Anubhav Rathore (Medicine 2023) was drawn to the University of Cambridge because of its collegiate structure. Throughout his first year, he has made the most of the opportunities 鶹Ů has to offer.
“The collegiate structure really attracted me – no other university (apart from Oxford) offered this kind of experience,” Anubhav says.
“My friends in London say that, because their universities are so large, it’s sometimes difficult to meet people from other courses. One of the biggest things about Cambridge colleges in general is the ability to meet different types of people. You can really broaden your horizons and learn more about yourself as well."
Caius has 25 undergraduate medics in each year group, the most of any Cambridge college. Anubhav has particularly enjoyed having this wider circle of peers. He says: “It’s really nice to have such a large medic community, where we can turn to each other for advice and help. It’s a really good atmosphere.”
Connecting with other medics has not only helped Anubhav in the academic sphere; it has also played a key role in his social life. As Events Officer for the Caius Medical Society, he is keen to maintain a strong sense of community among his peers. “It’s nice to get everyone together,” he says. “You can meet and interact with third-, fourth- and fifth-year medics you wouldn’t normally come into contact with. Without these events, I don’t think I or the other freshers would have met some of the older students.”
Outside of the medics’ sphere, Anubhav has taken up novice rowing. He has found that a hobby not only provides a healthy break from his degree but has also allowed him to manage his time more effectively. He says: “When I was rowing, I procrastinated less in my free time compared to when I wasn’t. I didn’t row in Easter Term due to exams, but I remember being a lot more focused and diligent with my time in the two terms when I was rowing – because I had to, to get all my work done!”
Next academic year, Anubhav plans to replace rowing with powerlifting, which he hopes will also help him to manage his time well throughout the year and especially in the run-up to exams.
Anubhav has returned multiple times throughout this year to his secondary school, Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, to share his highly positive experiences of Cambridge with prospective applicants there. He is keen to continue undertaking outreach work to demystify student life at Cambridge.
“When I was in Year 12, I came to Caius to the Open Days, and one of the reasons I applied was because of how friendly people were,” he adds. “I think the biggest part of why some people don’t apply is that they feel intimidated by the course or by the people. It’s really important that people who apply know that it’s full of people who want to be there – really nice people as well!”
