Dear Science students, Humanities students, and a certain Queens' DoS, 

I think the reason I’m writing to you is probably pretty clear, but just in case you need bringing up to speed, let me remind you of a particularly unwholesome email recently picked up by Memebridge. My personal favourite excerpts include the reminders that Cambridge is "NOT like any other uni", where students are allowed to have "a good time", and that if a student did happen to see any scoundrels out-and-about, they could rest assured that "none of them are physical science students – not in the years above you, that is".

I could bang on about the multiple problems with this email – the sarcastic tone, the judgement of freshers having fun, the encouragement of freshers to artificially idolise the older years, and the idea that all work and no play is the only way to succeed. Several of these, as you’ve probably seen, have already been noted and analysed for their implications on mental health and work-life balance. In a nutshell, some pretty narrow views on what being a student here should be like were expressed. But there was one other very obvious problem that rubbed me up the wrong way: every word drips with thick, arrogant, snobbery. 

"You are amazing, intelligent and you’re probs going to be the next Stephen Hawking or Brian Cox"

First, there’s the idea that the current freshers are not as good as the years that went before them, as if that anxiety isn’t already a common one which really needed to be seen in writing. Then, there’s the brand new and innovative idea that Cambridge is the absolute pinnacle of university experience, which you arrogant and time-wasting students have come to sully the good name of in your endeavour for a ‘good time’. And, finally, something that pissed me off no end was the projection of subject elitism. 

The email was right about one thing: the natural science degree is a relentless, difficult, and painfully time-consuming degree. Having often at least four deadlines a week on top of a load of supervisions, labs, and lectures, and juggling this with a social life all, would really take it out of you. Believe me when I say there is nothing about this article that wants to take away how hard you work or how difficult your degree is (even if you enjoy it as much as the email suggests you should). 

All I’m saying is, if you are a humanities student, you’re probably used to being the butt of jokes that belittle your efforts. From the outside, in comparison to subjects like science and maths, your life is easy, right? Optional(ish) lectures, fewer supervisions, and all you’ve got to do is read some books, right? 

Now I have to hold my hands up and admit that some of us don’t go to that many lectures. But often, the lack of structure means half the challenge is in finding the self-motivation to crawl back to reading about soil cultivation in the eighteenth century (a genuine topic of mine last year), and put our ideas into an interesting essay that won’t be ripped to shreds (along with our confidence). And I’m not going to deny that my sweet sweet post-essay feeling is often best expressed by letting off some steam on a Wednesday night – but that doesn’t mean my degree is easy, or that there aren’t loads of Natscis, Medics and Mathmos out alongside me. 

Because there’s another thing that’s wrong with the email, that I don’t think I’ve stressed enough. There is no right way to do your degree. If you are the kind of person who would rather eat a million cheesy chips from Van of Death (a fate worse than its name) than spend four hours pretending to have a good time in Cindies, then keep doing you. If, on the other hand, your way of letting off steam is covering yourself in glitter and partying the night away, then you should be allowed to do that without any judgement, and whatever your subject is. 

I just don’t think it’s OK to vent frustration by sending around passive-aggressive, narrow-minded emails. How we choose to spend our time here is entirely the choice of each student, and every degree requires such a specific skill set that it’s pointless to try and compare them.

Above all, if you do find yourself looking around and not seeing any other natscis ‘out’, don’t start panicking or telling yourself you’re going to fail: you are amazing, intelligent and you’re probs going to be the next Stephen Hawking or Brian Cox (or anything else you want to be). 

Humanities love (not that it means much).

Ilona xxx