Applying for Oxbridge?

OP

So my ICT counts as only one A A-level? Ain't that a kick in the teeth for me. If I knew this, I would changed it for two AS levels at the start of my AS year because other takes the slots of two AS courses :/ do you know if other unis would accept ny ICT course as 2 A A-level qualifications?

Reply 3

tooosh

Since you don't have Further Maths, Cambridge will want a good reason why you couldn't take it. Not sure about Oxford.
And you won't be able to take Maths in the first year of CS at Cambridge without FM.

Reply 4

OP

I didn't know not taking FM was that big of a deal. I'll have to look in to other placements in that case..

Reply 5

Ballwinkle

Do AS Further maths...

Reply 6

OP

I would have to drop one of A2 courses I am doing now because my college only accepts up to 4 courses since my ICT course takes 2 of those slots... unless I do a 3rd year of college.

Reply 7

I wouldn't bother applying for CS with Maths, because even if you learn FM, apply, go to an interview, and are successful (unlikely given you haven't done any FM yet), you'll still get a STEP offer. If you're going to apply, just apply for CS with Maths from NatSci, which doesn't have a Further Maths requirement. Even so, Further Maths and Physics are preferred. ICT isn't preferred or even useful for CompSci. If you do apply, you'll be competing against a number of much stronger applicants, and you'll have to be able to explain your subject choices and really excel at the interview.

Reply 8

OP

Will I require FM to do straight CS?

Reply 9

Original post by kcruza95

Will I require FM to do straight CS?

It's preferred at almost all of the colleges. There's an element of choice in the first year of CS, so you could take something like Chemistry instead of Maths. I don't think you need Further Maths to do Maths from the NatSci Tripos, though. It is certainly required for Maths from the Maths Tripos, which is understandable.

Reply 10

This link has a bit more information about what you can choose: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/year1/

Reply 11

tooosh

Original post by kcruza95

Will I require FM to do straight CS?

You will not require it. If you show mathematical ability in your interview (which btw, is virtually guaranteed at Cambridge) (are you guaranteed to take the MAT if you apply to Oxford?) and have a reasonable excuse for not taking FM then it will fall to other factors.

Reply 12

pratstercs

2

Original post by und

I wouldn't bother applying for CS with Maths, because even if you learn FM, apply, go to an interview, and are successful (unlikely given you haven't done any FM yet), you'll still get a STEP offer. If you're going to apply, just apply for CS with Maths from NatSci, which doesn't have a Further Maths requirement. Even so, Further Maths and Physics are preferred. ICT isn't preferred or even useful for CompSci. If you do apply, you'll be competing against a number of much stronger applicants, and you'll have to be able to explain your subject choices and really excel at the interview.

Depends on the college. Churchill, for example, don't ask for STEP for straight CS (or CS with others, just not CS w/ Maths)

Reply 13

Original post by pratstercs

Depends on the college. Churchill, for example, don't ask for STEP for straight CS (or CS with others, just not CS w/ Maths)

Maybe you misunderstood my post, but I'm aware that the other options don't have a STEP requirement. That's why I advised him against applying for CS w/ Maths.

Reply 14

pratstercs

2

Original post by und

Maybe you misunderstood my post, but I'm aware that the other options don't have a STEP requirement. That's why I advised him against applying for CS w/ Maths.

Ah. Didn't really read your post, sorry about that :tongue:

Reply 15

OP

Can anyone tell me if my ICT OCR National Diploma Level 3 Double Award (12 Units) at distinction level counts as 2 A A-levels like my college says or does it count as only one as stated by gavinlowe above.

I will have a talk with the person that specialises in Oxbridge admissions tomorrow in college. The computer science NatSci chemistry course sounds promising as well as just straight CS. I've also started looking into universities like Imperial, but I will still have Leeds as a backup

Reply 16

hollie-elizabeth

Original post by kcruza95

I didn't know not taking FM was that big of a deal. I'll have to look in to other placements in that case..

If you want a maths based course, most universities like (if not ask for) further maths to have been taken for A level

Reply 17

hollie-elizabeth

Although to be fair, in my experience, Cambridge at least look at the individual more, a good personal statement and references may be enough for them to invite you to interview and the interview is more aimed at you and what skills you have etc

Reply 18