Cambridge Computer Science (CompSci) Students and Applicants

As long as you have the grades for the NatSci options, you may change from NatSci and Psychology or vice versa up to the start of the course (i.e. change your mind post-interview and offer).

It's great then! Thank you



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Well I did exactly as you said. What does that make me?

Far more confident than me!

I'd be too worried not making STEP *and* Imperials grade offer, though I meant no offence. And hey, it worked out fine for you!

Only because you don't actually have to make the STEP offer from Cambridge to get in Most colleges will still let you do CompSci with another choice if you don't meet the STEP part.

Right, but that's a gamble. I dunno, I could never do it.

But it worked out fine for you - and perhaps by that point if you knew you'd have to get such a low mark in Summer exams to not make Cambridge's A level offer that it would never happen (ie. high marks in other modules, C3/4 done in Jan all but confirming an A*, etc.)

I would just never forgive myself if it didn't work out lol.

Hi,

Does anyone know if I should definitely be choosing D2 (Decision 2) as one of my modules for A2 Further Maths? Would something like S3 be okay instead?

Cheers

I am planning to apply with my Maths A*, Physics A and Chemistry B for Computer Science 2013. (I am missing A* in Physics with a 7UMS and A in Chemistry with 8UMS)

I will resit in January 2013 to obtain at least A*AA and a maximum of A*A*A*.

I am an International/Private-External/Mature Student self teaching all these subjects at home in my living room on a sofa with my computer connected to the LCD tv, lol and my exam centre didn't have Further Mathematics at the time I started my A levels, so I don't have FM. (That's why I chose Chemistry :s )

What are my chances?

As good as anyone else who has A*AA (i.e. the average Cambridge student). International students are at a slight disadvantage in general, but Cambridge has good support for Mature applicants. Depending on how 'mature' you are you might consider applying to one of the Mature-only colleges (e.g. Wolfson or St Edmunds), but all colleges will have experience of mature applicants before.

I don't understand why we (international applicants) are "at a slight disadvantage in general" where we have to pay much more than the local applicants.

I resat too many of my A level units and the reason for that was that I did not have english language skills at the time I started my A levels. I was learning english while doing my A levels and couldn't even understand the books and the subjects. Even with all these hardships I had, I brought my grades from U's to A*AB and the reason for B in Chemistry is because I have a C grade in chemistry module 5. Note that a "high" C (with 8 more UMS) would've gotten me an overall A in chemistry.

Now lets consider most of the local applicants who get A*AA in one sitting. Their mother language is English and they managed to get A*AA, whereas English is my third language and I also will hopefully get A*AA or maybe higher grades.

So again, why am I at disadvantage?

Do I get a raspberry Pi if I do choose it as an option?

Dude.. £23!

They're designed from the ground up to be accessible, and there you are worrying about how to get one..!

Just head over to CPC or RS now.

Please can I ask what sets apart the Computer Science course at Cambridge from the course at other Universities? Is it true there is a stronger emphasise on the theory than other universities?

The emphasis on theory is certainly true. There are significantly more logic and mathematics-related courses and even the non-maths ones are very theoretical. You will be pushed hard in the supervision system and the pace of the lectures, which covers all the depths of the other CompSci courses and more in only 24 weeks out of the year. At the same time the breadth is very wide, although the mix is slightly eccentric. Although some practical classes are given, in majority of the courses you are expected to develop coding and engineering skills in your own time. A great deal of self-study is also required to learn the theory in each course.

As with many Cambridge courses, it has the training of researchers in mind. Cambridge certainly equips you with the knowledge for a strong foundation in research, although if you wish to go into industry it is quite good for developing those skills too.