Ask an Admissions Tutor VII. 17th August - 4th September

I do maths, physics, chemistry and further maths and achieved AAAB respectively


maths, core 1: 095
maths, core 2: 093
maths, further pure maths 1: 072
maths, mechanics 1: 070
maths, probability and statistics 1: 080
maths, decision maths 1: 076
chemistry, atoms, bonds and groups: 084
Chemistry, chains. energy and resources: 112
Chemistry, practical skills in chemistry 1 048
Physics, mechanics: 065
Physics, electrons, waves and photons :128
Physics, practical skills in physics 1:050

overall
Maths 0268
Further maths 0218
Chemistry A 0244
Physics A 0243

Will the low ums mean I definitely won't get an interview for chemical engineering via natural sciences?

Hi, I did my AS maths in year 11 and was wondering if it would count towards my UMS average over the top three?

Hello,
Is talking about books read outside the school curriculum more preferred to be talked about in the personal statement than attendance at summer schools to show enthusiasm for the course?
Also, do admission tutors understand that the personal statement is not written specifically for degree courses at Cambridge, because I am finding it hard to make my personal statement relate completely to the Natural Science course at Cambridge and courses at other universities at the same time.
Thanks

If almost 1/2 the field can be in the Z-quintile, do you have any way of sorting this group? For instance, do you group them by their qualifications or—in the case of internationals by country of origin—and rank them within the Z-quintile, or must they all be evaluated case-by-case?

Thanks very much! Yep, I have visited mature colleges on open days, but I'm clinging onto my youth and going for a 'normal' one.

Hi there,

Will 3A*s, 5As, 2Bs at GCSE hinder my chances of getting an offer to read Law at Cambridge?

Hi, when applying for economics would a low c1 grade (82) but good c2/s1 grades (94/90) effect my chances of an offer or should I retake c1?


Posted from TSR Mobile

It isn't going to be among the strongest GCSE result of Law applicants but, on its own, it isn't going to stop you getting an offer and there are plenty of students in Cambridge with similar GCSEs to this.

The normal offer for Economics is A*AA and I expect it would cover Maths, FM and Economics, probably with the A* in Maths or FM. I know that some colleges are starting to use 2 A* offers for Economics more regularly given the strength of the applicants so don;t be surprised if this happens. If you say on the UCAS form that you are going to do Chemistry then, unless you drop it before the offer arrives, then you have to ask permission from the college to drop it as it means a change in the contract into which you have entered with the college. In this case, they'd usually say yes but you have to be prepared for them to say no.

Okay so with my GCSE results, if I got about 94% UMS in my AS exams for Maths, Further Maths, Economics and History. Would this strengthen my application?

What's the average UMS % that successful Law applicants apply with?

Is it common to take STEP mathematics papers in order to get into Cambridge, or is it just for a couple colleges? And what are the usual requirements you have to achieve in these? (For economics this is)


Posted from TSR Mobile

I don't know of any colleges that ask for STEP routinely for Economics.

Dear Christ's admissions

Thanks so much for your advice last year which helped my friend so much and he is now about to fulfill his dream and starts at Robinson College in October, reading history on your advice and not economics.

I am now asking for another friend. He has 12 or 14 A stars at GCSE but one of his UMS for A/S is in the 80's he rather fell apart on the drama paper after an emotional upset. I can get exact UMS if that would help. The rest of the AS papers are all A star. He is worrying that this lower grade for the drama and waiting to get advice from his school. What is the best way to tackle something like this? Should he include a something in UCAS statement or supplementary form or speak to admissions tutor for college he wants to attend.

He wants to read english. He is thinking about Queens, Christs and a couple of other places but a bit unsure on things like taking a year out. Queens has a theatre which is part of the appeal but he is studious at home type and not a go out party animal which is how Queens is described on TSR.

Last time you advised speaking to admissions tutor which my Robinson friend did and admissions tutor was wonderful. I have suggested this tentatively but said I would ask.

Thanks for doing this

best P

Btw what is Z quintile ?

I read online that St. Edmund's do and Trinity Hall do in "exceptional circumstances"


Posted from TSR Mobile

Thank you!

Do you know what college's give out A*A*A offers? Does Christ's? Do these colleges tend to give out more places per space or is assumed that most people are capable of meeting A*A*A?