Myths

There are some hilarious myths surrounding Cambridge.  Some are out dated, and some are just stupid.  Here's a few busted for you:

Cambridge students have to wear gowns all the time

Not true.  The only time you absolutely have to wear a gown is at matriculation (when you enter the university) and at graduation.  If you want to go to formal hall at your own College you have to wear a gown then too.

Its probably best to invest in a suit for formal occasions (formal hall, May balls ....), but that's about it.

You need to get 100% in every exam you take to get a place

Not true.  There's no way of getting away form the need for academic ability to study here, but the admissions process isn't stuck in the 1950's.  You're exam scores and other application information will be considered with your school type etc. so that an informed comparison can be made between applicants to identify everybody with academic potential, rather than those who've been more or less fortunate in their schooling.  See our Applications guide.

There are hardly any state school students

Not true.  The University has a target of 60% of students coming from a state school, which is strongly enforced.

If you're from a state school or have experienced problems with your education you should have a look at our Access page

You have to be good at everything to get a place

Not true.  The only factor that the University scores applicants on is academia.  Extracurricular activites show that you're not working flat-out to achieve your grades, and so that you will be able to cope at Cambridge, but extracurricular activities cannot compensate for academic ability.

Similarly, you do not need to be musical to get in!

Cambridge students are boring, all they do is work

If you want that to be true for you then it can be.  There's a world of club, theatres, people, bars, restaurants, museums, sport and just about everything else in Cambridge, work is a just a part of attending the University.

Its harder to get into some Colleges

The University has a system in place to make sure this isn't true.  Its explained in our Applications guide.

Interviewers try to trip you up

Interviews are a source of much gossip, most of which is completely unfounded.  The interviews are designed to test your ability to think and so you will be asked questions that you do not know the answer to.  But you won't be left hanging, the interviewers will drop hints and leading questions if you hit a brick wall.  See our Applications guide.

Everyone is rich

This just is not true, and here's why.

Its more expensive to study at Cambridge than elsewhere in the UK

This is so wrong that the opposite is true - explained here.