[epitome]

NB, to people (hopefully) arriving next term...don't worry about the pre-term Greek Week. Lidka & I aren't members of the Classics Fac, so we don't get the same set of info as you guys will -- have have to find things out ourselves! You'll be told when you have to arrive, and most Classicists come up a week before everyone else (along with the Mathematicians).

[TEZKesquire]

I'm applying to study Classics at Cambridge in 2009... What books would you recommend I read before the interview (if I get one)? I've read the Iliad, the Aeneid, Euripides' Ion, some Tacituc, Cicero, Herodotus, Ovid, Martial and a few others. Not all in Latin or Greek though!
Any ideas? My grasp of Roman and Greek history is probably weakest, so that might be a good starting point!
Thanks!

[TEZKesquire]

*bump*

[TEZKesquire]

I'm shameless...
*bump*

[zef99]

(Original post by TEZKesquire)
I'm shameless...
*bump*

you bumped after only a minute had passed your last one?

[TEZKesquire]

why take risks?

[AlunH1]

Hello all,

I am hoping to study classics at Saint Edmunds next year and I notice that they require a written test as part of the interview process.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what this test consists of exactly and whether I can download a specimen paper.

[RosyAurora]

Oh lordy... I have 3 interviews at Cambridge While I am over the moon to get any, I have to talk about my PS, my submitted work, do a translation then talk over it, and also I have to find Trinity Hall! Where even is Trinity Hall (other than on the river?!)
Any recommended reading? I mentioned Ovid, Sophocles, Virgil, Homer, Catullus... So those are all on my list but ARGH what do I need to know? The Independent supplied a Cambridge Classics interview question today:
'What would you do if the Classics Department burnt down?'
WHAT?! If the questions are like that, I may cry...

[billybob13]

Ok, firstly, calm down! Trinity Hall is not that hard to find, just look at a map. Just make sure you can talk about the stuff that's in your PS, they're unlikely to ask you questions about stuff outside of that, or if they do, they won't necessarily expect you to know much about it, unless it's on the A level syllabus or something. No one can tell you 'what you need to know'. And questions like that one in the Independent are rare, newspapers just like publishing questions like that to scare people and to fuel the Oxbridge interview myths.

[RosyAurora]

(Original post by billybob13)
Ok, firstly, calm down! Trinity Hall is not that hard to find, just look at a map. Just make sure you can talk about the stuff that's in your PS, they're unlikely to ask you questions about stuff outside of that, or if they do, they won't necessarily expect you to know much about it, unless it's on the A level syllabus or something. No one can tell you 'what you need to know'. And questions like that one in the Independent are rare, newspapers just like publishing questions like that to scare people and to fuel the Oxbridge interview myths.

Mmmmm Thanks. I am getting a bit too panicky about this. It's just, it's Cambridge... Ah well
I managed to find my photocopied work, the questions, and my PS. I may take a day off just to sit, relax and cram a little
Thanks for the help/calming effect

[hdfer67]

Hello all,

I keep reading that the Cambridge classics course has a comparatively light workload compared to some other subjects.

Can anyone give me an indication of the amount of work that is usual for this course, for example a weekly diary.

Cheers in advance

[billybob13]

(Original post by hdfer67)
Hello all,

I keep reading that the Cambridge classics course has a comparatively light workload compared to some other subjects.

Can anyone give me an indication of the amount of work that is usual for this course, for example a weekly diary.

Cheers in advance

Really? Where did you hear that? Admittedly we do have less work than some subjects e.g. law, medicine, natsci, but I would say compared to most art subjects we are probably fairly high in terms of workload, because we have to do all our language work as well as our weekly essay. Of course, this is all personal experience and it will to some extent depend on you (how much work you put in) and your college (how hard your dos works you), oh and very importantly, whether you are IG (intensive Greek i.e haven't done Greek A level) or non IG (i.e you have done Greek A level). This makes a big difference as IGs have more work and generally find it harder because they haven't done Greek before..

I'm assuming you are talking undergrad and probably first year so I'll try and give you some idea of what you have to do, but this will mostly be based on my experience.

Basically, in a week you will normally have to do a piece of Greek translation, a Latin translation, prose composition (some colleges do these every other week) and if you are IG attend reading/language classes which are 3 hours a week. There are optional reading classes for non IGs. So to do all the work for this and attend the supervisions for them will probably take up in the region of 18 hours a week (IG) or 14 (non IG). Again, this will vary on how fast you work, how much you care about the standard of your work.

On top of that you normally have to write an essay a week for which I normally spend about 2 days reading and a day writing, maybe 22 hours at a very rough estimate. Again, this will vary on your reading/writing speed and the amount of effort put in.

Then, of course, there are lectures, which obviously depend on how many you attend. I think in first year there are around 10 a week.

So, in total, that amounts to (i think) 42 hours for non IGs and 46 for IGs, which seems like quite a lot to me!

[SilasM245]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone knew where the reading lists for incoming classics students are.

I am presuming that on this page, the phrase "Do you hold a place or an offer to read Classics at Cambridge from 2009?" applies to those who started last year, rather than those who received an offer at the end of last year.

Cheers in advance

[Tempeststurm]

That looks like what you want, since it talks about for incoming students. It just looks like they haven't got round to updating it since last year, although the material is unlikely to change.

[im-no-superman]

(Original post by SilasM245)

I was wondering if anyone knew where the reading lists for incoming classics students are.

For Part 1A same as last year except Troades is now Medea and Aeneid 8 instead of 9. Your college should get in contact with recommended editions after exam results.

x

[SilasM245]

Wow, thanks. How did you find that out btw.

Also where does it say that Troiades is on the list?
On this website, it doesn't seem to mention it.

[im-no-superman]

(See signature) I'm a 4 year student at Cambridge- so I'll be starting Part 1A next year and our supervisors told us at the end of last term. It hasnt been updated yet- It will be when the department gets around to it- and after exam results x

[im-no-superman]

(Original post by SilasM245)
Also where does it say that Troiades is on the list?
On this website, it doesn't seem to mention it.

That list are the texts for michaelmas term- so if you have A Level Latin(presumably) its Pro Lege Manilia and Book 8 Aeneid - If you have Greek A-Level too I'm not sure whether the texts are changing as I'm IG. They recommend that you prepare these 2 (or 4) texts at least for the beginning of term. When you are doing Cicero you can use the link to LECTRIX 2 (I think you have access- if not sorry!) found on the website which is very helpful!
x

[Xenia.]

Hey!

I'm thinking about applying to Cambridge for Classics this year. How many language classes you get in a week for intensive Greek?

Thanks!

[im-no-superman]

(Original post by Xenia.)
Hey!

I'm thinking about applying to Cambridge for Classics this year. How many language classes you get in a week for intensive Greek?

Thanks!

http://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/curren...ulty_handbook/

Scroll down to the Part 1A section and you will find all the info you need- numbers of lectures/classes etc.