Double-dipping - Warwick or Cambridge (or somewhere else entirely)?

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some tips on dual Maths-Physics courses. I think this is the course for me; I like both Maths and Physics, and would like the option of choosing more applied modules, rather than abstract mathematics that I may have to take on a pure course.

Anyway! I'm trying to choose between the "Maths with Physics" course at Cambridge and the "Maths and Physics" course at Warwick as the one I want to gun for when I apply next year. I'm in lower 6th taking Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and French, looking to drop French for A2. I'm looking into the courses, but from the outside, there's very little to choose between them as far as I can tell, apart from a little more flexibility at Warwick, perhaps.

So, I really like Warwick. The campus system and the newer buildings seem to be more "my thing" than the older colleges, and I also like how Warwick is a little cut-off from the town itself, whereas Cambridge is in the middle of the tourist track. I don't know. Not really basing it on anything in particular. It just felt a bit more "me".

However, Cambridge rank at the top of pretty much every list for Maths and several for Physical Sciences as well, and there's inevitably the "prestige" and, to quote my Physics teacher, "Anyone who'd turn down an offer from Oxbridge would be mad because of everything else that comes with it." I'm not sure if that still holds true, especially in the maths/physics sector, but I do feel he has a point. Is he right? If I was lucky enough to get offers from both, I'd still lean towards Warwick, which is what's troubling me.

So, anyway. I was wondering if anyone here has ever been in a similar position, what happened, where they ended up going etc. For instance,
did you go to Cambridge and regret it, or did you go to Warwick and wish you'd gone to Oxbridge? Did you go somewhere completely different?

Sorry for the tl;dr, people.

Apply to both and get offers for both before you decide which one to go for.

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some tips on dual Maths-Physics courses. I think this is the course for me; I like both Maths and Physics, and would like the option of choosing more applied modules, rather than abstract mathematics that I may have to take on a pure course.

Anyway! I'm trying to choose between the "Maths with Physics" course at Cambridge and the "Maths and Physics" course at Warwick as the one I want to gun for when I apply next year. I'm in lower 6th taking Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and French, looking to drop French for A2. I'm looking into the courses, but from the outside, there's very little to choose between them as far as I can tell, apart from a little more flexibility at Warwick, perhaps.

So, I really like Warwick. The campus system and the newer buildings seem to be more "my thing" than the older colleges, and I also like how Warwick is a little cut-off from the town itself, whereas Cambridge is in the middle of the tourist track. I don't know. Not really basing it on anything in particular. It just felt a bit more "me".

However, Cambridge rank at the top of pretty much every list for Maths and several for Physical Sciences as well, and there's inevitably the "prestige" and, to quote my Physics teacher, "Anyone who'd turn down an offer from Oxbridge would be mad because of everything else that comes with it." I'm not sure if that still holds true, especially in the maths/physics sector, but I do feel he has a point. Is he right? If I was lucky enough to get offers from both, I'd still lean towards Warwick, which is what's troubling me.

So, anyway. I was wondering if anyone here has ever been in a similar position, what happened, where they ended up going etc. For instance,
did you go to Cambridge and regret it, or did you go to Warwick and wish you'd gone to Oxbridge? Did you go somewhere completely different?

Sorry for the tl;dr, people.

And.. who's Imso? xD

I applied last year to cam and warwick. i got into both for maths however i never really wanted to apply for cam at all and had cancelled my application half way through but then was sort of forced into calling up UCAS and saying my account had been hacked lol. then i sat my exams and made my offer which i still wanted to reject. so i did, but the stress and ear ache i got from those saying i had destroyed my life got to me so much i didnt go to uni at all that year and now have a place at warwick to start this year I think that if you have pushy teachers and parents applying and not wanting to go can be destructive though you may change your mind and keeping your options open is often a very good thing. one thing i would say for the application process at cam however is that it is a very enjoyable process (was for me anyway) and talking about the maths in the supervision styley was cool, however you may not aggree. the other down side of not applying is you may have some sort of intelectual superiority weilded over you by people who do apply who see themselves as gods gift to academia.

I'm sorry, what? Surely Cambridge is even more prestigious and highly regarded in those two sectors in particular? Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking. Doesn't get better than that. If you did get an offer from Cambridge for Maths with Physics or anything to do with Maths or Physics you would be getting one of the best degrees in the world. I disagree and agree with your teacher. Turning down a Cambridge offer isn't madness. But for Maths/Physics, with the reputation Cambridge has for that area, it would be kinda crazy to reject an offer.

Anyway I sympathise with your position. Cambridge isn't for everyone. But I do disagree with this tourist track perception. It completely depends on the college. At King's yes it's mad. But quite a few other colleges are in very secluded, quiet areas. Like Girton for example. It's ridiculously cut off and secluded. It's like a bubble. So I would still recommend applying just in case you change your mind during the application process. If you didn't apply and you suddenly decided you really wanted to go, you'd be screwed. So apply and see where it goes. If it doesn't happen then Warwick will probably be there for you. Win, win.

new around here?

If you're not really bothered about going to Cambridge you'll be more relaxed & impressive at the interview - then you'll be able to top-trump the wannabe investment bankers with your true story about gypping an oxbridge offer.

if you totally couldn't stand to be interviewed - leave it, but if I was in your shoes I'd be curious about the famous oxbridge interview system and want to see it for myself.

Can't go far wrong, in my opinion! I applied to both for maths, and had Cambridge as my firm, Warwick as my insurance (this was before Warwick's offer became even higher). I didn't make the STEP grades for Cambridge and got into Warwick. I really love the course here- there's so much choice! It's one of the best things about it, in my opinion, and especially if you're doing maths phys there'll be lots of variety in what you study. The people that I know on the course enjoy it a lot, and they don't have to do the 2nd year essay module that straight-maths students do! XS

There's increasingly little difference in the prestige of the courses if you ask me, though obviously Cambridge has more 'fame'. For the people who matter (employers, for example), I doubt there's much in it anymore. Go for where you think you'll be happiest! Both courses are tough, but highly-valued.

Oh, you may also want to consider other factors. At Cambridge you'll be dining in halls a lot- you won't have to spend time cooking for yourself, finding accommodation for 2nd year vs you won't gain experience cooking for yourself, independence coming form living off-campus etc.

For now, apply to both.

But remember you still need to go to open days, and if you're still set on warwick then go there. Doing Maths/Maths with Physics/Physics at Cambridge is probably one of the best tickets in the world to being successful. Having said that, Warwick is also highly respected, especially in Maths, and would almost certainly get you a good job etc.

So if you feel you wouldn't enjoy Cambridge and do go to Warwick, you won't regret it - it'll still be a great course that provides loads of opportunities.

Hm. That's the kind of comment I'm slightly worried about. I realise that Warwick isn't as well-known or famous as Cambridge, but whether not going there if the option arises is almost like shooting yourself in the foot is the kind of thing I'm trying to work out. It's tricky, this. But I probably will still apply to both. It's just whether I'd want to follow through with it.

Thanks for the responses, everyone! It's really helpful!

I didn't word that well, I'll admit. But Warwick is reportedly up there with Cambridge, as are Oxford, UCL and one or two others, from what I've read, so why would it be so mad to choose a different style of uni? The issue lies with whether Cambridge really is in another league, and whether that's enough of a factor to swing it.


Thanks for that tip, actually. I've been to an Open Day at Downing and it seemed very old-worldy and, well, not stuffy but it had that kind of feel. If that makes sense? Is Girton a little different, then?

Yes. xD Would you care to explain, perhaps? I don't even.

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some tips on dual Maths-Physics courses. I think this is the course for me; I like both Maths and Physics, and would like the option of choosing more applied modules, rather than abstract mathematics that I may have to take on a pure course.

Anyway! I'm trying to choose between the "Maths with Physics" course at Cambridge and the "Maths and Physics" course at Warwick as the one I want to gun for when I apply next year. I'm in lower 6th taking Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and French, looking to drop French for A2. I'm looking into the courses, but from the outside, there's very little to choose between them as far as I can tell, apart from a little more flexibility at Warwick, perhaps.

So, I really like Warwick. The campus system and the newer buildings seem to be more "my thing" than the older colleges, and I also like how Warwick is a little cut-off from the town itself, whereas Cambridge is in the middle of the tourist track. I don't know. Not really basing it on anything in particular. It just felt a bit more "me".

However, Cambridge rank at the top of pretty much every list for Maths and several for Physical Sciences as well, and there's inevitably the "prestige" and, to quote my Physics teacher, "Anyone who'd turn down an offer from Oxbridge would be mad because of everything else that comes with it." I'm not sure if that still holds true, especially in the maths/physics sector, but I do feel he has a point. Is he right? If I was lucky enough to get offers from both, I'd still lean towards Warwick, which is what's troubling me.

So, anyway. I was wondering if anyone here has ever been in a similar position, what happened, where they ended up going etc. For instance,
did you go to Cambridge and regret it, or did you go to Warwick and wish you'd gone to Oxbridge? Did you go somewhere completely different?

Sorry for the tl;dr, people.