We hope the trip inspired students to begin thinking about the opportunities available once they finish school.  Below are the reflections of Kimran and Zoe who attended this trip.

Our visit to Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, was an informative and exceptionally enjoyable experience that aided in fully understanding what life while studying at Cambridge would be like. The day was thoroughly organised, giving us all the chance to view both the academic and social sides of college life. 

We began with meeting the admissions officer, who presented a brief history of Cambridge and provided us with an overview of Oxbridge; the usefulness of supercurriculars and the expectations of these colleges was highly stressed, yet this made the idea of applying less intimidating and more achievable. The workload and academic-based side was also honestly spoken about, alongside the supervision unique to Oxbridge, which presented a realistic picture of life at Cambridge rather than an idealised one. 

We were then given the opportunity to ask questions of current students studying at the university, who answered a variety of questions ranging from teaching styles and stress to accommodation and extracurriculars. Hearing directly from students was extremely useful, as they were truthful about the positives and challenges of studying there. A sense of reassurance washed over as we heard about how students were able to balance academic and social life without falling behind in either, and it was inspiring to hear how supportive the college community is.

The college tour that followed allowed us to explore the historic buildings and facilities, including accommodation areas and the striking libraries. The atmosphere of the college felt welcoming and warm, with the architecture consisting of a blend between traditional and modern. Whilst walking around, we saw many students going about their daily lives, making the experience more immersive, and it was incredible to see a potential future with my own eyes.

To end our trip, we were taken to a museum, where we explored Cambridge's past, such as the prehistoric creatures which inhabited the land and even the climate millions of years ago. Several individuals who were credited for their work towards the museum studied in Cambridge, and so it was motivating to see the variety of pathways the university could take you. Overall, the visit to Gonville and Caius College was inspiring and informative, and it gave me a much clearer understanding of what studying at Cambridge could be like in the future.

Kimran Wariabharaj, Year 10

The trip to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge was amazingly fun and super helpful as well! Once we arrived in Cambridge, we had a lovely (if somewhat chilly!) walk through the tiny city until we arrived at Caius college, a gorgeous old building, and we were given a welcome talk in a stunning tiled lecture hall with stained-glass windows. The woman giving the talk also gave us a ton of helpful information regarding what makes Cambridge (and Oxford) different from other universities, and even some tips on how to build up our application material early!

Next, we had a guided tour of the college by a really lovely computer science second year student, who answered all of our questions and showed us how college life works, as well as some of the myths of the college itself.

We were treated to lunch with the students in the Great Hall (a stunning wood-panelled hall decorated with the achievements of its alumni in stained-glass), which was a surprisingly delicious, if possibly excessively mustardy, meal.

Finally, we spent the afternoon in the Earth Sciences Museum, which held some of Mary Anning's personal findings, as well as many of Darwin's discoveries.

Overall, the day was truly fascinating, and a lot of fun! 

Zoe Chown, Year 10