There is fierce debate doing the rounds online (when is there not?) about what it means that more people applied to appear on ITV2 reality show Love Island than to study at Oxbridge universities.
The programme’s production team said that more than 85,000 people wanted to find love on an island this year (is Britain not good enough for these would-be Casanovas?), while 23,521 “domiciled” British citizens applied to Oxford or Cambridge in 2017.
But which will stand you in better stead: Love Island or Oxbridge?
Earning potential
A 2015 study found that, over a lifetime, Oxbridge graduates earn £400,000 more than those who went to other universities. In fact, recent evidence suggests that the place you really want to go is the London Business School, with alumni earning an average of £69,000 five years after graduating. But this pales compared with Love Islanders. Last year’s Sam Gowland reckons he has earned “hundreds of thousands of pounds” in a year. The islanders get a basic salary – £200 a week – and the potential of a £50,000 prize. But the real cash is to be made afterwards. Stars can ask for about £2,000 for a nightclub appearance.
Social life
Being trapped on an island with a few strangers does not scream excellent social opportunities, but postshow islanders are often papped at film premieres and minor celeb events. Oxford and Cambridge are not known for their nightlife – although I can vouch for Oxford’s great pubs. Oxbridge also has “bops” (college parties). A lot of them end up in the tabloids for dodgy themes (Cambridge has a Suicide Sunday event; Oxford’s lacrosse team dressed up as “chavs”). Then there are the exclusive alumni societies ...
Romantic prospects
Successful romance is Love Island’s raison d’être, so it should score highly here. Dom and Jess from the last series are engaged and Jamie and Camilla remain an item. Cara and Nathan from 2016 produced a Love Island baby. (It is unclear whether it was named after an ITV2 executive). Some Oxbridge types find love for life: Theresa May met Philip at Oxford. Also, Cambridge is apparently the top university for “sugar daddy dating” services. More romantically, a survey of 2,000 graduates found it to be the university at which “marriage was most on the cards”.
