1.
Introduce yourself
If you live round the corner or went to their school, say so: it will help to make Cambridge undergrads seem much less mythical and mysterious.
2.
Tell them about 'Target' and why you're there
It is an entirely student-run campaign, which operates with the support of the university and colleges
It aims to encourage applications from groups that are currently under-represented at Cambridge especially state school pupils.
It does this by sending volunteers (you!) to schools and colleges to tell them what Cambridge is really like, and to answer any questions or concerns that the students or schools may have.
3.
Cambridge: the collegiate system
Cambridge is made up of 24 undergraduate and 7 mature student/post-graduate colleges.
You either make an application to a college, or you can make an 'Open Application' where you are allocated to a college. This does not place you under any disadvantage compared to those who chose a college.
Please think hard before your speech on how you will present the different colleges. It is sadly true that many students are massively confused by the colleges, and spend much time and effort agonising over which college they should apply to. At most other universities, the only decision you make is for which subject to apply to- here, there is an additional layer of choice which puts many people off. In particular, emphasising the differences between the colleges perpetuates an idea that in order to apply to Cambridge, you need a large amount of in-depth 'insider' information that people from certain backgrounds have automatically, but that people from non-traditional backgrounds do not have access to. It is helpful to say that some colleges are larger than others, and that some are nearer to the centre of town (or to various faculties) than others) and that two are women-only, and that some are older than others. These are all quite factual differences, easy to find out from the prospectus, and may help to make a choice. Don't talk about the 'politics' of various colleges, and the 'kind of people' who go there for this is often not helpful as it makes people terrified of making the 'wrong' choice. It's often helpful to remind people that they can always make an Open Application, and ultimately how much you enjoy your time at Cambridge is up to you and what you make of it, not determined by which college you randomly happen to choose on your
UCAS form. You will of course usually feel very loyal to your own college! - but sometimes this intense college loyalty can confuse students with little or no knowledge about Cambridge.

Advantages
Each college provides its own facilities including accommodation for all students usually for all 3 years, bar, sports ground, computer room, dining hall, library, nurse.
Very easy to get involved in the wide range of activities available because they happen on two levels: the college level and the university level.
You're part of a relatively small community where most people will know you: porters, your teaching staff and your tutor. You're not just an anonymous face in a crowd.
4.
Cambridge: teaching
The range of subjects is traditional with a considerable amount of variety within them. There are also no joint honours degrees, although students can study a different subject in Part II- like
Management Studies, for example, even though there is no 'Business' degree.
Cambridge doesn't offer more modern courses like media studies or sport science or more vocational subjects. People who are interested in such subjects but still want to come to Cambridge often choose something related (e.g. English instead of Media Studies), maybe get involved with student journalism and then apply directly to the profession.
Lectures are given on a university level. Attendance is often optional!
The main source of learning is supervisions. (Talk about them in some detail including the advantages and disadvantages - because they are one thing that makes Cambridge different from other universities.) Informal, personal, chance to ask questions and go other work.
Be honest! Don't play down the amount of work, but let them know that Cambridge students do manage to have an active social life!
5.
Cambridge: social life/societies
It is very easy to get involved in any activity you do already or would like to start. And if there's something you want to do and it's not offered then you can just start it yourself!
The two tier college/university structure means that most major activities are carried out on a wide variety of levels; from absolute novice to semi-professional level.
Sport (mention the presence of a large number of inter-collegiate leagues and cuppers and the
Varsity match, over 50 sports played at University level and many more at college level), Journalism
(from Varsity/The Cambridge Student to college newsletters), Drama (ADC/Footlights, college productions), Debating (The Union Society), Subject societies (e.g.. University and College Law
Societies), Politics (CUSU, College JCR - equate JCR's to student unions in college providing services, welfare, representation and ents.
Although Cambridge is not renowned for its club scene, there are 8 city clubs offering a range of music, and there are various college ents throughout the term (Kings Mingle, Queens, Clare Cellars) and events in May week. (Explain May Week)

Loads of pubs, and social focus of college bar in each college.
Some colleges have their own cinemas, also one in the Grafton centre.
Formal Hall - play this by ear according to your group. Some sixth formers will think this sounds sociable and fun, some will think that formal dinners emphasise every negative stereotype they have ever heard of!
6.
Cambridge: welfare
Strong welfare support network because of the collegiate structure; your tutors and supervisors will get to know you personally. This makes it much easier to talk to them if you have a problem with work, money or anything else.
Each college has a nurse and all students can use the University Counselling Service. Each student is assigned a personal tutor who they will see once or twice a term throughout their career and who you can approach for help or advice at any time.
There is a thriving LesBiGayTrans campaign which organises events throughout the year and provides welfare support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
There is also the Black and Ethnic Minority Students Campaign which arranges events for students from ethnic minorities in Cambridge, a lively Women's Union, an International Students Campaign and numerous other groups for the representation of minority groups. All of these groups are easy to get involved with and can be accessed through the CUSU website.
There is great financial provision for students at Cambridge. Each college has hardship funds to help students who are struggling financially, and there are also many scholarships, including music grants, book grants and travel grants. There is also means-tested financial support in the form of the
Cambridge Bursary.
The colleges all have a commitment that no student should ever have to leave Cambridge through financial hardship. Cambridge is a rich institution, but this doesn't mean it's for rich people, it means that it has a lot of resources to support students who need support.
7.
Cambridge: the town
The University is the town - at least in the centre, although there are largely unexplored areas of the town away from the students which feel more cosmopolitan.
Very beautiful city thanks to all the architecture etc.- although this means it's also full of tourists!
The town is relatively small, but this means that you're never more than 10 minutes' bike ride away from anywhere that you want to go. Transport costs are therefore negligible.

8.
How to apply
Applications have to be in by 15th October.
You either apply to a college or make an Open Application and are allocated a college.
Interviews take place in early December - you are almost guaranteed an interview once you've applied. Tell them a bit about your interview, as this is the part of the application procedure that tends to worry people the most. Emphasise that interviews are not to 'catch people out'- instead they are designed to bring out the best in candidates. Cambridge interviews all its candidates in a bid to look beyond what people look like on paper, and see how they respond to being stretched, and to considering issues they have not come across before.
You hear whether you have been accepted/rejected/pooled in early January. The 'pool' is a system to ensure that if one college, for whatever reason gets many more applicants than another, then able candidates who happen to have applied to that college that year do not get denied a place.
These candidates are put into a 'pool' where other colleges who still have places left are able to look at the applications and select candidates. If you're pooled to a college you will either get a conditional offer without another interview, or you will be called for a further interview at another college.
If you do not get in that does not mean you are a bad candidate. You must remember that the competition is very high - only one in three people get offers. There are plenty of people who have been rejected by Cambridge, who have gone to other universities and enjoyed highly successful careers.
9.
Conclusion - finding out more.
A full list of Open Days is available in the prospectus- tell your audience that if they can they should think about coming to Cambridge to have a look around. If they can't (too far, part-time jobs etc.) then that doesn't matter as they can always explore when they come for their interview. There is also a lot of information available online on the university website: www.cam.ac.uk, which has links to all the college websites.
Every college has an official prospectus and some even have ones written by the students, which are available in both paper copy and online, accessible through the college's website.
10.
Questions
Make sure that there are no questions... and bring the session to a close! You could leave the CUSU
Access Officer’s email address with anyone who has any further questions.