Anybody Potentially Attending Cambridge?

[anthro.fish]

Hi folks, University of Cambridge seems to be my last possible hope of attending graduate school this year. So far I've still only received an informal acceptance (via email, upon request) to the MPhil program in Social Anthropology. I'm waiting to see how all the details pan out . . . an infuriatingly long process that will necessarily determine the course of the rest of the year. Standing by . . . standing by.

[lumi]

Hi folks, University of Cambridge seems to be my last possible hope of attending graduate school this year. So far I've still only received an informal acceptance (via email, upon request) to the MPhil program in Social Anthropology. I'm waiting to see how all the details pan out . . . an infuriatingly long process that will necessarily determine the course of the rest of the year. Standing by . . . standing by.

I did my undergrad there and know a couple of people doing the MPhil there at the moment. If you want, I can put you in touch with somebody if that helps alleviate the pain of waiting?

[anthro.fish]

Thanks for the reply Lumi. I think I'll just sit tight . . . I've gotten used to it by now. But I do think it's funny that (had I been accepted to any of the other schools to which I applied) I would have had to make a decision already (to attend or decline), by this late date. And I haven't even received the formal acceptance letter yet.

[lumi]

Thanks for the reply Lumi. I think I'll just sit tight . . . I've gotten used to it by now. But I do think it's funny that (had I been accepted to any of the other schools to which I applied) I would have had to make a decision already (to attend or decline), by this late date. And I haven't even received the formal acceptance letter yet.

I know, it is frustrating. Unfortunately, UK and US admission cycles do not work on the same time scale... But as more and more UK students are likely to apply to US universities after the changes in Higher Education funding, it might be in the UK's interest to catch up with the earlier US decision dates (i know a couple of people who ended up accepting the US offers simply because it would have been too risky to decline them without firm admissions and funding (!) offers from UK unis)...

Anyway, good luck!

[IrishScientist]

I too have had my frustrations with the UK system.

I have been unofficially admitted at Cambridge where I have a professor who I would really like to work with. However I have not been offered funding and there is almost no chance of this happening.

On the other hand, I have been offered admission by two US schools with full funding and stipend (5 yrs), one of which I have accepted and will be taking up in September.

I should also add that I had admission with no chance of funding at two other excellent departments in the UK.

While the UK still has some of the best departments in the world (UCL, Ox, Cam, St Andrews etc), the current funding drain equates to a brain drain that will have serious consequences on british anthropology in the coming decades.

Cambridge is a great place and the department there is solid, but the admissions system is a joke.

I wish you the best of luck with your funding!

I know, it is frustrating. Unfortunately, UK and US admission cycles do not work on the same time scale... But as more and more UK students are likely to apply to US universities after the changes in Higher Education funding, it might be in the UK's interest to catch up with the earlier US decision dates (i know a couple of people who ended up accepting the US offers simply because it would have been too risky to decline them without firm admissions and funding (!) offers from UK unis)...

Anyway, good luck!

[anthro.fish]

Thanks IrishScientist! Best of luck with your new program this fall. I bet you're excited. I'll probably end up filing for a deferral from Cambridge for a year - I just found out that my wife is pregnant and it would be pretty difficult to have a newborn right in the middle of my first term. We'll see how everything plays out; it all got very complicated all of a sudden, but it a good way (baby . . . Cambridge . . . things could be much worse.)

I too have had my frustrations with the UK system.

I have been unofficially admitted at Cambridge where I have a professor who I would really like to work with. However I have not been offered funding and there is almost no chance of this happening.

On the other hand, I have been offered admission by two US schools with full funding and stipend (5 yrs), one of which I have accepted and will be taking up in September.

I should also add that I had admission with no chance of funding at two other excellent departments in the UK.

While the UK still has some of the best departments in the world (UCL, Ox, Cam, St Andrews etc), the current funding drain equates to a brain drain that will have serious consequences on british anthropology in the coming decades.

Cambridge is a great place and the department there is solid, but the admissions system is a joke.

I wish you the best of luck with your funding!

[IrishScientist]

Thanks IrishScientist! Best of luck with your new program this fall. I bet you're excited. I'll probably end up filing for a deferral from Cambridge for a year - I just found out that my wife is pregnant and it would be pretty difficult to have a newborn right in the middle of my first term. We'll see how everything plays out; it all got very complicated all of a sudden, but it a good way (baby . . . Cambridge . . . things could be much worse.)

Congrats Anthroman!!!

You must be so happy. Cambridge is an awesome city and a great place to have a young child.

I am sure that you will both really love it.

And please, message me if you want to know ANYTHING about Cambridge. I have lived there for almost four years and I know all about the city and the university.

Best wishes!