Cambridge 2016 Postgraduate Entry

From my anecdotal experience with the Gates, I believe having an academic write your personal reference would make the application weaker. The Gates prizes 'leadership', so if you're only able to provide an academic referee they see it as you not being very involved with things outside your academic world (of course this can be & often is a totally false assumption on their part, but they get so many applicants they have to discriminate somehow). If possible I would try & get a non-academic to write the personal reference.

I'd agree with this. I'm at Cam on a gates scholarship, and I didn't get an academic (or even anyone at my university) to write my personal statement. You should have outside interests, and therefore be able to find someone suitable outside of uni to write it.

No offers, on degree committee stage, have you submitted your application?

No offers, on degree committee stage, have you submitted your application?

I am on degree committee stage too! Have to submit a short essay - going to try and get it finished today!

What does the degree committee stage mean as opposed to 'under consideration by department'?

I am on degree committee stage too! Have to submit a short essay - going to try and get it finished today!

4 Guys who got an offer or passed the Dpt Consideration, when you started and finished the online application? Interview?

I submitted my application on 4th sept and went from department to degree committee on the 16th, two days after my second reference submitted.

I don't know what it means for th AMES department. Hopefully it's positive

I submitted my application on 4th sept and went from department to degree committee on the 16th, two days after my second reference submitted.

I don't know what it means for th AMES department. Hopefully it's positive

Were you asked to submit an essay or is it part of your application?

What courses have you applied for?

I think if my app is good enough I'll get a call from a potential supervisor. Applied for AMES their next degree committee meeting is on 27th I believe 😒. A long way away.

Fantastic! Thank you

I have just pressed the submit button- exciting times!

Now to wait for my number so I can submit my essay and transcripts...

Out of interest, what are people doing about applying for other institutions?

Cambridge is by far my first choice but I don't want to miss out on other places by waiting to hear back from them first. It said on the Graduate Admissions page that 80% of decisions are made in February/March. I can't decide whether to wait until then and risk all my eggs in one basket.

Just thought I'd take a straw poll of what everyone is thinking

I have the same dilemma! That's why I submitted my application early, on the off chance I may get a response soon. However, thinking about it because I don't know when Cambridge will reply or whether it will be a positive reply or not, I think I'll apply to other institutions. It's annoying because It's £50 per application and after 6 applications it's heavy on the pocket.