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The Cambridge 2013 Results Day Discussion Thread

I like how on the internet people suddenly grow balls and think it's acceptable to disrespect others.
Regardless of her position as a mother and non-student, she's still a ****ing person you ignorant, childish twits.
I'm assuming the reason most of you's don't know proper etiquette when talking to another human being is probably because you's are too self-absorbed to go and actually socialise with other humans.
Sorry for the rant, I just despise internet ignoramuses thinking they're suddenly invincible because they are hiding behind a computer screen.

Reply 1321

username878045

17

Original post by trin67

Hi --- I hope you don't mind me emailing you but I am Mum of unsuccessful linguistics applicant ( Clare- pooled but rejected). He is obviously gutted and doesn't want to go anywhere else so reapplication it is. Do you mind me asking you about your interview please? Am sure that is what he fell down on as his academics are top. He's nervous and probably doesn't have the right voice but the questions he was asked seemed very difficult even for someone who seems to have spent a long time reading linguistics books! Can you help please? Anything particularly you would advise for next time? Many congrats on your offer! And thanks of course.

OK, people got annoyed at me for being cynical, so I'll try and offer something constructive. Firstly, if you want our advice on getting your son into Cambridge, we need more information. What subjects is he doing, and what were his AS UMS grades? (You said in other posts that he does Pre-U and A-Levels). His academics might be top, but that doesn't mean they are Cambridge standard - if he goes to a good school, he should be looking at around 95% UMS. You said the questions were hard, despite the fact he has read lots of books. However, Linguistics is a new subject, not an A-Level subject, so they don't expect you to use your linguistics knowledge, they only want you to apply yourself logically and critically to the questions. His amount of linguistics knowledge is fairly irrelevant, because they aren't assessing that.

Furthermore, make sure that he fully understands re-applying. There has to be a good reason that means his application has changed dramatically, such as a huge turn-around in grades, or he has done something highly constructive in his gap year. Make sure he knows that his chances of successfully re-applying are fairly low, and that it is likely he will have to consider the prospect of other universities. What is it about Cambridge that is so important? Is it merely the prestige, or are there better reasons for going there, such as a very different/unique course?

Lastly, does he feel that he under-performed at interview, or just that he was nervous (everyone is, and hundreds of shy, introverted people make it into Cambridge - they do have a CompSci course, after all)? If he is just re-applying in the hope that another interview will go better, then it seems like a waste of a year. Fair enough, if he felt that he really broke down and had an off-day, but if he simply couldn't cope with the questions, then perhaps he isn't Cambridge material. I know this sounds very harsh, but not everyone can make it, and lots of very bright students don't get offers (some very smart guys from my school got rejected or pooled).

I hope some of this was helpful, but I don't want your son to rush into anything. I know someone who re-applied without dramatically changing his application, and got rejected the second time around, too. However, he incredibly enjoyed his gap year, learned a new language and got some great work experience, so the gap year can work with some people, even if they don't get into Cambridge.

Reply 1322

Zzzyax

2

Got a offer to do maths at cambridge

Reply 1323

Win Butler's Son

1

Offer from Sidney Sussex for NatSci (biological) via phone after being pooled. Anyone else on their way to Sidney?

Reply 1324

amg_22

3

Original post by trin67

Hi --- I hope you don't mind me emailing you but I am Mum of unsuccessful linguistics applicant ( Clare- pooled but rejected). He is obviously gutted and doesn't want to go anywhere else so reapplication it is. Do you mind me asking you about your interview please? Am sure that is what he fell down on as his academics are top. He's nervous and probably doesn't have the right voice but the questions he was asked seemed very difficult even for someone who seems to have spent a long time reading linguistics books! Can you help please? Anything particularly you would advise for next time? Many congrats on your offer! And thanks of course.

If your son thinks it was his interview that let him down the reality is that very few applicants go out of their interview feeling like it went well. They are meant to be challenging as that is the only way Cambridge can differentiate students i.e. if they were asked nice questions everyone would do well. If he decides to reapply make sure it's for the right reasons as Cambridge expect reapplicants to be stronger

Reply 1325

ToraKaren

Offer from King's for Law. Total IB score of 38 points. :smile:

Anyone else get one from King's?

Reply 1326

ladydisdain

Original post by sickoftheslaughter

Yay I'm not the only one :smile:

what school are you at/what college and course have you applied for?

Perse Girls (don't judge...) :frown:

Corpus (fished) for Arabic and Russian :smile:

- you?

Reply 1327

ladydisdain

Original post by bíborcsiga

Wow, cool language combination! :biggrin:

Do you do Russian at school? (Congrats on being fished. :smile:

)

Why, thank you, most people say 'weird' instead of 'cool' :biggrin:

Yes, doing Russian A level (got to get an A* now, argh) at school but I just want to start doing it 'full time' as it were :smile:

Is Linguistics on the Sidgwick Site with everything else? If so, I guess I'll see you around (insha'Allah!)

Reply 1328

ToraKaren

Original post by Oboe1994

King's music :smile:

good luck for a levels

Posted from TSR Mobile

Original post by Oboe1994

King's music :smile:

good luck for a levels

Posted from TSR Mobile

Offer for Law at King's :smile:

. Congratulations!

Reply 1329

climberkid

Original post by I am Ace

I like how on the internet people suddenly grow balls and think it's acceptable to disrespect others.
Regardless of her position as a mother and non-student, she's still a ****ing person you ignorant, childish twits.
I'm assuming the reason most of you's don't know proper etiquette when talking to another human being is probably because you's are too self-absorbed to go and actually socialise with other humans.
Sorry for the rant, I just despise internet ignoramuses thinking they're suddenly invincible because they are hiding behind a computer screen.

I like how you're allowed to insult people who say something you don't agree with. 'Childish twits' indeed.

Reply 1330

Oromis263

2

Original post by ToraKaren

Offer for Law at King's :smile:

. Congratulations!

It seems all the Kingsmen are coming out of the woodwork now! :biggrin:

Physical Natural Sciences here! :smile:

Reply 1331

ErrinR

Can we have a tsr party at freshers?

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Reply 1332

bíborcsiga

4

Original post by ladydisdain

Why, thank you, most people say 'weird' instead of 'cool' :biggrin:

Yes, doing Russian A level (got to get an A* now, argh) at school but I just want to start doing it 'full time' as it were :smile:

Is Linguistics on the Sidgwick Site with everything else? If so, I guess I'll see you around (insha'Allah!)

I've picked up Russian on my gap year and love it, and I'm also quite interested in the linguistics of semitic languages (not that I know much about them), so yeah, that's pretty much the definition of cool to me! :biggrin:

(Slight exaggeration, I admit. :tongue:

)
Yes, Linguistics is also on the Sidgwick Site, I think in the same bulding as MML. Good luck with that A*! :smile:

Original post by _Georgie

Aw thank you! Maybe I'll see you round Cambridge, we'll have an initially-awkward TSR meet up or something :tongue:

No, it definitely wouldn't be that awkward. :tongue:

Also, congrats on the 1,2 STEP offer, from the little I know about it it seems a bit less scary than the others.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1333

chocoholic_x

11

Original post by bíborcsiga

Yeah, I'm also used to commuting about 3 hours a day, so I can't even imagine what it will be like to have lectures literally on the other side of the road. :eek:

Ah, okay, it certainly does seem like that. I'm starting to think I got an offer because we'd been talking on TSR before! :wink:

Did you historian friend hear back from the pool?
Also, random question, have you looked into societies at Cambridge to get an idea which ones you might want to join? :smile:

Aha yeah, it really appeals to my lazy side. Which, I'm ashamed to say, is quite a large part of me. :tongue:

Haha, my Cambridge luck seemed to rub off you as well. :wink:

There is no other explanation for your offer, not your amazing grades, passion for your course, interview performance, or anything. T'was totally me.

Oh yeah.. she did hear. Unfortunately, after all that of having to go up the night before, falling in love with the college and having the stress of another interview, she was rejected. It doesn't help that her second choice, Durham, rejected her either. But I'm she'll do great wherever she ends up. :smile:

Oh yes!! I was just looking at them the other day and seeing which ones I'd be attracted to. The only problem is, it seems I want to join basically all of them! (Well, except the conservative and rifle associations). So it will be hard choosing when I get there, I guess I'll play it by ear. There is one I'm sure of joining though, the Amnesty International society. :smile:

How about you?

Reply 1334

xxfieryangelxx

Original post by Win Butler's Son

Offer from Sidney Sussex for NatSci (biological) via phone after being pooled. Anyone else on their way to Sidney?

Yup, moi. I'm a medic, thoughk and Sidney was my first choice. :smile:

You excited? :tongue:

Where did you originally apply?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1335

MW24595

Hey everybody!
I'm joining the Math Tripos this year.
(I actually applied for 2012 entry, but gah, they deferred me by a year, because I missed my interview. Sucks. >.< Miracle they sent me an offer anyway. :biggrin:

)

Roflol, its great to see so many other guys get in, finally. We had to wait until Jan to see who else would be joining us, lol.
Best wishes to all you peeps. What plans have you all for the next 8 months?! XD

Aaah, just by the way, have any of you guys any word on the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship? We're supposed to hear about it around Jan, but I've honestly no clue what's going on so far.

Reply 1336

Powerfrau

5

Original post by trin67

Hi --- I hope you don't mind me emailing you but I am Mum of unsuccessful linguistics applicant ( Clare- pooled but rejected). He is obviously gutted and doesn't want to go anywhere else so reapplication it is. Do you mind me asking you about your interview please? Am sure that is what he fell down on as his academics are top. He's nervous and probably doesn't have the right voice but the questions he was asked seemed very difficult even for someone who seems to have spent a long time reading linguistics books! Can you help please? Anything particularly you would advise for next time? Many congrats on your offer! And thanks of course.

I don't mind, I'm sure it's natural to wonder about the reasons of a rejection, especially if the academics were so high. I'm sorry your son is so gutted, but if he's got offers from from other fantastic universities it really is worth considering one of them (although I know it must be hard after investing in Cambridge for so long). I was surprised at how laid-back and friendly both interviews were and there didn't seem to be any really tricky questions. There were a few awkward pauses when I couldn't think of examples ( :s-smilie:

) but generally I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy with them. He may have just been just unlucky, maybe because of being really nervous? Being nervous probably contributes to not being able to appear completely passionate, which is perhaps what they were missing.

If he's going to re-apply, I've heard (as another user has said) that it's quite unlikely to be successful, unless the application is quite changed. Maybe he could take a gap year and spend it in another country, or improve UMS at school? Remember that there's an element of luck in the whole process too, and the interviewers may have decided he wouldn't excell at Cambridge's way of working. Which books has he read, out of interest? :smile:

Thank you, I'm still in shock to be honest. I wish your son the best of luck whatever he decides to do, and that he'll be happy :smile:

Reply 1337

bb193

13

Original post by trin67

Hi --- I hope you don't mind me emailing you but I am Mum of unsuccessful linguistics applicant ( Clare- pooled but rejected). He is obviously gutted and doesn't want to go anywhere else so reapplication it is. Do you mind me asking you about your interview please? Am sure that is what he fell down on as his academics are top. He's nervous and probably doesn't have the right voice but the questions he was asked seemed very difficult even for someone who seems to have spent a long time reading linguistics books! Can you help please? Anything particularly you would advise for next time? Many congrats on your offer! And thanks of course.

Oooh dear. Please don't be put off TSR by the comments - there are a lot of parents on here - I am another and there are lots more. Obviously, it is just part of the standard parental role of helping their kids with difficult problems. I like to think that I have also helped other students and parents here too.

My first daughter applied and didn't get in. My second has just got in. I went to Catz and my wife to Fitz (obviously a long time ago so less relevant). The recent experiences have helped me deal with the highs and lows, and I have responded to a couple of other questions about re-application here

•

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=40911005&highlight=

•

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2176027&page=5&p=40932752#post40932752

I know it hurts. But reapplication is such a big thing, the decision to reapply really needs to be made calmly and after the time of 'grieving' has past. I'm assuming he has put other Unis on the UCAS form. With my eldest daughter, she carried on with the UCAS process, and got a place at York - by the time of the exam results, she wanted nothing more than to go to York. The decision to reapply to Cambridge really does not need to made until the results are out and you're are having to accept or reject your 'firm' uni. I say that from a situation where my wife reapplied and got in - and had she not done so my life would have been completely different and my three daughters would not exist. I have a lot in my life to recommend reapplication - but I still think it needs very careful consideration.

As regards the interview, I agree it is just one part of the process. My eldest daughter was very nervous. My middle daughter was also nervous (who could not be?) but contained it better. My thoughts about the interview process include:-

•

It is just one part of the process, along with AS results, predictions, school reference, Personal statement etc

•

Know your AS topics and items you raise in your Personal statement like the back of your hand.

•

The interviews are aiming to test your 'teachability' and so are like a mock supervision (http://groups.ds.cam.ac.uk/pdoc/docs/PdOC_How%20to%20supervise%20guide.pdf). The supervisor will take things that the student (should) know and seek to increase it by a discussion which finds connections with other things the student knows, raises questions which can be discussed, asks how further knowledge could be gained etc etc. So the student will not know the answers at the start - if they do the interviewer will move on until they find soemthing they don't know and then discuss around that. This often throws students who are not used to this process - they think that if they don't know the answer, they have failed. There is a slight thought that they are sponges, and Cambridge will just fill them up with knowledge. It is not like that - they are an active part of the learning process, contributing knowledge, thoughts, ideas, questions, argument, agreement, support, the list goes on. An understading of the process seemed to really help my middle daughter.

I'm sorry for your son's disappointment and also for the initial response to your post. I hope these comments help and that your son finds a good university career, wherever that is.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1338

Dirac Spinor

10

Original post by MW24595

Hey everybody!
I'm joining the Math Tripos this year.
(I actually applied for 2012 entry, but gah, they deferred me by a year, because I missed my interview. Sucks. >.< Miracle they sent me an offer anyway. :biggrin:

)

Roflol, its great to see so many other guys get in, finally. We had to wait until Jan to see who else would be joining us, lol.
Best wishes to all you peeps. What plans have you all for the next 8 months?! XD

Aaah, just by the way, have any of you guys any word on the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship? We're supposed to hear about it around Jan, but I've honestly no clue what's going on so far.