OFFICIAL: Cambridge doesn't care about non-academic ECs - and other things!

Yes, i think the OP post is rubbish to be honest, all my friends who are at oxbridge had questions about outside interests...

Why - it's Christmas Day, sir!

Not at all, they're actively looking for talent, even if that talent isnt backed by motivation. EE offers are still given out you know.

I bet they are asking like how do you go beyond the A-Level curriculum, i.e. do you do other things that show enthusiasm and passion for your degree course? Do you read around the subject etc?

If you don't want to build on your ECs, then be my guest not to do so, because I certainly wouldn't want to take any chances.

When I was talking about ECs doesn't matter, I meant that non-academic ECs! I mean, how is playing rugby, grade 8 saxophone etc going to help your application.

HOWEVER, e.g. I'll take engineering - say you were applying for engineering, ECs that would benefit your application would be summer schools, public lecures relevant to the course, reading about thermodynamics etc. They should that you have enthusiasm and passion for your subject. Whereas, if you were applying for engineering and mention that you do international basketball and grade 7 flute - will it help matters? No. The ones in blue would benefit more than the ones in purple.
Agree or disagree with me?

I do agree, however, that doesn't mean I'm not going to include any non-academic ECs. Every little helps. (Hopefully.)

OK, I've been searching around Cambridge and I've found a podcast about admissions:

http://mediaplayer.group.cam.ac.uk/

^Go to admissions, and click on (2) Parent's Guide to Admissions.

It states that "the admission process is entirely driven by academic criteria". I.e. they don't give a damn about ECs.

As a bonus it states that, "your chance of getting a Cambridge offer is irrespective of the choice of college".

They also say that they "assess each person individually, in their individual context..."

Also, it states that "the media portrays them in a different way and Oxbridge mock interviews, courses and books are there to make money".

They say it's not about "body language, what you wear, how you speak..."

They look for:

*passion for their subjects
*passion for learning
*enthusiasm for difficult and complex ideas
*the ablility to think for themselves
*go beyong what it expected of them
*seek out the difficult, complex ideas
*get further into the subject
*motivated, committed and organised
*intectually flexible (?)

OFFICIAL: these are the factors that they assess Cambridge candidates:

*Academic record (GCSES, AS level, A Levels)
*School/college reference
*PS
*submitted work where requested
*test results (e.g. BMAT LNAT, TSA) where tests form a part of our assessment
*performance at interview

...no sign of non-academic ECs are there? They don't care about national level ping-pong, or grade 8 piano etc.

"There is no single element that will make or break an application" i.e. interview isn't EVERYTHING! And don't fret over your GCSES!

What happens if I had to re-sit some modules? What if my GCSEs aren't up to stratch? Cambridge says: "If it is a blip - it need not matter"

HOWEVER, if it's part of a pattern, it might....

Cambridge rejects around 5000 applicants who go on to get straight As or better - i.e. grades AREN'T everything, they want something else, as mention above^^^

"There is not one single ailver bullet that decides that "this student will become a first-class student""

"Having a good track record is important and is significant"

PS: It's not "why am I good?" it's "why am I right for this degree course?"

Also, be happy to discuss whatever on your PS.

The interviews are not the SOLE factor of your application.

These are some quotes I have taken off of that podcast from the link above. So, what are your opinions?

Apparently blues tend to perform better academically, so doing a lot of rowing or a lot of rugby obviously aren't hindering them. (I have no scientific proof of this, just purely anecdotal.)

Any sort of extra-curricular will be useful as a talking point, something of interest, something to show different personal qualities that three As don't show. That's not to say that being superman and doing ten different ECs will get you a place, but having something definitely isn't a bad thing.

Go on then. See if I care.

You don't care?
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME?
That's it, it's over between us. I'm done with you.

G'day. Dum dum dum.

Why should we trust you?

Why not?

Merry Christmas Prudy!

im so academic, this is old news and not the first time the university has admitted this. Grades, passion for subject and overall academic potential get you the interview. Questions about "outside interests" may be asked at an interview but often only to "easy you in" so quite informally. Even if they are taken into consideration they are firmly behind academics.

Also, thank you for getting Bobby Mcferrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy in my head.