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Ask an Admissions Tutor IX, 4th August - 2nd September

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Yes, that is correct! - My college advised me to get a few acceptance letters alongside QM just as a safety net. At the end i just went for QM as it was one of the few RG (or the only one) that was available.

So how will QM be able to assess you sufficiently between your starting at QMUL in Sept and the application deadline in Oct, to provide the robust and "stellar" reference you are likely to need to transfer into Y2 (assuming Cambridge allowed such a transfer at all)?

Reply 841

livimagineslife

Hi, my friend (who is in a similar predicament to me at the moment) wrote in this forum asking for some advice about applying to Cambridge with unexpected AS results, and she advised me to do the same as she found it very helpful.

I'd like to study MML at Cambridge (French and Italian) and have taken French and Classical Civilisation at AS, and being as History and English Literature are reformed, our school chose not to do the AS exams in those subjects, but I am predicted A*s in both for A2. I also received 11A*s at GCSE and am expecting another similar grade for Italian GCSE on Thursday (I took Italian as an extra GCSE straddling Y11 and Y12).

For Classical Civilisation (which I am planning on dropping in order to focus on my other three subjects at A2) I got an A as expected, averaging 86.5% UMS over both modules.However, in French, I received a B overall, though I was only two UMS off the A grade. I got an A in my written exam, however, it was not as high as expected, and in my spoken exam I (clearly) didn't do as well as expected either.

That said, under performance was a common trend for my entire French class, and having always been predicted an A at AS for it, my teachers were perplexed at the results. I received the highest result in my class but at least three of us were 'meant' to get solid As. I have sent the papers to be remarked, so hopefully the result will improve by those two UMS that I need to get an A, but I don't know how it will turn out.

As I said, my English Literature and History predicted grades are A*s, as is my French predicted grade which I still believe is a big possibility, despite my AS result. I am planning on resitting the AS papers next year anyway, regardless of the results of the remark, in order to improve my chances of getting the A* at A2, however I am aware that this will not affect my chances of going to Cambridge if my current result means I don't even get invited to interview. I also received full UMS for my EPQ which was based on languages.

Both myself and my teachers feel that the AS grade I got is not representative of my true abilities, like I said, they are quite confused, and are planning on putting something in my reference to outline that. Hopefully my personal statement will also do me justice and be of a 'Cambridge standard'.

Being as I don't have AS grades for History or English Literature, only predicted grades which I know will be taken with a pinch of salt anyway, coupled with the fact that I (however unexpectedly) under performed in my French AS which is the subject I wish to apply for, and one of only two AS results I have, how good a chance do I stand at being invited to interview? If I was rejected thereafter, I would still feel content, however I would hate to not be given that chance to go to interview, hence why I am writing this veritable essay so that I can adjust my hopes and expectations accordingly.

Sorry for the long post, and thank you very much for your time!

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 842

jemstar24

Original post by Christ's Admissions

Thanks for your question. 94 is a good score in Maths, especially for a Bio Nat Sci, so I don;t think you need to worry at this stage. Obviously I haven't seen the rest of your application but that is a good start to being a competitive applicant.s

Thank you for your reply. Just out of curiosity, Would 94 be alright for a physical nat sci applicant, if they wanted to specialise in straight chemistry later on?

Reply 843

family'sfailure

Hi, I missed my offer for Cambridge last week and am just wondering if it ever happens that you accept students who have not got their offers?

I got AAB and needed A*AA (so obviously wasn't pooled). I am one mark off of AAA.

If I do get AAA do you think I would have any chance at all of still getting into my original college? am genuinely so desperate I would do anything://

(Thank you)

Reply 844

Rian7

Original post by jneill

That's what I'm asking the admission tutor, is it worth it or should i just apply as an affiliated student because when i spoke to them on the phone thats one of the choices they offered.

I understand that you're trying to help and all of your replies are really helpful but i really feel like to me, you're just taking digs or whatever. :smile:

Reply 845

Rian7

Original post by vincrows

So are you thinking of a transfer even before you started at a university (whichever you decide to start at)?
Why?

It's really extremely rare Cambridge accept transfer from other uni. They only do it in an exceptional circumstance, and it doesn't happen very often at all.

Because my AS circumstances hindered my chances to apply in the first place. I was predicted AAAA and A* in EPQ but the exams did not go accordingly so my chances were gone at that point. I just wanted to get an insight on whether it is a possibility to transfer or should i just stick out to my RG place.

Reply 846

jas_7889

Hi , I hope to apply to study economics at Cambridge. I study maths, economics, geography and biology and achieved AAAB at AS . However for maths my average ums is 81.6 , are there any chances of me applying to study economics at Cambridge

Reply 847

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by SuttonHoo

Hi - I would like to read Classics.
i got AAABB in my core AS subjects (Latin, Economics, GovPol, History and Maths) plus an A in Critical Thinking and an A in General Studies. I'm going for a remark in my History, where I'm only 1 raw mark short of the A grade boundary. My UMS in Latin was 93, and 90 in GovPol. Economics has no UMS but I got 89% raw marks against 71% raw marks for the A grade boundary. When talking about average UMS scores, I have 3 strong AS scores but only 2 of them are UMS; will you look at my top 3 UMS or at the 2 UMS and raw mark? I'm predicted 5 As at A2 and got 11A*s at GCSE - what are my chances?
(Sorry about missing information in my original post!)

Hello and thanks for your question and well done on your results. First of all, I think you need to be careful about not over burdening yourself. You have taken 7 AS Levels including General Studies and Critical Thinking. While I doubt the latter two took much time or thought then will have taken some and taken it away from your other subjects. Equally, there's no need to do five core AS Levels and, if I were to make an educated guess, I suspect that had you done fewer you'd have got straight As. In the end they are your A Levels and I don't mean to preach at you, but I think it's worth thinking for next year about streamlining.

We won't be looking at averages in the same way as previously for English students with any combination of reformed and unreformed A Levels. We will take everything we can into account before making a decision.

Looking at the information you have sent me I can't tell you what your chances are other than to say that I think that you will be a good applicant.

Reply 848

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by mackie1212

1.) Why do you think some perfectly academically able students might underperform at interview?

2.) What's some advice that you might give to reapplicants about how they could improve there chances of an offer the second (or maybe even third!) time around (primarily those interested in studying Medicine, if that makes any difference)?

3.) Since most reapplicants are applying post-A level or equivalent, are their chances of getting an offer slightly better, worse or equal as those who are applying before completing their final exams?

4.) Does being a mature student make any difference in the likelihood of that applicant being made a direct offer or being pooled instead?

Thank you! :smile:

1) There are lots of reasons why a candidate might under perform at interview. We are aware of these things, some of which may be out of the candidate's control, and try to ensure that the interview doesn't bear too much of the load of decision making.

2) If you got feedback from your original application, then look closely at the reasons the college gave why your application was unsuccessful and try to work on those. If the feedback wasn't very detailed, think carefully as what you think were the weaknesses last time and work out how you might address them. For Medicine, however, sometimes one just has to accept that there wasn't more than one could have done, it's just that the competition is so fierce.

3) It depends on their results post A-Level. A person who has met the standard offer is better placed, obviously, than someone who has missed the standard offer but less well placed than someone who has exceeded it. Most successful entrants exceed the offer by at least one grade so the better you have done in your A levels the beer your chances second time around.

4) Mature students are more likely to end up at a mature college but beyond that, no.

Reply 849

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by nao123

For applications to maths, how much weighting is given to the personal statement? Are there any pre-interview tests given to maths applicants this year?

Also, of the students that study maths, what percentage would you say have taken part in BMO1&2 ?

The personal statement is not significant for Maths at Cambridge, what matters is how good you are at Maths and not whether you can write coherent prose.

There is no university pre-interview or at-interview assessment for Maths. A number of colleges have retained their own tests that you would sit at the time of interview. Details about this can be found on the Maths ages of the University's website.

I'm afraid I've no idea what proportion of students have taken part in the BMO - it's not something that has been tracked at a university level.

Reply 850

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by Rian7

Hello there, thank you very much for doing this :smile:

I have called in the admission tutors over at Cambridge and they said that they accept applications (some colleges) and are assessed on a case-by-case method and a very small (i'm thinking handful) are accepted directly to their 2nd year. I told them the grades i have and I'm retaking my LNAT + A2 exams and they said with a glance of what i explained they will be able to assess my application (at least).

My questions are the following:

- Is it worth applying
since i know they usually don't accept transfers but in this case they said some colleges do but i need heavy positive backup form my tutor along with my 1st year grade (upper 2:1/1st) and A2 grades. Not sure how i can convince a tutor to back me fully in a positive way and write me a recommendation letter by the 15th of October when lectures start in the 1st week of October

- Is it advisable to instead try and apply as a affiliated Cambridge student at the end of my 2nd year where i can get a strong reference form tutor plus confirmed 1st year grades.

I know of no colleges that accept transfers into the second year from students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree elsewhere. You need to tell me which admissions tutors you spoke to that said they do this and I can try to find out more.

Affiliated students can be accepted into the second year of Law and complete the degree in two years but must already have an undergraduate degree before they begin.

Reply 851

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by metrize

For engineering should I keep chemistry or do extra mechanics modules?

I do further maths physics and chemistry, for my year 1 I got A* in Maths A2, AA in physics AS and chemistry AS

There's no simple answer to that. Both are helpful for engineering and I wouldn't say one is more helpful than the other. If you are able, and it won;t affect your ability to achieve highly in your other subjects, I'd do both.

Reply 852

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by literaturista

Hi, I got AABB in my AS exams this year, however I know that over the next year I will be able to improve this. I just wanted to ask how much do you look at these grades in comparison to general motivation / personality of an applicant?

We will look at everything we can in order to help us make a decision. Obviously grades are a big part of that as the best (though by no means perfect) predictor of future performance in exams is past performance. Depending on what you want to apply for and in what subjects you got the grades, AABB really doesn't mean that you have no chance, you'll just have to ensure that you are very strong elsewhere in the application.

Reply 853

click101

Hi there,

I was wondering if you could help me out with a few questions regarding gap year applications. I have achieved A*A*A* at A level in mathematics, further mathematics and physics and plan on applying to cambridge for mathematics during my gap year.

1) As most colleges are not keen on mathematics students taking gap years, is there any particular way in which you suggest I should keep up with my maths?

2) Also I have heard that at Cambridge Mathematics and Further Mathematics are treated as a single subject when assessing your UMS marks, does this mean that I would be at a disadvantage with only 3 A-levels and I would preferably have to take up an additional A-level during my gap year to be competitive?

3) Is there a certain UMS average across my subjects or in mathematics and further mathematics specifically that I would need to possess to be considered for an offer?

Thanks in advance

Reply 854

Glamdring5

Hi, and thank you in advance for any response.

My question is, if I am applying to study History, will I be especially disadvantaged with my subject combination of History, Geography and Film Studies? As I understand, Film Studies is considered a 'soft' subject.

Thanks

Reply 855

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by livimagineslife

Hello and thanks for your question and I am glad that your friend found the advice helpful.

Your case is a difficult one as there are clearly indicators pointing in different directions. You have strong predictions and excellent GCSEs and presumably will have a very good reference. On the other side, however, your Class Civ mark is not a high A and a B in French for a language student will obviously cause considerable concern.

Given that there is no pre-interview Assessment in MML, only at-interview, we will have to make a judgement on whether to give you an interview only on the UCAs and SAQ information.

I can't say for certain which way it would go. To be honest, given just what you have told me and not being able to see the whole application, I wouldn't be surprised if you got an offer and I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't get an interview (though I think the former is perhaps slightly more likely than the latter). Yours is one of those tricky in between cases where one needs to see more information before coming to a firm conclusion and why we spend a great deal of time thinking about individual applications.

I'm sorry not to be more forthcoming but I hope that this has shed some light on your situation.

Reply 856

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by jemstar24

Thank you for your reply. Just out of curiosity, Would 94 be alright for a physical nat sci applicant, if they wanted to specialise in straight chemistry later on?

Yes, obviously Maths is important for any scientists but more so on the Physical side. I wouldn't be overly concerned by a Phys Nat Sci with 94 in Maths - it won;t be among the very highest performing maths results but it's still good. Obviously, however, there is much more to a Nat Sci applicant than simply their Maths UMS.

Reply 857

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by family'sfailure

Hello, I think that we corresponded earlier in the thread. Colleges have the opportunity to relax offers if students have missed after we receive the A Level results a few days before you do. Colleges have a further opportunity in the Summer Pool (last Friday) to take students who have missed their offers at other colleges.

At this stage, I think there's no chance of being accepted for this year, even if you end up with AAA. They are only obliged to take you if a remark ensures that you meet the original offer. You can ask them but I would be very surprised if they accepted you.

I am afraid that I think that the only thing you can do is to accept your insurance and enjoy your degree there. I'm really sorry not to offer you more hope - it's a horrible experience missing a Cambridge offer and I wish you the best for the future.

Reply 858

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by Jasminechen

Hello and thanks for your question. I am afraid that 81.6 UMS in Maths (across how many modules?) is going to put you very much on the back foot in an application for Economics where Maths is so important. Obviously I don;t know anything else about your application other than what you have told me but this score means that there is a lot of ground to make up. Sorry not to be more encouraging.

Reply 859

Christ's Admissions

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Original post by click101

Hello and congratulations on your results, well done.

1) Tutoring is a good way of keeping up our Maths. Ask your school if you can help out with some of their AS and A2 Maths students. Practice as much STEP Maths as you can.

2) No, you've done Maths and FM and, as far as Mathematicians are concerned, that's all that matters. The Physics marks will be of some interest but not a huge amount.

3) There's no UMS that will guarantee you an offer but a post A Level Mathematician with less than 90% average across their 12 modules (not in every module) would be struggling I think and this would likely become clear at interview.