Jenny King                                                           

Comprehensive School, Norwich

Third-year History student

Seen here with other historians:

From left to right: Fran, Jenny, Sarah and Graham

When I applied to Clare, back in October 2003 I never imagined that a year later I would actually be studying here. Doubts about applying to Cambridge are common, but as I discovered, were completely unfounded. I think the interview is one of the advantages of the Cambridge system, giving you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for your chosen subject. It is about seeing your potential and not about trying to catch you off guard, and you will not be expected to be able to answer everything they ask!

Choosing to study History was not difficult for me, but it can be confusing when faced with having to choose a college based on a single page in the prospectus, which is why I found going to the open day very helpful. I fell in love with the surroundings of Clare, its main building Old Court is minutes from the centre of Cambridge, yet has a feeling of peacefulness - the best of both worlds. A short walk across the bridge and past the gardens leads to the first year accommodation, Memorial Court. This is not only some of the best first-year accommodation in Cambridge but also seems to me, is designed to be very sociable, with staircases, instead of long corridors. So that you get to meet and form friendships with many different and interesting people.

History at Cambridge is about exploring new concepts and formulating your own ideas and arguments as well as broadening your knowledge of history. Lectures (of which there are about 6-8 a week)are intended to give you an overview of the period which you are studying, but it is the supervision, normally lasting one hour which is the central point of a history student's week. In preparation for this, you write one essay a week of about 2,000 to 3,000 words and then discuss it with an expert in the field. This is a daunting prospect at first, but a fantastic way to fully grasp and expand on what you have read. (I have even begun to feel like a real historian!) The Supervision also offers the chance for you to pursue your own interests within a particular topic. History at Clare is particularly good in that there is an interesting and diverse group of Fellows, some of which you are likely to be supervised by and all of whom pursue varied fields of study, ranging from British Social to Asian and African History.

In the first year you take papers in British Political and Constitutional History, British Economic and Social History and one in European History - with a wide variety of time periods to choose from. This provides a good foundation to then study a wider variety of topics in years two and three ranging from American history to the history of political thought. Throughout the three years there is also the opportunity to take a thematic approach to history and use primary sources in the University Themes and Sources class as well as exploring the discipline of history itself in lectures and college based discussion groups. In short whatever your interest you will be catered for here!

It is not all about work however, and despite the fact that the 8 week terms can appear work intensive, there are plenty of ways to relax and many extra curricular activities to get involved in. Cambridge societies cater for those interested in sport, music, drama, art or things that are more obscure, while college based societies do the same, but on a smaller scale. In my time here so far I have taken life drawing classes, been involved with the Cambridge Access Scheme and more recently have become Social Secretary of the CLIO Historical Society (which put on talks and social events for historians, university wide) and have become Academic Affairs Officer for the UCS (or Union of Clare Students) a representative body for Clare students.

To sum up, deciding to apply to Clare was in honesty, the best decision I have ever made. Not only by coming to Cambridge will you be in an academically stimulating environment in which to make the most of your subject, but in being part of a college, you get the chance to meet new people and try new things in a supportive community. Clare is friendly and forward looking as the prospectus says, but I would also like to add that it is genuine, postive and fun!

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