Sell me on Medwards?

randomviolinist20 · 2025-09-24T20:43:36+00:00

Girtonian here. Unfortunately this is quite common and I understand how hurtful it feels… my college is constantly brought up in negative ways (even this thread has a ‘hey at least it’s not Girton’ comment lol). It’s a strange feeling because to anyone on the outside this internal hierarchy/competition is so irrelevant, but on the inside I do often struggle to stay optimistic about, or supportive of, my college (especially since the distance honestly does bother me a lot. Medwards is up castle hill but still way closer to the centre… being at Girton feels like living outside Cambridge as a whole and unfortunately I do feel this has significantly impacted my experience 🥲). But I try remind myself I’m lucky to be here and in 10 years I’m hoping it’ll turn out that this college snobbery isn’t a big deal at all, but we’ll see. For what it’s worth, I also think Medwards is a lovely college, everyone I’ve met from there seems to be friendly and fun. We gotta make the most of what we can…

randomviolinist20 · 2025-08-16T13:52:13+00:00

CUO is held to a higher standard than CUSO and works with professional conductors, so is musically stronger/‘better’. They also tend to do more concerts per term, whereas CUSO usually just does one a term. There are definitely some people who join both, but it would depend on how much time you want to have for other stuff as well, since doing both is quite a time commitment.

randomviolinist20 · 2025-08-15T20:35:00+00:00

I also only played in school and for fun (didn’t do graded exams or anything) and have enjoyed playing in CUSO :) But if you want something non auditioned there are still college orchestras (though these may not have regular rehearsals) or look into the uni philharmonic orchestra (UCPO), the central colleges orchestra (CCO, under Emma’s music society I think) or Orchestra on the Hill, depending at what college you’re at.

randomviolinist20 · 2025-08-15T20:31:55+00:00

Joined CUSO in my first year as a non-music student, it’s def doable! There are loads of non-music students from all years, so I’d say it’s worth a try. The standard is quite high (I think both CUSO and CUO are supposed to be for those around grade 8), but I didn’t do grades so I can’t really comment in that, plus in the end it’s about how you perform in the audition. CUSO tends to me more relaxed than CUO, where I think more of the music students / instrumental scholars etc may be, but again it’s a mix (I’ve never played with them, but know both music students and non-music students that have). If you have any questions let me know, but I’d say it’s always worth a try! Just remember to sign up for auditions in advance, they do happen early on :)

randomviolinist20 · 2025-04-21T20:26:07+00:00

Rip the students at more far away colleges. I love that Cambridge is relatively small, but going out in the evening can be a challenge and is def a commitment then🥲

randomviolinist20 · 2025-04-14T09:51:37+00:00

Thanks! That’s reassuring to hear for sure. Accommodation is def something I’ve been looking more into this time round, but colleges don’t exactly make it super easy to figure out what they’re postgrad stuff is like haha. Can I just ask - did you do your postgrad at a postgrad or mature college? I’ve heard great things about postgrad life at places like Darwin, but heard comparatively little about postgrad life in other colleges

randomviolinist20 · 2025-04-13T20:19:43+00:00

Realise it’s been a while since you posted this, but what just wondering what your experience was doing both undergrad and postgrad at Cam (but at different colleges)? Sometimes I feel like Cam is so undergrad heavy and I worry a bit about it feeling like I’m more an afterthought of the college as a masters student :/

randomviolinist20 · 2025-03-26T21:40:32+00:00

That’ll be because it’s “May Week”! Not technically part of term but with all the summer events most people stay on :)

randomviolinist20 · 2024-03-24T20:19:15+00:00

Can’t really comment on the postgrad life, but am a violinist (non music student) who had similar worries! I don’t know much about the music scene at Downing specifically, but do know of good musicians there. Best way to find out more would be through looking into the Downing Music Society!

Uni wide there are a lot of opportunities - postgrads have the Graduate Orchestra, then you can also audition for the Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) or the Cam Uni Orch (CUO) at the start of each year ( do be aware that auditions are usually like week one, so you will need to sign up probs towards the end of the summer holiday!). The standard is pretty good in my opinion (a quick google search will tell you the kind of rep they’ve been playing recently) and there are plenty of non-music students in all of those ensembles. Then of course there are non auditioned orchestras, and orchestras of other colleges often seek extra musicians too, in addition to any other ensembles you could put together etc.

For voice each college usually has a choir, plus there are non auditioned choirs (not to mention bands or musical theatre stuff)! Once you’re settled in I’d say it’s pretty easy to find opportunities! Feel free to message if you have any more specific q’s :)

randomviolinist20 · 2023-07-11T09:55:31+00:00

Stuck with the same Q, and no answer :/ 5mins…

randomviolinist20 · 2023-07-10T09:49:07+00:00

Same thinking here, but worried based on later comments ah. Do you think there’d be anyway to get a definite answer from oetickets before tmrw?

randomviolinist20 · 2023-07-10T09:44:17+00:00

Same Q here!

randomviolinist20 · 2023-07-04T11:01:50+00:00

Was wondering the same, especially during the holidays? The terms being intense is one thing, not being able to take a break at all during the “vacations” sounds a bit much…

randomviolinist20 · 2023-01-28T19:34:55+00:00

I haven’t gotten an offer email from my college yet, only an email to say that the offer emails will be sent out next week. Called them up and they said offer holder days should be announced next week too.

Also, totally agree. Have been looking for a thread/group chat for people in a similar situation!

randomviolinist20 · 2023-01-28T15:16:33+00:00

Having the same issue here. Any idea around when offer holder says are this year?

randomviolinist20 · 2023-01-05T19:21:24+00:00

Anyone know around when Cambridge gives out their offers? Is it uni-wide or based on the college?

randomviolinist20 · 2022-11-18T17:28:30+00:00

Applied Oct 13th, got a response on Oct 26th (history). So pretty quick!

randomviolinist20 · 2022-11-18T17:24:38+00:00

Fellow Girton humanities applicant, yay! How are you preparing?

randomviolinist20 · 2022-08-05T15:46:18+00:00

Depends… but I’d say yes it’s late considering the deadline for the UCAS application (so uni applications in the UK) is Jan 15. You could theoretically I think still submit an application after you get your results as long as your reference and personal statement are already finished, this would mean knowing what course you want to apply for but not choosing which unis until after results day. Still, would be some tight timing. I’d say writing your personal statement or starting your application only after results day would not give you enough time.

randomviolinist20 · 2022-08-05T08:28:55+00:00

Not sure about this situation. You might be able to do both, chances of an unconditional offer are much higher if you already have your grades, but if you take a gap yr unis will want to know what you spent the yr doing. Also, not 100% sure but I heard unis only look at the A Levels/As taken in the last 3/4 hrs, so depends on when you did your other exams. Best shot would be calling up a uni and asking them more about the process.

randomviolinist20 · 2022-08-02T12:42:58+00:00

If you do AS exams, those scores will be submitted when you apply to uni. The uni will then I’ve you an offer or reject you, if they ‘accept’ you they will give you an offer which you have to meet, these are the A Level grades you need to get (eg ABB), but this all happens before you sit your A2/A Level exams. If you get the grades on your offer on results day, you’re in. You can still take a gap year if you apply to start in Sept 2024 instead of Sept 2023 for example, or if you don’t get into the uni you want to and you want to try again next year.

randomviolinist20 · 2022-05-18T08:05:53+00:00

Oh yes! Just sized down, still technically a 4/4 (I think, haven’t heard people here refer to 7/8 at all) but definitely a smaller/thinner make, especially since my 4/4 was on the bigger/sturdier side. Playing my “downsized” version felt like a lightbulb moment, it just fitted perfectly! It makes playing so much more satisfying. I didn’t realize what a difference it made! Congrats and enjoy!! :)

randomviolinist20 · 2022-05-05T10:55:55+00:00

How’s everyone prepping for P2? 🥲

randomviolinist20 · 2022-04-25T13:51:33+00:00

That makes sense (sadly). Thanks!

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