[Zhen Lin]

(Original post by wooper)
What sort of things can it mean? How does a student decide whether to sign up for one or the other?

It could mean anything. I'm not in a position to say because I didn't go to all that many study group meetings in the end (even the ones I organised myself...) In one case the organiser decided to have a single study group instead of a split between basic and advanced.

[Exp!]

Hey, I'm a "soon-to-be" (STEP grades permitting) mathmo and I was just wondering how the STEP grades achieved before entry are generally distributed amongst the different degree classifications? For example, do the vast majority of people in 1st class territory hold S,S or do many people with 1,1/1,2 also get firsts? I'm aware of the strong correlation of STEP with tripos performance but I was interested in the extent of this correlation in your experience, as far as grades are concerned. Thanks.

[nuodai]

(Original post by Exp!)
Hey, I'm a "soon-to-be" (STEP grades permitting) mathmo and I was just wondering how the STEP grades achieved before entry are generally distributed amongst the different degree classifications? For example, do the vast majority of people in 1st class territory hold S,S or do many people with 1,1/1,2 also get firsts? I'm aware of the strong correlation of STEP with tripos performance but I was interested in the extent of this correlation in your experience, as far as grades are concerned. Thanks.

Plenty of people with 1,1 get firsts, and plenty of people with S,S get 2:2s -- to be honest the correlation really is just a correlation, and I think the underlying causation has more to do with hard work than anything especially deep.

[SimonM]

(Original post by nuodai)
Plenty of people with 1,1 get firsts, and plenty of people with S,S get 2:2s -- to be honest the correlation really is just a correlation, and I think the underlying causation has more to do with hard work than anything especially deep.

Given that STEP grades have the highest correlation to degree performance (of all the indicators which Cambridge consider) I think this is a bit disingenuous.

I also think you'd struggle to find "plenty" of people with SS, let alone plenty of people with SS, 2:2

[Mc^3]

(Original post by Exp!)
*

(Original post by nuodai)
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(Original post by SimonM)
*

You might find this link of interest: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/a..._admission.pdf

It gives a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of STEP in predicting tripos performance, compared with other admissions data

[tommm]

(Original post by Mc^3)
You might find this link of interest: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/a..._admission.pdf

It gives a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of STEP in predicting tripos performance, compared with other admissions data

This is pretty cool - I've seen it before, and I'm assuming it's what Simon was referring to.

[smilepea]

(Original post by Mc^3)
You might find this link of interest: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/a..._admission.pdf

It gives a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of STEP in predicting tripos performance, compared with other admissions data

I feel the need to point out that it is only for part IA, I would like to see the correlation to part II.

[James314195]

Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

[FloydRix]

Use the search button.

[kidoo]

(Original post by James314195)
Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

As posted above there are countless similar threads.

You said your taking Maths, Further maths and Physics to A2? Well that is probably what 90% of the other applicants for Mathematics would be doing and although Cambridge are generally a bit more lenient on GCSE's than Oxford - When they are faced with 300 applicants taking the exact same subjects as you are for mathematics it will unfortunately and undoubtedly fall on your interview, STEP and GCSE grades. Since you're lacking in the final of those 3 you might want to try and enhance your application, do an extended project or try and be different on paper somehow.

[handsome7654]

(Original post by James314195)
Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

Cambridge doesn't put emphasis on ur GCSEs. So if you ace ur AS and get like 95% + then you will most likely get an interview and if you ace that, then you got the offer!
However Oxford does put emphasis on ur GCSEs so u should apply to Cambridge cuz there is more chance you will get an offer from there!
The STEP is the biggest thing you need to focus on so start preparing for it!

[tommm]

You'd be better off posting in this thread.

You're in a good position, your GCSE grades won't be a big deal, they're excellent. The key thing is to show a passion and dedication for the subject and that you're very mathematically able - if you have these, you're a good candidate and it's worth applying.

[DeBushee]

(Original post by James314195)
Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

Sorry, bro.. I accidentally negged you.. :/ But don't worry! You sound MORE than qualified to at least attempt to apply to Cambridge. You said you qualified for the UKMT Olympiad, which is a plus, and that you're from a disadvantaged background. I'm pretty sure that the staff at Cambridge will not let that blur their judgement in anyway, if not encourage them to give you a chance, since you seemed to accomplish so much despite it. I say give it a go. You won't lose anything by trying, love!

Good luck! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

[Eldedu]

(Original post by James314195)
Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

The best mathematician I've ever met is currently reading maths at Cambridge.
The best mathematics department quite possibly in the world is found at Cambridge.

Does it really matter whether you have a 2% greater chance of getting in? Challenge yourself. The potential benefits are well worth the risk.

I say all this as a confessed and unrepentant Oxfordholic.

[chill543]

i balanced out the neg :P

[tommm]

(Original post by kidoo)
Since you're lacking in the final of those 3 you might want to try and enhance your application, do an extended project or try and be different on paper somehow.

Bull****. The "average" successful Cambridge applicant has 6 A*s, which is not much more than the OP's 3. When you take into account the state school background this difference narrows further - Cambridge look at contextual information such as performance of your school.

[James314195]

Thanks for the replies guys, there's alot of rumors about Oxbridge which obviously everyone has heard, it's nice to clarify! But yeah, I'm fairly sure I'll be applying, and my summer will be pretty much be spent at work and learning M3 and FP3 :P

[Larry31]

(Original post by James314195)
Hi guys, i'm in year 12 at the moment and am considering applying to Cambridge to do maths. The main reason i'm a bit worried is that i only got 3A*s at GCSE, the rest were A's and I've heard that for Oxbridge GCSE's are usually wanted all A* (or there abouts). For my A2's im doing maths, further maths and physics, predicted A*A*A. I have qualified for the UKMT Olympiad before and I am part of the UKMT mentoring scheme, I'm also doing STEP. My question is really is it worth applying, is there a half decent chance I could get a place, I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective, but it's somewhere i really would like to go. So what do people think?Worth applying or not??

Thanks

I don't know where you heard about needing all A* at GCSE. For Oxford, a higher % A* is better, but it isn't so much the case with Cambridge. I went to an Oxbridge Conference on Tuesday, and the admissions tutors from Cambridge said that an average Cambridge applicant had between 5-8 A*, but stressed that people were taken both over and under that limit, and that they placed much more emphasis on the UMS at AS. Cambridge interview 90% of their applicants, so if you believe that you have the potential to shine at interview it's gotta be worth an application right?

[Mr Dactyl]

(Original post by James314195)
I don't go to private school, im the first in my family to even go to uni, so I'm not at a massive advantage from that perspective

Actually, that is a pretty big advantage. They take into account things like that in admissions.

It's one choice out of five on Ucas, you're doing STEP anyway, there's basically nothing to lose by applying (as long as you make sure you have one choice where you'll definitely get in!). The most important thing is your AS level scores, and if they suggest you're on track to actually get the A2 results you give then heck, why not.

[stripy_and_nice]

What information goes on your transcript?

Someone told me it's a Faculty thing, and therefore doesn't include your supervision reports, which are a College thing and the Faculty doesn't even have them. But I'm a bit sceptical, because how does the Faculty know anything other than your Tripos marks and rank, if your College doesn't tell them?