The Student Room Group

15-year-old Cambridge undergrad, 2009, will be 2nd youngest for 200 years

Recent news item from the Guardian, BBC, Daily Telegraph, etc.
Niall Thompson, who has been attending a sixth form college in the Manchester area, has won a place at Magdalene College, Cambridge aged 15. If you are reading this, Niall, congratulations!!

When he starts reading for his degree (in Mathematics) in October 2009, aged 15 years and 9 months, he will be the second youngest Cambridge undergraduate since William Pitt the Younger, who was 14 in 1773.

The youngest Cambridge undergraduate since Pitt was Alexander Faludy, who was 15 years and 7 months in 1998 (Peterhouse, Theology and Art History).

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What advantage is to be found in going to university at 15 instead of 18? Socially, I suspect he will find it very difficult.
Reply 2
I read about it days ago.. Congrats to him! He did well and makes me feel embarrassed about myself LOL..
Reply 3
Well done to him and massive congratulations! A very bright young man...
Reply 4
Yay I know him :biggrin:
Reply 5
well done for him.
but tbf if i was him id wait till i was 18 and then go.
he might be a genius but socially itll be very difficult.. he cant go drinking or clubbing and will be immature in relation
Reply 6
dave730
Recent news item from the Guardian, BBC, Daily Telegraph, etc.
Niall Thompson, who has been attending a sixth form college in the Manchester area, has won a place at Magdalene College, Cambridge aged 15. If you are reading this, Niall, congratulations!!

When he starts reading for his degree (in Mathematics) in October 2009, aged 15 years and 9 months, he will be the second youngest Cambridge undergraduate since William Pitt the Younger, who was 14 in 1773.

The youngest Cambridge undergraduate since Pitt was Alexander Faludy, who was 15 years and 7 months in 1998 (Peterhouse, Theology and Art History).


i bet he turns up messed up, like in A beautiful mind...
Reply 7
im sure he was motivated by the fit hunnys at cambridge :colondollar:
Reply 8
Well he's going to have the best social life ever.
Reply 9
Olivia_Lightbulb
What advantage is to be found in going to university at 15 instead of 18?
Going to university at 15 will give him the chance to further his mathematical knowledge by giving him access to tutors he would not otherwise be able to see.
Reply 10
Olivia_Lightbulb
What advantage is to be found in going to university at 15 instead of 18? Socially, I suspect he will find it very difficult.


Bragging rights, obviously :p:
Reply 11
Thanks everyone
Who was it who said that Maths is a young person's game? I guess there will be advantage to him studying so early.
he should do what i did and hide his genius to avoid, a) having to live up to expectations that are far too great for such a young boy and b) no doubt being horribly bullied for making the rest of the world feel stupid.
Reply 14
I applaud him but part of the University experience is the social life which he'll be lacking dearly so...
congrats to him, he's done excellent! keep it up!
Reply 16
wow, that's impressive, though i have to say if i was 15 and off to uni i'd be terrified... and the whole social thing aswell..
Reply 17
Adam92
Yay I know him :biggrin:

Do you really, or is that a joke? (Sorry, I couldn't tell!)
Reply 18
dave730
Do you really, or is that a joke? (Sorry, I couldn't tell!)


Lol, it's not a joke. He went my college and we had the same form tutor.
Reply 19
Wonder what he got in STEP.