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Cambridge, Oxford or any others?

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Original post by zimbo97
Mate you have around 10 months before you have to send off your application. Lets not pretend that the decision you make now is final. If I were you I'd put aside thoughts of university and concentrate on your AS. I'd also remind you that Oxbridge turn away exceptional candidates, my friend scored over 195/200 UMS in all her AS levels and predicted 3A* but was rejected.
So try not to expect a place.

Finally, you wouldn't guess it from reading this but employers care a lot more about the quality of your degree rather than the university you got it at. A 1st from UCL should be more highly regarded than a 2:1 at Oxford.


Wow.. I guess the competition is fierce.. Thanks for the info!
Original post by TVIO
Yeah, of course it did. And everyone that took A level maths in the 90s is good enough to get into Cambridge to study maths. (sarcasm!)


Getting an A grade in the 90s was meant to be really hard. I know plenty of people that got As in other subjects but a B in Maths. My Maths teacher got a B in the earlier 90s and he then got a 2.1 in Maths at a top uni.
Reply 82
Original post by zimbo97
Mate you have around 10 months before you have to send off your application. Lets not pretend that the decision you make now is final. If I were you I'd put aside thoughts of university and concentrate on your AS. I'd also remind you that Oxbridge turn away exceptional candidates, my friend scored over 195/200 UMS in all her AS levels and predicted 3A* but was rejected.
So try not to expect a place.

Finally, you wouldn't guess it from reading this but employers care a lot more about the quality of your degree rather than the university you got it at. A 1st from UCL should be more highly regarded than a 2:1 at Oxford.

Though Oxbridge do turn away exceptional candidates, the flip is also true. Candidates that may not look as impressive on paper (like me) can get in with lower UMS than a lot of other candidates if other aspects are strong (though in my case, I've got no idea what that was!)

Original post by UnknownDude
Just by looking at the articles that newspaper makes, I know that it's biased. xD Who actually makes the articles?



Personal Preferance? Hmm... I'll take CS. And when I mean numbers, I mean like in M1, where they give you a problem with some numbers and you solve it. Like the algebra gets soo confusing and you don't know where to go.

I personally hate the whole numbers side, always been an algebra man myself. Don't be intimidated by vast amounts of algebra, just get stuck in and you'll be fine :smile: It sounds like you'd enjoy CS more than maths then, as I'm pretty sure high level maths has a ton of algebra in it.
Reply 83
Original post by Blitzkrieg15
Getting an A grade in the 90s was meant to be really hard. I know plenty of people that got As in other subjects but a B in Maths. My Maths teacher got a B in the earlier 90s and he then got a 2.1 in Maths at a top uni.

That may be true, but comparing A levels from any era to STEP is just ludicrous, STEP is far beyond the difficulty of any pre-undergraduate maths exams. I'm not here to get into an argument about grade inflation though and you're entitled to your opinion...
Original post by TVIO
That may be true, but comparing A levels from any era to STEP is just ludicrous, STEP is far beyond the difficulty of any pre-undergraduate maths exams. I'm not here to get into an argument about grade inflation though and you're entitled to your opinion...


STEP still existed back then, so of course it is harder. But the A level itself was challenging enough to not need STEP in most cases.
Reply 85
Original post by UnknownDude
Just by looking at the articles that newspaper makes, I know that it's biased. xD Who actually makes the articles?

Yes The Tab is the Daily Mail of university news...

But the original source is legit
http://www.wealthx.com/?s=cambridge+oxford

And why billionaires are important:
http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/news/0033562-billionaires-to-fund-90-new-bursaries.html
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by jneill
Yes The Tab is the Daily Mail of university news...

But the original source is legit
http://www.wealthx.com/?s=cambridge+oxford

And why billionaires are important:
http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/news/0033562-billionaires-to-fund-90-new-bursaries.html



Hahahahahaha! You sir, deserve a Thumbs Up.

Original post by TVIO
That may be true, but comparing A levels from any era to STEP is just ludicrous, STEP is far beyond the difficulty of any pre-undergraduate maths exams. I'm not here to get into an argument about grade inflation though and you're entitled to your opinion...


There's a Q/A session with a Cambridge Student that does Comspci happening now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0rqza3MyY
Reply 87
Original post by UnknownDude
Hahahahahaha! You sir, deserve a Thumbs Up.

There's a Q/A session with a Cambridge Student that does Comspci happening now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0rqza3MyY


Tks - and, yes, Jake Wright is an excellent youtuber.
Reply 88
Original post by UnknownDude
Hahahahahaha! You sir, deserve a Thumbs Up.



There's a Q/A session with a Cambridge Student that does Comspci happening now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0rqza3MyY


Ah yeah Jake's pretty good.
Original post by UnknownDude
Wow.. Thanks man! I guess I'm picking Oxford.. Bye Bye Cambridge!


You can't say that so rashly, Cambridge is seen as the best university in the UK, even if by a whisker from Oxford. The buildings are prettier too.
Original post by Blutooth
1) Cambridge, Computer Science - Nil (usually TSA)
2) Cambridge, Computer Science with Maths -STEP
3) Oxford, Computer Science -MAT
4) Oxford, Maths and Computer science-MAT
5) Imperial, Computer Science-? (Most likely nIl)
6) Imperial, Computer Science with Maths-?(most likely MAT)


you need to look up things before you make random 'most likely' statements

Imperial computer science and compsci with maths both require step, normally a 1 in STEP II. Neither use MAT (though the straight maths course does)
Original post by FanaticEV
you need to look up things before you make random 'most likely' statements

Imperial computer science and compsci with maths both require step, normally a 1 in STEP II. Neither use MAT (though the straight maths course does)


Well, this is going to be embarrassing for you:

From the JMC website , it's a 1 or 2 in any of the papers. SO you could get in with a 2 in step 1. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/computing/admissions/ug/jmc/advice "Where requested, we will ask for a Grade 1 or Grade 2 in one of the papers." sometimes they ask for AEA merit.

You should take heed of your own advice.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Blutooth
Well, this is going to be embarrassing for you:

"A level and IB applicants who are not able to take the Mathematics AdmissionsTest (MAT) will need to sit a Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) with the requirement of a grade 2 in either STEP II or III. In addition, candidates who have a borderline mark in their MAT paper may be considered for a STEP offer. For more details on STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper), which is also administered by ATS, see: http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/our-services/subject-specific/step/about-step/"

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/natural-sciences/departments/mathematics/study/admissions/undergraduate/applications-and-offers/

Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you criticise others.

Its not going to be embarassing. Go look on the imperial offerholder thread. Every compsci offer is atleast A*A*A and 2 In step, with majority 1 in step and many triple A*offers
Original post by FanaticEV
Its not going to be embarassing. Go look on the imperial offerholder thread. Every compsci offer is atleast A*A*A and 2 In step, with majority 1 in step and many triple A*offers


Dude, just look at what they are saying on their website. It does not say they require 1 in step 2.

"
The AEA Maths exam is based on the A-level Maths syllabus and should require no particular support or extra tuition, but the style of question is different to that of A-level. Where requested, we will ask for a Merit or Distinction.

Edexcel AEA Maths
STEP
The STEP Maths exam consists of 3 papers. Papers I and II are based on the A-level Maths syllabus. Paper III is based on the A-level Further Maths syllabus. Extra tuition is advisable; the style of question is markedly different to that of A-level. Where requested, we will ask for a Grade 1 or Grade 2 in one of the papers."

Imperial computing is not Cambridge maths.
Original post by FanaticEV
you need to look up things before you make random 'most likely' statements

Imperial computer science and compsci with maths both require step, normally a 1 in STEP II. Neither use MAT (though the straight maths course does)


According to this page the only STEP offers for computing where 2 in STEP 1 or 2 in STEP 2,3. Most people had just A*A*A offers. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Imperial_Applicants_2014
Original post by Blutooth
Dude, just look at what they are saying on their website. It does not say they require 1 in step 2.

"
The AEA Maths exam is based on the A-level Maths syllabus and should require no particular support or extra tuition, but the style of question is different to that of A-level. Where requested, we will ask for a Merit or Distinction.

Edexcel AEA Maths
STEP
The STEP Maths exam consists of 3 papers. Papers I and II are based on the A-level Maths syllabus. Paper III is based on the A-level Further Maths syllabus. Extra tuition is advisable; the style of question is markedly different to that of A-level. Where requested, we will ask for a Grade 1 or Grade 2 in one of the papers."

Imperial computing is not Cambridge maths.


read the last sentence. It says we will ask for grade 1 or 2 in one paper.

Now go look at offerholderpage. Many people as i said been asked for 1 in STEP II.

As a matter of fact two people have been asked for 1AND 1 in II and III. So while it isnt cambridge maths they are giving offers of similar standard.

Go figure:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2802377
Mate why are you looking at 2014 applicants. This thread is in 2015, go look there like i instructed and yoy will see.
Original post by Blutooth
According to this page the only STEP offers for computing where 2 in STEP 1 or 2 in STEP 2,3. Most people had just A*A*A offers. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Imperial_Applicants_2014
Original post by FanaticEV
Mate why are you looking at 2014 applicants. This thread is in 2015, go look there like i instructed and yoy will see.


I can believe that. However, if most candidates were offered a 1 in step 1 and 11, I doubt Imperial would be able to fill its quota. It would get some people, no doubt but not very many.
Reply 98
Original post by Blutooth
I can believe that. However, if most candidates were offered a 1 in step 1 and 11, I doubt Imperial would be able to fill its quota. It would get some people, no doubt but not very many.


It would get near enough 0, as the top are siphoned off by Cambridge and Oxford in most cases, and STEP is a ridiculous requirement for most to achieve.
Original post by Blutooth
I can believe that. However, if most candidates were offered a 1 in step 1 and 11, I doubt Imperial would be able to fill its quota. It would get some people, no doubt but not very many.



Original post by TVIO
It would get near enough 0, as the top are siphoned off by Cambridge and Oxford in most cases, and STEP is a ridiculous requirement for most to achieve.


The point is it does give these offers to many. I personally know someone last year with a step ii grade 1 offer for the maths course (slightly different)

However youre right this is a bit of a facade on their part and i suspect they just try to delay the decision making approach till results day when theyve got more info. Above person was still let in with a 3 in step ii

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