[Miryo]

Hi,

I'm currently in year 12 and have lots of spare time, I want to enhance my application so I have a better chance of getting into Cambridge. I want to apply to either economics or physics (random, I know but I'll be able to decide after starting A2).

Apart from getting the grades, is there anything else I could be doing? Work experience for anything economics related is very hard to get. I don't really know about physics?

I have a qualification (CSLA community sports leaders award level 2). I play football for a team, I'm a prefect and I was in a Young enterprise company. Thats pretty much it.

Is there anything else I can do?

[BananaWhale]

They don't have to be related to your course, just do things which show you have a range of different skills and interests, they'll like that and it'll give you stuff to talk about in your interview.
Maybe volunteer for a charity like St Johns Ambulance? That'd certainly give you lots of skills they'd like. E.g. Working in a team, communication skills, 'people skills', and first aid obviously, all of those working in a pressured environment.
Plus it's really fun once you can go out on duty! PM me if you need more info on SJA.

[Miryo]

(Original post by BananaWhale)
They don't have to be related to your course, just do things which show you have a range of different skills and interests, they'll like that and it'll give you stuff to talk about in your interview.
Maybe volunteer for a charity like St Johns Ambulance? That'd certainly give you lots of skills they'd like. E.g. Working in a team, communication skills, 'people skills', and first aid obviously, all of those working in a pressured environment.
Plus it's really fun once you can go out on duty! PM me if you need more info on SJA.

Yes, from what you've said, it sounds pretty good. I'd like to do that and I don't know how to PM someone lol so please PM me the info and do you mind telling me how to PM lol

Edit: thanks in advance

[Brutal Chav]

I can only speak for physics.
I assume you know by now that Cambridge doesn't offer a straight physics degree.
What AS subjects have you got out of interest? What are your January UMS scores like?
Without sounding patronizing, how good is your physics/maths? How well have you done in the maths challenges?
If you give me an some sort of idea of how able you are and what maths modules you will have studied by early December, I can give you plenty of advice

[Miryo]

(Original post by Brutal Chav)
I can only speak for physics.
I assume you know by now that Cambridge doesn't offer a straight physics degree.
What AS subjects have you got out of interest? What are your January UMS scores like?
Without sounding patronizing, how good is your physics/maths? How well have you done in the maths challenges?
If you give me an some sort of idea of how able you are and what maths modules you will have studied by early December, I can give you plenty of advice

I'm doing Maths further Maths chemistry physics and economics. Going to drop one at A2, haven't decided which one. January UMS were
Chemistry 87/90
Physics 90/90
C1 99/100
Fp1 87/100

My Maths and physics are probably my best subjects. I don't know what this Maths challenge is, we did a UKMT and I got bronze.

I will have done c1,c2,c3,m2,s2 (maybe),m1,s1,d1,fp1 by December.

[Miryo]

BUMP

so would you guys say my lack of extra curricular activities is insignificant and I should focus more on my personal statement etc?

[lp386]

(Original post by Miryo)
BUMP

so would you guys say my lack of extra curricular activities is insignificant and I should focus more on my personal statement etc?

Lots of reading around your subject - you seem to have plenty by way of extra-curriculars to put on your personal statement, and they don't really care about it anyway. The academics come first.

Practice talking about your subject to anyone who will listen - especially for economics, because they'll want to see that you've read into things and have developed opinions.

[pickup]

(Original post by lp386)
Lots of reading around your subject - you seem to have plenty by way of extra-curriculars to put on your personal statement, and they don't really care about it anyway. The academics come first.

Practice talking about your subject to anyone who will listen - especially for economics, because they'll want to see that you've read into things and have developed opinions.

Agree. Everyone is expected to have top notch academics so they will want to know what else you have done. Not what you hope to do but what you have already done - evidence of your unusual interest in your subject area. What makes you stand out from the crowd.

What else can you offer in the way of ecs that is exceptional for someone of your age. Things that most people will have done will not be enough. Have you been in the National Youth Orchestra/Theatre - that sort of level.

Expect searching questions at interview on anything you've mentioned and on lots of things you haven't - not to mention lots of things you've not studied. They are going to go all out to test your ability to think - they certainly won't take it for granted because of your academics and prepared answers will not be what they're looking for.

[shoshin]

OP, so far only lp386 has given accurate advice regarding ECs at Cambridge (and Oxford).

As Cambridge states on its website: 'a student's participation (or not) in specific extra-curricular activities is not taken into account (unless it is relevant to the course applied for) and does not affect their chances of being made an offer of a place at Cambridge.'

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergrad...tatements.html

Good luck

[SamF1992]

Read about your subject, perhaps get some work experience in that area (though this isn't vital really). They don't care if you play football or are a prefect, it's completely irrelevant to them. Reading about your subject is the most important thing.