Sam Bovill (Jurisprudence, 2015)

Sam visited Hertford in 2012 as part of the college’s Access and Outreach programme. He is now in the second year of his BA studying Jurisprudence.

There was always a vague idea in my head that I’d go to university and study something, but I somehow managed to strategically procrastinate thinking about my future. Oxford wasn’t something that even crossed my mind until I visited and was told I should think about applying. It seemed some faraway ethereal concept full of super-genius prodigies who certainly didn’t leave planning a very important part of their future for the last minute. It didn’t seem like a possibility when we had school trips to Hertford, or when I put it on my UCAS application, or when I went there for interviews, or when I was offered a place, or when I got my grades and confirmed my place, or even when I arrived with all my bags for my first term.

One of the main reasons behind that is just the reputation of the place. Even when my pre-conceived notions were dispelled, it was hard to shake my view of Oxford and Hertford as this place where lots of famous people went and where students probably wore bowties everywhere and drank champagne from golden goblets. I thought it would be more expensive than other universities (it isn’t), I thought everyone would be uptight, posh and unfriendly and I’d be the lone common scoundrel (they’re not and I’m not), and I thought the work would be absolutely brutal and I’d never have any free time again (it’s only a little brutal). My biggest worry was that everyone would be these perfect essay-producing cyborgs who never stress or leave work to the last minute and that I’d be the only one that did. Perhaps unfortunately, we’re all pretty normal as far as things go. Besides, there’s nothing like a 3am library bonding session on occasion.