Cambridge Workloads

epitome

Hear hear.

Reply 41

thefish_uk

14

FadeToBlackout

Exactly. Whilst there is a minimum you have to do in order to not get kicked out, it changes subject to subject. Some weeks I've done perhaps 4 or 5 hours of History, spending 70 at the ADC or whatever. Other weeks, the proportions have been reversed!

This is also true. Try and build in some time off. It sounds silly, but I found that not working at all (or doing something unstrenuous like background reading) over the weekend, and then working 9-6 or later during the week, worked best for me- spreading work over 7 days isn't healthy.

I agree with FTB in that you need to find a way of managing your time that suits you. Find something you can spend a few hours a week doing, be it going rock climbing of a Sunday, stressing over getting your set ready in time at the theatre or even going out and getting wasted - anything that you enjoy, that can take your mind off proper work. There's been a couple of times already for me when I've felt that, for example, being involved in a show at the ADC was my real reason for going to university and that work was just an aside. Other times (revision period for example) your sole reason for being becomes working and everything else goes out the window (though it just means that when exams finish, May Week just around the corner, it feels absolutely fantastic).

During my first term a friend of mine considered dropping out because she realised she was spending all her time thinking about work. Then she looked at me and realised that even though I did go out a lot of evenings and go climbing every other Sunday, I still got the work done and was much happier for me.

Jim / Lewi and Craggy: I think that some people at Cambridge are the kind of people who breezed through their A-levels. But I think also that many people put a lot of work in for theirs too - Physics wasn't too bad for me but Chemistry and Further Maths certainly did require a lot of work. One of my sixth form friends - brilliant at Physics, sits on his arse for his A-levels but still does well. Somehow the attitude comes out and Cambridge rejects him.

Reply 42

thefish_uk

Jim / Lewi and Craggy: I think that some people at Cambridge are the kind of people who breezed through their A-levels. But I think also that many people put a lot of work in for theirs too - Physics wasn't too bad for me but Chemistry and Further Maths certainly did require a lot of work. One of my sixth form friends - brilliant at Physics, sits on his arse for his A-levels but still does well. Somehow the attitude comes out and Cambridge rejects him.

Thanks

Reply 43

Jonny Fezro

4

Craghyrax

I'm sorry but I'd just like to cut in to disagree with some of the prevailing assumptions going round :biggrin:

I think I had a rant on this on another thread in Oxbridge...but:

One has to avoid extrapolating one's own experiences and using them as a tool against which to measure others. I can accept that the majority of Oxbridge students will have found A level relatively easy, but I think that suggesting that if people did not find easy they aren't Oxbridge material is going one step too far. There will always be exceptions. Alot of them are down to personal circumstances, or in fact personality/mindset/work ethic..etc. Anybody who is going to a) be able to handle the pressure and manage the workload, and b) be able to enjoy the degree and make the most of the Oxbridge system, is suitable to study there. You can't assume that people who didn't float through A levels won't manage Oxbridge. There are sooo many factors that are different about both. For instance..my main hassle with A levels was the style of marking and wording/way of presenting questions/problems in exams by various boards. Another factor is that I am a perfectionist and will make work for myself, or keep driving myself into the ground long past the point where I should reasonable draw the line. My case is only an example, I'm sure there are several others. Sure I might start my degree and find I wasn't 'oxbridge material', but I feel pretty confident I'm going to love it and thrive on the challenge :smile:

The reason I'm squeaking about this is because I think there are insecure people who might be unecessarily discouraged from aiming for Oxbridge because they're comparing themselves with 'normal' people.

Brilliantly said man, nice one :smile:

Reply 44

Jonny Fezro

Brilliantly said man, nice one :smile:

Woman. Thanks though.

Reply 45

epitome

11

Woman. Thanks though.

Crags, you so should be coming to Newnham... :wink:

Reply 46

epitome

Crags, you so should be coming to Newnham... :wink:

Don't push my buttons. I might go off on another rant, and this thread is probably already bowing under the weight of my last..

Mind you 'Newnham' in my sig would probably stop every second TSRer from assuming I'm male :hmpf:

Reply 47

epitome

11

Mind you 'Newnham' in my sig would probably stop every second TSRer from assuming I'm male

You'd be surprised. Lots don't cotton on. :wink:

Reply 48

mikeha

5

The Director of Studies for maths told me he expects his students to put in 40 hours a week.....so with 12 hours lectures, 2 or 3 hours of supervisons, that means about 25 hours additional work a week.

So even if you do the full 40 hours, that means about 4 hours a day for 6 days...

or 8 hours a day for 3 days...............

etc.

So not an impossible workload by any standard, and it should leave plenty of time for outside activities.

Reply 49

epitome

You'd be surprised. Lots don't cotton on. :wink:

Yeh.. *gives up* :frown:

Reply 50

mikeha

The Director of Studies for maths told me he expects his students to put in 40 hours a week.....so with 12 hours lectures, 2 or 3 hours of supervisons, that means about 25 hours additional work a week.

So even if you do the full 40 hours, that means about 4 hours a day for 6 days...

or 8 hours a day for 3 days...............

etc.

So not an impossible workload by any standard, and it should leave plenty of time for outside activities.

40 hours a week? *******s does anyone do that

Reply 51

Kyle_S-C

12

Craghyrax

I'm sorry but I'd just like to cut in to disagree with some of the prevailing assumptions going round :biggrin:

I think I had a rant on this on another thread in Oxbridge...but:

One has to avoid extrapolating one's own experiences and using them as a tool against which to measure others. I can accept that the majority of Oxbridge students will have found A level relatively easy, but I think that suggesting that if people did not find easy they aren't Oxbridge material is going one step too far. There will always be exceptions. Alot of them are down to personal circumstances, or in fact personality/mindset/work ethic..etc. Anybody who is going to a) be able to handle the pressure and manage the workload, and b) be able to enjoy the degree and make the most of the Oxbridge system, is suitable to study there. You can't assume that people who didn't float through A levels won't manage Oxbridge. There are sooo many factors that are different about both. For instance..my main hassle with A levels was the style of marking and wording/way of presenting questions/problems in exams by various boards. Another factor is that I am a perfectionist and will make work for myself, or keep driving myself into the ground long past the point where I should reasonable draw the line. My case is only an example, I'm sure there are several others. Sure I might start my degree and find I wasn't 'oxbridge material', but I feel pretty confident I'm going to love it and thrive on the challenge :smile:

The reason I'm squeaking about this is because I think there are insecure people who might be unecessarily discouraged from aiming for Oxbridge because they're comparing themselves with 'normal' people.

I agree. Apparently A levels aren't even a good indication of how well you will do at your degree, GCSEs are better for some reason. I found A levels moderately difficult and got about 85% average, whereas most people at Oxbridge seem to be aiming for 90+%. Comparatively I find Oxbridge better because of the whole style of teaching and the fact that it's challenging and relatively interesting, so you're inclined to work harder.

I still think that the most important skill, however, is not time management, but being able to compensate for extremely poor time management.

Reply 52

Robob

40 hours a week? *******s does anyone do that

Well put it this way, I'm going to limit myself to 40 hours because otherwise I'll accidentally kill myself.. yet..having worked full time this year, I know I can have a reasonable life on the side of a full time occupation, so it makes sense to retain the same mentality and just substitute my studies for my job :biggrin:

Reply 53

FadeToBlackout

15

Craghyrax

Well put it this way, I'm going to limit myself to 40 hours because otherwise I'll accidentally kill myself.. yet..having worked full time this year, I know I can have a reasonable life on the side of a full time occupation, so it makes sense to retain the same mentality and just substitute my studies for my job :biggrin:

Not everyone's as conscientious as you, though :wink:

I'm certainly not.

However, I actually am looking forwards to next year because it's things I really have chosen to do and that I find interesting. I've also got lots of extracurricular stuff to do as well. Fun fun fun!

Reply 54

epitome

11

40 hours a week? *******s does anyone do that

Yes, plenty! (Though by no means everyone).
It's just like a normal day-job, though! And some people actually enjoy their subjects (others are really ineffective workers...!).
Bear in mind that most people go to school for 35hrs a week. It's not all that different, if you just get on with it.

And of course everyone has days when they just cannot be arsed!

Reply 55

Craghyrax

Well put it this way, I'm going to limit myself to 40 hours because otherwise I'll accidentally kill myself.. yet..having worked full time this year, I know I can have a reasonable life on the side of a full time occupation, so it makes sense to retain the same mentality and just substitute my studies for my job :biggrin:

40? Much easier to limit yourself to 20

Reply 56

epitome

Yes, plenty! (Though by no means everyone).
It's just like a normal day-job, though! And some people actually enjoy their subjects (others are really ineffective workers...!).
Bear in mind that most people go to school for 35hrs a week. It's not all that different, if you just get on with it.

And of course everyone has days when they just cannot be arsed!

Yer, but I only have those days...

Reply 57

Robob

40? Much easier to limit yourself to 20

I'll have to see.

Reply 58