The Official 2017 Cambridge Applicants Thread [part 3]

tbh I'm still unsure about my subject choice - that's why I wanted to do natural sciences so badly, because of the choice and freedom you get I'm not too sure about HSPS but I think it has the same amount of choice on the humanities side, so definitely something to think about

@jneill - hoping you may know the answer to this... I have read that the uni4 bus that stops outside Homerton is ceasing - I understand that there are other buses - albeit more expensive - that stop outside the college ... do you know if these buses will take you to the pure maths buildings? I've tried googling but to no avail


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I'm going down in my Sherlock T-Shirt so I hope there's a Sherlock loving DOS that will give me a few brownie points thanks guys!!

I'll keep you all updated on here if you want I'll turn it into a mini diary (since nobody else is really doing much on here) and keep you all updated with my travels only if you guys want/if I'd be allowed

if not ill do it on my GYG thread

HE loves it.

I'm at that stage where I'm entertaining the idea of reapplying for HSPS - don't know if this is a good thing. Hmmm...

I just feel like I would be heavily judged by school and by my teachers reapplying and asking for references

Yup. And only if you exceed the typical offer.

Yeah it means you automatically get an interview. But as it's been said before, it's better to be pooled by merit rather than just get auto-pooled.

It could be due to school rank & type (eg failing comp), which wouldn't surprise me as Bristol have started implementing one grade reduced offers for state school students in low-performing areas (although Oxbridge doesn't seem to do this yet). Or it could be that they think A*A*A is too ambitious but really want you.

Yeah, I hate having to tell people. Me and my friend were so nervous and about 2 minutes after I opened the email in school, she came up to me and asked what the news was (she had already received her offer) and I thought I was okay until I told her I was rejected and I had to consciously stop myself from crying, like I could feel it welling up and I was thinking "woah what is happening, do not cry in school, please please please"... I didn't think I would be so affected.

Around 30 people from my school got offers so I've had to sit through groups of people all around me getting super excited for life at Oxbridge over the past few days and planning out what they're going to do while I just have to sit there and overhear it all. Luckily the majority of them have been considerate enough to not be constantly shouting about it but there's a few who have zero tact. I understand the excitement and I am genuinely so pleased for everyone but I can't lie that it does feel like rubbing salt into a raw wound. I guess that's more my problem than theirs though.

My older brother and everyone else at his old secondary school were told they weren't Oxbridge material so he never applied and regrets it now. For that reason, he was eager for me to not make the same mistake and he sort of guided me through the whole thing and advised me on how to make my application as strong as possible. I feel like I've let him down. Same with my parents. They keep saying I haven't but I know deep down they're disappointed and it's so upsetting.

I'm at that stage where I'm entertaining the idea of reapplying for HSPS - don't know if this is a good thing. Hmmm...

I can't wait until I start studying at Durham, because by then it will be too late to apply. It would only be in the circumstance that I decide econ isn't for me (before actually doing econ) and I have A*A*A+.

I'm really looking forward to Durham, don't get me wrong, but rejection (like with many) is making me question subject choice.

For a gap year, I guess I could work for an MP or/and help out at a school with politics and history.

I just feel like I would be heavily judged by school and by my teachers reapplying and asking for references

Maybe Newnham, if she's (he?) female. That's where Plath went!

So for Cambridge this would be A*A*A for humanities and A*A*A* for science? And for Oxford this would be A*AA for most humanities and A*A*A for most sciences? Would it matter whether the A* was in a subject relevant to what you wanted to study if humanities?

Yeah it means you automatically get an interview. But as it's been said before, it's better to be pooled by merit rather than just get auto-pooled.

How does auto-pooling work for no AS?

I'm not too sure though, I'm considering asking for feedback even though I got an offer as the admissions tutor asked for a personal written reply in my offer letter?
Do you think they'll give me some?

No. The offer is your feedback

Ask your DoS about it when you go up.

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If we miss the offer, are we allowed to ask for feedback then
Even if I do, I'm not going to have the balls to ask them how I got in after that interview 😂

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Yes to all that.