OFFICIAL: Cambridge doesn&#x27;t care about non-academic ECs - and other things!

River85

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.

Touche!

Merry Christmas! :smile:

Reply 41

Mask Of Sanity

PeanutButterJellyTime

So your available now? :hubba:

Hook me up with the bunny in your sig. :wink:

Reply 42

PeanutButterJellyTime

1

Mask Of Sanity

Hook me up with the bunny in your sig. :wink:

Done.

Reply 43

Mask Of Sanity

PeanutButterJellyTime

Done.

Salutations to you.

Reply 44

OP

River85

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.

If this is old news, how come so many people here make threads about ECs? And I can take one example "How can I make sure I get an offer" thread, where the OP was listing down his NON-ACADEMIC ECs.
Also, I thought Cambridge takes a "holistic" approach when assessing each candidate individually - see podcast (4) at first post?
Also, come on River85, you must admit that playing netball at national level and doing grade 6 clarinet is ever going to benefit your application, is it now? And you must admit that they really don't give a damn about unrelated, non-academic ECs, are they? As I quote, they look for "academic potential". Even you said that, so how does going on the X factor help matters? How does being an international model benefit your application?

Reply 45

OP

jiung0416

does that mean retakes of modules matter...? or not? im confused... please enlighten me, and thanks in advance

I can tell you haven't even bothered to read my first post, or even go on the podcast link. :rolleyes:

So, Cambridge says that:
retakes don't matter, as long as it was a blip. BUT if they see a pattern, it could make a difference.
These aren't my words, but of the words of an admissions tutor at Selwyn College, Cambridge - from the Admission (2) podcast.

Reply 46

im so academic

If this is old news, how come so many people here make threads about ECs? And I can take one example "How can I make sure I get an offer" thread, where the OP was listing down his NON-ACADEMIC ECs.
Also, I thought Cambridge takes a "holistic" approach when assessing each candidate individually - see podcast (4) at first post?
Also, come on River85, you must admit that playing netball at national level and doing grade 6 clarinet is ever going to benefit your application, is it now? And you must admit that they really don't give a damn about unrelated, non-academic ECs, are they? As I quote, they look for "academic potential". Even you said that, so how does going on the X factor help matters? How does being an international model benefit your application?

Woah, calm yerself, mate. They do have an holistic approach when assessing candidates, yep, but almost all candidates have the extra-curricular factor too, so they focus on challenging your academia to a much greater degree.

Old news? :yep:

Reply 47

im so academic

I can tell you haven't even bothered to read my first post, or even go on the podcast link. :rolleyes:

So, Cambridge says that:
retakes don't matter, as long as it was a blip. BUT if they see a pattern, it could make a difference.
These aren't my words, but of the words of an admissions tutor at Selwyn College, Cambridge - from the Admission (2) podcast.

Cambridge wanna see ~90% in all your units, did you know? Wheras they say retakes 'don't matter' - of course they do, they're always comparing you to other candidates who manage to get 100% first time! Sorry if this sounds harsh, but so is life!

Reply 48

OP

Mask Of Sanity

You don't care?
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME? :frown:

That's it, it's over between us. I'm done with you. :no:

G'day. Dum dum dum.

No, I meant that if you choose to write about the unrelated, non-academic ECs on your PS instead of the related ECs to your degree course, then it's your problem, not mine.

Reply 49

OP

ADREAM

Cambridge wanna see ~90% in all your units, did you know? Wheras they say retakes 'don't matter' - of course they do, they're always comparing you to other candidates who manage to get 100% first time! Sorry if this sounds harsh, but so is life!

Source please? I could not find that information on the Cambridge website, so I will be grateful if you could find the source for me please? Thanks. :smile:

Reply 50

im so academic

Source please? I could not find that information on the Cambridge website, so I will be grateful if you could find the source for me please? Thanks. :smile:

Gah, I can't be bothered to search for sources *sorry*, but I'm being completely honest. :yep:

Should be on the Cambridge website somewhere, I presume.

Or, can someone find the sources please? I thought it was just common knowledge, no? :p:

Reply 51

OP

ADREAM

Woah, calm yerself, mate. They do have an holistic approach when assessing candidates, yep, but almost all candidates have the extra-curricular factor too, so they focus on challenging your academia to a much greater degree.

Old news? :yep:

oh ffs... of course they do! How else would they show enthusiasm and passion for their chosen degree course. You need to be specific, as there are two types of extra-curricular activites:

1. Academic ECs that are related to your chosen degree course - they show enthusiasm and passion for your chosen degree course.

2. Unrelated, non-academic ECs - they don't matter as much as 1.

Reply 52

Mask Of Sanity

im so academic

No, I meant that if you choose to write about the unrelated, non-academic ECs on your PS instead of the related ECs to your degree course, then it's your problem, not mine.

I got the point, I was evidently joking.
Run along now and calm down.
This much stress isn't good for you. :p:

Reply 53

OP

ADREAM

Gah, I can't be bothered to search for sources *sorry*, but I'm being completely honest. :yep:

Should be on the Cambridge website somewhere, I presume.

Or, can someone find the sources please? I thought it was just common knowledge, no? :p:

I've read the Cambridge website so many times, and I could not recall that information being on there. Please, to save your dignity, can you give me the source please? :puppyeyes:

Otherwise, you are lying and telling rumours.

Reply 54

SouthernFreerider

12

i would argue that being on the national croquet team would give you an advantage.

Reply 55

jiung0416

im so academic

I can tell you haven't even bothered to read my first post, or even go on the podcast link. :rolleyes:

So, Cambridge says that:
retakes don't matter, as long as it was a blip. BUT if they see a pattern, it could make a difference.
These aren't my words, but of the words of an admissions tutor at Selwyn College, Cambridge - from the Admission (2) podcast.

hey man, i did read ur post properly... otherwise i wouldnt post, would i? :p:

anyways, i was confused cos u said blip, and i kinda didnt understand
now i do, so does that mean as long as you dont f*** up too bad, ur fine??
so just 1 resit might be ok then?? thanks

Reply 56

necessarily benevolent

im so academic

I've read the Cambridge website so many times, and I could not recall that information being on there. Please, to save your dignity, can you give me the source please? :puppyeyes:

Otherwise, you are lying and telling rumours.

It's not. ADREAM is coming from the position that many applicants will have 90% in their ASs and ergo, would be at an advantage. This, however, does not mean that its a requirement. It's a sum of all factors. The requirements are As at A level, anything in addition helps.

Reply 57

jiung0416

SouthernFreerider

i would argue that being on the national croquet team would give you an advantage.

WTF why?? or are u just joking

Reply 58