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Trying for Cambridge..

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
edited March 27 in Work & Study
I was always planning on applying for cambridge, but more as a throwaway because I was pretty certain I wouldn't be accepted. But my brother pretty much convinced me it's worth it, just for the name. I want to do maths, I'm passionate about maths, so choosing where is just a matter of where can give me the best opportunity to satisfy this.

Thing is, cambridge is so competitive! For GCSEs I got 2A*, 3A and 5Bs but I don't know if they'll even give me a provisional based on that and my predicted a levels (A maths, A f. maths, B AVCE ICT, B Economics, C physics) where I'll probably be dropping physics this year. Hmmph. I have had family issues with my dad having cancer for the past 2 years and dying earlier this year, which has made life difficult but in honesty I think it's just made me more determined to do well. Apparently they take personal circumstances into accont though.

I don't know if it's to my credit either, but because the school can't cater for me wanting to do further maths I'm studying 3 modules at home over the next year (hopefully can still get the A :p). Just wondering if there are any out there who set their sights really high and actually did make it? My more realistic option was Warwick, but I don't even know if I'll meet the entry requirments (AAB).

I think I'm just dreaming :p oh well.
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    if that your dream... its worth pursuing. and good luck to you. :)
  • littlemissylittlemissy Posts: 9,972 Supreme Poster
    Info on the course.

    Info on the requirements.

    If you think you can get the grades then go for it. If you think you can get close to the grades then go for it too.

    There is no harm in applying. They can only say no IMO. However, with Oxbridge, quite often the grades are the last thing they look at - there is quite a major interview process to go through too.

    Good luck with it all :)

    Gah, just realised you have already mentioned the required grades. Stupid me :|
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I say go for it! I read law at Cambridge and wasn't sure whether to apply or not - I'm so glad I did. The interview is a bit scary, but what they're really looking for is a real passion for whatever subject you want to study. So doing extra modules at home, doing some extra research and reading are all good ways to show this... As far as your A-level results go, you have to be realistic - most people that apply will be predicted pretty much straight A's....BUT, I think everyone that applies gets an interview, so if you go to interview and come across as really eager to learn and enthusiastic, that's what'll make you stand out! Hope that helps...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I would go for it - I also thought I would have no chance at Oxford (with slightly higher grades) but was made an offer even though I didn't think I did brilliantly. I subsequently failed to meet the offer but that's another matter...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Go for it buddy but, no offence, I just don't think your grades are good enough. But as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ooo come to Cambridge (I live here:p) The place is fab and sounds like you've got the brains and you'll nail the interview. You might as well give it a shot :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Even with the grades loads of people don't get in. The way they teach is very different. Depends on kind of person you are. If you like the idea of the way the teach then maybe but I much prefer going to York to study what I do instead of Cambridge (they have about the same teaching score) just because it feels a lot more normal here.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    id go for it, just because you really sound passionate for the subject - that will impress them. Also, it always looks brilliant on your CV when you've been to Oxbridge!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    For the sake of a tenner and an essay you should, tbh. Raw grades aren't the be-all and end-all of Oxbridge offers, ability to reason counts for far more than a string of As. That's why people with 3 Cs get in, and people with 42 As don't.

    be careful not to do so much work that you don't do anything extra-curricular. A good out-of-school life is worth at least one A when it comes to getting into Oxbridge, they don't want people who only studystudystudy, they want rounded individuals. Don't push yourself too hard in A'Levels, when dropping one a'Level and doing voluntary and extra-curricular work instead would probably put you in better stead.

    Also, it gives you an incentive to get your UCAS form in early, and the earlier you get your form in the more chance you have of getting the courses you want.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd definitely go for it. Although, like everyone's said it's not just about grades. I think the interview is VERY important and really helps them make their mind up about you- my mate got all A*/As at GCSE and all As at AS and A-Level, was head girl at school, played loads of sports at county level and volunteered at an old peoples' home in her spare time but didn't even get offered a place and she's convinced it was because she didn't perform well in her interview
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If you wanna try and get into Cambs, go for it. you'll wonder wonder "what if" later on in life.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    id go for it, just because you really sound passionate for the subject - that will impress them. Also, it always looks brilliant on your CV when you've been to Oxbridge!!

    Hmmm, not exactly. Unlike say, 50 years ago, Oxbridge is not the be all and end all of higher education. Yes, it will look impressive but if you get either a low degree or a degree in a token subject from Oxbridge whereas you have a non-Oxbrdige candidate with a good degree in a worthwhile subject, they will be favoured. Oxbrdige doesn't give you any more of an advantage than places like Durham, York, UCL, Bristol etc.

    For example, engineering at Southampton still kicks Oxbridge out of the park. Medicine at Nottingham is prized more highly than at Oxbrdige. The Bristol Russian department which I'm know to frequent from time to time is better than either the Oxford or Cambridge ones. Owing to their elitism, whether perceived or real has cost Oxbrdige dear in terms of many of the best candidates. Many people apply to Oxbrdige because many of them think that with a 2:2 Oxbridge Sociology degree they can waltz into any high-powered job whereas that really is not the case any more. Thankfully, the playing field has been levelled.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Oxbrdige doesn't give you any more of an advantage than places like Durham, York, UCL, Bristol etc.

    It depends on what subject you do and what vocation you follow, but in traditional subjects and traditional vocations then an Oxbridge degree- even a low one- gives you a head-start. Not least of all because you get to socialise with the people who will be running the companies you want to get into.

    A traditional degree from the unis you mention is worth a lot, but Oxbridge still does have that certain something.
    Many people apply to Oxbrdige because many of them think that with a 2:2 Oxbridge Sociology degree they can waltz into any high-powered job whereas that really is not the case any more. Thankfully, the playing field has been levelled.

    It never was the case, you always have to work for a job. But Oxbridge does give you an advantage in traditional vocations.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    To be honest shy i think Cambridge can be pretty tough to get into (woah thats an understatement!) and unless you've got straight A's it's just a waste of time, apply to universities that accept your kind of grades, your pretty much gauranteed to get in if you have realistic expectations.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    what would you hope to do with your degree after uni?

    my boyfriend's a maths teacher. ;)

    he went to loughbrough and has managed to secure himself a decent job at a well respected school.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:
    It depends on what subject you do and what vocation you follow, but in traditional subjects and traditional vocations then an Oxbridge degree- even a low one- gives you a head-start. Not least of all because you get to socialise with the people who will be running the companies you want to get into.


    Well, in my quest to land a job in the city in the future, my experience in talking to quite a few people who have made millions in the city and other multinational firms is that they don't really give a damn where you went to uni as long as it's not somewhere completely budget, more what you studied and especially what degree classification you got. This is why I hope Russian will be my ticket to the big time. Low degrees, even from Oxbridge, will not look good simply cos there are a lot of universities which are as good if not better in a lot of spheres than Oxbridge.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Cambridge is an amazing experience, and I definitely did things and had opportunities that I'm not sure I would've had at another university. One thing in its favour is the sheer amount of money they throw at you, particularly if you're not from the 'typical' Cambridge background - lots of scholarships and travel funds to be had.

    But it's not for everyone. It can be pretty hard to get used to no longer being the 'best' academically. People who'd consistently been at the top of their classes at school suddenly found they were only average. The work is bloody intensive, but then the terms are only 8 weeks long so they're like a short sharp shock.

    As far as the Oxbridge 'advantage' goes when applying for jobs, I have to agree that in the more 'traditional' careers, rightly or wrongly, it does help. I'm studying to be a barrister, and having been to Oxbridge does open some doors and get you interviews you mightn't otherwise have got. Equally I'm sure some reverse discrimination exists about the Oxbridge 'type' amongst employers. When I've applied for part time work in the holidays etc, I've always 'neglected' to mention where I went to university...

    Anyway, I'm not sure what my point is, but I didn't regret applying, and my three years there for a second. Applying and the interview can be an experience in itself, so even if you're not sure at this stage, what have you got to lose?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A very erudite and thoughtful post. :)

    The non-Oxbridge discrimination in law is one I know particularly well. Thankfully I'm not doing law (as I'm non-Oxbridge) but I have a very good friend who does and he told me all the stories. But, all credit to him, he landed two summer internships and one easter one with top law firms which actually, if you think about it, makes him stand out more than all the Ox and Cam lot since he actually managed to get in despite all the bias.

    I'm not discriminating against Oxbridge in the slightest. Some of my best friends go there and they're having the time of their lives. However, I would advocate against applying to Oxford and Cambridge if the main reason you're applying there is because they're Oxford and Cambridge. If you're thinking about applying to Oxbridge, make sure that you look to see where it comes in the league tables, not overall, but specifically for your subject. For Spanish and Russian, my degree, Spanish is best at Ox I think, but Bristol is, or at least was when I applied, the best place in the country to do Russian.

    So advice for the original poster - go for it! You've got nothing to lose but don't for a second imagine that your life is as good as over if you don't get it and make sure you apply to the best places for your subject, not just the places you think the employers want to see on your CV because trust me, they really don't give that much of a damn. Good luck! :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You won't get in with those GCSE grades and predicted grades.
    The competition is so tough that they look at the MARKS you get for your A Levels so as to see which candidates got the BEST As.
    My sister applied with 8A*s and 3As at GCSE, 4 As at AS Level and already one A at A Level (she did one a year early) and they told her where to stick it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Cambridge is a crazy, crazy place. It can be a wonderful place, full of passionate, intelligent, diverse individuals. But it can also be intense, chlostrophobic and - quite simply - surreal. I remember many moments during my time studying at St Catharine's where i would leave college and walk to the outskirts of town just to see families operating normally - doing their shopping, picking up kids etc.

    While i absolutely loved it, and really thrived their both intellectually and socially, there were times when i felt absolutely cut off from the outside world.

    I came from a bog-standard comprehensive school in rural Scotland where any form of 'difference' was frowned upon (English accents had a terrible time, and my Iraqi friend was badly bullied) to an elite system where any distinctiveness was actively encouraged. The difference in playing fields is enormous.

    In essence, you either love it or hate it. THere's something amazing about the individual tuitions with comical academics, about walking the same streets as Byron and his bear (as an English graduate, all my literary heroes had been there) and, of course, the pubs are great. I made friends for life there.

    I'm now doing a postgraduate degree in Scotland, and i definitely think the teaching methods aren't as good. I don't feel as pressured or as challenged, and the course hasn't attracted the same diversity. But, it's much more likely to get me a job.

    There isn't really a point to this post, other than to say there's no definitive answer to your question. I say go for it, because if you don't, you'll never know what you missed.

    Cambridge is what you make of it. Good luck! :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'll probably apply anyway because I've got 6 choices. So far:

    1. Cambridge, Maths requires AAAAAAAAAAA....
    2. Warwick, Maths requires AAB
    3. Warwick, MORSE (maths, operational research, statistics, economics) requires minimum AAB
    4. York, Maths requires ABB
    5. L'boro, Maths requires 300pts (BBB equiv I think)

    So I've got another place left. Looking at the table below:
    table8xp.th.jpg
    you can see where abouts the ones I've picked are in the tables for maths. Any other suggestions of where I should look into? I live in Leicester so the ones I've picked so far are within 2 hours drive, I wouldn't want to go much further afield than that.

    Also, originally I wanted to do a maths masters, which you should apply for before starting the batchelor course, but I've reconsidered and thought if I do a batchelors then go on to do an mba if possible, it would really set me up for a great career. I know my scores aren't over the moon at the moment but I've had personal issues and it's been tough, but hopefully I can start to pull them up. :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kath2003 wrote:
    My sister applied with 8A*s and 3As at GCSE, 4 As at AS Level and already one A at A Level (she did one a year early) and they told her where to stick it.

    Presumably because she didn't actually have a life outside of school.

    I know people who've got in with Bs and Cs at A'Level, because they had a broad life education, and didn't spend their lives wrapped up in books.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:
    Presumably because she didn't actually have a life outside of school.

    I know people who've got in with Bs and Cs at A'Level, because they had a broad life education, and didn't spend their lives wrapped up in books.

    I wanted to volunteer but my school made me do general shite. I mean studies. I entered a code breaking competition last year and we did quite well
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kath2003 wrote:
    You won't get in with those GCSE grades and predicted grades.
    The competition is so tough that they look at the MARKS you get for your A Levels so as to see which candidates got the BEST As.
    My sister applied with 8A*s and 3As at GCSE, 4 As at AS Level and already one A at A Level (she did one a year early) and they told her where to stick it.

    Perhaps her application form was crap?

    My UCAS application was first rate. My predicated grades weren't stunning* but I got accepted without interview to every single course I applied for (including three at Durham) because my life was full of vountary work and extra curricular activites.




    *This could possibly be a lie because I'm bitter I didn't work hard enough to achieve the grades I could have!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ooo i looked at the table and St Andrews really is a fab place! Also UCL is highly rated and I *think* Piccolo and Wheresmyplacebo both go there. Could ask them about it?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wanted to volunteer but my school made me do general shite. I mean studies.

    You do it out of school time, not in it.

    And general studies is worth taking the time to do. If things balls up it can be the difference between getting to a decent uni and going to the University of Pontefract (formerly Burger King).
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Also following what Bumblebee said, I got a BBB offer from Glasgow to do Languages when I got DEE in my AS levels. I've re-sat and am on CCD. Extra curricular is important.:thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:
    You do it out of school time, not in it.

    And general studies is worth taking the time to do. If things balls up it can be the difference between getting to a decent uni and going to the University of Pontefract (formerly Burger King).

    Our school have one hour a week tutorial where you can either have a general stuides lesson or a volunteering admin lesson where you tally up your hours and they help with any questions. I wouldn't know where to start. Think I could fit 100 hours in though, doing what is the issue, however.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wouldn't know where to start.

    http://www.do-it.org.uk
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:

    merci beaucoup :thumb:
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