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School Admissions

Eaton House Belgravia and Eaton House Schools: A Tradition of Excellence in Education

Nestled in the heart of London’s prestigious Belgravia neighbourhood, Eaton House Belgravia is one of the most established and respected prep schools for boys aged 4-8. It also features a nursery, Bears and Cubs, for children aged 2 years and up. Known for its emphasis on traditional values, academic excellence, and a nurturing environment, Eaton House Belgravia prepares young boys to take their next steps in education with confidence and curiosity.

Eaton House Schools

Eaton House Belgravia is part of the Eaton House Schools group, which consist of several schools across London, including Eaton House The Manor (Boys’ School, Girls’ School, and Nursery) and Eaton House The Manor Prep. Eaton House Schools have a longstanding reputation for offering top-tier education in a warm, structured, and inclusive environment. They focus on building a strong educational foundation, preparing students for entry into some of the most elite secondary schools in the country, such as Eton College, Westminster, and St Paul’s.

 

While Eaton House Belgravia caters specifically to boys aged 4-8, the other branches of Eaton House Schools provide co-educational and girls-only learning options. For example, Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School in Clapham offers the same nurturing and academically rigorous environment for girls aged 4-11, ensuring that the Eaton House legacy extends across genders and learning stages.

Admissions: A Parent’s Perspective

From a parent’s point of view, navigating the admissions process at Eaton House Belgravia is often seen as an important but highly competitive step. As one of London’s top preparatory schools, many parents are keen to secure a place for their son, knowing that the school’s reputation for academic excellence, character development, and future school placements is unparalleled.

 

The first step in the admissions process is registering your interest early. For many parents, this means applying when their child is still very young—often before their second birthday. The school aims to provide each child with individual attention and development, meaning class sizes are kept small, which adds to the demand.

What to Expect During the Admissions Process

After registering, parents are invited to visit the school on an open day, providing an opportunity to meet the headmaster, teaching staff, and view the facilities. From a parent’s perspective, these visits are invaluable, offering a firsthand look into the nurturing, yet academically rigorous environment their child will be entering. During these visits, parents often compare Eaton House Belgravia to other leading prep schools in London, such as Thomas’s Battersea or Garden House School, to ensure they are making the right choice for their child’s educational journey.

 

Although Eaton House Schools are non-selective at the 2+, 3+, and 4+ entry points, as they recognise that children develop emotionally and academically at different paces without the pressure of early exams, there is still an informal interview, along with a trial day and assessment. These assessments help the school understand the child’s abilities and determine if they are a good fit for the environment. They are designed to gauge the child’s developmental readiness and how well they may adapt to the structured setting at Eaton House Belgravia. Parents appreciate that the process is constructed to identify potential, rather than apply undue pressure on very young children.

 

For many parents, a key concern during the admissions process is understanding the school’s values and educational approach. Eaton House Belgravia prides itself on creating an environment where boys are allowed to be boys—energetic, curious, and engaged—while still laying the foundations for academic success. This emphasis on both character building and academics is a major draw for parents looking for a balanced and well-rounded education.

Insights into Selectivity

The school values a child’s potential, personality, and attitude as much as their early academic ability. This makes the school appealing to parents who are not solely focused on academic outcomes but want their child to receive a well-rounded education, one that fosters leadership, independence, and kindness.

 

As a part of the Eaton House Schools group, parents also benefit from the possibility of their son transitioning to Eaton House The Manor Prep, which caters to boys up to age 13, allowing for a smooth continuation of their education within the same school ethos. This continuity is something parents value highly, as it alleviates the stress of having to navigate another competitive admissions process for the next stage of their child’s schooling.

The Competitive Landscape: How Eaton House Compares

For parents considering other prestigious preparatory schools in London, such as Wetherby School, Thomas’s Battersea, or Hill House School, Eaton House Belgravia offers a unique proposition. It combines a rich heritage of academic achievement with a specific focus on boys’ early development, giving it an advantage for parents looking for a tailored educational experience for their son.

 

While schools like The Dragon School in Oxford or Thomas’s Battersea also offer excellent education, Eaton House Belgravia’s intimate and supportive atmosphere, along with its history of top-tier secondary school placements, makes it a strong contender in London’s competitive prep school scene.

How Think Tutors can Help

At Think Tutors, we are proud to offer highly qualified tutors who are dedicated to helping your child succeed, especially when preparing for exams and interviews to esteemed schools. Our elite tutors provide personalised one-to-one support in key areas such as English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning, while also helping to build your child’s confidence and independence. This ensures they are not only academically prepared but also ready to embrace the challenges of school life with self-assurance. If you’re looking for expert guidance to help your child confidently navigate the admissions process at prestigious institutions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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University Admissions

Cambridge University: Murray Edwards College

Founded at a time when there were roughly 11 male students for every female student at the university, Murray Edwards remains one of two female-only colleges at Cambridge (the other: Newnham).

History

Founded as New Hall in 1954, the college has benefited from the philanthropy of various institutions since its conception. In 1962, members of the Darwin family donated their home, ‘The Orchard’, and, in 2005, alumna Rosalind Edwards and her husband Steve Edwards donated £30 million, securing the college’s future and changing its name to honour the first president, Dame Rosemary Murray, and their benefaction. The college’s buildings (architected by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, known primarily for their design of the Barbican in London) combine classicism with modernism, but have been met with mixed reactions: an anti-modern art group once graffitied footsteps walking over the dome of the college.

Inside Perspective

The jewel in Murray Edwards’ crown is the ‘Women’s Art Collection’. Comprising over 600 works by around 300 artists, it is the largest collection of female artists in Europe. However, unlike a ‘conventional gallery’ these artworks are hung all around the college, providing its students with the opportunity to study and socialise beneath them. The college’s active JCR (Junior Common Room: common room for undergraduate students) is also involved with the collection, as well as running quintessential Oxbridge social events. A treasured tale of Oxbridge history, students once invited one thousand people to a party at the college, which filled the entirety of Fountain Court. Featuring an illuminated fountain and waterways, and flower displays in summer, this is a central spot for studying as well as rest and recuperation. The college’s dining area, colloquially called ‘the dome’, is also home to a rising servery, upon which DJs sometimes play during special events.

Notable Alumni

Murray Edwards’ most notable alumni is the astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell: whilst a PhD student at the college, and a researcher as part of the university’s radio astronomy group, she discovered the first four pulsars. Other alumni include Claudia Winkleman (TV presenter) and Joanna MacGregor (concert pianist). Honorary fellows include the artists Eileen Cooper and Maggi Hambling, and the composer Thea Musgrave.

Rankings

In 2022, Murray Edwards came 27th in the Tompkins Table, out of a total 29 colleges, with a score of 63.9 and 20.8% of its students achieving a First.

Contact Think Tutors

Choosing the right Cambridge college is heavily dependent on the personality, subject, and specific interests of each individual student in relation to the specific lecturers and teaching provisions of each individual college. Navigating these challenges can be particularly tricky but Think Tutors’ elite tutors and mentors can help you to make the right decisions, enable you to achieve the highest grades, and equip you for the interview process. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter Murray Edwards at the University of Cambridge.

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University Admissions

Cambridge University: Magdalene College

Perfect for those favouring the ‘traditional’ Oxbridge experience, Magdalene was deliberately built in opposition to the town centre, therefore secluding its then students from the commotion and temptations of town.

History

Founded in 1428, Magdalene College has an august history of alumni, buildings, and traditions. As with many Oxbridge colleges, there have been numerous twists and turns in its architectural and managerial developments over the years. However, its motto, garde ta foy (Old French for “keep your faith”), coined by Thomas Audley (Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII), remains firm and is fondly used by students today. These students number roughly 400 at undergraduate level and 200 at graduate level, making the college one of the smaller at the university. Magdalene’s buildings account for its undeniable charm, and central to this is the Pepys Library, containing original manuscripts of the namesake’s diaries as well as thousands of books suiting the diverse academic needs of the college’s members.

Inside Perspective

Magdalene’s hall is unique in that it is the only Oxbridge college to rely solely on candlelight. Highly effective, especially in winter, this reminds its diners of an earlier time. The college, in its modern-day figuration, both cuts across major roads in Cambridge (Chesterton Road and Magdalene Street) and extends along the river. This stunning juxtaposition benefits the pragmatic needs of its illustrious boat club as well as the aesthetic needs of all its dwellers. The pronunciation of the college’s name is a source of confusion for many, with “Mawdlin” being correct. It’s sister college in Oxford contributes to further confusion, being spelt without the final ‘e’ (i.e. Magdalen College) but still being pronounced the same.

Notable Alumni

Notable alumni include Bamber Gascoigne (TV presenter, known for University Challenge), Clemency Burton-Hill (broadcaster), John McPhee (writer), John Simpson (journalist), Julian Fellowes (screenwriter), Katie Derham (TV newsreader), Sir Michael Redgrave (actor), Monty Don (television presenter and writer), and Samuel Pepys (diarist and politician). Between 2012 and 2020, Magdalene’s Master was Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury), and it’s previous fellows include C. S. Lewis (author and theologian).

Rankings

In 2022, Magdalene came 18th in the Tomkins Table with a score of 67.49 and 28.5% of its students achieving a First.

Contact Think Tutors

Choosing the right Cambridge college is heavily dependent on the personality, subject, and specific interests of each individual student in relation to the specific lecturers and teaching provisions of each individual college. Navigating these challenges can be particularly tricky but Think Tutors’ elite tutors and mentors can help you to make the right decisions, enable you to achieve the highest grades, and equip you for the interview process. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge.

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University Admissions

Cambridge University: Wolfson College

Situated in south-west Cambridge, Wolfson College is a less traditional college, catering for mostly postgraduate students but also ‘mature’ undergraduate students, identifying itself as being particularly cosmopolitan and friendly.

History

Originally founded as ‘University College’ in 1965, the impetus for the college’s inception was the rising tide of graduate students pursuing research at Cambridge in the wake of World War Two. In 1973 the college was renamed as ‘Wolfson College’, recognising the monetary contributions of The Wolfson Foundation, a large UK charity that finances excellence in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The college adopted ‘Ring True’ as its motto. As of 2015, fifty years after its inception, the college was host to approximately 650 full-time students, 200 part-time students, 123 Fellows, 79 Emeritus Fellows, 22 Visiting Fellows, 33 Honorary Fellows, 1 Bredon Fellow, 83 Research Associates, and 300 Senior Members.

Inside Perspective

The college admits mostly postgraduate students but also ‘mature’ undergraduates (aged 21 and above) with around 15% of its students studying for undergraduate degrees. Its location in the southwest of Cambridge makes it perfect for those students keen to escape the city (leafy suburbs and the charms of Grantchester are only a short sojourn away) but also for bookworms who will benefit from being close to the University Library. In keeping with its less traditional identity, the college hosts formal dinners but the wearing of gowns is simply encouraged (rather than being compulsory) and the absence of a ‘high table’ means that fellows and students sit together, sharing in scrumptious food and scholarly conversation. Students from across Cambridge migrate to Wolfson for their popular live comedy night, nicknamed the ‘Wolfson Howler’. Performers for these events include fledgling student comics alongside internationally-recognised names; in recent years the Wolfson Howler has been graced by Dane Baptiste, Ed Gamble, Fern Brady, Phil Wang, and many others. The college is well suited to students longing for more than just libraries and bedrooms, boasting a large performance venue (which houses multiple concert series), a conference centre, and extensive gardens situated across ten acres. The college has one foot in the past and one in the present, and this manifests in its architecture: for example, the thin slices of granite that comprise the main building’s entrance hall were originally used for London Bridge.

Notable Alumni

Notable alumni of recent years include Carrie Lam (Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong), Eric Monkman (University Challenge team captain and competition finalist), and a plethora of internationally-recognised politicians.

Rankings

In 2022, Wolfson came 21st in the Tomkins Table with a score of 66.4 and 27.6% of its students achieving a First.

Contact Think Tutors

Choosing the right Cambridge college is heavily dependent on the personality, subject, and specific interests of each individual student in relation to the specific lecturers and teaching provisions of each individual college. Navigating these challenges can be particularly tricky but Think Tutors’ elite tutors and mentors can help you to make the right decisions, enable you to achieve the highest grades, and equip you for the interview process. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter Wolfson College at the University of Cambridge.

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University Admissions

Cambridge University: Christ’s College

Christ’s College is just a stone’s throw from Cambridge Bus Station, and yet there is a sense of magical quiet when you enter. Gorgeous gardens hidden behind Restoration-period architecture speak of the scholarly depths of this esteemed college.

History

Founded in 1437 as ‘God’s House’, the college has been described as ‘the first secondary-school training college on record’. In 1875, Christ’s College Rugby Football Club was founded by the father of modern anthropology, Alfred Cort Haddon. Today, the college houses the Master, Fellows from a myriad of disciplines, and approximately 450 undergraduate and 250 graduate students.

Academic Prowess

The Tompkins Table (created in 1981) is an annual ranking reflecting the average undergraduate grades of students across all colleges. On aggregate, Christ’s came first during the first twenty years of the table’s existence. Statistics aside, Christ’s has a reputation for the very highest academic standards.

Inside Perspective

Unlike many other Cambridge colleges, Christ’s buttery is separate from its hall, and this serves to heighten the sense of occasion when its students join together for formal dinners. After the annual Scholars’ Dinner, students hold hands while dancing around the Mulberry Tree at night. Only 5 Cambridge colleges can boast of a swimming pool, and Christ’s College is one of them. Known as the ‘Malcolm Bowie Bathing Pool’, and dating from the mid-17th century, this is considered to be the oldest outdoor swimming pool in the UK. The other four colleges with swimming pools are Clare Hall, Corpus Christi, Emmanuel, and Girton. The Marguerites Club, one the oldest surviving College societies, was originally only open to sports captains, but is now known as a drinking society that recognises sporting excellence more broadly. Christ’s College Association Football Club has won the inter-collegiate competition more than any other college.

Notable Alumni

Through history Christ College’s former students have risen to the top of many fields, but particularly famous alumni include John Milton (poet and civil servant), William Paley (clergyman), Charles Darwin (biologist, geologist, and naturalist), J Robert Oppenheimer (theoretical physicist), Simon Schama (historian and TV presenter), Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury), and Sacha Baron Cohen (actor and comedian).

Rankings

In 2022, Christ’s came 1st with a score of 76.4 and 46.1% of its students achieving a First.

Contact Think Tutors

Choosing the right Cambridge college is heavily dependent on the personality, subject, and specific interests of each individual student in relation to the specific lecturers and teaching provisions of each individual college. Navigating these challenges can be particularly tricky but Think Tutors’ elite tutors and mentors can help you to make the right decisions, enable you to achieve the highest grades, and equip you for the interview process. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter Christ’s College at the University of Cambridge.

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University Admissions

Embracing Openness to Further your Growth

This is a personal account of the importance of being open to new ideas at university and beyond.

What Does it Mean to be ‘Open’?

According to the Big 5 Personality Traits – the leading psychological theory of personality, also known as the OCEAN Model – ‘Openness’ can be defined as the trait of seeking out new experiences and being receptive to different views and people. The other four aspects of personality are ‘Conscientiousness’ (being organised, reliable, self-disciplined), ‘Extraversion’ (confident and enthusiastic engagement with others), ‘Agreeableness’ (the extent to which you prioritise ‘social harmony’ over individual needs), and ‘Neuroticism’ (sensitivity to negative emotion).

 

As with the other four personality traits, ‘Openness’ can be broken down into constituent dimensions. Roughly speaking, these include being attentive to inner feelings, imaginative, sensitive to aesthetics, intellectually curious, challenging authority, and pursuing variety.

 

The beauty of the Big 5 Model is that scoring 0, or 100, or anything close to these ends of the spectrum, is not ideal. For example, a person with no imagination is, rather obviously, unlikely to ever move forward in life, but on the other hand, a person who lives out fantasies in their head the entire time is unlikely to ever get anything done! There is no ‘perfect score’. Rather, every person has a unique matrix of personality traits.

Are You Really That Open?

A statistical analysis based on a sample of c.30,000 people revealed that the average score for Openness is 73. Many people who believe themselves to be open are in fact only open according to a limited definition of the term.

 

Arriving at university, I was eager to meet new people and revel in the arts and humanities. However, there were immediate limits to the misguided conception of my own openness, stemming from the fact that I had already crystallised in my mind the exact nature of the career that I wanted to pursue. Accordingly, I needed to understand exactly how each piece of material that I was being taught was going to manifest itself in my career.

 

This is Problem #1. Whilst it is hugely beneficial, perhaps even necessary, to have an idea of the career that you would like to pursue, and in some sense are already pursuing, you must resist this idea turning into a concrete finish line. The career, profession, world that you will enter in three or so years’ time will not be the same as it is now.

Transferrable Skills

When I was tasked, during the first term of my first year at university, with researching the role of goblins in Korean folklore, I could not comprehend how this material would ever feature in my future career and research. On the one hand I was right, in that I have never used and almost completely forgotten all of the information which was taught in this module. However, the skills that I honed during these weeks (dealing with texts in foreign languages, using images as primary sources, researching previously unstudied topics at the vanguard of human knowledge, using cutting-edge software to notate my findings, etc.) have stayed with me ever since. Sometimes ‘transferrable skills’ are taught as modules in their own right, but most of the time when we are honing such abilities we don’t even realise it. To ‘get to the top’ in almost any profession requires you to think well, write well, and speak well. If you find yourself improving in any of these three areas while completing a task, you can be sure that you are in the process of becoming a more capable and dynamic individual.

Everything is Connected

Everything is connected, you just might not know it yet.

 

Over the course of my undergraduate degree, I came to better understand the influence that new ideas and seemingly irrelevant ideas were having on my academic and personal formation. However, I was, what I now understand to be, left-hemisphere dependent. By this I mean that I was inclined to view things in isolation, draw perceptual boundaries around the material gleaned from different areas of my life, and fail to recognise that everything is connected.

 

This is Problem #2. Do not be blind to the infinite undercurrents and invisible connections between the problem you are working on and the wider world.

 

Many, if not most, universities require students to complete a dissertation as part of their undergraduate degree. This can be anywhere in the region of 5,000 to 20,000+ words and is often completed during the final year of study. My dissertation concerned a seminal Cuban figure of whose works I thought myself relatively familiar. I studied his output, studied what others had said about him, and responded with personal insight. For the record, these were all valuable points of departure.

 

However, the feedback that I received noted that the dissertation draft was somewhat superficial and lacking depth. So, for my second draft I went away, added further facts and figures, and expanded on some of the shorter paragraphs and sections.

 

However, again, the feedback that I received commented on the surface-level nature of my work. I was recommended to go away and ‘research areas such as aesthetics and postmodernism’. Dutifully, being relatively high in conscientiousness, I went to the library and borrowed books on these two topics. I drafted two new dissertation abstracts, one concerning the role of aesthetics in the work of my chosen figure, and the other concerning postmodernism in the works of my chosen figure. The only (large!) problem was that I knew very little on either of these areas. Confusion ensued, and I was back to the drawing board.

 

It was only during my master’s degree that I fully realised what my undergraduate supervisor was actually encouraging me to do. He was not asking me to change the focus of my research and write a philosophy dissertation, but he was encouraging me to stop viewing my figure in isolation. We are all shaped by the cultural, linguistic, philosophical, and psychological currents of our time and the developments throughout time that has led to them. Previous modules, such as my first-year module on the long nineteenth century, and my second-year module on new directions in twentieth-century thought, did not exist in isolation. Rather, they served to equip me with a holistic and informed understanding of why the world exists as it does today. Everything is connected.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step

For many students about to start at university, making friends is the most daunting task. For others, it is the fear of receiving poor grades, not being sure what to do after their agree, or even learning how to cook! For me, I was most unsettled when confronted with an intellectual field with which I had no prior familiarity, such as with aesthetics, such as with postmodernism, and such as with the Korean goblins. In these instances, remember the Chinese proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. An undergraduate degree is not a PhD. At this stage in life you are not expected to be a world expert. Rather, you are learning how to deal with difficult concepts and integrate them across various domains of academia and life. The three or four years that is customary to complete an undergraduate degree provide you with the time to explore the nooks and crannies of your discipline, but also its connections to others. Learn to relish being lost and outside of your comfort zone. Whenever you are confronted with an entirely new topic, set of ideas, or seemingly infinite mountain to climb, remember that everything is connected – attack each and every side of your degree with openness, and the map of your life will emerge.

Contact Think Tutors

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors’ elite tutors or mentors can equip you with the tools to make the most out of your time at university. Our tutors have first-hand experience of the leading educational institutions in the UK and around the world. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter and thrive at university.

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University Admissions

Cambridge University: Sidney Sussex College

A wisteria-adorned stone wall is famous for separating this charming and intimate college from the hustle and bustle of Cambridge’s thriving city centre.

History

Founded on Valentine’s Day 1596, Sidney Sussex College is known as the newest of the old colleges. In chronological order of their founding between 1284 and 1596, these ‘old colleges’ include Peterhouse, Clare, Pembroke, Gonville and Caius, Trinity Hall, Corpus Christi, Magdalene, Christ’s, King’s, Queen’s, St Catherine’s, Jesus, St John’s, Trinity, Emmanuel, and Sidney Sussex. Since 1768, there has been a flourishing of colleges including Homerton, Downing, Girton, Fitzwilliam, Newnham, Selwyn, Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s, Murray Edward’s, Churchill, Darwin, Wolfson, Lucy Cavendish, Clare Hall, and Robinson.

Undergraduate Study

At Sidney you can study the full range of undergraduate degrees available at the University of Cambridge. These include ASNC (Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic), Archaeology, Architecture, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Classics, Computer Science, Design, Economics, Engineering, English, Geography, History, History and Modern Languages, History and Politics, History of Art, HSPS (Human, Social, and Political Sciences), Land Economy, Law, Linguistics, Mathematics, Medicine, MML (Modern and Medieval Languages), Music, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, PBS (Psychological and Behavioural Sciences), Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion, and Veterinary Medicines. That being said, certain subjects at Sidney tend to be more oversubscribed than others, and Think Tutors have the inside track on how to increase your chances of acceptance at this prestigious college.

Musical Prowess

The college is renowned for its choir (The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge) who sing for a number of Choral Evensongs and Latin Choral Vespers throughout the week. Generous choral scholarships serve to celebrate the musical talent of students, who also have frequent opportunities to make professional recordings and tour internationally.

Notable Alumni

Through history Sidney Sussex’s former students have risen to the top of many fields, but particularly famous alumni include Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector), David Owen (Foreign Secretary), Sir David Lidington (Minister of State), Stuart Corbridge (Vice-Chancellor of Durham University), and Carol Vorderman (media personality).

Inside Perspective

Colloquially known as ‘Sidney Sainsburys’, Sidney is loved for its location in the middle of town, just a couple of metres from Sainsburys! However, the food at Sidney Sussex College is regularly voted by students as the best of any college, and bi-weekly ‘formal dinners’ provide an excellent three courses in august surroundings for about £10. There are a large number of student societies, specifically at Sidney, that cover most academic, musical, sport, and other interests. The Sidney Sussex College Boat Club has performed exceptionally well in recent years, winning the Marconi Cup in 2020. The college’s history society, known as ‘Confrat’ for short but ‘Confraternitas Historica Dominae Franciscae Comitis Sussexiae’ in full, is reputed to be the longest-running student history society in Europe.

Rankings

The Tompkins Table is an annual ranking reflecting the average undergraduate grades of students across all colleges. In 2020, Sidney Sussex came 16th with 27.62% of its students achieving a First. In 1st place, 46.1% of Christ’s students achieved a First, and in last place, 29th, 16.91% of Lucy Cavendish students achieved a First.

Contact Think Tutors

Choosing the right Cambridge college is heavily dependent on the personality, subject, and specific interests of each individual student in relation to the specific lecturers and teaching provisions of each individual college. Navigating these challenges can be particularly tricky but Think Tutors’ elite tutors and mentors can help you to make the right decisions, enable you to achieve the highest grades, and equip you for the interview process. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter Sidney Sussex College at the University of Cambridge.

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University Admissions

Conservatoire Admissions

If performance is your passion – whether that be music, drama, or arts production – then could a conservatoire be the best place for you?

What Is A Conservatoire?

The word ‘conservatoire’, coming from the French, refers to a ‘music school’ or institution of higher learning which primarily prepares its students for lives as performers. All courses at conservatoires have a strong performance or vocational orientation, meaning that they serve to equip students with the skills to thrive in the performing arts industries.

How Does A Conservatoire Differ From A University?

While studying subjects such as music or drama at university may also lead to careers in the creative arts, conservatoires focus on the practical elements of performance while university courses tend to focus on academic skills. For example, if you are an avid instrumentalist – whether that be a virtuoso violinist, budding opera singer, or otherwise – who is set on pursuing a career as a soloist or orchestral musician, then the practical training you will receive at a conservatoire is second to none. However, if you view yourself as more of an ‘all-rounder musician’ – for example, someone who is interested in composing, performing, and writing about music in equal measure, or someone who is very open to the idea of working in a non-performance field after their degree – then studying music at a university might be the best thing to do. There is no right or wrong answer. Many world-leading soloists studied at university and many students who studied at conservatoires go on to have eclectic non-musical careers. However, the institution and course that you choose will still play a large part in shaping the course of your life. It is therefore worth thinking about very carefully!

How Many Conservatoires Are There?

There are 9 conservatoires in England and Wales:

 

  • LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)
  • Leeds Conservatoire
  • Royal Academy of Music
  • Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
  • Royal College of Music
  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • Royal Northern College of Music
  • Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
  • Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

 

Naturally, conservatoires are not a uniquely British phenomenon. There are a huge number of world-leading conservatoires around the globe, some of which you may have already heard of, such as the Julliard School in New York, the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, and the Paris Conservatoire in France.

What Might An Average Week At A Conservatoire Look Like?

This varies hugely according to specialism, course, institution, etc. However, as an instrumentalist studying for an undergraduate degree, you are likely to receive a 1-1 lesson with a world-leading professor, chamber music coaching, multiple performance opportunities, and academic sessions covering history, theory, and other topics.

 How Do I Apply?

‘UCAS Conservatoires’ (formerly known as CUKAS) is an online portal which streamlines the application process and works in a very similar way to the UCAS University admissions system. If you are unsure whether a conservatoire or a university is the best place to be, there is a beauty in that applicants can apply via UCAS and UCAS Conservatoires simultaneously, receive their respective offers, and then make an even more informed decision further down the line. Most conservatoires, especially for performance-centred courses, will require shortlisted applicants to attend an in-person audition, where the talents and potential of prospective students are measured by a panel of faculty members.

How Can Think Tutors Help?

Applying to a conservatoire entails a minefield of decision making. How do I choose between conservatoires and universities? Do I apply to both? Are my performance skills at the required level? Which conservatoire do I pick? Do I need a consultation lesson? Which professor should I approach? What about grades..?

 

Fortunately, Think Tutors are ideally placed to guide you through this stage of your life. Whatever your dramatic or musical discipline, our elite tutors and mentors, with their first-hand experiences and inside knowledge, are ready to help you make the right decisions. From instrumental teaching to life coaching and career advice, contact Think Tutors today to find the answers that you need.

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University Admissions

Studying Music at Durham University

Located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Music Department at the University of Durham provides historic, inspiring, and world-leading training for a life within and beyond music.

PATHWAYS

Studying Music at Durham (on the BA Mus course) is a stimulating and wide-ranging undertaking that leaves no stone unturned. As a student in your first year, there are 6 compulsory modules (Analysis, Composition, Ethnomusicology, History, Performance, and Techniques). These serve to equip you with the foundational tools for creating and understanding music across genres and throughout time, that can then be pursued further in the form of optional modules in years two and three.

ANALYSIS

Key concepts of Baroque and Classical styles underpin the first year and serve as a point of departure as your progress throughout your degree. The specific focus of second- and third-year modules can change from year to year, but in recent years have centred around the music of Beethoven and Stravinsky, the power of the symphony, and new directions in time and rhythm.

COMPOSITION

Composition is the domain which tends to take students by the most surprise when they arrive at Durham! The ‘new’ approaches of composers such as Messiaen and Shostakovich featured in A-Level and IB syllabi are blown apart upon hearing the indeterminism of Cage and Feldman, the spectralism of Grisey and Murail, and the New Complexity of Ferneyhough and Finnissy. Students are challenged to write for instruments that they are unaccustomed, as well as encouraged to push what it possible on the instrument(s) they call their own.

ETHNOMUSICOLOGY

From Australian didgeridoo to Balinese gamelan, Brazilian samba, Central African pygmy, Chinese guqin, Japanese shakuhachi, and Zimbabwean mbira, you can study them all at Durham. The ethnomusicology modules provide a rigorous approach to understanding the variety of musical practices and concepts encountered around the world, introducing you to diverse methods of describing, notating, and recording music that departs from what we might usually hear on a daily basis.

HISTORY

A broad introduction to Western music from the seventeenth to the twentieth century in first year is followed by optional and specific explorations, such as ‘Music and Politics in France’ and ‘Music in Italy 1850-1950’, as you progress through your degree. Many students use the history modules in first- and second-year to shape the dissertations that they will write in their final year. Accordingly, the breadth of musical options available at Durham is balanced by the opportunity to develop your specific interests over the course of the degree.

PERFORMANCE

While it is never compulsory for reticent students to have to perform in front of other students (and can ‘drop’ performance after their first year), eager performers are never short of performance opportunities at Durham – whether these are ‘in class’, for college/departmental recital series, or as part of the immense number of ensembles across the city. Over 30 music societies exist and cater for students interested in A Capella, choral singing, classical, jazz, pop, rock, stage, and world music. There is also financial support for performance tuition throughout the degree.

TECHNIQUES

The ‘bane’ of some students time at Durham(!) but also the secret love of many others, the ‘Musical Techniques’ modules offer rigorous training in Renaissance and Baroque counterpoint, four-part harmony, the composition of Classical forms, orchestration, etc. Unlike some other universities, these modules are mostly optional, and teaching is often provided in small groups and on a 1-to-1 basis, giving students relatively unrivalled opportunities to learn from world experts but at their own pace.

FACILITIES

Colleges aside (which all provide chapels, practice rooms, and performance spaces), the Music Department caters for the full spectrum of acoustic and electronic interests among its students, giving them the opportunity to use these at their leisure. Facilities include, but are not limited to, a Concert Room (two storeys of seating, 5:1 sound system, large Genelec loudspeakers, AV facilities, large projection screen), Lecture Room (high-quality stereo sound system, AV facilities), Music Technology Suite (Mac and Windows OS audio workstations, music technology software, resident technical support), Practice rooms (soundproofed, acoustically treated, Steinway grand pianos, digital pianos, drum kits, bass and guitar amps, PAs), Studios (music production equipment spanning from the early analogue era up to current technologies and computer-based software), Recording Studio (soundproofed, acoustically treated, state-of-the-art equipment), Audio-visual Documentation and Analysis Laboratory (for multi-camera and multi-track audio editing), and Music and Science Lab (portable physiology response kits, electroencephalography system, recording and playback equipment, audience response capture devices, acoustically controlled listening environment).

RANKINGS

In recent years, the Music Department at the University of Durham has been ranked as the best in the country and is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. In 2024, it placed 6th in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide and 6th in the Complete University Guide.

CONTACT THINK TUTORS

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors’ elite tutors or mentors who has studied at Durham is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process for university. We enhance performance through careful preparation and confidence building, offering guidance on Durham colleges, crafting personal statements, submitting musical work, and more, leaving no stone unturned. Please contact us to find a tutor to help your child enter the Music Department at the University of Durham.

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Undergraduate Essay Writing: Mastering the Art of Crafting Compelling Arguments

Clarity and Focus

 

Before diving into your argument, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your topic. Define the scope of your essay and establish a central thesis statement that encapsulates your main argument. This thesis should be concise, specific, and debatable, serving as a guiding principle for the entirety of your essay.

Research and Evidence

 

Strong arguments are supported by credible evidence. Conduct thorough research to gather relevant data, scholarly articles, and empirical findings to back up your claims. Always cite your sources accurately, adhering to the referencing style specified by your institution. Utilise a mix of primary and secondary sources to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Logical Structure

 

Structure your essay in a logical sequence, with an introduction that presents your thesis, a body that presents your supporting evidence and analysis, and a conclusion that reinforces your argument. Use topic sentences and transitional phrases to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs. Each paragraph should contribute to the overall coherence of your argument.

Counterarguments

 

Acknowledge potential counterarguments and address them effectively within your essay. Anticipating and refuting opposing viewpoints demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic and strengthens the credibility of your argument. This also showcases your ability to think critically and engage with differing perspectives.

Language and Style

 

Communicate your argument clearly and concisely. Avoid using jargon or overly complex language that might obscure your message. Strive for a balance between formal and accessible language, ensuring that your ideas are comprehensible to your target audience. Proofread your essay meticulously to eliminate grammatical errors and enhance the overall readability of your work.

Tutor’s Role in Enhancing Essay Writing Skills

 

A proficient tutor can play a pivotal role in refining your essay writing skills. Tutors offer personalised guidance, providing constructive feedback on your writing style, argument construction, and overall essay structure. They can assist in honing your critical thinking abilities, encouraging you to delve deeper into the subject matter and develop a more nuanced perspective. Additionally, tutors can suggest relevant resources, recommend effective research strategies, and provide valuable tips for enhancing the overall quality of your writing.

Feedback and Revision

 

Embrace constructive criticism from your tutor and peers. Actively seek feedback on your drafts to identify areas for improvement. Revision is an integral part of the writing process, allowing you to refine your arguments, strengthen your evidence, and enhance the overall coherence of your essay. Utilise feedback as a tool for continuous growth and refinement of your writing skills.

 

Mastering the art of forming a persuasive argument in an undergraduate essay is a gradual process that requires dedication, practice, and guidance. By following these key principles and leveraging the support of a knowledgeable tutor, you can enhance your essay writing skills and excel in your academic endeavors.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

At Think Tutors, we can offer unrivalled tuition for students embarking on their undergraduate degree. Our elite tutors and mentors offer astute expertise to help you excel in your studies. Please contact us to find out more.