Year 11 Scholars' Trip to the University of Cambridge

Year 11 Abigail M recalls her experience of the Scholars' trip to Christ's College Cambridge.

"On 26 January, the Year 11 academic and all-rounder scholars were fortunate enough to be invited on a tour around Christ’s College, part of the University of Cambridge. Chaperoned by the brilliant Mrs Jones and Mrs Leetch, we toured the picturesque college grounds and were given a talk on A-Level and university options by some of their students, one of whom was a former Stamfordian, Robin Quieros. It was an incredible experience to set foot inside one of the UK’s greatest universities.

We arrived just in time to eat lunch in Upper Hall, the college’s self-service canteen. After eating, we walked to the Yusuf Hameid Centre, a building purposed for student relaxation, containing common rooms, a music practice room and even a theatre. The building was dedicated to Hameid due to his incredible contributions towards bringing down the cost of medicines for diseases such as AIDS. Our guide took us to the theatre, where she gave us a short introductory talk about universities, the vast differences between the courses they offer, and what A Levels are required for some popular courses.

We then split into two groups based on our subject preferences (sciences or humanities) to go on a campus tour with some of Christ’s College students. My group’s tour guide, who was studying Natural Sciences, told us all about the contents of her course, starting with four disciplines in the first year then gradually specialising, while showing us some of the campus’ historic Tudor architecture. She was particularly enthusiastic about the college Chapel, one of the original 16th century buildings, being a singer in the Chapel Choir there. In addition, we were shown the Working Library, one of the college’s many libraries, containing mainly 21st century materials. Sadly, while we were there, we did not get to see the student room where Charles Darwin himself once lived during his time at this college, nor his statue, but it is open to the public for all to visit.

Finally, after the tours, we met back up in the spacious theatre for one final experience: a Q&A session with some of Christ’s College’s students, studying a wide range of subjects. They informed us in great detail about the incredible number of student societies available to join at Cambridge, and how they had chosen their A Level subjects when they were in the same situation as we are now. One of the students, Robin, had been at Stamford, and her enthusiasm for learning won her a place in the college, where she now studies Human, Social, and Political Sciences. While extolling the virtues of their college, with a reputation for having one of the most friendly environments out of all the colleges, they reminded us to stay grounded and not just to apply to Cambridge because of its reputation, and that our personal goals were more important to focus on than the specific university that we went to.

This was a trip that I will never forget. Being lucky enough to visit Christ’s College with my peers has opened my eyes to the range of opportunities available after finishing school. Everyone who talked to us was approachable and amicable, and demonstrated a real affinity for their college. Walking out through the appropriately named ‘Great Gate’, we were all sorry to leave the grounds, but much more informed about our options and prepared to seize them. I hope that, for at least one of us, this will not have been the last time to experience that magnificent hall of learning."