Cambridge? Too snobbish

Eve Dugdale

August 15, 2008

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Mel Ashby

A HIGH-flyer is shunning a place at Cambridge because of students' `snobbish attitudes'.

Mel Ashby, 18, who gained five A-grade A-levels, travelled to Cambridge for an interview.

But the Tameside student has ended up accepting a place to read philosophy at Nottingham University. Mel, from Ashton Sixth Form College, said: "I didn't have a nice experience when I went to Cambridge.

"I didn't feel I fitted in. They were all from private schools and, when they found out I didn't go to one, they just didn't seem to like me. It's also further from home than I wanted."

The former Fairfield high school pupil was one of two students at the sixth form college to get five A grades.

Principal Dr Janet Nevin said: "These excellent results should be a source of great pride for the local community."

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Fixit, Delft, Netherlands (15/08/2008 at 10:58)

Slightly puzzled?

Cambridge is further from home than she wanted, so why did she apply?

I went to Durham after completely screwing up my interview at Oxford regardless of my good ‘A level’ results. I feel she has made the wrong decision.

The prestige Oxford and Cambridge carry opens many doors in later life. If you want a top job, by just attending these two Universities is worth more than a 1st from anywhere else.

Possibly wrong, definitely elitist and most certainly outdated, but it’s true! Unfortunately………….

rafiki, Manchester (15/08/2008 at 14:13)

I am very disappointed with the MEN giving such a headline to one student's feelings about Cambridge. About half the students at Cambridge are from State schools, and many first generation university applicants from Manchester have a tremendous time at Cambridge and also have a great deal of academic success there. That this student didn't like Cambridge, wasn't suited to Cambridge or that she wasn't properly advised, shouldn't be leading to a tabloid style story perpetuating the myth that Cambridge is for the rich or for the public schools. Cambridge is an excellent place of study for academically gifted students from all types of background.

Jomov (15/08/2008 at 14:52)

I agree with fixit, at the end of the day you go to uni to learn and get a degree for your future. Forget the other students, who cares?

Andrew Pickering, Los Angeles (17/08/2008 at 09:59)

I concur with Rafiki in expressing disappointment at giving such headline status to one student’s misguided opinions. I did my undergraduate degree at Oxford, which carries the same if not a greater stereotyped image of snobbery as Cambridge. I personally did come from a state school, as did a very large portion of my friends at the university. And while there is perhaps a stronger middle class tone to university life at Oxbridge compared to most other universities I never witnessed anything even approaching snobbery throughout my time within the university.

Mr Manchester (18/08/2008 at 13:06)

Would she have been accepted for Cambridge? She seems to made up her mind on the basis of attending an interview, not turning down an offer.

She will need to mix in different social circles in life and work, so will she 'shun' them too?

Once again (18/08/2008 at 16:40)

Suppose after she has had a go at the people of this university for being snobs, she will move onto having a go at salford uni students for being tramps. It must be great to be perfect.

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