Should I apply to Ox or Cam? (For Maths)

OP

Original post by ryanb97

tbh ,,, unless you have done STEP and smashed it ... i wouldnt .. imo

you could aplly to cambridge as a one off..but i wouldnt go for oxford as you dont meet the min..

Ryan

But like I said, I have extenuating circumstances that affected my exams, which is why I might've not gotten that A* in Further Maths. Could they not take that into account?

Reply 4

OP

Original post by JPL9457

great gcses & good a levels (but not that high ums) - oxford
good gcses & excellent a levels (90+ ums %) - cambridge

you should look at their courses and see which one you like the most

Both courses (for the first 3-years) look pretty similar to me, but for fourth year I'm definitely leaning towards Cambridge.

Reply 5

Undoubtedly Cambridge is overall better because of fourth year, but both are excellent and have very tough courses (Oxford recently made a syllabus change to the entire degree making it more challenging as well). The good thing is the admission procedures at both are so vastly different you can really maximise your chances by cleverly applying. If you're good at STEP and think you can achieve the STEP offer without a massive amount of work then definitely apply to Cambridge; it's much easier to receive an offer from Cambridge than it is Oxford. If you don't feel especially confident regarding STEP then you need to determine how well you can do on the MAT - if you are consistently getting 80%+ on MAT papers you'll be in with a good chance of an offer (providing your interview isn't abysmal). Likewise, if your top three AS-Levels are <90% I wouldn't recommend applying to Cambridge.

EDIT: Sorry, I've only just now fully read your thread. If you haven't met the entry requirements for Oxford you will categorically get rejected unless the extenuating circumstances are accepted.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 6

Original post by JPL9457

great gcses & good a levels (but not that high ums) - oxford
good gcses & excellent a levels (90+ ums %) - cambridge

you should look at their courses and see which one you like the most

This isn't that good advice to be honest, Oxford don't care about GCSEs for Maths (words of my own tutor). There are far better factors to go on here such as STEP/MAT.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by Noble.

Undoubtedly Cambridge is overall better because of fourth year, but both are excellent and have very tough courses (Oxford recently made a syllabus change to the entire degree making it more challenging as well). The good thing is the admission procedures at both are so vastly different you can really maximise your chances by cleverly applying. If you're good at STEP and think you can achieve the STEP offer without a massive amount of work then definitely apply to Cambridge; it's much easier to receive an offer from Cambridge than it is Oxford. If you don't feel especially confident regarding STEP then you need to determine how well you can do on the MAT - if you are consistently getting 80%+ on MAT papers you'll be in with a good chance of an offer (providing your interview isn't abysmal). Likewise, if your top three AS-Levels are <90% I wouldn't recommend applying to Cambridge.

EDIT: Sorry, I've only just now fully read your thread. If you haven't met the entry requirements for Oxford you will categorically get rejected unless the extenuating circumstances are accepted.

I do have genuine extenuating circumstances, and I would like to believe they'll think highly of me for achieving A*AA-A*A*A with all that went on, which'll be explained in my reference as I don't think Oxford have an Extenuating Circumstances Form like Cambridge (?).
If I'm scoring 80%+ in the MAT now, and I achieve A*AA, what that not get me at least an interview you think? (if they take into account the EC as well)

And my top 3 A-Level UMS scores will definitely be below 90, probably all together at around 85 (if not lower)... do you think I should rule at Cam, then?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 8

OP

Anyone else got any opinions on this?

Reply 9

username1042689

21

I don't think you can make a proper decision until you have your grades (and your UMS percentages) in your hands. On one hand, Cambridge have a better fourth year, you don't have to do the MAT and they interview almost everyone so you'd get a chance to show off your skills. On the other hand, Oxford isn't so nitpicky about UMS and if you do well in the MAT it will be great for you.

If it was me, I'd go for Cambridge, but you can't decide until you see your grades in print.

Reply 10

JPL9457

10

Original post by Noble.

Undoubtedly Cambridge is overall better because of fourth year, but both are excellent and have very tough courses (Oxford recently made a syllabus change to the entire degree making it more challenging as well). The good thing is the admission procedures at both are so vastly different you can really maximise your chances by cleverly applying. If you're good at STEP and think you can achieve the STEP offer without a massive amount of work then definitely apply to Cambridge; it's much easier to receive an offer from Cambridge than it is Oxford. If you don't feel especially confident regarding STEP then you need to determine how well you can do on the MAT - if you are consistently getting 80%+ on MAT papers you'll be in with a good chance of an offer (providing your interview isn't abysmal). Likewise, if your top three AS-Levels are <90% I wouldn't recommend applying to Cambridge.

EDIT: Sorry, I've only just now fully read your thread. If you haven't met the entry requirements for Oxford you will categorically get rejected unless the extenuating circumstances are accepted.

Original post by StanKing

Both courses (for the first 3-years) look pretty similar to me, but for fourth year I'm definitely leaning towards Cambridge.

what is so good about the fourth year of cambridge maths compared to oxford maths?

Reply 11

Original post by JPL9457

what is so good about the fourth year of cambridge maths compared to oxford maths?

One thing is that there's far more scope for what you can actually do, however Oxford are making changes to fourth year over the next couple of years (by the time I'm a fourth year, the new syllabus will be in place) and they are well are that 4th year at the moment is somewhat limiting (so undoubtedly it'll be something they address).

Reply 12

OP

Original post by Noble.

One thing is that there's far more scope for what you can actually do, however Oxford are making changes to fourth year over the next couple of years (by the time I'm a fourth year, the new syllabus will be in place) and they are well are that 4th year at the moment is somewhat limiting (so undoubtedly it'll be something they address).

On another note, which of the 2 universitites would it be easier to get an interview from?

Reply 13

Original post by StanKing

On another note, which of the 2 universitites would it be easier to get an interview from?

Cambridge, they interview practically everyone. Oxford only interview about 60% (IIRC) and use the MAT to decide who to interview.

Reply 14

OP