Going Off To College? Read How the World's Best University Changed One Man's Life

My clever, teacher sister, Lindsey, attended Cambridge University in the 90s, at the same time as an inordinate multitude of today's leading, young literary and media luminaries, including British Guardian newspaper journalist, Patrick Barkham.

Lindsey sent me the link to Barkham's poignant article recounting his experiences at Cambridge, in which he explores if the university is worthy of the accolade that tops Harvard here in the States.

Nervous, excited high flying students all over the world are heading off to colleges near and far at this time of year, wondering how they will fit in to the bigger picture of academia, intellectually, economically and socially.

Barkham's reflections serve to remind the new undergrad that despite all the inevitable hard work, university is a privilege and a springboard to untold opportunities.

I have a special place in my heart for Cambridge, having grown up on the county border and started my own journalistic career in the small nearby city of Ely. It's great to hear that this small, Fenland city of spires and bridges and meadows has maintained its position as the think tank of the world. 

Comments

[lindsey]

It amuses me that I've attended the best university in the world as well as the worst in England! My teaching qualification was completed at the lowest ranking uni in the UK (although, I must add that for the post grad teaching course it ranks highly!)

[frances mum]

you will never ever lose the fact that you went to to the best uni in england.... so proud of you xxxx

[frances mum]

and ely has so much history frances.... Oliver Cromwell? my Hero xxx

[Frances]

just to clarify, Lindsey went to the best uni in England, if not the world, not me! I went to the school of provincial newspaper reporting romping around the Cambridgeshire Fens in Ely/Wisbech Standard minis!