Cambridge August Reconsideration Pool 2024

I was wondering how they gain all the info for WP criteria. My son has been offered to apply for August reconsideration for Land Economy, after being pooled - it states they believe he fits the criteria due to fsm eligibility. However he doesn't currently receive fsm and hasn't since primary school.

Weselected 'don't know' on his Ucas application as the school provided him with text books that others had to pay for due to his pupil premium.

I'm wondering if his school would have submitted the info regarding his criteria, or whether us selecting don't know for fsm will be why its been detected. As it says proof would need to be submitted, and I wouldn't have any proof he's in receipt as he currently isn't.

Any advice gratefully received.

You basically need to be eligible for income support and on a household income of less than £16K.
Unless you're on benefits you're not eligible for free school meals. Go to gov.uk and check via your local council.
If you don't know they'll ask for proof - if you can't prove it you're not eligible
It's giving disadvantaged youngsters a chance. It's unfortunate they need to do the checks but regrettably some people will stoop that low.

This is incorrect.There are other criteria that entitle you to FSM.

When are we typically emailed to provide proof of FSM or anything else.
I'm pretty sure I don't qualify for FSM, but I don't know. ( I ticked 'not sure' or 'prefer not to say' on the application form)
In the eligibility criteria, I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) I meet 3/5 flags of criteria A, in which case I assume I don't need to provide proof of anything, and I still meet the eligibility criteria.

This will be quite misleading if they have stated in their email that I am eligible for the ARP, but then turn around and say I am not.

A space for any student who has been told they meet adjustment criteria at Cambridge after a unsuccessful initial application to discuss the August reconsideration pool (sometimes know as Adjustment).

You should have been told if you are eligible for the reconsideration pool, but you can check the criteria here.

If you want to know why you may be eligible you can either dig into the data that Cambridge use - detailed here: Eligibility criteria for the August Reconsideration Pool | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) or you can email [email protected] as they will have completed the assessment so can confirm why you are eligible. They can also advise on any evidence required.
To be realistic though - the chances of getting in on reconsideration are very very slim. For example, I'm eligible for Maths. But in 2022 123 applicants were eligible for maths reconsideration August Reconsideration Pool - a Freedom of Information request to University of Cambridge - WhatDoTheyKnow and 17 offers were made to these so a 13% chance Application statistics | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) I appreciate not all may get the grades etc but neither may I....
You're also competing with all eligible applicants for any college place - so they'll look at the grades achieved, any submitted work/entry test results, and your original interview score. Basically, they'll pick the strongest/best. So I'm treating it a bit like buying a lottery ticket - I'll apply if I smash my grades and if my course is up for reconsideration but I'm also going to now move on and firm/insure my other offers as realistically I know I'm likely to go to these unis, rather than Cambridge, grades permitting.

Hello I’ve reviewed the criteria but how does one determine if they meet the following. Is there a way to check post codes?
We were not told we meet the criteria but I think we do.

Yes, this is almost certainly true given the criteria this year look reasonably broad – I could imagine quite a lot of applicants becoming eligible for the pool, and afaik everyone who meets the criteria should be invited to apply through it. That means that, not to put too fine a point on it, putting aside the limitation of places based on who's missed their offers, there may be some people who they don't necessarily want to admit despite them getting the grades, based on interview performance or whatever.

I think how you scored in original interview does play a part
"If you’re eligible, your application will be considered by the Cambridge Colleges alongside the other applications that we receive. As it will be a competitive process, your final grades and your performance in the original application process will be important"
So if you got pooled originally you probably had a better score than someone who didn't. This may give you a higher chance of being picked up. Will also depend on final grades but if those things are equal your original interview score may make a difference.
Btw - anyone applying who isn't on the reconsideration list will
Be rejected as criteria to be on same is quite strict as it's for WP (widening participation) candidates only, if not on list you'd need to reapply through normal process next year.

Is everybody who gets rejected after interview but meets the widening participation criteria eligible for the pool?
Would they allow somebody who did terribly in their interview to apply or is it only offered to high-ranking widening participation applicants?

I'm sorry for asking if you don't know the details of pooling, but if you do have any idea, what sort of info would colleges be able to access about your interview performance? Is it just the scores, or any information and feedback the interviewers wrote down about your performance (if they even do that)? I'm eligible for the August pool and was pooled in January (unsuccessfully of course) but it's just that I said some generally embarrassing, dumb things in my interview and regret a lot of answers I gave. I'm hoping against hope that colleges won't have much info on what I said, but that seems unlikely.

I have no inside knowledge - other than what I've sourced from Cambridge website and FOI requests.
However, if you've been winter pooled you're considered strong enough for Cambridge - so that's a positive.
It maybe they have their interview notes on your file - this is probably accessible via a feedback or SAR (subject access request).whatever they share with you I guess would be shared with other colleges in reconsideration.
I think if you have the option of reconsideration, and you achieve your grades; and your course is available (lots of ands...) why not just take a punt.
Not many have the chance to be reconsidered so why wouldn't you? But realistically I'd invest more in your new firm and insurance as chances are slim with so many variables. Best of luck.

would there be a point in reapplying if i didn't get pooled in the winter?

Does anyone know if your chances of being accepted through the pool are lower if you go to a private school but still meet the criteria? Was just wondering as I have a bursary to my school so hope that the fact that it's private doesn't negatively impact my chances.

would there be a point in reapplying if i didn't get into the winter pool originally?