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Oxbridge is heavy - think about what you're getting into

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ETH Zurich is hardly a first rate university - it only came 44th in the world rankings...just because it is the best in the country, doesn't make it good. The same goes for Berkeley - not that impressive an institution academically, but has derived its fame from revolutionary populist movements originating there, i.e., hippies and communists.

Reply 61

bluefuture

bikerx23

no, ofcourse not...

I was just being polite on these. I didn't actually follow anybody's advice. What else was i supposed to say?

I have finally decided not to do PhysPhyl and i would change now if i wanted to and not follow this advice (i found much to the contrary)

The rest was not useful. As can be seen in the information that was provided to me. It was true, but I already knew what was being explained.
If anything, what i was doing was naively hoping for a magic response to confound my fears, but it never came.

Not that i eventually needed it. :wink:

For 2004 this was the ETH ranking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Higher_Education_Supplement

Reply 62

bikerx23

You should really listen to what you're saying - just because you did not decide to take some advice, it does not make it bad advice, and had you actually gone against the specific piece of advice you are commenting about, it would have almost certainly have been to your detriment.
Its fine being proud of your own abilities, but acting this way in life will, as many have said, be a greater detriment to you than your claimed intelligence would counter-act. Why dont you come back when you are not so naive and actually have some first hand experience of higher education.

Reply 63

silver-rose

I don't know about ETH Zurich ( i assume lack of funding), but UCBERKELEY not first rate? WOW? What are you thinking about?

Acedemically, particularly in Physics, it is one of the top unis in the world

Reply 64

Local Boy

as far as anyone can tell from this forum, you are just a jumped-up little prat with little to offer. if this is you at your most honest, then i pity anyone unlucky enough to actually know you.

when you get out into the real world you will realise that, while an oxbridge degree may be considered an excellent achievement due to the high esteem in which the institutions are held, it is very much more important to demonstrate the skills you have learned. the quality of teaching at any of the top british universities is comparable to oxbridge, and it would be ludicrous to suggest that york is not one of these.

EDIT: also, if i had a manor (sic) as nice as cexy's i'd consider myself very priveleged

Reply 65

bluefuture

silver-rose

Exacly. Biker2x3 maybe you are the one who should come back when you learn to read tables.... :smile:

I tire of TSR.

Reply 66

Chumbaniya

bluefuture

A large percentage of york's academics are from Oxbridge, so hardly second rate :p:

What, then, of Oxbridge academics who studied at universities like York? Are they second rate, or has their mere association with Oxbridge elevated them from their second-ratery up to the godlike status of Oxbridge graduates?

I was honestly considering not going to uni at all if i didn't get in to Oxford.

This implies that you care more about being at Oxford than studying your subject. If your degree were from York as opposed to from Oxford, it would not affect the career you could go into (unless it's one of those naff ones that rely on old boy networks), and you would still be gaining a very good education in your subject. I'm really not sure of any reason for your attitude towards other universities except to boost your own ego. It's not even as if you'll be with like-minded people at Oxford, since the majority (being, as they are, intelligent students) will have a realistic view of the university system and, while no doubt feeling proud of their university, will not wish to scorn other universities, and are likely to look down on the view that Oxbridge is the be-all-and-end-all of university education.

Reply 67

Ethereal

bluefuture

Your so naive. If you met me in person you would never guess I was bluefuture, believe me.

I am only openly ruthless and honest on this site.

By inference, you are dishonest in real life

bluefuture

Yes being more intelligent does make you above others. Ask allymcb2.

No, really it doesn't. It means you merely excel at certain things. Others will excel in other areas. Part of true intelligence is to realise everyone has something to offer

bluefuture

Also don't be so arrogant too assume the tutors made a mistake in picking me.

Don't be so arrogant to assume they didn't. You've already stated you are ruthlessly honest on this site, and yet in real life you are different. I would say based on that alone, my doubts as to your ability to succeed in your chosen field are justified.

Reply 68

Chumbaniya

Ethereal

By inference, you are dishonest in real life
...
No, really it doesn't. It means you merely excel at certain things. Others will excel in other areas. Part of true intelligence is to realise everyone has something to offer
...
Don't be so arrogant to assume they didn't. You've already stated you are ruthlessly honest on this site, and yet in real life you are different. I would say based on that alone, my doubts as to your ability to succeed in your chosen field are justified.

Three very well made points. I agree with all of them. I find the third response is particularly relevant - I'd venture to say that a person who is unable to doubt their own abilities is severely lacking in important powers of introspection, leading to rather warped perspective.

Reply 69

Minta2

Bluefuture, if you're so intelligent you should be able to spell certain very common words correctly ie learn the correct usage of the 2 different spellings of to/too and your/you're. Not so bright afterall, eh? :rolleyes:

Reply 70

friendlyneutron

bluefuture

I tire of TSR.

I think it's pretty safe to say that TSR is tired of you. :rolleyes:

Reply 71

FadeToBlackout

bluefuture

I tire of TSR.

Then go! No-ones stopping you.

You're really coming over as a complete arrogant ****, and the complete stereotype. There is being proud of your college, university, and achievements, and there's taking it to a complete extreme and saying that it somehow makes youbetter than other people.

In fact, by your logic:

I'm at Cambridge. It has often been rated higher than Oxford in certain subjects, such as History and others. Does that therefore make me better than you? By your logic, yes. Do you believe that? No. Hence your logic is flawed.

You've had an achievement, true, and you're not unintelligent. But you do seem to be hellbent on revealing an unsavory, arrogant, unlikeable side of your personality.

I hate to say it, buts it's attitudes like yours that give Oxbridge a bad name.

Reply 72

Duke Flipside

friendlyneutron

I think it's pretty safe to say that TSR is tired of you. :rolleyes:

^^This

Reply 73

bluefuture

[QUOTE=ethereal
Don't be so arrogant to assume they didn't. You've already stated you are ruthlessly honest on this site, and yet in real life you are different. I would say based on that alone, my doubts as to your ability to succeed in your chosen field are justified.

It is arrogant to assume you know more than world class academics with years of experience, that they would so easily make a huge mistake in your eyes after 85 minutes of interviews and an entrance test. Not to mention my reports.

It is not arrogant to trust their decision since they have more experience than either of us.

You are rather thick although probably not at your subject!

Reply 74

Drogue

Megsy

i spy a future union hack in bluefuture...a tenner says he'll be snapped up for michaelmas seccies - peter's is good at that, if nothing else :p:

Our Peter? Unionising?

Reply 75

allymcb2

Ethereal

Arrogance and sheer snobbery will get you nowhere in life :rolleyes:

Arrogance and sheer snobbery have got me a lot further than York. But then, you dont have to go anywhere to get a lot further than York.

Reply 76

Jigglypuff

Is Bluefuture male or female? Out of interest...

Reply 77

coaster

As the original poster of this thread, I'd like to clear a few things up.

Firstly, the thread should not be interpreted as a bitter Oxbridge reject (which I'm not) preaching to the masses

Secondly, I didn't mention that my views on the Oxbridge work ethic were solely constructed after friends there told me what it is like. Two of them at Oxford (both PPE) found themselves snowed under at first. They , as one poster described, thought they could get by there by simply being clever. Suddenly they were confronted with a lot of work and little time to do it. My girlfriend, who is at Cambridge (SPS) also feels the same.

Thirdly, people who knock other universities (such as Durham and York) seriously need to grow up. I don't need to say anything else - you'll get a wake-up call when you graduate and employers don't rate that kind of attitude. Also, I notice many of those who a quick to criticise other unis have not even gone to university yet.

Finally, I would just like to reiterate that the thread was originally intended to be a piece of helpful advice, not a WUM or an attack from an Oxbridge reject.

Peace out!

Reply 78

Ethereal

bluefuture

It is arrogant to assume you know more than world class academics with years of experience, that they would so easily make a huge mistake in your eyes after 85 minutes of interviews and an entrance test. Not to mention my reports.

It is not arrogant to trust their decision since they have more experience than either of us.

You are rather thick although probably not at your subject!

Questioning the correctness of a judgement is my subject. Disagreeing with you does not make me thick, neither does disagreeing with the people who accepted you. You yourself have said you are not yourself in real life, so they didn't accept you they accepted a persona.

Reply 79

HannahZ

coaster

Finally, I would just like to reiterate that the thread was originally intended to be a piece of helpful advice

I think it is probably helpful to draw people's attention to the downside as well as the upside of Oxbridge. Many people are so in love with the dreaming spires and their aspirations that they forget that there are more differences between Oxbridge and other universities than just architecture. The Oxbridge approach just doesn't suit all types. It is something you should consider when making your choices.

Oxbridge is hard work and very intense. However, the pressure does vary between subjects and different people put in different amounts of time and effort. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to cope with the pressure. Some of the pressure may be due to the type of students being high-achievers and wanting to do well. Social life can be equally intense, especially if you like to be involved in sport or college activities. There is little 'down-time'. Not much time for sleeping, relaxation, contemplation and reflection. Part time jobs are almost impossible and at many colleges forbidden. Weekends away are extremely difficult. At other universities work and breaks are more balanced.

If you're the kind of person that likes to be busy all the time and can get by without much sleep then you'll be fine. All assessment is by exam so if you prefer coursework then Oxbridge is not for you. A passion for your subject is essential as working umpteen hours a week on something you are only marginally interested in could be an ordeal. However, if you love the subject, then all the reading is manageable even if all the constant deadlines, essay crises and exams aren't.

Oxbridge is tough but it has some amazing compensations and a rich social life that can't be matched anywhere else, which is why most Oxbridge students on balance think that it's worth it.

Oxbridge is heavy - think about what you're getting into

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