Autistic DD fixated on Cambridge

[MadamSighALot]

DD is adamant she wants to go to Cambridge. We've encouraged her but keep telling her that it's not guaranteed, that a lot of very capable students go elsewhere.

But I think she has this vision in her head of what it would be like - intense discussions with other people passionate about her subject, everyone very focussed on their work, and gowns and candles at Formals.

Whenever we look at other universities, they will talk about the social life, parties and getting drunk, and it just turns her straight off. I know that happens at Cambridge too, maybe their marketing is just more on her wavelength?

Any thoughts on other places she could consider? Mainstream subject, grades not an issue. She may well get into Cambridge but it would be nice to have a back up plan that she is happy with. We've looked at Nottingham, with their quiet halls, but saw a YouTube with some students talking about smuggling drinks in and that put her right off. Durham she doesn't like the idea that she would have to move out in the 2nd year. York she's slightly more amenable to, particularly their "boring" college, but it's not as formal as she'd like.

Thanks!

I am another who can recommend Durham.
My autistic daughter has also been well supported there. There is an induction specifically for students with ASC and they can move in a couple of days early before the crowds descend. The hill colleges are formal and John's is small and very friendly and inclusive. Students with disabilities (of all kinds) are able to live in college throughout their time there. The pastoral care my daughter has had is amazing. And she has met her crowd and yes has weird, lovely nerdy discussions with her friends. I'd definitely recommend your DD has a look round. My DD is also a university ambassador and does UCAS fairs and open days so please PM me and I could pass on her email if your DD had any questions

Be careful OP. This is very misleading. Applicants are shuffled around to even up applications rates to different colleges - it makes less difference than this post implies. And at Durham one doesn’t apply to colleges themselves - allocations happens after offers on a preference basis on an automated system, rather than individually being selected albeit that some colleges are more oversubscribed than others (more visible under the old single preference system).

@TheLeadbetterLife

I have to admit, one of the things I did love about being at Cambridge was that pretty much everyone was a nerd in one way or another, and my social life revolved around cheese and wine evenings with the G&S society. I didn’t go out clubbing once, though there was a lot of drinking, including at formal hall.

I would think she’d find a similar crowd at St Andrews, Durham or York. Drinking is much less popular with young people these days anyway.

Hello from fellow Cambridge G&Ser!

I would second that there definitely is a drinking culture at Cambridge- including in formal hall. The food may be great and we do wear gowns during the meal, but there was also (at least in my day) a game called 'pennying', where you slip a coin into someone's glass of wine and they have to down it (not swallowing the coin, of course!). People got pretty drunk, and many society socials involved a lot of drinking too (we used to joke that the G&S society stood for Gin and Sherry rather than Gilbert and Sullivan!).

There will be quieter groups and I'm sure your daughter will be able to make likeminded friends, OP, but do go in with an open mind - Cambridge students are bright and hard working but they play hard too.

@Watercoloursky pennying was big in my day there too. When did you matriculate? I'm 2002.

I hear the G&S society is more abstemious these days, in line with the rest of Gen Z. Unimaginable.

[quote TheLeadbetterLife]@Watercoloursky pennying was big in my day there too. When did you matriculate? I'm 2002.

I hear the G&S society is more abstemious these days, in line with the rest of Gen Z. Unimaginable.[/quote]
That is hard to imagine!! I matriculated in 2005, I wonder I'd we crossed over?

I graduated in 2005, so probably not. Did you go to the G&S reunion ball in 2011?

(sorry for the derail OP...)

I did indeed :-) Much fun!

And yes, sorry OP, getting nostalgic but will stop derailing now...