Is Cambridge over-rated?

Hey,
Why is a place at Cambrisge so highly sought after?
What is so special about it?
Does anyone think its over-rated?
Please tell me what you think
xxxxx

It is a very respected institution in terms of academics etc... The courses are very academically challenging and the curriculum is supposedly second to none. To that end I guess it is highly sought after. That combined with the world class choral music etc at Cambridge makes it quite special.

However, I do think it is overrated as, especially for Medicine and other science based courses, there are other excellent universities which deliver just as good an academic experience. It is all about those people who base their research on reputation alone which is not the most important factor.

... and I'm not biased just because I got rejected

Beautiful surroundings
Top quality teachings
Collegiate system
Supervision/Tutorial system
Vast range of intellectual extra curriculars
Amazing prestige
Best resources
Fantastic architecture
Very traditional foundations/roots
Top alumni
Unique in the UK (along with Oxford)
Earns a great deal of respect
Everything you could ever want from your degree

However, I would say this is the most important one:

Its academic excellence

IMO university should be about your education - first and foremost. Not the social life, the alcohol or the drugs - just developing your education.
To re-iterate my point - the vast range of intellectual societies - you know what I mean by that.

It's practically the perfect university.

Anyone that says "oh but the hard work" - surely one would love to be challenged and develop their academic potential as much as they can?

I personally think it's underrated.

Even if you took away its reputation and prestige - it's an amazing university.

Your last 4 points really are nonsense. Prestige is good but only takes you so far. 'All you could ever want' is the worst sweeping statement I have heard in a long, LONG while and who cares about the alumni. Or as the christs admissions tutor put it - we have plenty of alumni that die off and give us money we can give you.

Dont get me wrong, I love the supervision and collegiate system and other obvious advantages but you seem (infact, are) a person who is so bent on their opinion that its clouding your judgement.

Depends on what subject you are talking about. It is second to none in many sciences and some arts and generally a very nice place to be in. Its the ethos that attracted me there.

However, there are a few where it lacks. Medicine for example where the training area is quite small (you can transfer to london after 3rd year if you want) and the GMC + many hospital administration think that Cambridge graduates are too 'sciency' and haven't necessarily developed the clinical skills required to the extent they want (my really good friends dad reporting who is in the committee and he was disappointed I applied to cambs so this isnt any post rejection rant)

Its the environment, people and ethos that I think are the best aspects of cambs.

Are there not 3 years specifically devoted to developing clinical skills? I know it's just what you've been told, but it does seem odd.

Are there not 3 years specifically devoted to developing clinical skills? I know it's just what you've been told, but it does seem odd.