̽��ֱ��

̽��ֱ��two free two-day courses, one for students interested primarily in the humanities and the other for prospective scientists, are held every year for high-achieving state school pupils who have the potential to be successful applicants to the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge.

̽��ֱ��residential courses have been designed to give the Year 12 students an experience of university life at Cambridge through lectures, seminars, visits to university sites and an overnight stay in Caius College, including dining in Hall. ̽��ֱ��courses are free to attend thanks to the generosity of Thomas Young, the father of a former Caius student.

̽��ֱ��course schedule included plenty of time for meeting and talking with academics and current undergraduates so that the students could find out for themselves what it would really be like to study at Cambridge, and make an informed decision about whether to apply.

̽��ֱ��freedom to choose between different seminars and subjects in the timetable was a winner for Alex Coates, from Wymondham College in Norfolk. “I really want to apply here and after talking to the academics now I feel that it’s actually achievable for me. Most of the undergraduates I talked to had similar grades to mine – that’s a real confidence boost.”

At the final session of each course, Dr Andrew Bell, Admissions Tutor for Gonville and Caius College, gave a presentation intended to demystify the Cambridge applications process and provide information and advice on how to prepare a competitive application to any top university.

Victoria Robinson, a pupil at ̽��ֱ��Hertfordshire and Essex High School, said: “I’m definitely going to apply now. I didn’t really know what to expect – but I didn’t think everyone would be this normal!”

Students were nominated by their schools, who were asked to pick up to four of their most able students who would enjoy, and benefit from, an intensive two days being introduced to new topics and materials, chosen to complement their A-level studies and help in the choice of a degree subject.

̽��ֱ��courses are run as part of Gonville and Caius’s commitment to encouraging every student in every school to make the most of his or her abilities, and to help talented students achieve their ambitions, as Dr Bell explains: “It's a difficult time for students thinking about higher education. ̽��ֱ��funding of universities is changing rapidly, and there's a lot of uncertainty, even misinformation, out there.

"Events like this Easter School allow us to show students that, whatever their personal or financial background, if they've got the academic ability and the determination then Cambridge could be the very best place in the world for them to study. My colleagues and I have had a great time meeting these Easter School students - I'm sure we'll see some of them again.”

For any enquiry about admissions and working with schools, the admissions team at Caius can be contacted on admissions@cai.cam.ac.uk

Photo: left to right: Alex Coates, Wymondham College; Dr Andrew Bell, Tutor for Admissions, Gonville and Caius College; Victoria Robinson, ̽��ֱ��Hertfordshire and Essex High School, in the Stephen Hawking building.
��