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Are there a lot of snobby private school people at Cambridge?
I was just wondering if there are a lot of private school people that feel they are above others at cambridge? I went on a conference there, and there were a number of poeple I felt looked down on me as I was from a state school and not doing 5 or 6 A levels. Is this the case at the university and in everyday life there?
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Not really, the private school/state school intake is relatively similar, i think its around a 60% state school intake? I might be completely wrong.
But even if it is lower, who cares? Not all private school kids are rah's, some of the state school kids can be far worse.
There isn't really a mold at university, people learn to accept others from different backgrounds (ethnicity/race/class), i wouldn't worry, just go with the flow and teabag any douchebag that looks down upon you.
But even if it is lower, who cares? Not all private school kids are rah's, some of the state school kids can be far worse.
There isn't really a mold at university, people learn to accept others from different backgrounds (ethnicity/race/class), i wouldn't worry, just go with the flow and teabag any douchebag that looks down upon you.
I'm speaking from an Oxford perspective but I imagine the same would apply to Cambridge: the overwhelming majority of the stuck-up ********* you meet at these conferences, the open days and even at the interviews don't get in 
Firstly, this would get a (somewhat) more informed response in the Cambridge sub-forum.
Secondly, no there aren't - while there are undoubtably a a small minority who would fit that description, they keep to themselves on the whole. The vast majority are not concerned with your background so much as your current interests, such as sport or music.
Secondly, no there aren't - while there are undoubtably a a small minority who would fit that description, they keep to themselves on the whole. The vast majority are not concerned with your background so much as your current interests, such as sport or music.
People who went to public and private schools are not always the same as you described, OP.
one of my friends went to her interview day there and she said she was sat in a group of people who all went to private schools didn't realise she went to a state school and started slagging state school pupils off.
jonboyyork
People who went to public and private schools are not always the same as you described, OP.
public school = private school
No they are all chavs.
*heart_of_glass*
public school = private school
No, it doesn't actually. I went to a public fee paying school, not a private school. The difference is more technical... e.g. public school headmasters are members of the HMC, private school headmasters are not. This is the UK difference.
Obviously, in other countries, 'public school' has an entirely different meaning and connotations.
All the stuck-up people I met down at interview (again, Oxford, but same applies to Cambridge) didn't get in, and all the nice people did 
That said, there are SOME rahs/snobby people there, but they aren't actually as bad as you think, and they genuinely don't look down on you as being from a state school.
That said, there are SOME rahs/snobby people there, but they aren't actually as bad as you think, and they genuinely don't look down on you as being from a state school.
Lafin23
Hmmm well technically, yes, although often public school is used to describe private schools that are more...elitist? Either socially or financially? At least, in my experience that's often been the case.
might just be because there seems to be a lot of confusion, people thinking public schools are state schools, so maybe some people only use the term public school when its blatantly not a state school eg Eton.
My friend went up to Oxford for for a day (he's very smart) and apparently everyone is surprisingly laid back over there so I would guess Cambridge would be the same.
I have to laugh he said he heard to people talking while over and one said "I've only been up for a hour yet I still have jack **** to do" and this was round about 2 lol.
I have to laugh he said he heard to people talking while over and one said "I've only been up for a hour yet I still have jack **** to do" and this was round about 2 lol.
jonboyyork
No, it doesn't actually. I went to a public fee paying school, not a private school. The difference is more technical... e.g. public school headmasters are members of the HMC, private school headmasters are not. This is the UK difference.
Obviously, in other countries, 'public school' has an entirely different meaning and connotations.
Obviously, in other countries, 'public school' has an entirely different meaning and connotations.
of course, but in terms of this thread (i.e. liklihood of snobs) there is negligable difference.
It's really not confusing at all. Public schools are the really old, elitist institutions such as Eton, Harrow, Charterhouse etc. Whilst private schools simply operate free from the control of the government. And state schools don't even need explaining.
*heart_of_glass*
of course, but in terms of this thread (i.e. liklihood of snobs) there is negligable difference.
Oh right, you probably should have said that.
Erm... there were definitely some public/private-school oddities when I went for interview, but everyone I spoke to was lovely, to be honest. Yeah, the girl I shared a room with spent most of the time on her phone checking up on her horses and complaining that she was missing the lacrosse season, but we stayed up chatting for a while and she wasn't a snob at all.
In fact, my inverse snobbery was probably worse... felt quite ashamed afterwards... it could have been that you were a little hyper-aware of your state-schoolness when you were at the conference. I know I've always felt a tad self-conscious when I've gone down, and taken offence at things I needn't have. Besides, I have it on pretty good authority that the real snobs tend to retreat into their own little world and get ignored by everyone else, so we should be fine, lol.
In fact, my inverse snobbery was probably worse... felt quite ashamed afterwards... it could have been that you were a little hyper-aware of your state-schoolness when you were at the conference. I know I've always felt a tad self-conscious when I've gone down, and taken offence at things I needn't have. Besides, I have it on pretty good authority that the real snobs tend to retreat into their own little world and get ignored by everyone else, so we should be fine, lol.
SophieH92
I was just wondering if there are a lot of private school people that feel they are above others at cambridge? I went on a conference there, and there were a number of poeple I felt looked down on me as I was from a state school and not doing 5 or 6 A levels. Is this the case at the university and in everyday life there?
When I went for my interview (Robinson College) I didn't meet a single person who was from a private school, everyone was state (including myself). This may have been because Robinson has a high state school intake compared to most of the other colleges; but still, I don't know why this is such an issue for people. Snobs appear everywhere you'll go in life, and there's nothing forcing you to socialise with them or even acknowledge their existence if you don't want to. This type of thing (inverse snobbery) is just as bad anyway. If you apply/get in, you probably won't be able to tell who went to a private and who went to a state school anyway, perhaps except in a few extreme cases.
Just apply to Homerton college. Highest state school intake at Cambridge I believe.
However, from what I've heard and who I've met when I've visited; the stereotype is very much misconceived.
However, from what I've heard and who I've met when I've visited; the stereotype is very much misconceived.
Related discussions
- Durham Law Applicants 2025
- Top 5 Cambridge colleges for Law that favours private schools
- How many A-levels should I take to get into Oxbridge
- Help a newbie out!
- Has anyone ever rejected Oxbridge?
- Which Oxbridge is better contextually?
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