Do you regret going to Cambridge University?

Original post by jadeemma

Thank you everyone for all the help and advice on my original post! Just got another question, what's more important to employers, where the degree is studied at, or the level of the degree? For example is a 2.1 from Cambridge considedered better than a 1st from Bath?

Neither really, employers look to employ good people not good universities or degree classifications. If you have a 2.1+ then that's useful as many grad schemes use that as an initial filter (rightly or wrongly).

I expect others will post that of course Oxbridge is better in an employer's eye, but honestly it really isn't. A good employer looks beyond the "brand" and tries to find out about *you*.

Sure "Cambridge" can be a shorthand for "high achiever" or whatever, but there's plenty of Oxbridge grads who haven't just waltzed into a career on the back of their university.

Both Cambridge and Bath (and "lesser" universities) can give you a very good education, and opportunities, but it's up to the student to make the most of them.

Reply 62

Original post by daniilS

I know some people did that and got an offer, even saw one on TSR recently. I think unless you personally offended the interviewer the first time it's not too dangerous to give the same college another try if you really like it :tongue:

Sometimes the college (if asked) does say they would welcome a reapplication. e.g. @Insight314

Reply 63

NeverLucky

12

Original post by daniilS

I know some people did that and got an offer, even saw one on TSR recently. I think unless you personally offended the interviewer the first time it's not too dangerous to give the same college another try if you really like it :tongue:

I'd just feel awkward if they say something that suggests they recognise me from the year before :lol:

Reply 64

Original post by Samendra

Consulting, law (for the top 1-2 firms though other top unis wont hold you back), politics to an extent aswell.

Nope not a pre-requisite.

And, specifically, firms like Deloitte and Clifford Chance are leading the way with "university-blind" grad recruiting.

Reply 65

Insight314

7

Original post by jneill

Sometimes the college (if asked) does say they would welcome a reapplication. e.g. @Insight314

I don't want to quote specifics, but the AT of Churchill basically said that re-applying to the same college does not disadvantage an application and that Churchill handles all applications the same way. He also mentioned that re-applicants usually apply to different college just so that their application is viewed from a fresh perspective (even though it officially is).

Original post by NeverLucky

I'd just feel awkward if they say something that suggests they recognise me from the year before :lol:

Why feel awkward lol? I wish they said something to me but I had a different interviewer than last year (probably on purpose).

Reply 66

Original post by Insight314

I don't want to quote specifics, but the AT of Churchill basically said that re-applying to the same college does not disadvantage an application and that Churchill handles all applications the same way. He also mentioned that re-applicants usually apply to different college just so that their application is viewed from a fresh perspective (even though it officially is).

The only thing I would be worried about is that although I would apply to a different college, music has so many interviews (usually 3 w/ audition, although 6-7 is not uncommon) that I could be interviewed by the same people as last year by having some interviews allocated there xDD

Reply 67

Chúpamela porfi

1

Original post by jadeemma

Thank you everyone for all the help and advice on my original post! Just got another question, what's more important to employers, where the degree is studied at, or the level of the degree? For example is a 2.1 from Cambridge considedered better than a 1st from Bath?

Neither really. This thing you hear around that all employers go wide-eyed when they see an applicant has come from Oxbridge is a myth. Once you're out of the bubble of university and looking for jobs in the real world, where you got your degree, and to a certain extent even your grade doesn't count for much. It's how you perform at interviews and assessment centres.

I've got a degree from Cambridge and am unemployed, having been beaten in assessment centres by people who had degrees from places like Manchester, Liverpool, LSE etc. An Oxbridge degree is not the golden ticket to a job and an amazing life as it may have been in the past.

Reply 68

NeverLucky

12

Original post by Insight314

I don't want to quote specifics, but the AT of Churchill basically said that re-applying to the same college does not disadvantage an application and that Churchill handles all applications the same way. He also mentioned that re-applicants usually apply to different college just so that their application is viewed from a fresh perspective (even though it officially is).

Why feel awkward lol? I wish they said something to me but I had a different interviewer than last year (probably on purpose).

It'll be more of just a self-conscious feeling I think if I was to get interviewed by the same people as the year before. Regardless, I'm happy with where I've ended up. I never really considered all the colleges the first time round.

Reply 69

troubadour.

19

Original post by vincrows

But grades are not the only nor the most important thing they look at when assessing candidates.

Well... They are in the sense that if you don't clear that bar, no amount of potential you could display in an interview will make up for it.

Reply 70

wonderland2

8

Original post by auburnstar

The only thing I would be worried about is that although I would apply to a different college, music has so many interviews (usually 3 w/ audition, although 6-7 is not uncommon) that I could be interviewed by the same people as last year by having some interviews allocated there xDD

DD Cambridge experience was that her music interviews (2) were by the college she applied to only and she also undertook 2 exams set by the college. Her research beforehand found that each college varied slightly but only one gave the opportunity to audition on an instrument but many commonly had aural tests.
If you apply for a choral scholarship you may see music directors from many colleges.

Did you apply to Oxford this year or Cambridge?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 71

humanb33N

14

Original post by jadeemma

I've received an offer from Cambridge for Maths and heard how demanding the course is and the amount of hard work required! Does anyone wish they went to a different Uni? Plus what are the parties and nights out like?

I'm at Oxford and I tell myself this:

'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'

Reply 72

Original post by wonderland2

DD Cambridge experience was that her music interviews (2) were by the college she applied to only and she also undertook 2 exams set by the college. Her research beforehand found that each college varied slightly but only one gave the opportunity to audition on an instrument but many commonly had aural tests.
If you apply for a choral scholarship you may see music directors from many colleges.

Did you apply to Oxford this year or Cambridge?

That's interesting. I had two interviews at my chosen college and then one interview at another college, with an audition at the faculty (assessed by the tutors from my chosen college). But I also knew of someone who had 6 interviews (3 of them being at chosen college and the other three at 3 different colleges). I applied for Oxford this year. :smile:

Reply 73

Original post by auburnstar

That's interesting. I had two interviews at my chosen college and then one interview at another college, with an audition at the faculty (assessed by the tutors from my chosen college). But I also knew of someone who had 6 interviews (3 of them being at chosen college and the other three at 3 different colleges). I applied for Oxford this year. :smile:

Oxford =/= Cambridge. :wink:

Oxford typically interviews far fewer applicants, but interviews them more times.

Reply 74

trustmeimlying1

20

Original post by jneill

Oxford =/= Cambridge. :wink:

Oxford typically interviews far fewer applicants, but interviews them more times.

I preferred Oxford. My time at Cambridge was riddled with bad vibes.

Reply 75

Original post by jneill

Oxford =/= Cambridge. :wink:

How often I forget this truism!!

Reply 76

username1865079

14

Original post by Hydeman

Well... They are in the sense that if you don't clear that bar, no amount of potential you could display in an interview will make up for it.

Not necessarily.
Cambridge doesn't have any fixed weighting for any aspect of application. They look at each candidate individually and holistically. That's why many with lower than average (for Cambridge applicants) can get offer, and that's because they show strength in other parts of application and that can be their interview. What grades present is a candidate's educational past up to now. At interviews they try to see what sort of potential candidates have in them even it might have not been obvious from their grades mainly because of social/educational backgrounds and also try to find/assess how they would be like at Cambridge; ie: if they suit their style of teaching = supervisions.
The height of 'bar' can vary from candidate to candidate, depending upon their other parts of application/profile.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 77