On Tuesday 25 February, a group of Year 12 students, including myself, were selected to visit the prestigious University of Cambridge on one of its Year 12 Visit Days.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a lovely member of the admissions team who escorted us to Sibilla Room, where all of the sessions of the day were delivered. Our first session comprised of an introduction of the university itself, the different courses that are offered, the different colleges, and what the life of a Cambridge student is like. I found this session particularly informative.
Afterwards, we had our second session with four student ambassadors. We were all given the opportunity to ask the students questions, such as how heavy the workload was, the work-life balance as a Cambridge student, and why the students had chosen their degrees. Then, we were split into four groups and taken on a tour of the university with each of the student ambassadors. The views were absolutely breathtaking! The architecture was really mesmerising, and at times, it felt like we were in a castle. We were shown the different types of accommodation at Jesus College, as well as the library and some of their offices.
Once we completed the tours, we made our way to the dining hall, where we were served freshly baked pizza and chips, followed by some delectable desserts. Here, we had a catch up of our day with the other students, and spoke to some of the staff about the day. Everyone was really friendly, and I had such an amazing time socialising with everyone.
We then made our way back down to Sibilla Room for the final half of the day, learning more about the admissions process. To my surprise, applying to Cambridge seemed a lot more accessible than I had initially thought. In fact, the last few sessions we had really demystified the application process. We were also given talks on how to make a competitive application, and tips on how to make our personal statement stand out, especially with the new 2025 format.
We ended the session with another Q&A with one of the admissions staff members. He gave us invaluable insights into what they look for in interviews, as well as tips on how to prepare prior to the interview itself. Moreover, he spoke to us about how a student is assessed holistically, and how their grades are viewed compared to their school’s standards.
We then filled out an evaluation form and thanked all of the staff for their kindness. It was such a fantastic day, and truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget!
(Najiha Year 12)
