Cambridge Interview: Snow Prevents my Plane!

I doubt they'd do them over skype because some applicants won't have computers in their houses...

hey! I'm from Edinburgh, Scotland and have an interview for Cambridge on the 6th, which is next Monday! (5 days from now) I am planning to fly from Edinburgh airport to Stanstead, then get a train from Stanstead to Cambridge. Ed Airport has been shhut 3 days this week already!

What do I do? Do I wait until I know Edinburgh airport will be shut (which should be the day before the interview?), and then phone the college saying I can't come down?

Do I phone the college and say that Edinburgh Airport might be shut so I may not be able to make it?

I can't drive down, not got a decent enough car for these conditions.


Anyone else facing a similar problem?

I spoke to the admissions officer at Cambridge an hour ago and this is what she said they would do.

Are you suggesting she is incorrect?

Well I don't know if you did or not, and they might have said they would do that for you.

Are you suggesting they would automatically reject anyone who didn't have access to skype?!

Also there are many admissions tutors at Cambridge - usually one per subject per college!

Why on earth would I say I had spoken to them if I hadnt? They didnt say they would do it specifically for me, they said interviews started yesterday and this what they already have been doing and will continue to do for everyone else.

I imagine the ever so small minority without a computer would easily be able to access one at their local school college or library. There was in no way a suggestion people without computers would be rejected.

I think its extremely unreasonable of you to give people false hope and suggest their interviews can be rearranged when you actually have no idea? I presume you havent spoken to them and asked?

I've never suggested interviews would be rearranged! I am simply saying that - as most schools are closed, and most small local libraries too! it is very unlikely that they can skype everyone. How many library computers have webcams and a quiet place for applicants to conduct a very important interview?!

Also, it is very likely that different colleges would have different procedures. I'm not saying you're lying! Just that it is likely that different departments and schools will have different contingency plans in places.

Hopefully everyone will be able to travel there anyway.

Whether or not it is feasible is another matter entirely, I just said that this is what they plan on doing. Personally I think its ridiculous to expect people to perform as well over webcam as they would in person, but seeing as no one else had actually spoken to Cambridge and I had, I thought I would share what I had been told.

Ok. However I would still urge people to ring up their colleges, in case that changes, or in case their college decides to do something different.

If they do happen over skype, I'm sure tutors will understand that people won't perform as well - I'd imagine the tutors won't be loving it either!

walk to cambridge - demonstrate your commitment

This is just what they told me earlier today, personally I am applying for PPS but I assume its the same for all subjects?

i imagine it will be different for all subjects/colleges


i know trains and stuff are slow, but last year after it dumped a couple of feet of snow up in northumberland around new years i managed to get down south just fine. you just have to be prepared for the journey to take a lot longer than usual.

At the moment the plane and trains I plan to take arent even running so it wont just take longer... if they arent running then I simply cant get there

hmm i'd personally say as soon as you can (as long as its before your interview) try head down here, then just stay with a friend/family for a few days. or potentially ask college for a room, tomorrow night a tonne of us are off skiing so most colleges will have quite a few free rooms floating about)

obviously you won't be penalised if you cant easily get down to cambridge. i just know i'd perform a lot better in a face to face interview then over the phone.