Cambrige comes to schools on Higher Education road trip

Cambridge University was brought into the classroom on a recent trip to visit schools and colleges in Blackburn, Bolton and Rochdale.

Megan Goldman-Roberts, Access Officer at St John’s College, one of the 31 Colleges that make up the University of Cambridge, spoke to over 500 people from 13 schools in three days on the whirlwind tour of the North-West.

Students preparing for their GCSE and A-levels had the chance to learn all about higher education, and the benefits of applying to university, not least the fact that university graduates are much more likely to get a good job than those who leave education at 18.

High-achieving and top-set pupils in particular were encouraged to consider applying to Cambridge and not be deterred by the stereotypes of wealth and privilege they may have encountered. Over 60% of Cambridge students come from state schools, and the many bursaries and grants offered by the University ensure that no student need worry about the cost of their time at Cambridge.  

While Cambridge students do work hard, spending time in lectures, supervisions and libraries, university life is not all work and no play. Cambridge has over 700 different clubs and societies that students can get involved in ranging from sports, comedy, debating and drama to Quidditch and the secretive “Assassin’s Guild” where students hunt each other down to “mock-kill” with water pistols and homemade props.

After hearing Megan’s presentation, one student from Mount St Joseph’s school in Farnworth, Bolton, said:

“I never thought that I could go to Cambridge, but after hearing so much about it, I really want to apply there. It seems like a really fun place to study, and it’s great to know that I’d fit in there too”.

Megan said:

“Through my work as Access Officer, many school groups have the chance to visit Cambridge. This allows young people to get a real feel of what living and studying in Cambridge is like. Coming to visit the students in their own schools sends a strong message that Cambridge, and the people that are there, are not so different from themselves”.

For more information on applying to Cambridge see http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/ or http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/applying.