone socket and a socket for network connection, some also have hand basins and/or ensuite bathrooms.
This year, I am lucky enough to have a very large room! I'm paying around £65 a week for the privilege, which includes all utilities (water, electricity, heating). The room has a washbasin, which is handy first thing in the morning when everyone is rushing to use the bathroom! The house is home to 7 other students, and we share a kitchen, a bathroom, a shower room and two toilets. It's a very sociable atmosphere - and it's almost guaranteed that you'll be living with close friends in your second and third years.
STUDENT UNION:
The Cambridge Student Union is very well organised. It provides student nights at the local nightclubs, as well as various other forms of entertainment. The Union also hosts debates and appearances by guest speakers: some of this year's being Jean-Marie Le Pen, Ann Widdecombe and Anthea Turner.
The union also offers help and advice for students in a number of areas. At the moment, they are running a CamExams scheme - advice on how best to succeed in exams, how to cope with stress and top tips for revision. This includes an exam skills day, which includes help with solving scientific problems and writing essays in arts subjects.
They also produce several publications at various points during the year - including a Freshers' Guide, a Womens' Handbook, an Alternative Prospectus and many more.
I, personally, have found the Union-produced literature incredibly useful. The Freshers' Guide that I received at the beginning of my first week here was the ideal way of finding out just how Cambridge University works, and also finding out what special events had been put on for us freshers university-wide.
At the moment, the CUSU Careers guides are invaluable - at a time when I'm trying to decide what I want to do in the future, the Careers Handbook is a necessity. Packed full of useful information, website addresses and contacts, it's enabled me to make a clearer decision as to what will lie in store for me when I finish uni...
I'm ashamed to say I've never been to any of the Union's ents, but I hear from friends that they're pretty good! Club nights involve cheap alcohol and cheap entry fees, the debates are well organised and guaranteed to be interesting, if not controversial.
The Union also provide services such as photocopying, student ID cards and a university mail service, which prove invaluable!
Overall, the functions of the Union are very diverse, and they achieve their aim of providing a single entity to which students can turn, whether they want advice, entertainment, or something completely different!
SOCIETIES:
Arriving in Cambridge for the first time, you'll no doubt be informed of the Freshers' Fair - an event where the presidents of various university societies and clubs come together and try and persuade you to join up! Both the colleges and the university as a whole have their own societies - these ranging from sports and music societies to the more bizarre such as Sheila And Her Dog (bedtime stories and cocoa!), The Real Ale Society and the Monty Python Society. Say no more...except that if you can't find a society for a particular hobby of yours, then you should feel free to start one! As long as you can find at least five people who want to be part of the society and a "fellow" (lecturer) who is willing to be the senior treasurer, your society will be made official and you could even get university or college funding!
I am currently a member of the Downing College Table Football Club and the University Table Football Society, and have been a member of the Assassins' Guild, which everyone seems to join in their first term! Basically, you are given around three people from different colleges that you have to "assassinate", using water guns, knives made of cardboard, poison pen letters or a variety of other methods detailed on their website. At the end of each term a winner is declared. But be warned - there will be people making attempts on your life too - you have to be vigilant!
The list of societies in Cambridge is incredibly large - you're bound to find something you want to do. And, like I said, if you don't, then you can set up your own. I'm currently in the process of setting up an Essex Society with a friend (don't laugh!) The aim will be to bring together university members from our wonderful home county, as well as approaching schools in the area who rarely send people to Cambridge, to make them consider applying. It's seeming fairly easy to set up...and it'll be a great way to get to know new people!
THE CITY:
I'm not going to speak too much about the city itself, as I already have done in a previous opinion.
The city of Cambridge is great for shopping, boasting both the town centre and the Grafton Shopping centre slightly further away. Nightlife is good, with around 118 pubs in Cambridge and the surrounding area, and a number of cheesy nightclubs - ideal for students! It is also good for culture, with a number of museums, art exhibitions and concerts. And if this isn't your thing, then the city is a wonderful place to walk around and just take in the scenery.
So, my overall opinion? Well, the city is beautiful and the university is a great place to study, despite its odd traditions. Formal hall is one of these - a formal meal held a few times a week in each college, with waiter service, candlelit meals, and you have to wear your Cambridge gown...there are many such bizarre traditions, but they can be saved for another op!
If you're thinking of applying to Cambridge, I hope this review helped - and if there's anything else you need to know then drop me a message in my guestbook and I'll be happy to help.
...student there. I graduated from Cambridge university in 1997 with a degree in history. Second, I actually got in to Cambridge (Emmanuel University) on my second attempt - something that is commoner than you might think. And third, I have watched my sister go through a very similar pattern at Oxford. And the up shot of all this? Oxbridge is something I feel very strongly about. I'm going to start here by exploding a few myths - the first of which ... ...better off at Edinburgh: the Cambridge course is incredibly academic and focussed on training research doctors rather than practising ones. And the same is true of other subjects. On the other hand, there are some at which Oxbridge excels: Oxford for English, for example, and Cambridge for History. So the first message is: don't get caught up in the idea that they are superior to every other university academically, because it's simply not true. ...
ImogenW 27.12.2000 (06.06.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cambridge University
Advantages: High scholastic standards. Many are beautiful Disadvantages: Very competitive
...in history are graduates of Cambridge including Wordsworth, Bertrand Russell, LOrd Keynes, and former Indian prime minister Mr Nehru and nobel laureates such as AK Sen. What follows is a short round-up of some of its well-known colleges and their famous former students.
Clare
Clare College, is the second oldest college, originally founded in 1326 as University Hall. In 1338 Lady Elizabeth of Clare refounded the college calling it Clare Hall, it ... ...pubs, the Maypole and the Cambridge Arms. Among famous former students here are Charles Wilson, nobel laureate (physics), CecilPowell another nobel prize winner, the chemistry nobel laureate John Walker, Oliver Cromwell and Lord David Owen. The college colours are dark blue and magenta.
St, John's
St. John’s is the second biggest college in Cambridge. It is richly endowed and is a large landowner. St John’s was founded in 1511 by Lady ...
ashford 20.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cambridge University
Advantages: Hard work, hard play Disadvantages: Hard work
...first thing to know about Cambridge is that it really is a work hard, play hard environment. If this is what you'd like, its a great time, but don't expect much time doing nothing.
Cambridge is organised into colleges, where you live, and, for lots of the time socialise. Its important to choose the right college for your outlook, so if you're thinking of applying you should definately visit a few. I'm at Emmanuel, which is great fun, has ducks and ... ...are usually of high quality. Cambridge also has supervisions - lessons in small groups with the fellows. These are scary at first, but really useful in the long run.
Cambridge has lots of "pretentious" stuff going on, like formal meals, but it's all taken quite lightly and is really just a lot of fun. e.g. formalised drinking games (if you want to know, apply).
The social life centers around the college bars, but there's lots to do apart from drink. ...
jamaggs 01.08.2001 (04.08.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cambridge University
Advantages: great experience, high quality & respected degree, many opportunities, stretching Disadvantages: hard work, college-level concerns dominate
I graduated from Cambridge just over 18 months ago, after a three-year course. I found it a very intense and rewarding experience, with loads of opportunities, and would recommend the university to anyone who thinks they can manage the workload.
Make no mistake, it *is* a hard workload. My own experience is in Natural Sciences and Computer Science, and I worked around 40 hours a week most of the time. The vacations are longer but usually loaded ... ...than the newer, poorer ones. Cambridge itself is not cheap, being so close to London, but hardship funds are available - no-one has ever dropped out of New Hall because of money troubles.
Cambridge still seems to have a reputation for only being for 'posh' people, as evidenced by the row over 'elitism' last year. I can only say this - I came from a state school and I had a wonderful time. The friends I made are from all sorts of backgrounds and ...
rachelcoleman 20.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cambridge University
I am in my 1st year of a 2 year PGCE at Cambridge. I came here having graduated from York University, expecting to be faced with snobbery. I was surprised to find that Cambridge's reputation as a public school dominated university is totally unfounded. Although it is rare for me to hear other northern accents, the students of Cambrige are a friendly bunch all in all.
The teaching lives up to the high standards i expected and despite high pressure ...
bry21 05.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cambridge University
IT Facilities
Libraries
Societies/Clubs
Accommodation
Nightlife
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"The main objective of the Sutton Trust is to support innovative projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds." - Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust (www.suttontrust.com)
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