HELP is Oxbridge the right place for me

I'm aware that a lot of this forum is discussing how to get in, or which college to apply to, but I need advice about whether to apply at all. Academically wise I stand a chance, I got straight A*'s at GCSE at A Level. However, I worry that the work load is so intense/ stressful that I wouldn't be able to cope. I am generally the kind of person who stays fairly on top of their work and am keenly aware that it is next to impossible to feel 'on top of things' at Oxbridge. How do you find the workload, is it too much to cope with? Far worse than a levels? Secondly I worry that I will end up with no social life, which I know is perhaps a irrational fear, but with everyone working so hard how many nights a week can you actually socialise? Do you actually enjoy the university experience? From these questions you may get the impression that all I want is to go to uni socialise and not work. That's not the case at all, I love my subject and enjoy revision, but at the same time I am concerned about the step up from a level to uni. I have a lot of one sided biased opinions from my school (who desperately want me to apply) but if I could hear some more pros and cons and some other opinions that would be extremely helpful. Thanks so much

What course are you doing?

I would highly advise you lose this idea of being 'on top of things', you never will (unless you are top 5 in your course).

Oxbridge really isn't difficult, people fall down when they start worrying and panicking about all the 'important' things they need to do.

It is way harder than A level, you will cover a whole A level in a week or so.

In terms of social life I went out (got ridiculously drunk) 3-4 times a week first two years, socialised to some extend every night and played loads of sports.

Don't get all swept up in the hype and hyperbole. You only have to look at the number of clubs and societies there are in Cambridge and Oxford to see that students live perfectly normal social lives and enjoy student life just like they would anywhere else. Yes, it's a bit more intense, yes, it's a bit harder, and yes, it's a bit more fun!

I'm aware that a lot of this forum is discussing how to get in, or which college to apply to, but I need advice about whether to apply at all. Academically wise I stand a chance, I got straight A*'s at GCSE at A Level. However, I worry that the work load is so intense/ stressful that I wouldn't be able to cope. I am generally the kind of person who stays fairly on top of their work and am keenly aware that it is next to impossible to feel 'on top of things' at Oxbridge. How do you find the workload, is it too much to cope with? Far worse than a levels? Secondly I worry that I will end up with no social life, which I know is perhaps a irrational fear, but with everyone working so hard how many nights a week can you actually socialise? Do you actually enjoy the university experience? From these questions you may get the impression that all I want is to go to uni socialise and not work. That's not the case at all, I love my subject and enjoy revision, but at the same time I am concerned about the step up from a level to uni. I have a lot of one sided biased opinions from my school (who desperately want me to apply) but if I could hear some more pros and cons and some other opinions that would be extremely helpful. Thanks so much

Thankyou, glad to hear that! I go to a very below average state school, and whenever I talk to my friends about Oxbridge I always get the response 'ah you'll have no social life' so I'm glad to know that's just ignorant comments and not fact

I guess they've all got a lot of experience of Oxbridge undergrad life. No? Can they even point to 'it' on a map? Don't live your life by the cliches and stereotypes your friends follow.

I'm aware that a lot of this forum is discussing how to get in, or which college to apply to, but I need advice about whether to apply at all. Academically wise I stand a chance, I got straight A*'s at GCSE at A Level. However, I worry that the work load is so intense/ stressful that I wouldn't be able to cope. I am generally the kind of person who stays fairly on top of their work and am keenly aware that it is next to impossible to feel 'on top of things' at Oxbridge. How do you find the workload, is it too much to cope with? Far worse than a levels? Secondly I worry that I will end up with no social life, which I know is perhaps a irrational fear, but with everyone working so hard how many nights a week can you actually socialise? Do you actually enjoy the university experience? From these questions you may get the impression that all I want is to go to uni socialise and not work. That's not the case at all, I love my subject and enjoy revision, but at the same time I am concerned about the step up from a level to uni. I have a lot of one sided biased opinions from my school (who desperately want me to apply) but if I could hear some more pros and cons and some other opinions that would be extremely helpful. Thanks so much