The Downing College Thread
For all questions and discussion about every aspect of Cambridge colleges
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Re: DowningNot natsci as such, although it has an average number of students doing natsci. Downing's better known for law and medicine. However, that won't change the level of competition for places due to the pool system, if places are too competitive in one college but admission tutors believe you deserve a place, you'll get pooled and simply end up in another college.(Original post by Excalibur)
I'm almost sure that I'll be applying to Downing now, partly because everyone seems to be so friendly there
Has Downing got a reputation for being an especially competitive college for natsci? Is it posh/rah? Are the admission tutors/directors of studies nice or intimidating? Do you get 2 bio interviews or one chem/maths one? etc etc. Anything people can tell me will be great!
htid, are you applying for bionatsci? If you are might see you around at interview!
It's not really posh posh. But it depends what you see as posh. Downing is the newest old college if you understand what I mean. It has all the Cambridge-like qualities: gorgeous old buildings, bits of grass which no-one is allowed to stand on, etc, but it's still a really friendly place.
I can't really tell you much more as I won't be studying natsci, although I can say to seriously not panic about the interviews. I'm really not much of a public speaker, I'm pretty shy and I never know how to answer questions, but my interviewers were so friendly that I found it easy to relax and just do my best. It felt like more of a chat about the subject I wanted to study and the science behind it than an interview!Last edited by larry2242; 26-09-2007 at 19:07. -
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Re: DowningFormal halls at Downing are in fact 3 times a week, on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, though most people only end up going a few times a term as otherwise they would get a bit tedious. In my opinion the food is actually better in the bog-standard hall at 6pm, not least because the portions are significantly larger.(Original post by larry2242)
Hehe. I have no clue as to visitor regulations as I haven't actually left for Cambridge yet (next Saturday woooh). But they definitely have formal halls. I think it might be something as often as once or twice a week... Can anyone confirm this? Yeah the gowns are sexy as hell, hehe, I can't wait to see mine... I can guarantee I'll look like a class A idiot in mine. Can't wait. -
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Application AddressHey again!
I finally decided to apply to Downing for next year!!
Now I have a simple and maybe stupid question....which is the right address for my application? I found one on the admissions section on the website of the College, but then there is the address on the list with all the colleges on. The Cambridge website gave that last one as a link to all college addresses for applying, so I thought that one on the list is right. I would just like to confirm this!
Thanks a lot! -
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Re: DowningOkay, I feel like a bit of a traitor for posting here, because I've been chatting happily on the Selwyn thread and had pretty much decided to apply there... when I suddenly went to look at the Downing site on impulse, and just... wow. I'd forgotten quite how beautiful it was, and even though it seems like more of a scientific/sporty college it appears that they do give a lot of support to English students (£500 creative writing prizes!). Not to mention that the interests of the Fellows seem a bit closer to mine than those of the Selwyn ones - and I met Dr Tomalin and got along very well with him. On the other hand I don't need to send in any previous work, which seems a bit of a disadvantage because I'd really enjoy talking about my A2 coursework essay!
Anyway... is there anyone doing English at Downing who can tell me a bit about what it's like? Is it a pain to walk/cycle to the Faculty for lectures over the A1134? -
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Anyone applying for Pomona scholarship?I got the SAQ a few days ago along with an application form for a scholarship for a pre-university yaer at Pomona University, California.
I will definitely apply as you can still turn it down in case you're picked and I was wondering who else is applying? -
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Re: DowningWhile we're on the subject, I'm going to bombard you with questions(Original post by danfel)
Me too, keep putting it off
I might have to write myself a post-it or someting 
* The "how many students in your class" bit - are you writing down the number of people in your AS or A2 class? Or both?
* The "main topics" bit - are you writing down just the AS topics, or the AS topics plus the A2 topics you've done so far, or all the AS and A2 topics?
* In the "how have you kept up your interest" bit - are you going to name specific books etc? It would probably just sound like a repeat of my personal statement really...
Any help would be great! -
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Re: DowningHey - I seriously swear I don't live on these forums: I just logged on and you'd just posted(Original post by Excalibur)
While we're on the subject, I'm going to bombard you with questions
* The "how many students in your class" bit - are you writing down the number of people in your AS or A2 class? Or both?
* The "main topics" bit - are you writing down just the AS topics, or the AS topics plus the A2 topics you've done so far, or all the AS and A2 topics?
* In the "how have you kept up your interest" bit - are you going to name specific books etc? It would probably just sound like a repeat of my personal statement really...
Any help would be great!
with regards to the SAQ, I'm in a bit of a strange situation as I'm two years post-A level.
For the "how many students" part, I'm putting the numbers for both AS and A2. For the topics part I'm going to put all the topics from AS and A2 (having done both) but if I were applying after AS I'd probably put down all AS and just the ones I'd studied from A2. I think they use it for the interview, to get an idea of what you're supposed to know.
For the interest section, basically I've put anything not on my UCAS form, i.e. things that I've done since writing it. I've been working full time in a law firm recently so I've put down things like external courses I'm taking, background work for the courses, a placement I'm arranging and a mention of the areas I've been reading around, but nothing specific - I suppose they can ask about that at interview if they want to know.
The SAQ is one confusing form, no?
Last edited by danfel; 22-10-2007 at 21:41. -
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Re: DowningThanks! That was a great help! Cambridge really does want to test your commitment, don't they? I thought the CAF was bad enough, but now the SAQ!(Original post by danfel)
Hey - I seriously swear I don't live on these forums: I just logged on and you'd just posted with regards to the SAQ, I'm in a bit of a strange situation as I'm two years post-A level.
For the "how many students" part, I'm putting the numbers for both AS and A2. For the topics part I'm going to put all the topics from AS and A2 (having done both) but if I were applying after AS I'd probably put down all AS and just the ones I'd studied from A2. I think they use it for the interview, to get an idea of what you're supposed to know.
For the interest section, basically I've put anything not on my UCAS form, i.e. things that I've done since writing it. I've been working full time in a law firm recently so I've put down things like external courses I'm taking, background work for the courses, a placement I'm arranging and a mention of the areas I've been reading around, but nothing specific - I suppose they can ask about that at interview if they want to know.
The SAQ is one confusing form, no?
I'm afraid I have nothing so impressive as yours to put down on the interest section. I guess I'll briefly jot down some stuff I wrote down for my PS and a few other stuff.
So have you been through this grueling process before? I can't imagine myself having to go through the stress again!
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Re: DowningHa ha yeah - it's a nightmare! I actually left university for various reasons so I'm hoping I'll have more luck this time
My interests section won't be all that great - actually I'm trying to catch up with all the other law applicants since I originally applied for economics in 2005 and put most of my focus into that
Cam are definitely testing commitment here - sometimes the information overload feels like a relief ("thank God they take all this into account!") and other times it feels like serious scrutiny. I guess the best thing to do is just to put it out of our minds for now and see what happens in Jan. Easier said than done though eh?
Last edited by danfel; 27-10-2007 at 00:06.
Has Downing got a reputation for being an especially competitive college for natsci? Is it posh/rah? Are the admission tutors/directors of studies nice or intimidating? Do you get 2 bio interviews or one chem/maths one? etc etc. Anything people can tell me will be great! 
with regards to the SAQ, I'm in a bit of a strange situation as I'm two years post-A level.
