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̽��ֱ��event, based at Gonville and Caius College, gave visiting students both a general introduction to Cambridge, and a practical overview of the admissions process.

Pupils ranged from year-11s, interested in applying to a leading university in two years' time, to year-13s who were in the process of completing their Cambridge applications.

A panel of current undergraduates studying sciences and humanities took questions from the audience. Questions ranged from “What's your room like?” and “What do Cambridge students do for nightlife?” to “Are you expected to do academic work and essays in the holidays?” and “How did you decide what course to take?”

Cathy Capone, 17, a pupil at Truro College, had travelled all the way from Falmouth in Cornwall, and was also visiting Oxford ̽��ֱ�� and the London School of Economics. “I like the idea of the college system as I really love the community feeling at my school. I needed to see for myself that Cambridge isn't snobbish,” she said.

Ten pupils had come from Woodside Park International School in North London at the instigation of their English teacher Anthony Dickenson. Cathy Robbins, who is interested in Cambridge's Computer Science course, had been home educated until starting at Woodside Park this term.

“School is a complete novelty for me but I'm really enjoying it,” she said, “I don't think my unusual educational background and lack of formal qualifications will cause a problem when I apply to Cambridge.”

A tour of some of the colleges was followed by a talk on the admissions procedure by Richard Partington, Senior Tutor at Churchill College. It included a mock interview with Will Knock, a student about to start his second year of studying English, who had bravely volunteered for the role of nervous Cambridge interviewee in front of audience of around 40 people.

A former pupil of Westcliff High School for Boys, a state school in Southend, Essex, Will regularly helps with access initiatives run by Selina Hawkins, Access and Schools Liaison Officer for Christ's, Jesus and Homerton Colleges. Last week he took part in an access event in Lincolnshire.

“I want other pupils at state schools to believe that Cambridge is a real possibility,” he said, “When you ask Cambridge students why they applied to Cambridge, everyone says something different. In my case it was my English teacher, Charles Dormer, whose huge enthusiasm for literature, and encyclopaedic knowledge of all kinds of trivia, inspired me.”

CUSU is planning an ambitious programme of access events for the coming year, including its well-established Shadowing Scheme, a new ‘Comprehensive Campaign' to be run in conjunction with Oxford ̽��ֱ�� Students' Union, and Target Visits.

CUSU Access Officer, Charlotte Richer said: “ ̽��ֱ��Open Day was a great way for students to meet and talk to undergraduates in a relaxed environment, and it was great to see their enthusiasm about Cambridge life and their confidence about applications grow throughout the day.”

CUSU is thought to be the only university students' union in the country with a full-time access officer.