Is Cambridge elitist?

Is Cambridge elitist? Is there any sort of prejudice to state school pupils?
Is it full of 'toffs'? Or people who 'are spending the weekend on daddy's boat'?
I don't mean to offend anyone just want to know what it's like. :smile:

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Reply 1

olipal

No.

Reply 2

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Elitist?

Well,I have a 2.2 from Brunel, and when I applied for a maths PG degree last summer, the woman on the phone giggled at me. Stupid cow. :angry:

Reply 3

A level Az

Original post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Elitist?

Well,I have a 2.2 from Brunel, and when I applied for a maths PG degree last summer, the woman on the phone giggled at me. Stupid cow. :angry:

Well you can't blame her, it's very funny :biggrin:

Reply 4

Venomilys

They have no choice, naturally the best pupils come from private schools so there will be more rahs.

Reply 5

The Angry Stoic

Original post by olipal

No.

Please expand :smile:

Reply 6

olipal

Original post by Jacob :)

Please expand :smile:

No, it's not.

Reply 7

Helenia

It's elitist academically, yes - in that it selects the brightest students. But socially, no. There are a disproportionate number of privately schooled pupils for a large variety of reasons, predominantly that a much greater proportion of them apply compared with state schoolers. But very, very few "toffs" - most people are still quite normal and friendly regardless of where they went to school.

Reply 8

Venomilys

Original post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Elitist?

Well,I have a 2.2 from Brunel, and when I applied for a maths PG degree last summer, the woman on the phone giggled at me. Stupid cow. :angry:

tbh I would laugh too

Reply 9

tehforum

It's elitist academically.

Reply 10

The Angry Stoic

Original post by Ilyas

They have no choice, naturally the best pupils come from private schools so there will be more rahs.

I don't really mean the selection process. It's the attitude of students and professors once you are in I want to know about.

Reply 11

Rachoo12

Original post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Elitist?

Well,I have a 2.2 from Brunel, and when I applied for a maths PG degree last summer, the woman on the phone giggled at me. Stupid cow. :angry:

I am not trying to be incendiary but she didn't laugh because of your degree, I just think she giggled because you underestimate the high levels of competition for Maths PG and a 2.2 from Brunel probably doesn't cut it.

Reply 12

Spaz Man

Of course not. Oxbridge in general are actually the most open of all the Russell Group because they are scrutinised so much. Prejudice towards them will remain though.

Reply 13

Converse Rocker

If you mean 'Do they only take people from rich private schools' then no, I don't think so. Admittedly I don't know many people from my college that managed to get in, but I think that would be true for most places.

I thought Oxbridge had a pretty even ratio of public and privately educated students? But I might have just made that up, not sure. I've heard a talk given by a Cambridge lecturer and she was a nice woman, didn't seem phased by our lack of private schooling. Academically though, obviously you have to be incredibly bright.

Reply 14

kf289

I think the perception of Cambridge is more elitist than the experience itself, if that makes any sense! I have just graduated and come from a normal working family, state school background. Yes, there are groups of 'posh' or wealthy students there, but I would imagine that would be the same in a lot of other universities as well. I was never made to feel uncomfortable or inadequate - at the end of the day everyone who is there has earned their place academically.

Reply 15

User570431

Yes and no. The rich tend to go there more because of good private education, but the really hard working state educated people tend to get in as well. :smile:

Reply 16

cl_steele

who cares if it is? it takes the very best pupils it can and if they come from private schools so be it.
its not like they run a bloody credit check and have a look see in yoiur bank..?!

Reply 17

Chumbaniya

Of course it's elitist. They're not going to let you in unless you're good at what you do. I don't see what that has to do with toffs, state schools or "daddy's boat" though.

Reply 18

martin jol

Original post by Rachoo12

translated - she didn't laugh at you because of the degree, but she laughed at you cause of the degree.

:s-smilie:

Reply 19

Dirac Spinor

Original post by Magickal

Well they expect people to have STEP who apply from the Isle of Man even though there are no tutors for it over here so we have to pay £1000+ to go away and do it, and they expect parents to be able to afford to do this.