Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Michael, and next year I will be a third-year law student at Selwyn. I’m an overseas student (I live in New Zealand).
What do you do outside of study?
As well as studying law, I enjoy taking part in a range of activities around Selwyn. I play rugby for the Selwyn-Peterhouse joint rugby team, which has been awesome because I’ve made some great friends both from Selwyn and Peterhouse through rugby. I’m also the Ents Officer on the college JCR. The JCR is essentially the “student council” of the college, and my role is to organise and run fun events around college, like bops (college parties). I’ve also been on the committee for the Selwyn Snowball, which is Cambridge’s only annual winter ball – and one of the biggest events of the year on any Selwyn student’s calendar.
What got you into your subject?
I initially applied to do Classics, with the intention of doing a law conversion course after graduating from Cambridge. Having received an offer for Classics, while doing preparatory work learning Ancient Greek, but I realised that I didn’t enjoy learning the language. I immediately emailed the admissions office at Selwyn, and they couldn’t have been more helpful. They organised for me to have Skype interviews and sit a test with the law fellows at Selwyn, and I was given a new offer for law.
What is your favourite thing about Selwyn?
Selwyn has amazing facilities and is really well-located, but the best thing about Selwyn is the friendly atmosphere. Because Selwyn isn’t too big, you know most people in your year, and you really cement friendships from day one because all freshers live in the same accommodation.
Selwyn is well-located for any prospective humanities student, being situated right next to Sidgwick Site, where most humanities faculties are based. Selwyn is also just far enough out of the town centre to be relaxed and tranquil, but is only a short way out so if you need to go in for anything, you’re only ever a 10 minute bike ride or a 20 minute walk away.
What’s it like moving to the UK to study?
I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of not only studying at one of the best universities in the world, but also having to move countries. I found it easy to adapt, because as an overseas student I got the opportunity to move in a week early for International Freshers’ Week. This meant that I got to meet the other international students at Selwyn and get acquainted with Cambridge before everyone else arrived. There are a lot of international students at Selwyn (and all over Cambridge) from all over the world so even if you’re feeling homesick you’ll find plenty of other people in the same position as you!