Advice after a bad year doing maths at Cambridge-switch tripos/transfer uni?

Hiya- thanks for replying! That's really helpful. I have to say I am feeling it's a bit unfair- never wanted to believe it but it is so frustrating to speak to friends that didn't get into cambridge because of STEP but are coming out with firsts and 2.1s from places like Warwick, Imperial... I don't mind ultimately getting a 2.2, but just not a third- I can't shake the feeling that employers will look at grade over institution? Unless anyone can say otherwise??

Just wondering how easy it was for your friend to switch to Manchester?? Did she go straight into the second year or reapply through UCAS? And the girl you know that got a third- do you know if she felt she'd also done her best that year? It would be really encouraging if she was able to come back from that! I think a few of the other mathmos at my college have also ended up with bad results but they seem to have more 'natural talent' and were more working on the approach of just doing well enough to still be here next year... so it's quite hard to directly compare!

I'm contacting my DoS tomorrow hopefully, just really wanted some idea about what to do next before I spoke to her. I've found she's nice and sympathetic but just has an incredibly laid-back attitude when it comes to the course and practically made me feel like I was exaggerating when I kept going to her with problems! I'll definitely be more upfront from now on. I'm doubtful how helpful extra classes would be, at least with the same supervisors, but I'll definitely consider it.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the advice

I'll probably get criticised for saying this, but I think we do get a bit of a raw deal here since many who get a 2.2 or third would probably get a decent 2.1 at another top university. A friend of mine got a third in her first year here - she then switched to Manchester University and went on to get a (strong) first class. She said the volume and complexity of the workload didn't even compare.

If you're happy here - i.e. enjoy college life, have made good friends etc. then I'd consider switching subjects if there is something else you are keen on. If not, then perhaps moving to a different university would be the best idea.

In terms of Maths, it might reassure you to know that somebody in my college also got a third in her first year exams, but she got a 2.1 in second year (unfortunately dropping to a 2.2 for finals). Have you told your DoS that you feel like you are getting little support? They may be able to help you with some extra guidance or supervisions for next year, to get you back on track.

En contraire, this could not be further from the truth. Mathmos I've talked to say that the courses in other universities, including American ones, don't really match up with the sheer volume of the Cambridge Maths Tripos.

I think you are both actually agreeing with each other.

2:2 from Cambridge is worth more than a 1st from most other unis..
stick with it!!!
remember 1000s of people would love to be in your shoes..
good luck!!

no.

hahaha..
dont be jealous mate..
i am not from oxbridge either but the a second from there is a lot more worth than a first from some other uni...
people would die to be in her shoes..

...who cares about other ppl? The OP is unhappy in her course at her uni. Other ppl's awe isn't going to makie her feel better!

well, i am just trying to tell her how lucky she is to be in cambridge and the hard work will pay off in the long run..
sorry your highness!!

I am at Cambridge.

I am at Cambridge.

I think I'm right in saying that a lot of first year maths and science subjects are graded in terms of norm marking - i'e a certain percentage have to get firsts, and a set percentage have to get thirds, etc. This rather ridiculous practice is dropped for the Part 2 exams, and criteria marking takes over, so more people can get the higher grades in later years. This is definitely true of Natsci, so it might be the case in maths as well. Someone please correct me if I've got this wrong.

Dude, don't shy away from the challenge of math at Cambridge.

Go to your DoS and don't leave until you've planned extra supervisions for next year. Go over first year material this summer to ground yourself.

You just need more support and you need to assume responsibility over your learning, not your DoS or supervisors - they are, however, at your disposal. I'm sure there's a few concepts you didn't fully grasp at the beginning of the course, and with math being procedural, more and more concepts where built upon a shaky foundation - hence the challenging first year.

Ok firstly whether you enjoy Cambridge or not is a BIG question. If you think you'd be happier somewhere else (and not just with respect to work) then transferring may be the best thing for you.

Re switching: See what you're mark breakdown is like, a lot of people who didn't get on very well with first year because it was too pure really like second year as you can focus almost totally on applied. Did you do IA NST physics this year? If not switching into physics is a challenge but doable (speaking form experience of half of the NST IB physics course) but maybe astrophysics would be your thing, you can switch after IB maths. Also you could swap to something completely different, but whether or not a subject will take you will almost certainly be down to the DoS in that subject.

I was in a very similar position last year, feel free to PM me if you'd like me to be more specific on any thing (and sorry for the mind dump).

2:2 from Cambridge is worth more than a 1st from most other unis..
stick with it!!!

...who cares about other ppl? The OP is unhappy in her course at her uni. Other ppl's awe isn't going to makie her feel better!