[LogOfInfinity]

(Original post by milienhaus)
How come you have so few? If there's a reason then you might end up being eligible for CSAS or whatever it's called (at Cambridge, anyway).

Answered. I'm aware they have the CSAS, but I'm not sure it really helps the applicant. Competition is ridiculous.

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by LogOfInfinity)
I'm most likely to get an A*AB this year and A*A*(maths and further maths) and an A in physics next year.
Did your friend failed MAT?

Well as long as your predictions are not A*AB you might get a shot at it (someone has to get in ). No he did well in it, they just have a very high number of applications and must have scrutinised his personal statement to the max. I think he got offers from Imperial, UCL, Bristol etc though...

[Blutooth]

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
Well as long as your predictions are not A*AB you might get a shot at it (someone has to get in ). No he did well in it, they just have a very high number of applications and must have scrutinised his personal statement to the max. I think he got offers from Imperial, UCL, Bristol etc though...

Doubt he did well in the MAT, or at least well enough for an offer ie. 65% plus if he was rejected without interview. The maths dept aim to interview the top 55-60% of candidates, and interviews are mostly based on MAT scores. Your friend may have been rejected because of a horrendous (emphasis on the word horrendous) PS, but this seems unlikely given that he has offers from other universities.

[FuzzySheep]

As long as any admissions tests/interviews/PS are to a good standard, the C won't disadvantage you too much. At the time of applying, I got ABCC in my ASs, applied to Oxford for the hell of it and still got an interview, which shows your application is a whole lot more than just your AS grades.

In the meantime, try your best with Economics anyway, with hard work you could do really well.

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by Blutooth)
Doubt he did well in the MAT, or at least well enough for an offer ie 65+ % if he was rejected without interview. The the maths dept aim to interview the top 55-60% of candidates, and interviews are mostly based on MAT. Unless, of course, he had a horrendous PS, but this seems unlikely given that he has offers from other universities.

I know i think he got like 68% :/ There are lots of applicants all with excellent marks and Oxford can't interview all.
I applied for Experimental Psychology and got 70% in the TSA - i didn't even get an interview :/

A friend of mine with 6A's at AS and an A a year early got a rejection for Geography without interview and also got rejected from Bristol :/

That said 6 people got in to Oxbridge from my school this year...

Confusing much :s

Doesn't mean to say you or anyone else wont get in

[Blutooth]

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
I know i think he got like 68% :/ There are lots of applicants all with excellent marks and Oxford can't interview all.
I applied for Experimental Psychology and got 70% in the TSA - i didn't even get an interview :/

A friend of mine with 6A's at AS and an A a year early got a rejection for Geography without interview and also got rejected from Bristol :/

That said 6 people got in to Oxbridge from my school this year...

Confusing much :s

Doesn't mean to say you or anyone else wont get in

I think the TSA showed a worse correlation than both gcse grades and A-level grades on the degree performance with undergrads-- so I think TSA scores aren't such an important factor in the admissions process, but I suppose it is one that helps whittle down the large number of applicants.

However the MAT shows a higher correlation to degree performance than A-levels, especially since virtually all Oxbridge mathmos have a double A* in maths and further maths, and is generally seen as a very important indicator of mathematical ability in the admissions process.
The shortlisting for interview is done primarily on test scores. Usually the bottom 40% get rejected.

This leads me to believe either your friend was lying about his MAT score, or that he wrote a terrible ps, or that he was extremely unlucky and was a student in one of the fables you hear about admissions tutors who toss half the undergrad applications out the window- saying "Well, wouldn't want unlucky students." But of course that doesn't really happen... ever.

Some admissions tutors say they don't even read the maths personal statements until interview. I think Saint John's college, Oxford pay no attention to the interview, and give out places solely on the performance on the MAT, and supporting written material. I hope this gives you or other potential applicants an idea of how important the MAT is.

[LogOfInfinity]

(Original post by FuzzySheep)
As long as any admissions tests/interviews/PS are to a good standard, the C won't disadvantage you too much. At the time of applying, I got ABCC in my ASs, applied to Oxford for the hell of it and still got an interview, which shows your application is a whole lot more than just your AS grades.

In the meantime, try your best with Economics anyway, with hard work you could do really well.

Applying to Cambridge, I will have no test before offer being made. Still need to get an interview.

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
A friend of mine with 6A's at AS and an A a year early got a rejection for Geography without interview and also got rejected from Bristol :/

Bloody!! Why, how?

[Physics Enemy]

(Original post by LogOfInfinity)
Applying to Cambridge, I will have no test before offer being made. Still need to get an interview.

There's a test at interview (right before the interview).

[LogOfInfinity]

(Original post by Physics Enemy)
There's a test at interview (right before the interview).

I mean no test which is a base for making decision to invite for an interview or not.

[Rahul.S]

i will keep this simple and brief.....NO!

[milienhaus]

(Original post by LogOfInfinity)
Answered. I'm aware they have the CSAS, but I'm not sure it really helps the applicant. Competition is ridiculous.

As far as I'm aware (as a current Cambridge mathmo) applying through CSAS will help you a) get an interview if you're borderline and b) help out if you get pooled, which isnt unlikely (statistically) if you're applying to Johns or Trinity.

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by LogOfInfinity)
Applying to Cambridge, I will have no test before offer being made. Still need to get an interview.



Bloody!! Why, how?

Have nooo idea!! She was pretty upset (Oxford not so much, but was shocked by Bristol). they just said they had a high number of applicants this year so could be very selective :/ rediculous !!