Ask an Admissions Tutor IV, 7 July - 27 July 2014

As promised, here is the fourth instalment of my 'Ask an Admissions Tutor' threads. If you went to the Cambridge University Open Days last week and forgot to ask a crucial question or if you weren't able to go but have questions you would like to ask, or, indeed, if you just have questions about Cambridge Admissions, please ask it here and I will answer as soon as I can. This thread will run for three weeks and then a further thread will run after the A Level and AS Level results come out.

As promised, here is the fourth instalment of my 'Ask an Admissions Tutor' threads. If you went to the Cambridge University Open Days last week and forgot to ask a crucial question or if you weren't able to go but have questions you would like to ask, or, indeed, if you just have questions about Cambridge Admissions, please ask it here and I will answer as soon as I can. This thread will run for three weeks and then a further thread will run after the A Level and AS Level results come out.

Hi there

I'm seeking advice about whether or not I should reapply to Cambridge this autumn. I applied last year to Jesus College for Philosophy. I had straight A*s at GCSE- I was pooled after interview but sadly didn't manage an offer. I was absolutely gutted :'( In the following months, i was diagnosed with several mental health issues that meant my studies were quite disrupted and I really struggled to regain my focus. Though the mental health issues were not due to my rejection from Cambridge- I definitely lost faith in my ability and lost the drive to succeed. I firmed my offer for 38 points at IB from UCL and insured my Durham offer at 36. This week i recieved my IB results and by some ridiculous twist of fate, I came out with 44 points- my subjects were HL Philosophy, History and English and SL Maths, Latin and Biology. Given how far above my UCL offer this is, I feel it would be a shame not to reapply, as I've always had my heart so set on Cambridge.
Is this a good idea? What is the general consensus on reapplication?
Other things i'm considering is whether i ought to try Oxford this time round. Secondly whether or not I should apply for Law not Philosophy- as this was always a second choice of subject. Lastly, is there any advice regarding choosing a college? Is there such a thing has being tactical?

Plleeeeeeeease reply! Any information greatly appreciated
Thank you so much xx

For international students applying for medicine, what is the criteria for shortlisting applicants? [three best UMS, IGCSEs, predicted grades, BMAT, personal statement, reference, SAQ, etc)

After interview stage, which criteria again do you use to select candidates to give offer? [ interview performance, UMS, BMAT, etc?]

Do you have anything recommend for medicine applicants to do over the summer in order to strengthen the application?
Thanks!

How many people in the last couple of years have you accepted onto the Mathematics course having missed their STEP offer?

Dear Sir, Madam,

What a great opportunity to ask a question that can help with a life changing decision.

I am an international student with a degree in a social science with strong links to philosophy, history and history of art.

I intend to pursue an MA in History of Art. A few late applications later, I find myself in a crossroad. I live in Essex and I got accepted into Essex University MA in History and Theory of Art. I do have other offers but I rather not relocate at the moment.

My question is: Would a first class Ma in History of Art from Essex University be considered competitive and acceptable to pursue a PHD at your institution?

Kind Regards

Hello!

Thank you for offering us the opportunity to ask questions, it is very much appreciated

In January I received an offer to study ASNaC at Cambridge, and have confirmed my place. However, over the past few months I've been having some doubt about my course, and wondering if I made the right decision after all; I applied for English at all my other choices, and now I feel like I should have applied for English at Cambridge as well, as that would be a better preparation for the career path I want to pursue.

I'm still keen to start my course, and while I think there's a big chance I'll regain my enthusiasm once I've started, I'm a bit concerned about what happens if I don't. I want to give the course a shot for at least one year, but what happens if I still feel like English would be a better fit at the end of that? I'm a bit concerned my DoS might think I only applied for ASNaC because it's supposedly easier to get in, but that's not true at all; I genuinely thought ASNaC was the right fit for me, and I still find the course very interesting, but my career goals and interests have slightly changed.

Is it possible to change courses after just one year instead of after part I? And if I would get permission to change courses, would it be possible for me to 'redo' the first year in English?

Thank you very much in advance!

If you performed well at GCSE but wasnt all A*'s and so on, and managed to get 4 A's at AS and 2/3 A*'s and an A at A2, would you still be in with a chance? The GCSE A*'s you did get would be in the relevant subjects to your course.

Yes, you would still be in with a chance. The better you would have done at AS Level, the better your chances, especially if your GCSEs are not as strong as you might like.

Thank you for the reassurance.

I would like to apply for either History or Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic - what sorts of things are asked at interview for these subjects and what do the tests normally entail?

My friend also asked:

"I took Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and German at AS Level. Will I be disadvantaged when applying for Medicine without Biology?"

Hi there,

Thank you for creating this thread and answering all of our questions.

I'd like to apply as a mature student to read Classics. I've been living abroad since the very end of Year 9, leaving the UK with a single GCSE (an "A" in Portuguese) and finishing my high school education in Brazil. I passed university entrance exams here and have now completed one year's study at a prestigious law school here. My average grade over two semesters is 86.6 (eleven units all scored 86 and higher except for one unfortunate grade of 62, due to a missed exam). Classics are and always have been my passion (I had chosen Latin as one of my elective GCSEs) but as they are not on offer here, I went for Law instead.

I have two questions:
- Would the fact that I've done a year of Law school testify against me, as being not passionate or dedicated enough for Classics?
- Would Christ's consider the Certificado de Conclusão de Ensino Médio (High School Completion Certificate, equivalent to year 11), a pass at the vestibular (university entrance exams) and a year towards a Bachelor's degree in Law (with high grades in 80s and 90s) sufficient, or would you prefer I do a foundation/access/certificate first?

Thank you for your time.

1.) No, that would be fine, though I expect we would like to see evidence of your interest in Classics both in your PS and interview and ability in Latin assuming you apply for the three-year Classics course.

2) Yes, but we would need a transcript from both your High School and University.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

1) As I have no official qualifications in Latin (other than high grades throughout Year 7,8 and 9, which I can prove), what would best serve as tangible evidence?

2) Would I also need someone at my current university to recommend me? Unsure how this would work as it's a Portuguese-speaking institution, unsure whether recommendations would have to be translated etc.

3) How does progression from undergraduate to master's work, in terms of subject matter? If I do my undergraduate in Classics, could I then do a master's in, say, English, or Roman Law in medieval England, etc etc?

Hi there, you should be a strong candidate for either graduate or affiliated study with a first class degree. If you apply for the undergraduate affiliated course you may wish to apply to one of the mature colleges (Wolfson or Hughes Hall). If you apply for a graduate course then Magdalene College has three Mandela scholarships which may be of interest to you, though I am not sure whether ASNC would fall under a subject 'relevant to the needs of South Africa' as stipulated in the particulars. Alternatively the Cambridge Trust has funding for Commonwealth students.

When choosing who to call for interview for medicine, the things we look at most closely are UMS (for those that have them) and the BMAT but we look at everything before making the decision. Similarly with deciding to whom we are going to make offers, we look at everything and judge each candidate individually and against the rest of the cohort.

You will need to have done some work experience, so if you haven't done any yet then get some over the summer and reflect upon what you learn from the xerpeince, don't just see it as a box to have ticked. Beyond that, read as much as you can and keep abreast of developments in medicine as much as possible.

Thanks, One more question: What is the average standard of the international medical applicants that were shortlisted and given offers in terms of AS UMS average, BMAT score and interview score?