Will I get into Cambridge (or Imperial)? - I'm worried

Im 16 and studying in a state sxith form in North London, with no-one having previously going to Oxbridge. I'd be one of the first to apply to go there, so I have a gut feeling that that may affect the outcome. Or could go for me "stand out of the crowd". Moreover I'm am a black girl, which, unfortunately backed up with evidential data, means that I may have less chance.
In my GCSEs I got 10 A*s, 3 As and 2 Bs, which is among the top 4 or 5 in my school in that year (and the schools history) and at the moment in my A Levels I'm studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Geography and Design Technology (yeah I'm a nerd :P) and predicted As and A*s throughout. I wanna study mechanical engineering so I wanna apply for Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and other top unis.
In terms of extra circular stuff, I play music a lot, Kung Fu, but nowadays I don't do much and I'm worried that Cambridge (particularly) will only see me as studious and not "broad" enough....
Does anyone have any advice/ top tips on how to get in, and/or improve my portfolio??
Thank you so much xxxxx
(sorry that it's such an essay, I'm really worried :/ )

Decent GCSE grades, and good A Level predictions...

In terms of Extra Curricula.. I think the general Idea is to show why you'd be better than person x thats applying for the same place on the course...

So if we both applied to the same Course at Cambridge with the Same grades what makes you "better" than me?

How do you relax?
How can you contribute to the College and/or University?
How can you show that you can keep up with the course ( Mainly Grades etc...
How can you show passion and determination for the subject?

Thanks for responding
How do I relax?
I usually chill and play my guitar or drums, or watch TV or draw - loads of stuff . (or eat :P)
How can I contribute...?
I am sporty and musical and creative - I love work with people and do fun stuff - I dunno?
How can I show that....?
Im very self motivated and throughout my life ive always wanted to get the best grades; best the best I can be, and I constantly adjust myself to cope with studies etc. also I enjoy a challenge - I work much better under pressure
How can I show passion...?
I just have an engineering outlook on life - I always tinker (dunno if that's the right word) with things to improve or find out how it works. I want to be a new up and coming engineer in the UK, no matter what it takes
X

Thanks for the responses. Also my school is really pushing for volunteering hours and stuff. Do Cambridge really about that kinda stuff??
Thanks x

Im 16 and studying in a state sxith form in North London, with no-one having previously going to Oxbridge. I'd be one of the first to apply to go there, so I have a gut feeling that that may affect the outcome. Or could go for me "stand out of the crowd". Moreover I'm am a black girl, which, unfortunately backed up with evidential data, means that I may have less chance.
In my GCSEs I got 10 A*s, 3 As and 2 Bs, which is among the top 4 or 5 in my school in that year (and the schools history) and at the moment in my A Levels I'm studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Geography and Design Technology (yeah I'm a nerd :P) and predicted As and A*s throughout. I wanna study mechanical engineering so I wanna apply for Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and other top unis.
In terms of extra circular stuff, I play music a lot, Kung Fu, but nowadays I don't do much and I'm worried that Cambridge (particularly) will only see me as studious and not "broad" enough....
Does anyone have any advice/ top tips on how to get in, and/or improve my portfolio??
Thank you so much xxxxx
(sorry that it's such an essay, I'm really worried :/ )

You will get into UCL/Imperial as you have the stellar academics and they got plenty black people there. They also don't care one little bit about extracurriculars ( they told us this at the open day) However for Cambridge I think your chances are slim. They let in like one black person a year. Don't let the other "living in a perfect world" TSR users fool you. Black people from crappy north London comps like me and you are looked over when it comes to Oxbridge. Even if it isn't a race thing ( I actually doubt it is these days) I think its because they want a certain "sort" of person hence the detailed interviews, and this "sort" is best produced in a private school. What school/sixth form did you go to? I probably know it. I went Broomfield


PS I am at UCL and while UCL and Imperial are both on the same level ( like top 3/4 in the country) and UCL is an amazing uni, I have heard that our mechanical engineering department isn't all that. So do some research into that as it could just be the disgruntled mutterings of a failed UCL student lol but that's what I have been hearing. Imperial is obvs amazing for all things engineering.

In terms of extra circular stuff, I play music a lot, Kung Fu, but nowadays I don't do much and I'm worried that Cambridge (particularly) will only see me as studious and not "broad" enough....

You will get into UCL/Imperial as you have the stellar academics and they got plenty black people there. They also don't care one little bit about extracurriculars ( they told us this at the open day) However for Cambridge I think your chances are slim. They let in like one black person a year. Don't let the other "living in a perfect world" TSR users fool you. Black people from crappy north London comps like me and you are looked over when it comes to Oxbridge. Even if it isn't a race thing ( I actually doubt it is these days) I think its because they want a certain "sort" of person hence the detailed interviews, and this "sort" is best produced in a private school. What school/sixth form did you go to? I probably know it. I went Broomfield


PS I am at UCL and while UCL and Imperial are both on the same level ( like top 3/4 in the country) and UCL is an amazing uni, I have heard that our mechanical engineering department isn't all that. So do some research into that as it could just be the disgruntled mutterings of a failed UCL student lol but that's what I have been hearing. Imperial is obvs amazing for all things engineering.

You will get into UCL/Imperial as you have the stellar academics and they got plenty black people there. They also don't care one little bit about extracurriculars ( they told us this at the open day) However for Cambridge I think your chances are slim. They let in like one black person a year. Don't let the other "living in a perfect world" TSR users fool you. Black people from crappy north London comps like me and you are looked over when it comes to Oxbridge. Even if it isn't a race thing ( I actually doubt it is these days) I think its because they want a certain "sort" of person hence the detailed interviews, and this "sort" is best produced in a private school. What school/sixth form did you go to? I probably know it. I went Broomfield


PS I am at UCL and while UCL and Imperial are both on the same level ( like top 3/4 in the country) and UCL is an amazing uni, I have heard that our mechanical engineering department isn't all that. So do some research into that as it could just be the disgruntled mutterings of a failed UCL student lol but that's what I have been hearing. Imperial is obvs amazing for all things engineering.

The amount of students that are sons and daughters of Consultants, Professors or people's father's that make "donations"

The logical fallacy you are committing here is known as cum hoc ergo propter hoc. The literal translation is that you're being a ****.

Stop throwing "racist", "classist" accusations around. The only "sort" they want is intelligent and enthusiastic, wherever from and whatever colour. Ask yourself if you did enough wider reading, spoke well enough, answered admissions test questions well enough and got high enough ums scores that you can accuse with any justification and surety, given the competition, some of the top logical minds of the country of rejecting you due to the level of melanin on your skin or due to which part of which city from whence you came.

It may be true that the well read, intelligent "sort" comes more from the private sector than from the state (thanks to admissions tests in the private sector, this is necessarily true to some degree at least). That doesn't mean OP has little chance. Statistically she may have a very small chance of being accepted, but there is no direct (socio-economic background affects learning) causal link between colour or class and admissions success, so you can't say that she has any less chance than any other applicant just on those bases.

Baseless accusations make you look stupid.

I clearly stated in my post that I doubt it's for actual racist reasons these days but you cant lie they want a special "sort" of person A way of thinking or carrying yourself or presenting your ideas that can only be gained in private school perhaps? UCL/Imperial/LSE are happy to take on anyone with exceptional grades and enthusiasm for their subject but Oxbridge say they want something else. They also say they aren't looking for geniuses per se so what are they looking for in a candidate exactly? It is fact that nearly half of Oxbridge students come from private school. Even in comps that get high grades not nearly as many of their pupils will get into Oxbridge. It is obviously a coaching thing.

The logical fallacy you are committing here is known as cum hoc ergo propter hoc. The literal translation is that you're being a ****.

Stop throwing "racist", "classist" accusations around. The only "sort" they want is intelligent and enthusiastic, wherever from and whatever colour. Ask yourself if you did enough wider reading, spoke well enough, answered admissions test questions well enough and got high enough ums scores that you can accuse with any justification and surety, given the competition, some of the top logical minds of the country of rejecting you due to the level of melanin in your skin or due to which part of which city from whence you came.

It may be true that the well read, intelligent "sort" comes more from the private sector than from the state (thanks to admissions tests in the private sector, this is necessarily true to some degree at least). That doesn't mean OP has little chance. Statistically she may have a very small chance of being accepted, but there is no direct (socio-economic background affects learning) causal link between colour or class and admissions success, so you can't say that she has any less chance than any other applicant just on those bases.

Baseless accusations make you look stupid.




If you think these academics -- people who've given up the potential to earn tonnes of money, as necessarily they have if they had the qualifications and ability to become Cambridge tutors -- would base admissions decisions on money, you don't know the sort of person of whom you speak.

This is more baseless accusation. Provide some evidence, please.

Thanks for the responses. Also my school is really pushing for volunteering hours and stuff. Do Cambridge really about that kinda stuff??
Thanks x

The Majority will be from Private schools
The amount of students that are sons and daughters of Consultants, Professors or people's father's that make "donations"