1. Cambridge Explained Andy McGowan CUSU Access Officer 2010-11

2. Purpose of this session To give you an insight into life at one of the world’s leading universities; To challenge assumptions that you might have about what ‘type’ of person goes to Cambridge, or what it is like to study there; To get you thinking about your future – what do you want to do? How are you going to get there?

3. Time to get you thinking… A man is trapped in a room. The room has only two possible exits: two doors. Through the first door there is a room constructed from magnifying glass. The blazing hot sun instantly fries anything or anyone that enters. Through the second door there is a fire-breathing dragon. How does the man escape?

4. He waits until night time and then goes through the first door!

5. University Explained “Cambridge University” Discuss…

6. What makes Cambridge different to other universities? World-Class teaching by world- class lecturers Supervisions (small-group teaching) Top-rated facilities The ‘Collegiate’ System

7. What type of person goes to Cambridge???

9. My journey to Cambridge -GCSE - 34% 5 A*-C (inc Eng & Maths) -19% of students receive free school meals (15% national average) -- No-one from my street went onto college or university

10. University Explained ● Very different to school and college! ● A mix of lectures and small group teaching ● You decide how to manage your time! ● A much bigger focus on independent learning ● Lots of resources available to you Academic Life as a Student

11. University Explained My 1 st Year Law Timetable MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 9am Criminal 10am Constitutional 11am CriminalCivilConstitutional 12pm Tort Civil 1pm 2pm 3pm Civil Supervision 4pm Criminal Supervision

12. University Explained ● Something for everyone! ● College and/or University societies ● Entertainment ● Religious/cultural/support groups ● Students’ Union ● University Funding ● Meet people from outside of your course/halls ● Set Societies Up Student Life – The Social Side!

13. A day in the life… Andy (Law) 9:30am: Turn off alarm 9:45am: Get out of bed 10:45am: Jump on bike and head to my lecture 11am: Criminal Law Lecture 12pm: Tort Lecture 1:15pm: Lunch with friends 2pm: Head to library to do some supervision work. 4:30pm: Criminal Law supervision 5:40pm: Stop via Sainsburys on way home 6:00pm: Dinner with friends 7pm: Head to the bar (before watching the football, going to a play or heading home to watch a dvd/TV as a group). 10pm: Time for some more reading/essay writing before bed

14. A day in the life (Part II) Sarah (Chemical Engineering) 7.15am: Turn off alarm 7.30am: Run with friend. 8.45am: Walk to lectures 12am: Finish 3 hours of lectures - lunchtime 2pm: ‘Practical’ session in the lab 4:00pm: Finish lab, head home and get distracted by Desperate Housewives 5:00pm: Class with four other students 6:00pm: Go to the canteen for dinner. 7:30pm: Attempt to write up my lab report. 8:30pm: Go with friends to an Open Mic night.

15. University Explained ● Choosing your GCSE Options ● Doing as well as possible in your exams! ● Choosing your A-Level (or equivalent) subjects. ● Thinking about what you might like to study. ● Try doing things to see if you really are interested in the subject. What next?

16. University Explained ● It is something you need to think about already ● What do you enjoy? What are you good at? ● What do you want to study? ● What subjects do universities want for the course that you want to do? Choosing A Level Subjects

17. University Explained ● Do you have career aims? ● What do you enjoy? ● What are you good at? ● Something new? ● Something familiar? ● How is it taught? Choosing a Course

18. Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ● Processing centre for applications to higher education courses ● Students use an online form to apply for up to five different courses ● You can search for courses and universities using UCAS (there are thousands of courses and hundreds of universities to choose from!)

19. What things do Cambridge look at? GCSE (or equivalent) results AS levels (including unit scores) Predicted/actual A level (or equivalent) grades Personal statement School/college reference Written work if submitted Test result if taken Performance at interview

20. University Explained ● Ask questions today ● E-mail – access@cusu.cam.ac.ukaccess@cusu.cam.ac.uk ● Consult the University Prospectuses – General, Specific and Alternative ● Visit the websites: www.ucas.co.uk ● Visit the Universities! Finding Out More