Applying to Land Economy
Sam, now a Land Economy student at Cambridge, explores the challenges and opportunities of the application process, and where the degree can ultimately lead.
Applying for Land Economy can seem daunting, and by sharing my experiences hopefully I can help you see things a little more clearly. I will focus on the two aspects that I found most challenging — writing a personal statement and choosing a college.
UCAS Personal Statement
As Land Economy does not have any carbon copy alternatives elsewhere, it can be confusing, at least initially, to know what to write. My best piece of advice is to be yourself and write about what you have enjoyed during your education. This way, your personal statement is more honest and avoids focusing on things that you can only talk about at Land Economy interviews. Of course, read around your A-level subjects (news articles, books, journals, etc.) and say you have done so, but I always found that less is more in this respect. Be selective, and make sure you thoroughly understand the topic you have mentioned. You may get asked about it in an interview, and it is easier to sound enthusiastic and intelligent if you really understand it — and you will only want to really understand it if you find it interesting!
Choosing a College
Choosing a college can also be tricky. I chose mine as it had a large intake each year, and because I had visited it before and taken part in an essay competition there. I have zero regrets in choosing a college — and they have many more similarities than differences — but here is some insight.
If you are good enough to get into Cambridge, the college system is your friend.
There is no reason to choose tactically — the University’s pool system takes care of that. Just choose where you can imagine yourself studying! Doing the essay competition did not make it any “easier” to get in. The true benefit, I appreciate now, is that I was more comfortable at interview as I had visited the place, some of the interviewees and academics before. So, do not choose somewhere that you may not like as much, just because you think it will be easier to get in!
Highlights from my time studying Land Economy
I have thoroughly enjoyed studying the Land Economy degree, and here are some things that I have found most interesting. The combination of subjects in first year is brilliant, and gives you a great grounding. Being really multi-disciplinary, there will be some things you enjoy more than most. For me, public law (Paper 2) was really exciting, as I had not envisaged learning so much about British political, legal and constitutional arrangements. In second year, a highlight was the moot that formed part of the Paper 8 course, on the subject of implied constructive trusts. I am also excited to start my dissertation on the conflict between environmental justice and nuisance law.
Beyond Cambridge
I came to Cambridge interested in eventually working in the environmental sector. This interest has burgeoned during my studies, and I am well on the way to achieving this. Currently, I am working in Corporate Social Responsibility — in which firms commit resources to supporting sustainability — in India.
The Tata Social Internship runs annually, and was advertised on the Cambridge University Careers Service website. Several land economists have taken part in this scheme before, and it links well with topics covered throughout the tripos. I am having a brilliant time learning about the Corporate Social Responsibility work of Tata Chemicals in West Bengal, visiting new places and immersing myself in local culture.
For further information on what the degree entails and the process of applying to Land Economy, please see the Department’s website and our our guide for prospective students.
For more on the college system at Cambridge, including the University’s pool system, please see the University’s website.
