The Official Cambridge Winter Pool 2013 Thread (includes FAQ and Status Reports)

if they have sufficient info then they will make an offer or reject. if you were them what more do you require to make a decision?

if they have sufficient info then they will make an offer or reject. if you were them what more do you require to make a decision?

Pooled by Downing for Nat Sci. Fun.

Not sure if autopool or not, best 3 UMS is above 93, most relevant 3 UMS (Maths, FM, phys) is just under, but rounds up to 93

Compare them against other applicants who they don't have sufficient information for.

Three interviews later and I can finally relax, oh wait I have two exams on Monday -.-

I think it is used when the college has already got enough information on a candidate so they do not need to interview (e.g. good report from preference college). Then after interview they decide between all candidates including those with the B mark. So yes, they will only find out after interviews. I'm still swimming... I don't think most medics have heard yet actually because, from what I understand, they keep all medics till the end and decide on open offers.

Were the re-interviews the same format as your interviews?

Hey, I'm a potential medic too and I'm feeling absolutely terrible about this whole process. I was just wondering what you actually based your understanding 'that medics will be kept till the end' on. From my understanding open offers are extremely rare, and so it is less than unlikely that they will keep us all till the end to discuss making us an open offer. (Most are saying that if we don't hear back by the 14th were doomed - surely then based on what you said, they should emphasise that this doesn't apply to medics?) Also, have you tried checking last years thread? I haven't, I'm not saying that you should , but surely if you're to make such statements then you probably should have. Sorry to sound patronising, I honestly don't mean to, I'm just trying to persuade myself that I've been rejected.

Rejected:

NatSci applicant, St.john's

I gave it a good shot, as did we all. We should all be proud of ourselves. Best of luck to everyone in which ever path you take, be brilliant x

Were the re-interviews the same format as your interviews?

According to last year's thread, medics were kept waiting longer.

congrats. how did they go? were they similar to the original interviews?

depends what you mean. they first one had no questions about the ps, books i read or the A level syllabus, but these ones were more related. however these are differences that are likely to occur due to the college i.e. not it being a reinterview - i image i got asked the same questions as someone being interviewed by that college the first time round

Fourth and final Cambridge interview over, I've had enough now!
More waiting to hear, maybe they'll be busy comparing me to all you 'B' candidates

And when they did find out, was it mainly direct-offers, direct-rejections, offers post re-interview, rejections post re-interview, or open offers?

I'm so sorry about that. I always thought you were a great applicant. You'll be amazing for whichever place you end up at though! Am I right in thinking that your 2nd choice is Durham?

What I've learnt from the Cambridge pooling process:

1) Every college lacks communication skills.
2) I don't like being a fish.
3) After the 7th Jan the make or break of direct offer vs. rejection is torture.
4) No news isn't always good news.
5) I hate waiting.
6) I want to go to a university that understands human emotion.
7) see point 2