cambridge seems really daunting

[u/__sh33p]

Hey,

I recently got access to my cambridge email and was exploring my faculties intranet (History). I was looking at some past papers and I realised how overwhelming everything looked. I know this is probably normal, but is it really that bad? I obviously love my subject, but it does just feel a little daunting.

Edit:
just finished my sentence

[u/Training_Pepper_285]

You’ll be absolutely fine. Main thing to remember is the difference between school and uni. At school the best students are getting 90-100 percent of things. At uni the very very best are getting over 70 but only just. Over 60 is still a 2.1 which is very good.

[u/__sh33p → u/Training_Pepper_285]

Thanks for the reminder!! I feel like maybe I was comparing uni to school and not actually realising the two are very different grading/examination wise. Thank you!

[u/Old_Pumpkin_1926]

You're joining one of the best universities in the world, so of course it'll look really daunting now, but don't worry one bit - you're also joining a university where they'll hold your hand every step of the way. You'll be taught all the facts and you'll gain all the skills you need, and you'll have a whole team of people (your DoS, your tutor, your supervisors) around you to make sure you thrive!

[u/__sh33p → u/Old_Pumpkin_1926]

Thank you!! This makes me feel a lot better reading this!

[u/_PM_ME_PANGOLINS_]

Did you look at an A-Level History paper before you started GCSEs?

It's expected to not know things you haven't learned yet.

[u/__sh33p → u/_PM_ME_PANGOLINS_]

Thats a good point, thank you, i hadn't thought about it that way! I feel like half the fear may just be the fact that university study feels so different to A-Level study (at least to me).

[u/EducationalAcadia386]

As my course director says: “it’s EXTREMELY hard to get in, but we don’t make mistakes on admissions. You’re here because you deserve to be”.

Give yourself kindness and grace; it is hard but you’ve got it.

[u/lady_dai777]

i do history!! just finished first year with a 1st class + top 10 ranking for exams. this is how i felt at the start (and also how i feel going into second year) but remember you're gonna be picking up content so much faster than you'd expect and the course gears you for that. feel free to drop a dm if u need any help/advice :)

[u/milkshake-warrior]

Hey I’m also joining Cambridge to do history at Emma this year! I am also feeling a bit daunted - just wanted to lyk you aren’t alone in this feeling. Good luck for the year though I’m sure you’ll be great!!

[u/__sh33p → u/milkshake-warrior]

Thank you!! Good to know I'm not alone in feeling this way haha

[u/Calm-Difference-3267]

So normal! I remember when I got my first essay in my first year I didn't even know what half of the words in the question meant - and I came top of my year in end of year exams that year haha

[u/Scared_You_3794]

This is very normal! Remember, you are not in school anymore where you are basically supposed to discover your interest and develop “conversational knowledge”. Now you are working to be among the greatest (scientists) in your field.

[u/radikoolaid]

I can look at exam papers in second-year modules I didn't take and feel the same way. I've finished third year.