Cambridge. Things we don't know we don't know.

[Sorenlorrenson]

My son is set on studying maths at Cambridge. We are working class and don't know anyone who went to Cambridge.
I have recently found out that Magdalene and Caius are not pronounced how they are spelt. There must be loads of stuff like this, stuff we don't know because we are poor and common.
If you know something you think we don't, please share.

Best of luck to him.

There's a wide spectrum of people there, my friends came from all over the world and all.manner of schools. And studied different subjects, it is what you make it.

He'd find his people. So for now, look into Colleges, use the info on this thread, practice STEP as you say he's doing, and I wish him well!

He sounds like he's doing great!

Your job now is to help him cope if he doesn't get in.

Enjoying talking about maths is huge!

Getting some feedback on the clarity of his discussion would be useful

It is great that he is already practising STEP

This

My DC currently there does not do Maths, but one thing I was surprised at is that after all the end of year exams in every subject, they not only give you your exam marks and whether it’s a Class 1 or 2,1 or whatever, but they rank them out if the whole cohort and this list is available for all to see (though I think they can now opt out of it). But they still tell them the ranking. Then also, there is a ‘scholars’ dinner’ for all those who achieved a First in the college that year. So, I think what I’m trying to say is, it’s very full on. In maths particularly, I heard they ask the lowest performers to leave at the end of Year 1? Is this true?

Student kitchens are called Gyp Rooms. The college canteen is called the Buttery (or it was in my college). It's the most beautiful place on earth (biased). You get college accommodation for all 3 years so only have to pay term time rent, which means it can work out cheaper than many other unis.

I went to Cambridge from a comp in the north-east and never felt out of place; in fact I felt more at home than I ever had in my life. (Robert Webb described a similar feeling in his book 'How Not to Be A Boy' which I'd highly recommend to your son to read).

Certainly wasn't in my day (late 90s). The rankings weren't published either. Maybe it's just your DC's college?

I can’t find the post now, but claiming that there isn’t much difference between the Oxbridge prep provided by independent schools and (many) state schools goes against my experience doing STEM outreach

That PP said pupils in independent schools may get only one or two practice interviews. I know they may get more, but even one is infinitely greater than zero. Many state school pupils not only don’t get practice, but have no idea what to expect. They feel an interview is like being called into the Headmaster’s office without knowing what they’ve done wrong. Pupils from independent schools have often lived their lives in a manner designed to cultivate their self confidence and approach interviews as a meeting between two people of equal worth.

As for suggesting to the OP that she could pay for coaching if she thought it important, did you not read her comment that her family is poor?

I don't think they ask low performers to leave, unless you actually fail a year, which would be pretty hard.

I did get my rankings and going from being by fast the biggest fish in a small pond to a highly mediocre fish was a bit of a shocker.

I actually had a pretty hard time at uni and sometimes wish I had done my degree elsewhere. But the further I get from my degree the more the really hard bits fade while the benefits and happy memories remain as strong as ever. I agree it's a tough tough thing to get through though, it's still one of the hardest things I've done in my life, and that doesn't mean I haven't done other difficult stuff.

The fish and pond thing is true. I remember sitting with one of my cohort over wine and crying in week 2, saying we should have taken our 2 E offers from elsewhere. We cried it out, got plastered, and pulled ourselves together.

But it was a shock to start with. It levelled out though.

OP - look into Zero Gravity. It is a programme which offers mentoring for state school applicants to top universities and it is free for state school pupils. I have heard it is very good.

October to start of December

Short terms

Homerton also

Some nice normal people there

Working class me didn't feel so odd after all

@Sorenlorrenson
Be aware of the bursaries that are available - look on the uni website. This is free money, not a loan.
They family income cut off is 60k for Cambridge.
Similarly for Imperial College which he also ought to apply for - upper earning limit is 70k.
Access to these is easy - you just click the box on the student finance application that allows the uni to see your financial info.

Churchill is also good and has lovely grounds. V strong on STEM too.

You need to encourage him to find other maths people to talk about maths with.

And to investigate other universities where he can also study maths.

He needs to have a balance between aiming for the institution he wants and accepting that many brilliant candidates don’t get an offer, because supply vastly exceeds demand.

It’s not good for him to be 100% sure he will get in as he could be devastated if he doesn’t . He needs a plan B as the same time as aiming for plan A.

Your son might well benefit from one of the Sutton Trust's week long summer courses. He needs to apply in January of year 12. They run courses at a number of Universities ( including Cambridge) where they will help him prepare for interviews, give him taster sessions etc.

It is completely free - travel, food, accomodation. n addition they may offer a small financial help. I think friend's daughter got £1,000. They do online courses too.

The Sutton trust is a charity dedicated to helping students like your son.

They have strict rules eg he must have been and be in a state school, have reached certain standards at GCSE etc. They will give preference to students who have been in care, come from areas with little participation in Higher Education historically.

(I believe Wes Streeting went on one of their courses.)

@poetryandwine - I wasn’t suggesting the OP pays for anything. I said that some people pay agencies for courses of mock interviews - there are loads of such agencies. That’s where Oxbridge interview ‘coaching’ is happening, if it is at all, not within the independent schools themselves.

@ElizaMulvil The Sutton Trust , excellent we meet that povo criteria.

My son is fixated on Cambridge, he cannot envisage not getting in.
He is a big fish in a very small pond, he's never met anyone as good at maths as he is.
I try to talk up Warwick, Imperial ,Durham , but he won't have it. I'd hate for him to be disappointed, but also I do think why not , why shouldn't he get in to Cambridge? He's a bloody genius !

Bridgemas is celebrated around 25 November as an alternative to Christmas as they generally ‘go down’ from Cambridge first week of December, we fetched DD on 1st December in her first year, some of her friends who were at Kings had already left as their rooms were in demand for ‘carols at Kings’ related events.

Cambridge or Oxford is a roll of the dice. Your DS will have a great chance of getting in but you have to help him to look at alternative places and remind him that there's an element of luck. They get thousands of applications from candidates who have all 9s and predicted A stars who don't get in. Just because they didn't. Not because they wrote the wrong thing on the form or messed up the interview. But because they can only offer a certain number of people and so they will have to draw the line somewhere. I've spoken to one of the Admissions Tutors and she said that they know they miss out on great kids and get it wrong sometimes. It's table stakes and then there's an element of luck.

40 years ago, in maths interview, I had to prove the test for divisibility by 11, and discuss what happens when you balance a ruler on your fingers and move them apart / together.

“My son is fixated on Cambridge, he cannot envisage not getting in.”

Honestly OP, this sounds a bit worrying. I’m sure he’s amazing, but it’s an idiosyncratic process with no certainties for anyone. His school is one thing, but the best of the best from places like China will be applying. It’s great he is so focused, but this really won’t define him, whatever happens.

Of course it is worrying, but what can I do ?
You bring your kids up to believe if they work hard they can achieve anything,

My son is a shy and awkward child, he is in no doubt that he will be going to Cambridge, he's not like that about anything else in his life....overly confident or cocky.
It is his ambition.

Absolutely encourage your son all the way, but as many others have said, Cambridge maths is an ultra competitive course, not just on a national, but on an international level too. If your son loves and excels at Maths, then he has as good a chance as anyone, but preparation really is key.
Don't feel intimidated by being unsure of how to pronounce college names etc. that will all fall into place.
We are a 'normal' family and one of my children went to Cambridge ( not Maths) and had the best time. They didn't feel out of place at all.