Negatives of Oxbridge

oo_Lucinda_oo

i think all of you should actually read posts before launching unneccessary attacks on people who are just voicing an opinion :confused:

This is probably true occasionally, but I don't think so in this case.

I always read carefully before launching into attacks - but the attacking is often rather hasty certainly.

Reply 183

oo_Lucinda_oo

11

Craghyrax

This is probably true occasionally, but I don't think so in this case.

I always read carefully before launching into attacks - but the attacking is often rather hasty certainly.

*sigh* ok well i am sorry if i offended you, i think to be honest it is difficult to get a point across properly on a TSR thread anyway, it is so easy to word things incorrectly and have people misread the point you were trying to make.

anyway, sorry.

Reply 184

Question to Oxbridge students:

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd... like, a small fish in a big pond? I think that's how I'd feel if I went there. In school, college and even later I became accostumed to being one of the brightest, and I know this wouldn't be the case if I had gone to Cambridge.

I'm asking because I'm reapplying this year, and I'm just wondering if it's worth really sticking my neck out to get into a competitive place (in my case UCL) and be one of many, or go somewhere else where potentially, I might just be seen as the best of a bad bunch.

Reply 185

llys

The extremes. :yep:

People seem to either glorify it or condemn it. I personally find this really really strange (it's just universities... not a football club) and sometimes rather exasperating. Like the last two pages in this thread. :nah:

Reply 186

oo_Lucinda_oo

*sigh* ok well i am sorry if i offended you, i think to be honest it is difficult to get a point across properly on a TSR thread anyway, it is so easy to word things incorrectly and have people misread the point you were trying to make.

anyway, sorry.

Its fine. I don't think you offended anyone :smile:

And yes TSR is rather void of body language/tone of voice etc, and it was slightly arbitrary that your particular post provoked strong replies rather than those before it. Certainly my interest was only in emphasising an important point rather than a reaction of anger/offence etc.

Reply 187

icapturethecastle

16

i have no first hand experience... but from the things i've heard and read, perhaps it's elitism can be thought of as a negative...?

Reply 188

username138106

Dijobla

Question to Oxbridge students:

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd... like, a small fish in a big pond? I think that's how I'd feel if I went there. In school, college and even later I became accostumed to being one of the brightest, and I know this wouldn't be the case if I had gone to Cambridge.
.

No. No more than I probably would at any university of thousands.

Does your happiness at all depend on being the smartest in a group?

Reply 189

Dijobla

Question to Oxbridge students:

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd... like, a small fish in a big pond? I think that's how I'd feel if I went there. In school, college and even later I became accostumed to being one of the brightest, and I know this wouldn't be the case if I had gone to Cambridge.

I would have thought that Oxbridge would be the place where this is least true :s-smilie:

The answer is mixed though:

In terms of general achievement: I didn't come thinking I'd be particularly good, so it hasn't surprised me to achieve average rather than brilliant results.

In terms of being lost - your supervisions, and the fact that you're in a college with a small number of others doing your subject with you (in your year) makes you feel like a significant individual whose contribution/achievement/progress matters.

For me it was the not being lost in a crowd that was most challenging last year. I worked very hard, but the two others in my college doing my subject got Firsts, seemingly with less time put in. This was a bitter pill to swallow, and I would have been happier if I wasn't alongside them all year having a rather close proximity by which to guage their level of work. I would have been happier if they were statistics, and I could have assumed they were paranormal wierdos who stayed in their rooms all year, as opposed to being some of the more social people in my college :biggrin:

Fortunately I was able - to an extent - to opt out of this nearness. Many of our supervisions mixed people from different colleges, and I found it easier to be friends with people on my course at other colleges, because there wasn't any sense of competition, and it felt like a safer environment in which to discuss dificulties/challenges etc.

So the answer is really - its a bit of both, and if one aspect bugs you, its quite possible to pursue the context you prefer.

Reply 190

Arrogant Git

Dijobla

Question to Oxbridge students:

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd... like, a small fish in a big pond? I think that's how I'd feel if I went there. In school, college and even later I became accostumed to being one of the brightest, and I know this wouldn't be the case if I had gone to Cambridge.

No. I like it. I certainly never feel lost- the college atmosphere is quite intimate. Though I feel a part of my college much more than I do a part of my university.

I actually like being average. You feel no particular pressure to kill yourself with work, but you get along adequately. That said, I'd be miserable if I was struggling along, not understanding anything. But even then, you have supervisors and tutors to help you along.

Reply 191

Arrogant Git

tami*

i have no first hand experience... but from the things i've heard and read, perhaps it's elitism can be thought of as a negative...?

Depends what you mean by elitism. If you mean "only letting clever people in" then I don't think it's a bad thing. If you mean "only letting rich people in" it's not a negative because it doesn't happen.

Reply 192

2 5 +

Does your happiness at all depend on being the smartest in a group?

Lol, it does a little bit. Everyone likes getting their ego stroked :wink:

.
But seriously, I was just wondering how much opportunity you get to really shine as an individual, you know? When there are so many who are just as capable, how do you convey that you deserve a first more than they do, or that you're (for want of a better word) special?

I'm probably not phrasing myself very well- I've taken too much cold medicine so I'm a little incoherent, lol. Thanks for all the other answers to my question btw.

Reply 193

hobnob

14

Dijobla

Lol, it does a little bit. Everyone likes getting their ego stroked :wink:

.
But seriously, I was just wondering how much opportunity you get to really shine as an individual, you know? When there are so many who are just as capable, how do you convey that you deserve a first more than they do, or that you're (for want of a better word) special?

I'm probably not phrasing myself very well- I've taken too much cold medicine so I'm a little incoherent, lol. Thanks for all the other answers to my question btw.

Who would you want to convey that to, though? And why?

Reply 194

alex_hk90

19

Dijobla

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd... like, a small fish in a big pond? I think that's how I'd feel if I went there. In school, college and even later I became accostumed to being one of the brightest, and I know this wouldn't be the case if I had gone to Cambridge.

Hmm, I haven't thought about it. If you did compare yourself with others though, it would only really be with those studying the same subject at the same college, which isn't usually that many people. And with the supervision/tutorial system everyone gets some personal attention. Obviously chances are you won't be 'one of the brightest' (although actually some people must be), it's not something that I've had the time to notice or care about. :nah:

Reply 195

Dijobla

Lol, it does a little bit. Everyone likes getting their ego stroked :wink:

.
But seriously, I was just wondering how much opportunity you get to really shine as an individual, you know? When there are so many who are just as capable, how do you convey that you deserve a first more than they do, or that you're (for want of a better word) special?

I'm probably not phrasing myself very well- I've taken too much cold medicine so I'm a little incoherent, lol. Thanks for all the other answers to my question btw.

Um.. few do.
You might have a particularly inspired point to offer in an essay or during supervision, which is met with praise, but this isn't guaranteed to be reflected in your overall grade. However it may mean that you have some respect from your peers or supervisors. Tbh I think postgrad is the location for 'shining' really, not undergrad. (this is coming from an Arts angle - a different story altogether in the sciences)
Also in a college context its extremely easy to head up some or other society, or get involved with the student union, a paper, the JCR etc. Social people are generally very well known in their colleges because they get stuck into things.

Additionally people in your subject and year will tend to recognise you for your personality/strengths/weaknesses/quirks.

It just doesn't need to be an issue I think. And yeh - if you have a desire to be adored and worshipped, don't go to Cambridge or Oxford.

Reply 196

hobnob

Who would you want to convey that to, though? And why?

I dunno, the world :dry:

. Forget it, I give up. I guess I want something different out of my degree than others do. I want it to reflect me, not just the fact I'm able satisfy criteria for a certain subject. I don't want to be an average smart kid. It's probably some hidden agenda I have to prove myself to the universe.

edit: I was being sarcastic. The only thing I have to prove is I've paid my taxes :ninja:

.

Reply 197