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Imperial or Cambridge?

Hi! (Warning: very wordy post)

I’m a Year 12 student (so this isn’t super urgent) and I was just wondering if anyone would be able to provide any information.
I’m hoping to study Physics (or some computer-y/electronics subject) at uni, and I feel like right now I’m trying to find what might be my ‘top choice’, and Imperial College London and Cambridge seem like the most appealing to me.

Whether I can get in is another thing I suppose! But is it recommended/possible for me to apply to both? Would it be a huge hassle, especially if I choose one over the other and give up a great opportunity? I currently feel like I’m leaning towards Imperial, but is that setting me up for failure and is it foolish to reject the idea of Cambridge?
For context, I live in London (though not central) and am studying Physics, Maths and Further Maths, and we haven’t had any certain exams but so far I’m not completely failing, at the very least.

Basically I’m just looking for info about these aspects of the unis. Sorry for the INCREDIBLY long post I just have a lot to think about! Any information at all is really appreciated. Thank you.
- the NatSci course at Cambridge vs typical physics at Imperial; I quite like the choice in the first, I feel like I’m pretty fickle and so would appreciate the chance to work with other topics - but basically which would be best for having a little computer science and perhaps electronics alongside physics?
- Costs: I feel like both areas are pretty expensive, but is one more so than the other?
- I also perceive Cambridge to be probably less diverse than London which is a negative for me: is this true?
- Environment: I feel like I’d really like working in somewhere like London, whereas, to me, the grounds of Cambridge look a little quiet and less appealing. (No offense at all, I can see how they’re beautiful, but I don’t really see myself there.) would it be stupid to make a decision based on this? Do both areas get really depressing in the winter?
- Transport and accommodation: from what I’ve heard, accommodation for London unis tend to be pretty far from the actual site, whereas in Cambridge you’d have accommodation in your college. Are these travel costs significant for London as well?
- Application: both unis require entrance exams which I think are different and both cost quite a lot to take which is a drawback if I would apply to both. I think Cambridge also does interviews and everything and seems to have a more drawn out process, or is this is the same for Imperial? I’m assuming out of the two I might have a slightly better chance of getting into Imperial, but is this true and can I do anything to improve my chances for either?
- Competition: I’ve also heard that Cambridge tends to get rid of students who don’t always do so well, I don’t think this is true but just checking, but probably for both it’d be very stressful - in terms of the niceness of peers/classroom environment and the likelihood of avoiding severe stress and suffering (though I assume a little is expected lol!) during my time there, which is better?

Thank you so much, and sorry for so many questions! I have scoured the Internet for answers but I still feel like there’s a lot I’m unsure about.

Reply 1

McGinger

Go to as many different Uni Open Days in May/June as you can. Listen to the subject/course presentations and compare courses, look around at the Uni environment and think about where you might feel happiest for 3 or 4 years, and talk with current students who do the campus tours etc about what they like about being at that Uni.

You have until next summer to look around, think and consider. By then you will have a clearer idea about your likely predicted A level grades and therefore which Unis/courses are realistic choices.