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How AMAZING do i need to be, to get in Cambridge?

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Reply 20

Camford

Pollo Loco

Yea, and the blokes got a casino night instead. Tsk, no fun for us...

Dan

One of those Ann Summers party thingybobby isn't it? meh...

Reply 21

Pollo Loco

Camford

One of those Ann Summers party thingybobby isn't it? meh...

Yep. Happily my girlfriend didn't go....

Dan

Reply 22

sugarplumc

By the way, you don't get any UCAS points for diplomas. You get points for Grades 6-8 but even if you get a distinction in Grade 8 theory and practical the points don't add up to an A in Music A level. It doesn't seem fair to me- getting distinctions in grade 8 theory and practical is soooo much harder than the A level.

Reply 23

Camford

Pollo Loco

Yep. Happily my girlfriend didn't go....

Dan

You could have gone with her :wink:

. Ever thought about that?

Reply 24

Pollo Loco

Camford

You could have gone with her :wink:

. Ever thought about that?

I did but decided i prefer my sanity only slightly crooked. :biggrin:

Reply 25

coldfish

Well, I applied for Philosophy with exactly those GCSEs and what turned out to be four A's at AS level (but which I thought were 2 A's and 2 B's before results day) and I got an offer. The important thing to do at this stage is to concentrate on your AS levels and not on your uni applications, though.

After exams, when you have time to spare, then try reading a few introduction books etc. and see how you like the subject. :smile:

good luck.

alex

Reply 26

Zebedee Funk

sugarplumc

Are you sure about that?? I was told that a distinction in grade 8 is equiv points to an A at a-level....120.

Reply 27

platinumki

Zebedee Funk

Are you sure about that?? I was told that a distinction in grade 8 is equiv points to an A at a-level....120.

An A at higher - 75 points.

Reply 28

magicalsausage

sugarplumc

Conversly, I don't think it would be fair to give a practical music exam the same worth as an academic exam. At the end of the day UCAS is primarily for academic university courses - music grades should be counted for separate music college application and should be taken into consideration as part of the personal statement but I don't see the logic in having them on the points tariff.

Reply 29

freddie88

I have two grade 8s and they were well easier than A levels. took one when i was 15 and had no problems with learning it all in 6 months.

Reply 30

candystrippa

yes its actually true that practical exams and graded exams are much easier than A level!!! but i would like to know.... are cambridge music students all .. WINNERS of competitions etc etc? (big or small...whatever) i understand it is not a MUSIC/ARTS oriented place like juliards or something but.. i just have no idea!

also. if i would like to take philosophy, do you reckon musical qualifications are useless anyway?

Reply 31

Waldo

Dont know why you are even bothering. Everybody knows that you can only get into oxbridge if you have at least 15 A*s, play the lute to grade 8 standard, speak fluent latin and represent your county at polo. And then theres the buggery test...

Reply 32

~Raphael~

Hmmm posts in which people claiming to have an abundance of A* grades ask whether they should apply are getting quite irritating - though it is the time of year for it - but posts like the above are starting to get irritating too! :wink:

Reply 33

amateurish

candystrippa

well, they're not useless in the context of your extra-curricular experiences, but you won't be able to use them as UCAS points for cambridge anyway, even if you apply for music. I took music lessons because i enjoyed playing, and the exams were just to show what standard i'd achieved in case i ever wanted to play in groups or something. a lot of people here play instruments to a very, very high standard, but then a lot of people here don't play any instrument at all. there's not really a typical student here, although the ones that do play instruments seem to play them well. this place is full of overachievers :rolleyes:

Reply 34

snak3uk

musicboy

perks of being an organ scholar tend to be minimal wage, some free formals (that you have to sit with the choir at), spending hours practicing and rehearsing with the choir, being boring.

MB

hmm..perks of being organ scholar also include having the best rooms in college guaranteed for all 3 years, with £300 p/a off the rent...a free phone, free tuition, free tours etc...doesn't sound too bad to me...

Reply 35

coldfish

I'm majorly regretting not having learnt to play the organ. Not that I could have been organ scholar, because I have pathetic aural skills and can't sing a note, but still.

Reply 36

groovy_moose

it's never too late to learn! :smile:

Reply 37

Magician

candystrippa

OK i know this seems rather stupid, but I really have no clue what it takes to get in Cambridge although I just want to get in, because I believe that there is reason that Cambridge is Cambridge.

I got average grades at GCSE (3 A* 5A 2B) and am predicted 3A 2B for A level. (although I think i might only be getting 2 As....i am taking AS this year by the way)

I am at diploma level for 2 musical instruments. (however, only got certificate for one of them) -distinction at grade 8 (qualifies me to apply for "Music award" at cambridge? I heard there is such thing but dont really know about it)

I am aiming to take either philosophy or music. (preferably philosophy)
I believe that I am an innovative philosopher, a learner with an original approach.

Now I just want to hear from Cambridgians how much harder I really need to work. (i am a VERY lazy person. I belive in minimalism when it comes to studying. however, I AM NOT LIKE THIS when it comes to philosophy and music)

you need to be fluent in English.

Reply 38

sugarplumc

I wasn't just talking about practical exams! What I meant was, in my opinion, it is much more difficult to get a distinction in THEORY (which is obviously academic) as well as practical, which is part of the A level anyway. My entire A level class are predicted As and not a single one would have a hope of passing Grade 6 theory, never mind 8 and never mind getting a distinction in it.
Anyway, I have a diploma and grade 8 theory merit and I might as well not have bothered killing myself to do them last year at the same time as my AS levels because they don't seem to have helped at all!