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Oxbridge is heavy - think about what you're getting into
Hi,
This is my first posting on this forum. It's just a little piece of advice to those applying to University, particularly those choosing their firm and insurance offers.
Oxbridge is hard work. All degrees are of course. But Oxbridge is very perhaps more work focused than other universities. The academic year is shorter which also adds to the workload. I would advise anyone holding an offer from Oxbridge to think very carefully about picking it as their firm if they are not serious about constant hard work for the next 3/4 years. Other top universities are a little less intensive (though by no means inferior) and are generally more laid back.
So those with offers from Oxbridge, who have insurance offers from the Durhams, Yorks, Warwicks, Nottinghams etc, you might be better off looking at these and not jumping at the Oxbridge place for the sake of being able to say you went there. In the long term, it makes little difference.
I'm finishing up atr York now and I'm going to Cambridge for my MA in the autumn. I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Good Luck with the exams!
This is my first posting on this forum. It's just a little piece of advice to those applying to University, particularly those choosing their firm and insurance offers.
Oxbridge is hard work. All degrees are of course. But Oxbridge is very perhaps more work focused than other universities. The academic year is shorter which also adds to the workload. I would advise anyone holding an offer from Oxbridge to think very carefully about picking it as their firm if they are not serious about constant hard work for the next 3/4 years. Other top universities are a little less intensive (though by no means inferior) and are generally more laid back.
So those with offers from Oxbridge, who have insurance offers from the Durhams, Yorks, Warwicks, Nottinghams etc, you might be better off looking at these and not jumping at the Oxbridge place for the sake of being able to say you went there. In the long term, it makes little difference.
I'm finishing up atr York now and I'm going to Cambridge for my MA in the autumn. I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Good Luck with the exams!
Scroll to see replies
I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Anyhow, you make a valid point or 2, but I'm sure most people have considered them already when deciding whether to take up their offers.
Hi Knogle,
What I meant is I wouldn't have been able to lie in bed most of the day and devote as much time to sport had I been at Oxbridge. I just know I wouldn't. I wasn't commenting on the social lives people have at Oxbridge, just how my own would fit in.
So you're off to LSE? I declined my offer for Bsc Government and chose York. Same again, couldn't see myself enjoying LSE that much. On my visit the people were only talking about the work and nothing else.
Anyway, hope everything works out there!
What I meant is I wouldn't have been able to lie in bed most of the day and devote as much time to sport had I been at Oxbridge. I just know I wouldn't. I wasn't commenting on the social lives people have at Oxbridge, just how my own would fit in.
So you're off to LSE? I declined my offer for Bsc Government and chose York. Same again, couldn't see myself enjoying LSE that much. On my visit the people were only talking about the work and nothing else.
Anyway, hope everything works out there!
Firstly, given that most of us have already chosen our firm and insurance choices, this is slightly late.
Secondly, a lot (the majority?) of people who apply to (or those who end up with offers from) Oxbridge are able to handle the work. While you say in the long run it makes little difference, there is the key difference of a superior education and altogether different lifestyle (the collegiate system) which suits a lot of people.
Secondly, a lot (the majority?) of people who apply to (or those who end up with offers from) Oxbridge are able to handle the work. While you say in the long run it makes little difference, there is the key difference of a superior education and altogether different lifestyle (the collegiate system) which suits a lot of people.
Of course Oxbridge is hard work, it's not like applicants don't know that already. ^o)
It just means that student life is different, as you said, but not in a negative way, as you insinuated. Personally, I'd get bored if I had one lecture a week and two essays a term. I'd certainly not leave university with any sort of decent education, save what I taught myself. Student life at Oxbridge is intense, to say the least. We work hard, yes, but we also play hard. Oxford has an amazing nightlife for the size of the city, and most students go out at least once a week, some much, much more, some less. The work load does not stop anyone from playing sports! Just look at the league tables, and you'll see that we're doing well in almost every sport. I hardly know anyone who doesn't find to go for a run, a cycle, or to the gym or pool, either.
You've got to keep an eye on the long-term as well - a degree from Oxbridge stands up far better than one from a less academic university, and with good reason. We are worked far harder here than anywhere else, and it shows in the essays that we produce and the quality of the graduates that leave here and Cambridge. You say that at LSE they were only talking about work - that's only reflective of the students that were showing you around. If you couldn't cope with a degree that requires a lot of work, and self-motivation, then of course Oxbridge isn't for you.
In short, yes Oxbridge requires a lot of commitment, but if anyone who applies doesn't know that already it would surprise me immensely, to say the least.
It just means that student life is different, as you said, but not in a negative way, as you insinuated. Personally, I'd get bored if I had one lecture a week and two essays a term. I'd certainly not leave university with any sort of decent education, save what I taught myself. Student life at Oxbridge is intense, to say the least. We work hard, yes, but we also play hard. Oxford has an amazing nightlife for the size of the city, and most students go out at least once a week, some much, much more, some less. The work load does not stop anyone from playing sports! Just look at the league tables, and you'll see that we're doing well in almost every sport. I hardly know anyone who doesn't find to go for a run, a cycle, or to the gym or pool, either.
You've got to keep an eye on the long-term as well - a degree from Oxbridge stands up far better than one from a less academic university, and with good reason. We are worked far harder here than anywhere else, and it shows in the essays that we produce and the quality of the graduates that leave here and Cambridge. You say that at LSE they were only talking about work - that's only reflective of the students that were showing you around. If you couldn't cope with a degree that requires a lot of work, and self-motivation, then of course Oxbridge isn't for you.
In short, yes Oxbridge requires a lot of commitment, but if anyone who applies doesn't know that already it would surprise me immensely, to say the least.
Look, he does have a point. Oxbridge really is a lot of work. I know that most people probably just think 'Yeah the workload's big, but I'll cope with it' Which is good in an abstract sense, but when you actually get here and are confronted by the real thing someimes it can seem a bit insurmountable. You should really have a passion for the subject if you want to apply. If you're just doing it for the thought of earning more afterwards I really doubt you'll make it through. Having said that, you can always fit other bits and pieces in, after all, who needs sleep really?
The original post just rubs me the wrong way...
I spend half my time stressing about how hard its going to be at Cambridge, and the amount of work I'm going to have to do. I don't think any of us are expecting an easy ride.
To be honest, I could have chosen another university as my firm (Warwick or York are pretty good) but I didn't want to. I'd have regretted it and I know I would.
We can't all just say, "well... I like Cambridge but I just want to sleep all day and play some sport so I'll go somewhere else".
I spend half my time stressing about how hard its going to be at Cambridge, and the amount of work I'm going to have to do. I don't think any of us are expecting an easy ride.
To be honest, I could have chosen another university as my firm (Warwick or York are pretty good) but I didn't want to. I'd have regretted it and I know I would.
We can't all just say, "well... I like Cambridge but I just want to sleep all day and play some sport so I'll go somewhere else".
As much appreciated as the OP's advice is, most of us who have applied and got in wouldve been aware of the fact that Oxbridge demands a great deal academically. But if we are in fact able to cope with it, the rewards are quite overwhelming I would imagine. Advising people on declining Oxbridge just bcoz the workload is too much seems a bit silly- afterall, if those who did get an offer from Oxbridge cant handle the workload, who can??
coaster
Hi,
This is my first posting on this forum. It's just a little piece of advice to those applying to University, particularly those choosing their firm and insurance offers.
Oxbridge is hard work. All degrees are of course. But Oxbridge is very perhaps more work focused than other universities. The academic year is shorter which also adds to the workload. I would advise anyone holding an offer from Oxbridge to think very carefully about picking it as their firm if they are not serious about constant hard work for the next 3/4 years. Other top universities are a little less intensive (though by no means inferior) and are generally more laid back.
So those with offers from Oxbridge, who have insurance offers from the Durhams, Yorks, Warwicks, Nottinghams etc, you might be better off looking at these and not jumping at the Oxbridge place for the sake of being able to say you went there. In the long term, it makes little difference.
I'm finishing up atr York now and I'm going to Cambridge for my MA in the autumn. I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Good Luck with the exams!
This is my first posting on this forum. It's just a little piece of advice to those applying to University, particularly those choosing their firm and insurance offers.
Oxbridge is hard work. All degrees are of course. But Oxbridge is very perhaps more work focused than other universities. The academic year is shorter which also adds to the workload. I would advise anyone holding an offer from Oxbridge to think very carefully about picking it as their firm if they are not serious about constant hard work for the next 3/4 years. Other top universities are a little less intensive (though by no means inferior) and are generally more laid back.
So those with offers from Oxbridge, who have insurance offers from the Durhams, Yorks, Warwicks, Nottinghams etc, you might be better off looking at these and not jumping at the Oxbridge place for the sake of being able to say you went there. In the long term, it makes little difference.
I'm finishing up atr York now and I'm going to Cambridge for my MA in the autumn. I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Good Luck with the exams!
No offense, but that post was absolute bull****. Oxbridge probably is hard work, nobody is denying that. However, that is exactly why the requirements are so high. As for social life, I know plenty of people there who manage to fit tons of activities into their term simply because they tend to have much better time management skills than most kids their age. I see what you're getting at but if you concede that "all degrees" are hard work and that you arent commenting on anybody else's social life, just your own, whats the point of the post?
It reads like a personal affirmation or an advertisement for red-brick education. People who have applied are well aware of the workload, and Im sure it comes with many advantages to counterbalance it- otherwise who would bother?
coaster
I'm finishing up atr York now and I'm going to Cambridge for my MA in the autumn. I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
How are you really in a position to comment on the amount of work an Oxbridge student gets, given that you're not yet a student there?
coaster
if they are not serious about constant hard work for the next 3/4 years.
A bit of self disipline and time tabling and you can fit in plenty of work and leave plenty of time for sport, social life, sleep etc. For instance, I like to work 1~6ish which leaves evenings free. Weekends I generally didn't work on Sunday and only Saturday if I had a lot of work to do. Now I'm not where near the top of pile at Cambridge but if I can get by with bags of free time then so can almost everyone else.
coaster
Other top universities are a little less intensive (though by no means inferior) and are generally more laid back.
coaster
you might be better off looking at these and not jumping at the Oxbridge place for the sake of being able to say you went there.
coaster
I know I had a much better time at York as an undergrad that at Oxbridge.
Give it 12 months, so that you've actually experienced life here and can actually make informed opinions rather than what are quite clearly assumptions.
My sister is a York and has visited myself and her friends from 6th form who are at Cambridge and she didn't say any of the things you have. She can see how much I and her friends work, how much time we have for sport or friends.
To put it bluntly I find it pretty stupid you're giving advice about something you know little about. It's akin to me saying in the Manchester uni forum "I'd be carefully about making Manchester your firm offer, you might get knifed in the city!!".
AlphaNumeric
There does reach a point where just doing more work doesn't actually improve your abilities and is self defeating. 8 hours of work a day would be as good as 14 hours a day because few people can sustain that level for long. Sure people at Cambridge can get stressed, but find me a uni where that doesn't happen.
There does reach a point where just doing more work doesn't actually improve your abilities and is self defeating. 8 hours of work a day would be as good as 14 hours a day because few people can sustain that level for long. Sure people at Cambridge can get stressed, but find me a uni where that doesn't happen.
To support this; at the Julliard School of Music they make sure the students do not do any more than 5-6hrs of practise a day as the "law of diminishing returns" kicks in and it can do more harm than good. Best to relax some as well, let the subconscious do some work.
I think it is interesting that lots of knee-jerk reactions have come from people who aren't actually at Oxbridge yet. Granted, the OP isn't either but he is on to something. It's all well and good thinking "Oh I know I'm going to have to work a lot harder..." and it's equally easy to think that dispite what everyone else warns, you really do think you know what you are letting yourself in for and how bad can it be really? I was the same.
However.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but particularly for people who have got by in the past mostly just by being "brainy", it really will be a shock. I can think of a couple of friends of mine for whom the workload is simply stopping them from having half as much fun as they perhaps were expecting. I know people who actually aren't enjoying themselves here, not because they haven't got the friends or are 'out of the loop', but because they don't like being perpetually stressed out.
It needn't be like this of course; as everyone says it eventually comes down to having good time management, prioritising, realising that you can't watch those episodes of scrubs you downloaded earlier and go to formal tonight, you just can't. And those lectures you missed, you will have to make up that hour some other time. And eventually everyone finds a balance, but chances are that it won't lie as far to the 'play' side as you hoped.
Or maybe I'm just stressed because I've been putting in 6+ hours of revision a day for 10 days now, and still the end of exams is nowhere in sight.
I should also mention that I do one of the (allegedly) most intense subjects, NatSci, so my experience probably isn't representative. Saturday morning lectures indeed! Oh, and I love it all really
However.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but particularly for people who have got by in the past mostly just by being "brainy", it really will be a shock. I can think of a couple of friends of mine for whom the workload is simply stopping them from having half as much fun as they perhaps were expecting. I know people who actually aren't enjoying themselves here, not because they haven't got the friends or are 'out of the loop', but because they don't like being perpetually stressed out.
It needn't be like this of course; as everyone says it eventually comes down to having good time management, prioritising, realising that you can't watch those episodes of scrubs you downloaded earlier and go to formal tonight, you just can't. And those lectures you missed, you will have to make up that hour some other time. And eventually everyone finds a balance, but chances are that it won't lie as far to the 'play' side as you hoped.
Or maybe I'm just stressed because I've been putting in 6+ hours of revision a day for 10 days now, and still the end of exams is nowhere in sight.
I should also mention that I do one of the (allegedly) most intense subjects, NatSci, so my experience probably isn't representative. Saturday morning lectures indeed! Oh, and I love it all really
to be truthful, my friend's doing law at cambridge and appears to be going insane...
he rang my other friend up (also at uni) at 10pm on a saturday night and didnt understand why she was about to go out! he said that he studied til 11 every night, was studying at 9 in the morning lectures or no, and just didnt go out socialising.
slightly freaked me out, but he's the kind of person with the A student complex and didnt like how cambs was full of clever people too
fortunately / unfortunately i've got no such complex and i'm slightly worried about meeting people like that...university's gotta have some fun to it eh? lol
he rang my other friend up (also at uni) at 10pm on a saturday night and didnt understand why she was about to go out! he said that he studied til 11 every night, was studying at 9 in the morning lectures or no, and just didnt go out socialising.
slightly freaked me out, but he's the kind of person with the A student complex and didnt like how cambs was full of clever people too
fortunately / unfortunately i've got no such complex and i'm slightly worried about meeting people like that...university's gotta have some fun to it eh? lol
The OP does make a valid point or two; of course its hard work. There have been times when I've thought, "WHY didn't I choose Durham?" Normally at 3am having been working flat out, or when struggling with an immense essay crisis... However, that soon wears off and i begin to remember how much I really appreciate it here and how much I'm doing.
As Feef pointed out, sure it would be a lot easier if there was less work. It would make fitting in all teh extra curricular stuff a lot easier! For example, today I was up at 6, coxed a boat until 9, worked int eh library until 12:15, had lunch with a friend, coxed another boat 1-3, then did a load of work before and after dinner. I stopped at 8 and went punting. This has been a reasonably light day compared to some I've done and that other people are currently doing!
The long and the short of it is, if I had more time I don't know what I'd do with it! True, I would hav emore time for extra curric stuff, but to be honest at the vast majority of other universities there will be nothing like as much in terms of quality and quantity as here (Cam).
Whilst your advice is I'm certain well intentioned- indeed, there are always two sides to every argument- it could be argued that the immense amount of selection tends to weed out the "unsuitable" candidates in favour of the ones who really do love their subject. The prospectus and reputation would also make people self-select to an extent.
I do, however, disagree with your point about how "in the long run" it makes no difference what university you've been to. This is an immense oppertunity for me and was completely unexpected- and, I continually feel, unwarranted. Whilst it is hard to speculate how life would ahve turned out differently, I beliee that this degree will really help me in my career and has, arguably, mnade my dream job far more open to me.
In short, whilst you are well intentioned and you raise a couple of valid points, on the whole as far as the vast majority of people are concerned the positves far far outweigh the negatives.
As Feef pointed out, sure it would be a lot easier if there was less work. It would make fitting in all teh extra curricular stuff a lot easier! For example, today I was up at 6, coxed a boat until 9, worked int eh library until 12:15, had lunch with a friend, coxed another boat 1-3, then did a load of work before and after dinner. I stopped at 8 and went punting. This has been a reasonably light day compared to some I've done and that other people are currently doing!
The long and the short of it is, if I had more time I don't know what I'd do with it! True, I would hav emore time for extra curric stuff, but to be honest at the vast majority of other universities there will be nothing like as much in terms of quality and quantity as here (Cam).
Whilst your advice is I'm certain well intentioned- indeed, there are always two sides to every argument- it could be argued that the immense amount of selection tends to weed out the "unsuitable" candidates in favour of the ones who really do love their subject. The prospectus and reputation would also make people self-select to an extent.
I do, however, disagree with your point about how "in the long run" it makes no difference what university you've been to. This is an immense oppertunity for me and was completely unexpected- and, I continually feel, unwarranted. Whilst it is hard to speculate how life would ahve turned out differently, I beliee that this degree will really help me in my career and has, arguably, mnade my dream job far more open to me.
In short, whilst you are well intentioned and you raise a couple of valid points, on the whole as far as the vast majority of people are concerned the positves far far outweigh the negatives.
Alewhey
I think it is interesting that lots of knee-jerk reactions have come from people who aren't actually at Oxbridge yet. Granted, the OP isn't either but he is on to something. It's all well and good thinking "Oh I know I'm going to have to work a lot harder..." and it's equally easy to think that dispite what everyone else warns, you really do think you know what you are letting yourself in for and how bad can it be really? I was the same.
However.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but particularly for people who have got by in the past mostly just by being "brainy", it really will be a shock. I can think of a couple of friends of mine for whom the workload is simply stopping them from having half as much fun as they perhaps were expecting. I know people who actually aren't enjoying themselves here, not because they haven't got the friends or are 'out of the loop', but because they don't like being perpetually stressed out.
It needn't be like this of course; as everyone says it eventually comes down to having good time management, prioritising, realising that you can't watch those episodes of scrubs you downloaded earlier and go to formal tonight, you just can't. And those lectures you missed, you will have to make up that hour some other time. And eventually everyone finds a balance, but chances are that it won't lie as far to the 'play' side as you hoped.
Or maybe I'm just stressed because I've been putting in 6+ hours of revision a day for 10 days now, and still the end of exams is nowhere in sight.
I should also mention that I do one of the (allegedly) most intense subjects, NatSci, so my experience probably isn't representative. Saturday morning lectures indeed! Oh, and I love it all really
However.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but particularly for people who have got by in the past mostly just by being "brainy", it really will be a shock. I can think of a couple of friends of mine for whom the workload is simply stopping them from having half as much fun as they perhaps were expecting. I know people who actually aren't enjoying themselves here, not because they haven't got the friends or are 'out of the loop', but because they don't like being perpetually stressed out.
It needn't be like this of course; as everyone says it eventually comes down to having good time management, prioritising, realising that you can't watch those episodes of scrubs you downloaded earlier and go to formal tonight, you just can't. And those lectures you missed, you will have to make up that hour some other time. And eventually everyone finds a balance, but chances are that it won't lie as far to the 'play' side as you hoped.
Or maybe I'm just stressed because I've been putting in 6+ hours of revision a day for 10 days now, and still the end of exams is nowhere in sight.
I should also mention that I do one of the (allegedly) most intense subjects, NatSci, so my experience probably isn't representative. Saturday morning lectures indeed! Oh, and I love it all really
I may not be there yet (and may never be) but as you said, everything is a matter of personal choice.
I wouldn't go to York if you paid me.
Who wants a second rate degree from a second rate university?
Who wants a second rate degree from a second rate university?
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