Please introduce yourself.

My name is Erin McGurk and I’m a Cambridge content creator. I’m also a second year Land Economist at St John’s College.

How long have you been a content creator? What inspired you to start?

I’ve done TikTok the longest, for 14 months. I originally started because it was A Level results period, and I was reflecting on the previous year. I realised I was always searching through Student Room forums looking for answers to everything, and I thought I would’ve liked to have had videos to help. So, I started posting specifically about Oxbridge admissions. Then people would comment about other things, and I would make more videos in response, and it grew from there.

I started posting on Instagram in May, and that’s been a lot more fun – except in the beginning, which was miserable because it was term-time and I was like, ′you’ve got 500 followers, what are you doing?! ’

You’ve built an impressive online presence, with close to 100k on Instagram and over 9 million likes on TikTok. Did your younger self ever think your audience would grow so large?

I did not expect it that quick! It was quite crazy. Especially because it’s studying, right? This is something that people want to look at? It was very exciting to watch it grow. Obviously, there’s more of an inhibition to posting the more [followers] you get, because you feel a little awkward about the size of the audience. But I’ve always wanted to do stuff, so I think my little 13-year old self would be pretty happy with it.

What would you say to other people feeling similarly ‘behind’, or experiencing imposter syndrome?

It’s the plus and the minus of social media, especially in that you’re constantly seeing people your age doing the most incredible things. Like, god forbid you scroll for two minutes on LinkedIn and some 16 year old has raised 6 million for their startup. The annoying thing is that I can never say for sure what will help people. It’s such a personal thing to have to work through. I can’t pretend that I don’t get impostor syndrome all the time, especially as a Cambridge student. I feel like most people at this university feel it. I think finding your own purpose is the big thing about impostor syndrome. But yeah, I’m not a therapist!

“Cambridge is a lot more than just learning. Like, I have a black belt in karate! Write that down”

You’re launching your new newsletter. How are you feeling about moving away from short-form social media content to something quite different?

So the goal with creating the newsletter is just a collection of interesting things for people to learn about: how your brain actually works, some interesting papers that were posted this week across maths, linguistics… whatever is interesting.

Because we now have all the information we could possibly want at our fingertips, everyone has a bit of choice overload so I just think it would be nice for me to do something that is a bit broader, and that offers people a chance to actually learn something new without, crucially, going on Instagram or TikTok. But for me, my audience is on Instagram; it is on TikTok. So there is that bit of juxtaposition, I suppose, between what I’m saying and what I’m doing, which is why I want to have this other format where people can see what I’m saying without scrolling. I’m looking forward to it.

Is there anything about your day-to-day life that might surprise people, and are there parts that don’t always make it into the content you post online?

I promise I have a social life! The number of comments I have saying ‘I bet you’re fun at parties…’. I do go out, I do have friends that enjoy stuff, and I feel as though I never post about any of that. For example, CalSoc [Caledonian Society]. The balls and everything… Cambridge is a lot more than just learning. Like, I have a black belt in karate! Write that down.

“There is always going to be something else to write, something else to read, and you just need to know when to say that’s it”

Is there anything left on your Cambridge to-do list?

I would love to complete the formal challenge. I have a friend who completed it last year. She was just here for a master’s, which is crazy. So I would absolutely love to do that. Also last year I didn’t really get involved with sports societies, so I’m trialling for swimming this year.

Best college brunch and formal?

Best brunch I’d go Peterhouse, but best formal is John’s.

One thing you think every fresher starting this year should know?

This is the most cliché piece of advice ever, but you are always going to feel behind. There is always going to be something else to write, something else to read, and you just need to know when to say that’s it. Go and socialise, do a society, do a club, and just leave your work for the next day.

A year ago you were in freshers’ shoes – how different are you now?

I’m more secure in terms of friendships, and my ability to learn things, and I trust that I’m not going to “waste time”. I’m learning to take steps towards a goal without wanting that short-term gratification. It might be a bit of a struggle at the moment, but whatever it may be, you’re learning how to get there.