I am gonna apply to cambridge for a laugh (doing UCAS form)

You don't apply there for a laugh - it's just not done. Do you really want to go for an interview you're not bothered about? It's quite a hassle. What would happen if you got in (VERY hypothetically) - would you decline the offer? It's a waste of a choice at best.

Ben

I thought everyone knew by now - NO!!! They used to - but that gave rise to the problems you are probably worried about.

Ben

I think this came up on another thread and someone said that tthey now your UCAS number so they could look up your application online, thus finding out your other choices!!! Dont know if thats true or not.

I think this came up on another thread and someone said that they know your UCAS number so they could look up your application online, thus finding out your other choices!!! Dont know if thats true or not.

I think this came up on another thread and someone said that tthey now your UCAS number so they could look up your application online, thus finding out your other choices!!! Dont know if thats true or not.

Even if they could, I sincerely doubt that they'd play the spy game and go rummaging online cheekily. They're busier and maturer than that

I'm sure the idea of applying to Cambridge for a laugh is appealing now, but believe me - even if you're not taking it seriously, the whole process is a real pain. Don't think you will be turned down flat without interview - they interview most applicants and from then on you would be in hot water. Why go and be critically assessed by highly academic people if you are not confident in your own abilities? I saw a student with 6 A grades leave an interview in tears. If you think you can manage it, why not take it seriously? I think if you really have a spare place and want to try out the Cambridge experience, do, but take it a little seriously. Otherwise it might just be a big confidence wrecking excersise. With b&b of course.

I think I was lucky with my interview at Trin. as the professors were very nice and made me feel at ease. I've heard some terrible stories about their frustration being released at the expense of a candidates pride.

the ppl who interviewed me at oxford for ppe were nice too:
philosophy: friendly young chap in 20s... very polite and mild mannered
politics: serious but still he seemed cool, wore a cool blue waistcoat lol
economics: middle aged bloke, had a nice relaxed convo. seemed like the kind you'd meet in a pub playing darts with a pint of bitter lol

but saying that i was rejected so maybe they just went easy on me heh. apparently their questioning was more fierce for the candidates they were considering accepting.

another reason not to bother to apply to oxbridge if youre not really bothered - your application form has to go in earlier, by several weeks.

Strange nobody’s mentioned this, but even if you can be bothered to do all the extra admissions stuff just for a laugh, it’s not as if applying to Cambridge isn’t already competitive enough - you’ll be making it harder for candidates who seriously want to go there. If you actually receive an offer, knowing from the start you’ll refuse, all you’ve done is taken away an offer for someone who may have had his or her heart set on going there. So there’s extra space on your UCAS form – use it for a course you’re interested in! Or don’t use it at all! Is it really worth all the hassle of having to apply earlier and go through interviews, to waste other people’s time and possibly places at university, simply for a laugh?

That is a reason for applying to Oxbridge - universities start filling places as soon as they get forms from good candidates. The earlier you get your form in the better, so try and meet the Oxbridge deadline, even if you're not appling there.

anyone applying to Oxbridge just for kicks are just wasting everyone's time.

They'll probably interview you, because to make the admissions process as fair as possible, they'll interview people with a certain minimum number of GCSEs. If they get time-wasters like you applying, wasting interviewer's time and college's money, then they might have to rethink that and start making harsher rules, which will affect other real applicants. Also if you go into an interview and blantantly waste the interviewer's time, then they'll be pissed off and it'll probably affect the way they administer the interviews after you, which again will affect real applicants.
If you're just there to waste time, then 1) I hope your school/college stop you 2) you fking grow up because you won't get into an uni - and yes other unis can see where you've applied to.

I don't know about Cambrige but this dosn't happen at Oxford - when you are made an offer by Oxford it's not made offical by UCAS. After getting the offer you're given around 20 days to decide if you want to go. if you decine you never get the offical UCAS offer. In this case the offer goes to someone else on a waiting list, so if you get an offer and decline it - no ones lost out on a place.

I would encourage people to apply for Oxbridge - not if you dont want to go - but if you think you might like to go but don't think your good enough then do apply, you might just get in.