Schools Anyone want to study Physics at Oxford or Cambridge Universities (UK)?

[-Gav-]

I guess the title of the thread sums up what I'm asking. Anyone wanting to study Physics at Oxford or Cambridge?

 

[Poop-Loops]

No, I'd much rather stay here and attend a crappy university.

Why do you ask?

PL

 

[Student_at_CUNY]

Of course =)

 

[whozum]

Which semester? what level physics? study abroad? details. :)

 

[Bladibla]

I would personally rather not, because they do natural sciences instead of just pure physics, which means you have to do all three sciences even if you don't want to.

 

[brewnog]

I would personally rather not, because they do natural sciences instead of just pure physics, which means you have to do all three sciences even if you don't want to.

That'd be Cambridge. You don't have to do all three at all, you study 'natural sciences' but choose which type of science you study. My girlfriend is doing 'natural sciences' at Cambridge, specialising in medical and veterinary science. She's not had a single physics lecture there, not even in first year.

Oxford offers straight physics.

 

[Bladibla]

That'd be Cambridge. You don't have to do all three at all, you study 'natural sciences' but choose which type of science you study. My girlfriend is doing 'natural sciences' at Cambridge, specialising in medical and veterinary science. She's not had a single physics lecture there, not even in first year.

Oxford offers straight physics.

Ah..is that true? Still.. something about oxbridge just ticks me off a bit. I would rather go to another university in europe such as trinity (dublin) THEN go to other universities for post-graduate degrees.

 

[brewnog]

Ah..is that true? Still.. something about oxbridge just ticks me off a bit. I would rather go to another university in europe such as trinity (dublin) THEN go to other universities for post-graduate degrees.

Yeah definitely. In many cases, the course content and quality of teaching at the Oxbridge universities compare extremely badly to a lot of other UK (and European, I suppose) universities. The student life is poor at Oxbridge too, in most respects.

The distinct advantage of an Oxbridge degree is reputation, but many employers now see past this and prefer graduates from universities which excel in whatever field they're recruiting into.

 

[relatively_me]

That's my dream...at least for graduate school...I'd love to get out of the U.S.! Repeating what others have written: Why do you ask?

 

[Bladibla]

Yeah definitely. In many cases, the course content and quality of teaching at the Oxbridge universities compare extremely badly to a lot of other UK (and European, I suppose) universities. The student life is poor at Oxbridge too, in most respects.

The distinct advantage of an Oxbridge degree is reputation, but many employers now see past this and prefer graduates from universities which excel in whatever field they're recruiting into.

Student life poor at oxbridge..? That's the first time i hear that.

If you don't mind asking, why is it like that?

 

[brewnog]

Student life poor at oxbridge..? That's the first time i hear that.

If you don't mind asking, why is it like that?

Well, obviously people tend to have a good time wherever they go.

However, all of my Oxbridge friends (without exception) complain that there are no good nightclubs, going out is incredibly expensive (beer at £3.50 per pint is common), and the sports clubs are extremely exclusive, cliquey and competitive. At many colleges, you have to buy all your food off the college at inflated prices, even if you don't want to eat it there every night. The accomodation prices are extortionate, and the public-school (yanks read private school) atmosphere is very unfriendly, and often quite condescending to state school students.

 

[Bladibla]

Well, obviously people tend to have a good time wherever they go.

However, all of my Oxbridge friends (without exception) complain that there are no good nightclubs, going out is incredibly expensive (beer at £3.50 per pint is common), and the sports clubs are extremely exclusive, cliquey and competitive. At many colleges, you have to buy all your food off the college at inflated prices, even if you don't want to eat it there every night. The accomodation prices are extortionate, and the public-school (yanks read private school) atmosphere is very unfriendly, and often quite condescending to state school students.

I see.. however, wouldn't it still be good for people who wants only education there?

What about the teaching qualities there? Why is it so bad?

Mind you, this is just for curiosity

 

[brewnog]

I'm not saying the teaching quality is terrible at the Oxbridge universities, just that it's not all what it's cracked up to be. It used to be the case that Oxbridge had the best lecturers and teaching staff in the world, which is partly what made them good universities and earned them their reputation. Now, however, while the quality of teaching is still good, it's only comparable to other good universities. In terms of education, you may as well be at any of the British 'Red Brick' universities as Oxbridge. The advantage of Oxbridge is not the education you receive, but having the university's name on your degree certificate.

 

[SpaceTiger]

I've been trying hard to get an extension to my stay in grad school so I can go to Cambridge for a year and study part III maths, but it doesn't look like we're going to be able to work out a deal in time.