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

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allymcb2

I dont consider it childish to judge people. At 18-21 their degree and where they went to uni are the major judge of their intelligence and work ethic.

If it is, I'd argue you'll find getting a job very tough. Very tough. At university, ECs are a lot more common than at school, as I'm sure you'll find when you get here. Oxford has thousands of societies and the opportunity to try out a host of new things and experience. There is a lot more to do than academics. You may understand when you get here, that while academics are important, the main judge of intelligence and work ethic is what and how much you do. The person who ran some amazing events, worked on worthwhile projects, was president of something interested, and got a reasonably good degree is generally a lot harder a worker than someone who got a first. Plus far more highly prized by employers.

Look at the graduate of the year awards to see what shows off a work ethic, that makes someone impressive, employable and to have made the most of their time at university. Then you'll have an idea of what it's possible to do at university.

Reply 161

Drogue

allymcb2

If they have a first from Oxford you KNOW they are bright. And I am not interested in the real world.

How do those two sentances fit together? If you're not interested in the real world, how do you know they're bright? A funny way to define bright, purely in grades. One of my friends founded a huge charity, became a trustee of a very famous trust, has been published in and had a fact-file in the Times about him, was sent to India to learn about and work on some amazing projects, was profiled on channel 4, and runs one of the most active and brilliant societies at Oxford. The fact he missed a first in his prelims doesn't really detract from him being both an absolute genius and an incredible person.

Now compare him to the vast majority of people who get firsts, who spend a lot of time in the library. Nothing wrong with it, but really, which is the more impressive?

Reply 162

Drogue

RAYPLETTS

Rubbish - absolute tosh. 3 years of hard work to set you up for life.
Really?

While I *love* Oxbridge (as anyone who's read my rambling post about how amazing it is will attest), and while it goes give a bit of a head start, anyone who thinks it will set them up for life, or that they'll automatically walk into the best jobs has a huge wake up call coming.

Reply 163

puppy

sTe\/o

Was it the naked parties that made the difference? I still can't get over the fact that I haven't been invited to one.

It was the amazing people and the naked parties and the fact that alcohol exists.

Next time I have a naked party I'll announce it on here. Next michaelmas will be party time.

Reply 164

puppy

Whilst Oxbridge is great blah blah, does anyone else sometimes want to give it up and go live in a crack den with no responsibilites and be... happy? Anyone else fantasise about giving up their life and disappearing?

Reply 165

Ethereal

puppy

But puppy, you just gave away your hiding place. You can't disappear now, we'll just search the crack dens!

Reply 166

$Avatar for sTe\/o$

sTe\/o

puppy

It was the amazing people and the naked parties and the fact that alcohol exists.

Next time I have a naked party I'll announce it on here. Next michaelmas will be party time.

I'll have left, but I guess it's the thought that counts.

Reply 167

puppy

sTe\/o

I'll have left, but I guess it's the thought that counts.

No no, it's the nakedness that counts. Always.

Reply 168

puppy

Anyone on Facebook?- stalky stalky

Only my facebook profile does justice to how utterly cool I am.

Reply 169

Helenia

puppy

Anyone on Facebook?- stalky stalky

Only my facebook profile does justice to how utterly cool I am.

Been there, done that. :p:

I'm actually having my first serious Oxbridge angst moment right now. Bit late in the day, I know, but I'm realising that I actually suck quite a lot. At school I was the general academic superstar, nobody except me was surprised when I got into Cambridge and everyone expects me to get a first. I'm now staring a 2:2 very strongly in the face, and I'm not joking. I know my essays in two papers were very poor and I don't think my other papers were good enough to bring my overall grade up to a 2:1 (which is what I've got the last two years, coming very close to a first last year).

So, I'm going to go back there one day and have to tell everyone that the big star couldn't quite cut it at Cambridge. Possibly I could make excuses about picking the wrong third year subject and/or being VERY unlucky with questions (which I was, but that's something that could happen to everyone) but the fact is, I didn't do enough work to do well. When I consider that my nearest rival at school will have a first from Bristol, and some others who didn't even go to universities have their own businesses making tens of thousands of pounds, getting into Cambridge seems fairly pathetic if I couldn't actually perform.

I'm really keen to do really well at clinical school, seeing as that's what I'm really interested in, but you're not graded there :rolleyes:

Reply 170

bikerx23

Who isn't on facebook?

Dont worry helen - my parents were just the same: the "we're so proud of you whatever you get" followed by the visibly disappointed announcement that I "only" got a 2.2 :mad:

Seriously - screw them - they dont understand how hard it is.

Reply 171

mangomaz

puppy

Anyone on Facebook?- stalky stalky

Only my facebook profile does justice to how utterly cool I am.

Me me I'm on facebook!!!!

Are you one of those facebookers with 100000000 friends? :eek:

Reply 172

puppy

bikerx23

Who isn't on facebook?

Dont worry helen - my parents were just the same: the "we're so proud of you whatever you get" followed by the visibly disappointed announcement that I "only" got a 2.2 :mad:

Seriously - screw them - they dont understand how hard it is.

Yeah I love screwing my parents.

How do I facebook stalk you (i.e. gimme your name)

Reply 173

puppy

mangomaz

Me me I'm on facebook!!!!

Are you one of those facebookers with 100000000 friends? :eek:

Not quite that many.

Who are you, I'm in the mood to stalk (I think it's something to do with the fact that I ought to be learning Greek for my exam tomorrow)?

Reply 174

$Avatar for sTe\/o$

sTe\/o

bikerx23

Who isn't on facebook?

Dont worry helen - my parents were just the same: the "we're so proud of you whatever you get" followed by the visibly disappointed announcement that I "only" got a 2.2 :mad:

Seriously - screw them - they dont understand how hard it is.

They will once you've screwed them.

Helenia

Been there, done that. :p:

...*Lots of unfounded pessimism*...

I'm really keen to do really well at clinical school, seeing as that's what I'm really interested in, but you're not graded there :rolleyes:

You'll be fine Helen. You will not get a 2:2 - those are reserved for other people. And you'll be pleased to learn that you do actually get graded in clinical school. Although personally I was rather hoping it would be pass/fail for everything, so I could slack a bit more. Alas.

Reply 175

Helenia

bikerx23

Who isn't on facebook?

Dont worry helen - my parents were just the same: the "we're so proud of you whatever you get" followed by the visibly disappointed announcement that I "only" got a 2.2 :mad:

Seriously - screw them - they dont understand how hard it is.

My parents will be ok with it, I think - although my ridiculously competitive younger cousins will have a field day (potential Trinity mathmos alert!)

However, the bastards who made my life hell at school will think it's hilarious.

Reply 176

Drogue

puppy

Only when cuddling someone :redface:

puppy

Anyone on Facebook?- stalky stalky

Oooh, yay - you could look at the Oxford TSR group too... :smile:

Reply 177

bikerx23

is there an Oxford tsr group? ^o)

Reply 178

puppy

Drogue

Only when cuddling someone :redface:

Oooh, yay - you could look at the Oxford TSR group too... :smile:

Not sure my street cred could take that, I'm a pretty big wheel down at the cracker factory.

Not even sure what I'm on about.

Reply 179

-x- Lici -x-

Having read Helenia's post i wonder - and i must wish her the best of luck, so many have confidence in you; believe them - going to another university than Oxbridge increases chances of getting a 2:1 or 1st by how much??

I really would like - as everyone else - to get one of these two, and preferable at camb (should i get my grades this summer) but is it so much easier at another university??

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

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