What your font choice says about you as a Cambridge student

It might seem like a trivial detail, but trust me, your font choice speaks volumes about you. Yes, my dear Cambridge student, the font you choose is more than just a method of delivering your thoughts onto paper. It’s a statement. A bold proclamation about who you are, what you stand for, and whether you really know how to use a formatting tool.

So, from Arial to Helvetica, here’s what your choice of font says about you.

Times New Roman—the beloved default academic font. You chose it because, at some level, you know it’s the right choice. You’ve been told a thousand times that it’s “the standard,” but honestly? You’ve got essays to write, exams to ace, and a degree to finish. You’re getting things done, and Times New Roman is the quiet, reassuring companion to your academic journey. You’re not trying to make a statement with your font choice. You don’t need to. You’re here to prove yourself on the strength of your intellect, not your ability to pick obscure fonts.

Sure, there’s a chance you might be slightly less wild at a college formal than the Helvetica crowd, but when it comes to doing your work and doing it well, you’re the gold standard. There’s no shame in being excellent, even if you’re not the flashiest font in the room.

If it was a Cambridge College: St Johns 

Calibri: The modern pragmatist

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Calibri is, of course, the default font for Microsoft Word, but you use it ironically, right? It’s the choice of someone who thinks, “I’m different from the masses, but not in a way that would ever offend anyone”. You like to think of yourself as the slightly rebellious type who didn’t just go with the classic Times New Roman. Oh no, you wanted something that looked fresh, sleek, and more “modern.” You’re not as flashy as Helvetica or as traditional as Times New Roman, but you don’t need to be. You’ve got a quiet confidence that speaks volumes.

If it was a Cambridge College: St Catherine’s

Arial: The Genius

Arial—a font that screams, “I’m not here to mess about.” You’re practical, no-nonsense, and very likely a bit of a workaholic. It’s as if you woke up one day, realized you were going to be a future leader in a rapidly changing world, and thought, “Well, I’m going to need a font that reflects that level of efficiency.” But let’s be honest here: If you’ve chosen Arial, you’ve probably been sucked into a minimalist, “functional” aesthetic without realising it’s the font equivalent of putting on a crisp white shirt and calling it “avant-garde.”

You might just be the person who has very strong opinions about the best printer on campus, and you’ve probably already started a petition about the quality of the Wi-Fi at Fisher Building.

If it was a Cambridge College: Trinity

Comic Sans: The rebel without a cause (or perhaps a cause too deep for the rest of us)

If you’ve chosen this font, it’s either because you’ve gone rogue in a spectacularly chaotic way or you simply didn’t realise what you were doing. Comic Sans is, in my opinion, quite frankly, an affront to academic seriousness. It’s the font equivalent of showing up to a formal dinner in flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt. Perhaps you’re making a statement—a protest against the stifling formalities of academia. Maybe you’ve realised that the system is silly, that the obsession with font choice is a triviality in a world of greater meaning. Or perhaps, just perhaps, you’ve been awake for 48 hours straight, and this is the last form of rebellion you have left before you submit your dissertation.

If it was a Cambridge College: King’s 

Helvetica: The minimalist with vision

Helvetica—sleek, modern, effortlessly cool. If Times New Roman is the dependable workhorse of fonts, Helvetica is the Ferrari of academic presentation. You’ve picked this font because, deep down, you’re a visionary. When you use Helvetica, it’s clear you’ve thought long and hard about your image. You didn’t just pick the default font or go with something safe – you made a choice.

You chose clarity, precision, and a touch of elegance. You’re someone who embraces simplicity, but you don’t sacrifice substance. You probably even took the time to read the font’s history and now wear your decision like a badge of honour. At the end of the day, you’re not just writing essays – you’re creating masterpieces, one well-justified argument at a time.

If it was a Cambridge College: Clare

Aptos: I’m different, but like, in a subtle way

When you choose Aptos, you’re not just writing an essay; you’re making an artistic statement. You’ve transcended basic legibility and entered the realm of true intellectual chic. You’re not ready to throw in Comic Sans and let the world know that your mental state is questionable, but you also can’t be seen in Times New Roman – that’s far too basic for your brand of intellectualism. I mean, sure, no one actually recognises the font, but that’s just the point, right?

You’re too cool for mainstream typefaces, a true font connoisseur in a world dominated by Calibri users. When you walk into a supervision, you don’t need to say anything; your Aptos-formatted essay does the talking. It says, “I’m not just here to pass. I’m here to rewrite the very fabric of academic tradition… one obscure font choice at a time.”

If it was a Cambridge College: Selwyn

Verdana: Scarily practical

Verdana, the font that says, “I am a highly organised, no-nonsense student who knows exactly what they’re doing at all times.” You are a person who has your life together. While the rest of us are panicking over deadlines, you’ve already got your essay planned out on a colour-coded spreadsheet with a clear timeline for completing it.

You probably also have a solid understanding of Excel, and your bibliographies are in perfect APA format. You’re a model student, and you know it. The problem is that your font choice is so practical that it almost feels like you’re trying a bit too hard to prove how competent you are.

If it was a Cambridge College: Christ’s

Tahoma: I’m just here to get this over with

Tahoma is the font equivalent of saying, “I’m not here to impress you, I just want to finish this essay and go to the pub.” It’s not flashy. It’s not experimental. But it works. You’re the student who doesn’t care about impressing anyone, but you do care about getting things done efficiently. Tahoma is clean, readable, and practical.

In a world full of trying-too-hard Verdanas, you’re the student who’s living their life with no illusions about how many words you can realistically write in an hour. You’re just here to do your thing—maybe even with a cheeky bottle of gin in the fridge for after. Keep going, Tahoma student. You may not win any academic awards, but at least you’re living in the real world.

If it was a Cambridge College: Churchill

Georgia: The confident contrarian

Ah, Georgia, the font of choice for people who want to appear both scholarly and edgy. You’re the kind of Cambridge student who knows the rules, but has the audacity to break them with an air of superior confidence. Let’s face it, Georgia isn’t as overtly pretentious as something like Garamond, but it still carries that “I’m better than you but I’m doing it subtly” vibe.

It’s not a font you accidentally pick—it’s the font of someone who has very carefully curated their persona, and who wants to make it clear that they aren’t like the average student at Cambridge. You probably know the barista at Caffe Nero, and they always give you that extra shot of espresso because, let’s face it, you’re that person.

If it was a Cambridge College: Emmanuel 

Garamond: An intellectual who wants you to know it

And finally, we come to Garamond. If you’re using this font, you want the world to know you’re subtly superior to the Times New Roman crowd. You’re someone who appreciates the finer things in life – classical art, rare books, perhaps a taste for artisanal coffee (no chains for you, thank you very much). You’re here to make a statement: You didn’t just come to Cambridge to pass. No, no. You’re here to be Cambridge.

You probably arrive to supervisions with your copy of The Republic dog-eared, an aura of self-importance that demands attention, and a habit of casually referencing obscure journal articles no one else can find. You’re the type to drop “post-structuralism” into casual conversation and make everyone feel like they’ve missed something important. You’re not showing off. You’re just… educating the masses.

If it was a Cambridge College: Gonville and Caius

Conclusions

Ultimately, your font choice might seem like an insignificant detail in the grand scheme of your Cambridge education, but trust me, it tells us everything we need to know. Whether you’re a Times New Roman devotee, a Comic Sans anarchist, or a Garamond aficionado, your font of choice reveals the depths of your character (or lack thereof).