Oxbridge

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To gain a perspective of what it is like to study at either Oxford or Cambridge ? Could anyone contribute any knowledge or experience of studying or knowing someone who studies/ has studied there.

mazda I don't have a blind loyalty - why would I not be capable of objectivity? - but I'm in a reasonable position to counter nonsense based on the flimsiest encounters with the university in question. Nothing especially commendable about that although slightly more commendable than unquestioning loyalty. It's not an emotional thing!

Yes, absolutely, of course. I hope I haven't put anyone off as that wasn't what I set out to do. I just got a little annoyed with an attitude.

One history tutor she met alone in his office was a great laugh! I am the humble messenger conveying back my Dd's feelings from her experiences. It really does depend on the individual and how they react to certain people. I will be as positive as possible.

Dd-and again, in her experiences- found the classics and archaeology tutors to be more down to earth and helpful. She stayed in contact with one of them by email who advised her on the language to submit written work as English isn't the schools language. When she telephoned the history departement it was not as helpful. But as not to generalise, she did find one rather proper tutor who in the end was nice having got used to his ways.

Oxford run heaps of outreach events as they really are struggling to get enough state school background kids from different areas. Well, this is according to the article I read. If I recall correctly, something like 150 constituencies get one pupil per year into Oxford, where as certain areas get much much more.

I really do think these outreach lectures etc are very very useful for those not aquainted to their systems and style. DD has made quite a few friends across the country. They provided far more information than is on their websites. Plus they are somethint fab to put on the personal statement considering many subjects it is hard to find extra curiculars that are academic and relate.

Similarly, Cambridge run events too. I do believe from her research that these are more hung up on parental education etc.

Not a great deal to go on here OP :)

From having a DC at Cambridge one thing I would say is that it is spectacularly cheap (accommodation / food / clubs and societies / funding for vaguely subject related overseas trips) as compared with all the other Unis looked at. I'd imagine, although happy to be corrected, that Oxford would be similar.

Boys , compared to other universities I have read about on here , yes , Oxford is relatively cheap (from DS's bills and anecdotes from other of his friends who are else where or my friends whose DCs have gone elsewhere)
I do not know but a combination of college owned accommodation and also more catered accommodation (which I know doesn't suit everyone) probably contributed towards this and also some colleges have enough money (I guess) to subsidise some of the costs.

IT is best to go to an open day, a subject day is even better, and ask the questions! I think insecure young people from some backgrounds are put off by posh accents. But nowhere is totally posh any more than any university is totally British! You just have to accept everyone for what they are. It is called tolerance!

I think the bigger problem is why young people might be out off when hearing a posh accent. Who has taught them to be so intolerant? My DN has this problem and despite being clever, prejudice will hold her back. Her Dad has already said that Oxford is too posh for them! She now believes it because her crap school knows no different and she is effectively brainwashed. This school, of course, is not a top state grammar school. It is a comp that has very few bright children because most avoid it. They are not inspiring anyone to reach for the stars! Sadly.

Hello,

I graduated from Cam in recent years having read history. I'm from a single parent working class background and went to a (failing) state school. I can hand on heart say that my three years at Cambridge were hands down the best of my life. Ignore the stereotypes. You will find people like you wherever you go, it's about finding your niche. The wonderful thing about Oxbridge is there are the resources and the space to do just that. I find loads of people write it off as 'too posh' or 'not for them' because they're understandably scared of the unknown. It's tough. You have to be extremely self motivated and able to make yourself work on limited contact hours. Reading is so important and you need to be fairly emotionally robust to thrive in such an environment. Good luck to you/ your DC

OP hasn't been back for a while. I wonder if they are interested in everyone's replies?

the history tutors she met on the whole were quite snooty and as you would imagine.

Oh really? On behalf of my colleagues, just what do you imagine? We can really do without this sort of lazy prejudice.

I don't think I've ever met any posh faculty here at Oxford! Everybody is either down to earth North of England, down to earth American, lovely or mad (or some combination). Maybe I've just been very lucky! :)

I have met a few people who are just too odd to talk to people (me!) normally, but I think it's just social anxiety (of the kind that has let them become outstanding academics in their fields!).

The tutors I know are mostly underpaid grad students, passionate about their subjects and delighted to have students who are engaged and cheerful.

I just got a little annoyed with an attitude But Indira you were the one who asked how "prestigious" St Andrews is.

Proving my point Tulip

Well frankly no you're not proving any point indira. If your DD is applying in the current cycle and didn't get a place then she also didn't get an interview, so her experience is incredibly, incredibly limited and exactly the lack of experience out of which generalizations should never be made.

The fact that StripedTulip indicates the irony of your starting a thread asking about the 'prestige' of a particular university in relation to recruitment to specific 'posh' jobs whilst at the same time decrying the poshness of Oxford History dons doesn't in any way imply that StripedTulip is either 'vair vair posh' his or herself or 'snooty'.

So no, you prove no point. I don't see that you have any point you can reasonably make, not in relation to the OP's question in any event.

boys3 i must admit, it has given me varied perspectives.

It si hard to know what you want to know but my siblings went and were fine. I didn't try. My children have friends who went there. They are both good universities. Go for it if you want to try and are bright enough. Remember most people with great top grades don't get in and that it won't matter a huge amount if you don't get in but by all means try.

If you are interested in say the differences between there and Bristol (where one of mine went) - the Oxbridge terms are shorter, the accommodation seems to cost about half the price of other universities and obviously careerwise as some of the best people go to Oxbridge it tends to be good for your career later never mind making good friends for life.