Ask an Admissions Tutor X: 20 September - 21 October

Hi,

I'm applying for medicine this year, and my AS grades are As in Maths, Biology, History, (critical thinking), and I got a B in Chemistry. Chemistry's reformed, and my predicted grades are A*A*A*A (A in chemistry). I've seen the statistics for medicine, so I get that the B could cause a massive problem, but it won't actually count towards my final grade and I'm pretty confident on getting a great BMAT score, so could my BMAT make up for it in terms of getting an interview, or even an offer?

I'm not too fussed about getting an offer, but I would really like to have a go at the interview. I suppose what I'm asking is whether my B in the reformed Chemistry AS would put me at a really significant disadvantage, even if I excelled elsewhere, given how competitive medicine is.

Thanks.

Hi Dr Spencer,

Apologies first since this is not related to History or Murray Edwards, and thank you for your time!

I am an overseas student applying for Land Economy. I have already submitted my UCAS, COPA and SAQ. I was just wondering when I could hear back from Cambridge whether or not they would like to interview me. I know that it is usually by the end of November, but since Land Economy is relatively small course, I thought it could be earlier. If you do not mind, could you please tell me since when you started inviting candidates to Cambridge interview when you were the Admissions Tutor at Murray Edwards?

Thank you for your time again

Hi Doc,

I have a couple more questions.

Is it possible to drop your 4th A Level after putting it on your UCAS application and declaring it and if Cambridge have already received my application?

Also, how should I prepare for the ELAT? Is it worth doing as many past papers as possible?

Also, will it harm my application in any way if I don't provide an additional personal statement on the SAQ?

Thank you very much !

Hello Dr. Spencer!

Thank you for doing the thread, it's been very helpful to read through these posts as they've answered some of my own questions!

With the UCAS deadline looming in, I need to decide on which college I'm applying for economics. I have a college in mind that I want to apply to, but the college requires submitting a piece of written work, which I'm not so confident about. How much importance, would you say, is placed on written work? Is it worth, on its own, to influence college choice?

Also, if I indicate on UCAS that I'll be sitting STEP next year, is there any chance that I might be given a STEP offer for economics? According to the Cambridge website the only colleges to do this are St Edmund's, Hughes Hall and Trinity Hall, but I just wanted to check.

Thank you once again for your help.

Will the reference I provide on my COPA be asked about my "teaching difficulties" in school?
I spoke about how one of my teachers only taught the old spec and how I had to self learn the new spec - problem is, that teacher is my reference.

Hello Dr. Spencer,

I am applying for Classics at Pemberton. My AS results were AAAA with UMS 93.5 Latin, 90 Greek, 93 RS and an A in English Lit. (linear). My predicted grades are A*AA. My school prefers to err on the side of achievability but I am concerned when seeing the predicted scores of others on the forums as most seem to improve at A2.

I'm afraid my application will not be competitive given the very high predicted grades of other Oxbridge candidates. Can you advise the relative weight placed on AS vs predicted results please? Will my application still be competitive?
Thank you.

My son is applying for Computer Science with predicted grades of A*A*A* in Maths/Further Maths/Physics. I know there will be others applying with 4 or 5 A levels - I am hoping this will not put him at a disadvantage. He is in a state school. Does he have a realistic chance of getting an interview?

He had a very good recommendation on his PS - his Head of Maths has stated that he is the best Maths pupil the school has ever had - his UMS is 300.

Hello and thanks for your question. I assume you mean Pembroke? You AS results are solidly good and we will certainly place more weight on them than on predictions. You should be reasonably competitive I think.

Where the SAQ asks for class size, how significantly is this taken into account?

E.g. my further maths class had 20 people where the average class has about 5-10 people

Thanks

Hi Dr Spencer,

I've got a question about the SAQ. I'm from the Netherlands, and here, the last three years of secondary education are regarded as the final part. That is also when you get to choose your subjects. So in the part where I need to enter the linear subjects I've taken this and last year, would it be okay if I included the year before that too? I fear leaving it out would give an incomplete picture of the topics covered in school.

Thank you in advance!

Hey, does anyone know much about the submitted work? I'm applying for MML at Queens' and I think I have to send 2 pieces- 1 in English and 1 in a foreign language. I have 2 Qs:1. Can the piece in English be from History last year (AS) as I haven't done any essays in Politics this year.2. Does the piece in the foreign language have to be 1000-2000 words like pieces in English? Because the longest piece we write for the course is 400 words.. and I didn't want to write a new one for Cambridge as I'd rather use an authentic piece Thanks!