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Aspiring to University
Frances Ballaster Harriss, Schools Liaison Officer
Sandwell Academy G&T Assembly 26th of March 2018
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Purpose of this session
• To give you an introduction to university, explaining what it is and why you might want to go there
• To challenge some of the myths you might have heard about Cambridge University
• To get you thinking about your future aspirations and qualifications
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Why go to University?
Why go to a top University? (i.e. a competitive, Russell Group
University or similar)
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Why go to University?
Studying
Gain in-depth knowledge on something you enjoy
Future and Career
Prepares you for work – transferable skills
Earn on average £10,000 more a year
University Life
Fun, exciting, unique opportunities
Independence
Chance to develop, whilst still feeling supported
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Why go to a top university?
• ‘Research intensive’ universities where your teachers are actively doing their own research
• The best ranked teaching in the country, and in the world
• Academic contact time and teaching style
• Your peers are similarly motivated and aiming high too.
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Types of University
• Campus University • City University • Collegiate University
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What makes Oxbridge different?
Teaching Style
Collegiate System
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Teaching Style
Not all learning is the same…
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Supervisions/Tutorials
Unique to Oxford and Cambridge…
…individual / small group teaching with a world class academic
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Politics- is it rational to vote?
English- which books are bad for you?
Languages- in a world where English is a global
language, why learn French?
Biological sciences- If you could save either the
rainforests or the coral reefs, which would you choose?
Maths- Is there such a thing as zero?
Subject related discussion
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Colleges
There are 29 undergraduate colleges in Cambridge
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College Life
Accommodation - Common Room - Dining Hall
Library - Sports Facilities - Bar - Friends
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Social Life
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Clubs and Societies
African Prisons Project African Science Truck Experience African-Caribbean Society Afrinspire Aid and Save Animal Planet Amateur Boxing Club Amateur Dramatic Club American Football Club American Stage Tour Amnesty International Anime and Manga Society Arab Innovation Network Archaeological Field Club Archimedeans Architectes Sans Frontieres Arts and Cultures Society Assassins’ Guild Association Football Club Women's Association Football Club Astronomical Society Atheist and Agnostic Society Athletic Club Australia and New Zealand Society Australian Rules Football Club Automobile Club Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Society Azerbaijan Society Badminton Club Baha'i Ballet Club Bangla Society Baroque Ensemble Basketball Club Behavioural Economics Society Blue Light Society Blue Shakti A Capella Group Boat Club Bobbin Lace-Making Club Boules Society Bowmen Brass Band Society Brazilian Society Breakdance Club Bridge Club Brunei Society Buddhist Society Bulgarian Society Business School Club Cambridge Cafe Project Cambridge Futures Canadian Club Canoe Club CantaBulgarian Caving Club Ceilidh Band Chabad Jewish Society Cambridge Cheerleading Society Chess Club Chinese Calligraphy Society Chinese Cultural Society Chinese New Year Trust Society Chinese Society Christians on Campus Cinecam Clay Pigeon Shooting Club Commonwealth Society Communist Society Computing and Technology Society Concert Band Conservative Association Consulting Society Contemporary Dance Workshop Cricket Club Croquet Club Cruising Club Crusaders Cricket Club Cycling Club Cymdeithas Y Mabinogi Czech & Slovak Society Dancers Club Cambridge Development Initiative Dialectic Society The Digital-Gaming Society Diplomacy Society Dr Perse Memorial Ancient Literature Society Duke of Edinburgh's Award Society Eastern African Society Eco-House Initiative Society Electronic Music Society Energy Network Engineers without Borders Entrepreneurs Environmental Consulting Society Estonian Society European Theatre Group Expeditions Society Fabian Society Faith Forum Falcons Football Club Fencing Club Film-Making and Production Group Finnish Society FireTroupe First Aid Society Fitzwilliam Museum Society Fives & Rackets Association Flute Choir Society Footlights Dramatic Club French Society Fujian White Crane Kung Fu and Tai Chi Full Blue Racing Gaelic Athletic Club Gastronomic Discovery German Society Ghanaian Society Gilbert & Sullivan Society Giving What We Can Gliding Club Go Society Gog Magog Molly Golf Club GreenBRIDGE Guild of Change Ringers Handball Club Hands-on Science Heartstart Hellenic Society Heraldic and Genealogical Society Herodoteans Hillwalking Club Hindu Cultural Society Hispanic Society Hockey Club Hong Kong and China Affairs Society The Humanitarian Centre Hungarian Society Ice Hockey India Society Indian Classical Arts Society Innovation Forum Intercollegiate Christian Union Cambridge International Student Film Festival International Studies Association Investment Banking Society Islamic Society Israel Society Italian Society Japanese Interdisciplinary Forum Jazz Orchestra Society Jewish Society Judo Club Jugglers' Association Karate Club Kazakh Society Kendo Society Kenya Education Partnerships Korean Society Korfball Club Labour Club Lacrosse Club Law Society Lawn Tennis Club Cambridge Libertarians Life Saving Club Light Entertainment Society Lightweight Rowing Club Lion Dance Troupe Lithuanian Society Makespace Society Malaysia & Singapore Association Marlowe Society Massage Society Medics Revue Mexican Society Middle Temple Society Mixed Martial Arts Model United Nations Modern Pentathlon Club Mountaineering Club Cambridge Muse Society Musical Society Musical Theatre Society Nature Society Netball Club Nigeria Society Olympic Gymnastics Club Opera Society Orchestra on the Hill Oriental Dance Association Orienteering Club Orthodox Society The Ospreys Persian Society Pescatarian and Vegeterian Society Philharmonic Orchestra Planting Promise Polish Society Political Forum Pool Club Portuguese Speakers Society Powerlifting Club Quiz Society Rackets Club Raja Yoga Society Rambling Club Real Ale Society Real Estate Finance and Investment Society Real Tennis Club Recorder Ensemble Revelation Rock Gospel Choir Revolver & Pistol Club Riding Club Rifle Association Rock Society Role-Playing Society Romanian Society English Country Dancing Club Rugby Club Rugby Union Club Kickboxing & Cane Fighting Society Scandinavian Society Science Fiction Society Scout & Guide Club Ski and Snowboarding Club Slovenian Society Somali Society South African Society Liberal Democrats Pugwash Society Surfing Association Swimming & Waterpolo Club Swiss Society Table Tennis Club Tae Kwon Do Taiwanese Society Tamil Society Tap and Jazz Dance Society Tea Society Thai Society Tiddlywinks Club Tolkien Society Trampoline Club Treasure Trap Triathlon Club Turkish Society Union Society Uzbekistan Society Vietnamese Society Volleyball Club Wagner Society Wilberforce Society Wine Society Yoga Society Zero Carbon Society Spaceflight Society…and more!
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Think of a word that come to your head when I say
‘Cambridge University’
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Mythbusters
#1 – It’s like Hogwarts! It’s only as posh as you want it to be!
• Mix of old and new buildings • Mix of formal halls and cafes • Harry Potter Society and Quidditch
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Mythbusters
#2 - Everyone is Rich
• Student Loans Scheme & Extensive
Bursary Schemes
• Tuition fees are the same as most other
universities (and you don’t pay up
front!)
• Shorter (8 week) terms –
accommodation can be cheaper!
Not everyone at Oxford and Cambridge is rich, and you don’t need to be, either!
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Mythbusters
#3 – Oxbridge prefer certain types of student
Oxford and Cambridge student populations are diverse. The only thing students have in common is academic potential!
Students are all from:
• different schools- over 60% are from
state schools
• different places- students come from 65
different countries
• different backgrounds and beliefs
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Mythbusters
#4 – You need 100% in every exam you’ve ever taken
Academically competitive universities will be looking for top A level grades, but this doesn’t mean everything.
• Admissions tutors want to see a strong academic record, but
also a genuine interest and curiosity for your subject
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Mythbusters
#5 – You need to be an ‘all-rounder’
Oxford and Cambridge select on academic criteria alone.
• Extra-curricular activities are great, but won’t make up for a
weaker academic record
• Demonstrate ‘spare capacity’
• We don’t mind what your
extra-curricular activities are
• We want students who can
balance their time but don’t try to do everything!
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What can I study?
There are thousands of courses to choose from!
• Something you’ve done at school
– History, French, Maths, Physics…
• Something ‘vocational’
– Medicine, Architecture, Veterinary Sciences, Law…
• Something completely new!
– Criminology, Languages, Anthropology, Land Economy…
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Some careers REQUIRE a specific degree:
Some jobs in the commercial or business world (~5% of the total) also REQUIRE particular degree subjects:
Course choice and career prospects
Architecture Engineering Medicine Veterinary Medicine
Mathematics Languages
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The majority of top jobs DON’T specify a degree subject – they ask for a good degree (Class I or II.1), in ANY subject.
Course choice and career prospects
Law Teaching Journalism Publishing
Business Public
administration IT
Accountancy and Finance
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Course choice and career prospects
Destinations of Cambridge History Graduates
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Do you think you’re a scientist...?
Facilitating A Level subjects Also very useful Further Mathematics Can be useful, depending on university course applied for Computing, Design and Technology, Electronics, Geology, Psychology, An essay-based/’contrast’ subject *Some pairs are more natural/helpful than others, e.g. Biology and Chemistry Chemistry and Physics Mathematics and Physics
Biology Chemistry Maths Physics
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…Or are you more interested in the Arts/Social Sciences?
Facilitating A Level subjects
Also very useful Ancient History, Classical Civilization, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, Religious Studies, the Sciences
Can be useful, depending on university course applied for Archaeology, English Languages, Environmental Science, Government and Politics, History of Art, Law, Music, Psychology
English Literature
History Maths Languages
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What degree did I study?
JK Rowling Author
English Literature
French
Psychology
Creative Writing
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What degree did I study?
JK Rowling Author
French
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What degree did I study?
Rowan Atkinson Actor
English and Drama
Media Studies
Engineering
History
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What degree did I study?
Rowan Atkinson Actor
Engineering
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What degree did I study?
Emeli Sandé Singer
Chemistry
Music
Geography
Medicine
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What degree did I study?
Emeli Sandé Singer
Medicine
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What degree did I study?
Stephen Hawking Scientist
Physics
Biology
Medicine
Geography
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What degree did I study?
Stephen Hawking Scientist
Physics
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What should I do now?
• Work hard for GCSEs
• Think about what you might like to study
– Try things out to see if you’re interested
• Choose your subject options carefully
• Do some research
– www.ucas.ac.uk
– www.prospects.ac.uk
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Where to Start?
#cambtweet @GirtonApply
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More Information
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me:
Frances Ballaster Harriss [email protected]
