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Would I be stupid to turn down Cambridge?

I know you feel inclined to take the offer from Cambridge because after all, it's Cambridge LOL, but I seriously think you should go with your heart on this one.

If you genuinely feel as though you'd excel more at Manchester, then go for it :smile:

Sometimes just being at a reputable institution doesn't cut it. You want to have a good time studying your course, and it seems as though you'd be happier at Manchester studying Physics.

Don't listen to everyone else (imsoacademic) that says 'you'll be stupid to reject a Cambridge offer' because you really aren't. You're actually smart to realise at this early stage that Cambridge isn't for you, unlike some people who go there and then find out too late that it's not the ideal university for them.

(edited 13 years ago)

Lad.

Original post by im so academic

You can't get an accurate view of Manchester or Cambridge from within a space of a few hours on interview day.

Then why are you so quick to defend Cambridge? Why so sure that the OP will be better off there? Double standards much.

Reply 63

planetearth

18

Original post by reptileface

I'm I the only one who is actually going to say this?:
Of course you'd be ridiculously stupid to reject a place at Cambridge! (no offence intended)

- Rationally it would give you much better job opportunities and unfortunately 'I got a place at Cambridge but turned it down for Manchester' doesn't really put you at the top of this list of 'good common sense' during a job interview!

Sorry, but it had to be said.

I agree, however if you don't like Cambridge after a year or so there, maybe you could transfer to Manchester?

That way you could say you went to both ^^

Meaning you get the good job offers and educational benefits + a more comfortable and suitable environment at Manchester.

Reply 64

Muffinz

16

Original post by SmallTownGirl

Prof. Brian Cox did his degree at Manchester and now works at CERN. Loads of physics departments have links with the LHC...

Prof. Cox also has 2 TV shows and is hot to boot. He's just unreal <3333333333333

Reply 65

Battenberg

14

No it wouldn't be at all stupid IMO, pick the university that feels right for you! Ignore all the hype and bias there is for cambridge and think about where you think you'd be happiest studying and most capable of getting what you want from the uni experience!

Reply 66

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

Original post by jjarvis

This post has been impressively negrepped.

Just to rub a little salt into your ever-so-academic wounds: it doesn't beg the question. Something which begs the question is reasoned in a circular way, such that the premise is the same as the conclusion ultimately derived. You mean to say that it raises the question, and it does not for the following reason. Almost everyone doing an undergrad degree at Cambridge has A*AA or better, and a good chunk of them struggle. There's a discussion going on in the Cambridge chat thread at the moment about the fact that making an offer is far easier than actually studying at Cambridge--the pressure, intensity, and demands are drastically different.

Stop writing so many rep-worthy posts! I can only rep one! :fuhrer: :p:

Reply 67

Scrubby

11

You have to ask yourself a few questions. Which course do you prefer? Which area do you prefer? Are job prospects the most important thing to you or having a good time? And so on and so forth. It seems you've answered most of these questions. So go to Manchester. You have perfectly good reasons to do so. If I preferred Manchester as blatantly as you do I would definitely turn down Cambridge without the slightest hesitation. Also your point about preferring the course at Manchester is by far the most convincing argument for rejecting Cambridge.

Reply 68

Ziffachan

2

ISA has no idea what she's talking about. One of my friends at Cambridge ended up dropping out after four weeks because he was in a similar situation to you and chose Cambridge. He was doing bionatsci but much preferred the course at York. Cambridge is a wonderful place and it's a really stimulating working environment, but it's definitely very hard and it's not for everyone and if you know you'd be happier elsewhere then you shouldn't just accept Cambridge without thinking about it. You still have plenty of time to decide though, so don't do anything hastily :smile:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 69

TheSownRose

16

Original post by reptileface

I'm I the only one who is actually going to say this?:
Of course you'd be ridiculously stupid to reject a place at Cambridge! (no offence intended)

- Rationally it would give you much better job opportunities and unfortunately 'I got a place at Cambridge but turned it down for Manchester' doesn't really put you at the top of this list of 'good common sense' during a job interview!

Sorry, but it had to be said.

You make it sound as if he's rejecting Cambridge for London Met. He's not.

Manchester is a highly respect uni with an impressive physics department, going to Cambridge wouldn't give you 'much better job opportunities'; marginally better, if at all.

What has less common sense? "I rejected a uni I didn't like for one I did" or "I accepted a uni I didn't like because people on a forum told me it was better"?

Reply 70

pinkalarmclock

Original post by Muffinz

If you think you'd be happier at Manchester, do it. Physics is a niche degree, and Manchester is a redbrick. Your career will do fine out of Manchester - it's an amazing university :smile:

If you're unsure, go to post-offer days. You don't have to decide until like May or something.

Can I just say, very well done for NaNoWriMo! I attempted it a fair few times so I'm rather impressed!

Reply 71

H.C. Chinaski

12

Original post by Blackspur

A study group at Manchester won the 2010 Nobel Physics prize and Manchester has more Nobel prize winners working on the staff than any other department in the country...

As it happens I've been fairly successful so far in life! Thanks for your concern though

I don't intend to make any rash decisions - this is something I have been thinking about since November and I don't intend to make a final decision for a few weeks yet.

Thanks to everyone who has offered helpful advice!

Hmmm
you are in a bit of a pickle here, a nice pickle, but a pickle nonetheless !
Firstly you have offers from two fine uni.'s, well done on that front.
A good degree from either will set you up well for the future..
The workload at cam. will be significantly more intense during term and vac. too, of that there should be no doubt ... but generally speaking you do get into the swing of it and it is enjoyable. There is of course still time for a good social life and punting on the cam on a warm summer day is hard to beat, I really do mean it.
Manchester is a different experience, dare I say, a complete student experience ... yes you still have to work hard, but my goodness, what a great city for students! You do not feel the same pressure as at Cam. and as silly as it sounds you feel that you have the time to enjoy the student life...

You have a fairly difficult decision to make, a list of pro's and con's may help ... I imagine that you are rather bright, so if you do choose Manchester then a masters at Cambridge could very well be a viable option later on..
Time permitting, try and visit each again to help in the process..

good luck with this.

Reply 72

mummyperson

Original post by mummyperson

I Know this isn't an answer to the OP but I have always wanted to go and see the Cavendish lab at Cambridge. It isn't open to the public though.
Anyway if I was being selfish OP I would ask you to quickly turn down your Cambridge place so as to give a chance to my nephew who is in the pool for your subject as we speak :biggrin:

And, my sis has been telling me for WEEKS she thinks Manchester is better for physics.
I dont believe her. She is my younger sister. :eek:

Reply 73

TimmonaPortella

21

Original post by SmallTownGirl

Prof. Brian Cox did his degree at Manchester and now works at CERN. Loads of physics departments have links with the LHC...

I'm not claiming to understand the physics industry.
I believe you just strengthened my point that a Manchester degree won't harm you too much, however.

Reply 74

jjarvis

14

Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Stop writing so many rep-worthy posts! I can only rep one! :fuhrer: :p:

Lol, thanks! I wondered where the big increase in rep had come from. So it's you whom I'm to thank... My posts here seem to be engendering a certain amount of agreement (quite possibly among students who are actually at/went to Oxford or Cambridge and know that it's not for everyone...)

Reply 75

darkred

20

im so academic

blah blah blah

When are you going to learn?

Reply 76

Muffinz

16

Original post by pinkalarmclock

Can I just say, very well done for NaNoWriMo! I attempted it a fair few times so I'm rather impressed!

Haha thanks! I'm just glad I did one constructive thing on my gap year - how many people write novels on their year out? :P

Reply 77

MoMatrix

Original post by im so academic

Tbh, you'd probably have a better time at Cambridge.

But you know what, if you care more about a pathetic social life than studying at one of the finest institutions in the world, then **** off to Manchester.

God sake's, I just don't know why people imply as if you can't have fun, you can't go out etc etc at Oxbridge. FFS.

Look, go to Cambridge, if you hate it, transfer to Manchester. But if you go to Manchester, you can't transfer to Cambridge; so you might as well go to Cambridge.

I'm disgusted that someone would choose a university over either Oxford or Cambridge because of the social life.

Why the hell did you apply for Cambridge in the first place? If you feel you don't have what it takes to cope in a "high pressure working environment", I feel it begs the question, "how did you get in anyways?"

I'm too saddened to even speak anymore. The very thought of someone even daring to reject a Cambridge offer because of having a lot more "fun" it just disrespectful to Cambridge more than anything.

This person who replied do you go to Cambridge?

Reply 78

angelmxxx

14

Original post by reptileface

I'm I the only one who is actually going to say this?:
Of course you'd be ridiculously stupid to reject a place at Cambridge! (no offence intended)

- Rationally it would give you much better job opportunities and unfortunately 'I got a place at Cambridge but turned it down for Manchester' doesn't really put you at the top of this list of 'good common sense' during a job interview!

Sorry, but it had to be said.

Firstly, why would you bring up your UCAS choices at an interview?! And secondly, if you did, 'I turned down Cambridge because I wanted to do a specialist Physics degree and was prepared to work a little bit harder in my job search/applications so that I could go and do the degree I wanted to do at a uni I wanted to go to' would sound pretty good in my opinion.

Unless the OP wants to go into investment banking or go straight to one of the top strategy consultancies when they graduate, the job prospects aren't that different.

Good 2:1 from Manchester+positions of responsibility/leadership+some commercial awareness is pretty likely to get them an interview with any accountancy/professional services/law firm, or a general Business/finance graduate scheme, as long as their cover letter/etc is ok.

Their chances of getting past the CV stage might increase a little if they go to Cambridge, but not by much. And they'd certainly be better off having the above on their form than just having a Cambridge degree and few/no extra-curriculars.

If you look the universities which the Big 4, law firms, businesses recruit from, it's definitely not just Oxbridge or Oxbridge+London.

For academic positions, I don't know but Manchester has a very very good Physics department, and with a high 2:1/1st + good references they'd have a strong application for a Cambridge Masters/PhD anyway if they chose to go down that path.