Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: University of Cambridge Written by Elyse Krantzon January 30th, 2018 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. And for some students, this includes schools beyond the U.S., too! As such, we are highlighting an international college this week in our School Spotlight series. School Spotlight: University of Cambridge Cambridge, England There is no university in the United States quite like the UK’s University of Cambridge. Founded in 1209 (no, that is not a typo!), Cambridge is a public research university comprised of 31 autonomous colleges, 29 of which are available to undergraduates. Each of the colleges differs in size, appearance, facilities, and available majors. Trinity, home to the largest undergrad population, enrolls 716 students, whereas Hughes Hall, with 111 undergrads, is the smallest. Three of the colleges exclusively admit women. The University’s 11,820 undergraduates come from 65 countries, and 11 percent hail from outside the European Union. Regardless of which individual college students might call home, they all attend the same lectures and seminars, and sit for the same exams. High-quality teaching and academic excellence are hallmarks of a Cambridge education. To help balance out the large lectures (that might have several hundred undergrads registered), students are also taught in smaller seminars (with 10-30 students), practicals (for labs and hands-on work), and supervisions (with just 1 or 2 students). Students at Cambridge are responsible for their own learning, and are expected to spend approximately 46 hours per week (this includes teaching time) to complete their studies! Good to know: admission rates and tuition fees vary considerably based on your intended major. Degrees in archeology, economics, and history, are among the least expensive for international students (at $26,000 annually), compared to those in engineering, management, and psychology (at $39,000 per year). Review the University’s 30 majors, and estimate your annual tuition costs. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of University of Cambridge Related Resources Read | Posted on March 26th, 2024 California Colleges and Universities: A Treasure Trove of Opportunities Read | Posted on March 5th, 2024 The Top 3 Campus Safety Myths Read | Posted on March 1st, 2024 Celebrating International Women’s Day: Is a Women’s College Right for You?
