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Original post by zacn01
That’s an interesting combination - and good luck for NatSci!! Definitely I’d say English shows to me that you’re a balanced individual :smile:

Thanks, I was a bit undecisive whether to pick another STEM subject, as it would be helpful for NatSci, but I just went with what I enjoy, and it is English, not Maths.

Also @Oxford Mum, I would laugh, if there was an Oxford version of this thread. If not, I'll be happy to start one!:biggrin:
Reply 41
Original post by zacn01


Wanted to start this thread for those who are thinking of applying to

the University of Cambridge in 2021 for entry in 2022!



Even though we're only about to start Year 12, it wouldn't be so much of a bad idea to have a declaration of intent, to come back to every once in a while, or to stake out your competition, anything that can motivate you to be the best applicant possible.
Cambridge isn't the be-all and end-all of things but being aspirational doesn't hurt!
I'll try to update the thread with information & advice, as I'm a stickler for info.
Shamelessly lifted (slightly) from @New Wonder and @tash299792's threads, please reply to this thread introducing yourself:
(Don't worry if you haven't done a lot, this is a year in advance don't forget!)

1) What A Levels are you taking from September (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at Cambridge do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get at GCSE? Are you retaking any?
4) Why Cambridge specifically? and why not Oxford?
5) Which admissions tests do you have to sit, and when will you start preparing for them?
6) What have you done in lockdown to help your studies and potentially your application to Cambridge?
7) What do you want to do with your degree from Cambridge?
8) Have you decided which college you're applying to?


Cambridge's Statement on GCSEs:
There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, but within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were achieved.
Applicants have generally achieved high grades in subjects relevant to their chosen course, and most students who apply have at least four or five 7/8/9s at GCSE (an A is considered equivalent to 7 and an A* is considered equivalent to 8/9). However, there are always exceptions and we don’t require a minimum number of 7/8/9s at GCSE. One of the strengths of the Cambridge admissions system is its ability to assess all applicants individually.
Our research shows that post-16 examination performance is a much better predictor of degree success at Cambridge. While GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, this is within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were attained, and strong performance in Years 12 and 13 can make up for a less stellar performance at GCSE.
September (Virtual) Open Day:
Book your attendance now!
From the Cambridge University website:
On Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September you will have the opportunity ask current students and staff questions in live general, subject and College Q&A sessions. Please note that the live online sessions offered on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September will be broadly the same on both days.

Additionally, from Monday 14 September to Sunday 20 September, you will be able to find out about the University and Colleges by accessing pre-recorded presentations about our courses, the Colleges and departments, the application process, student life, and finance. A programme containing full details will be released in mid-September.


Useful Links/Threads
Oxford Demystified: by @Oxford Mum - A book containing extremely helpful information on how to make your application to Oxford (even when not applying to Oxford, this info can go a long way into making you a stronger application regardless) - also subject chapters written by offer holders detailing (within TSR rules) how they made successful applications to Oxford! Something that will come in handy when we make our applications next year for sure! link

Cambridge Demystified: by @Oxford Mum - For slightly more relevant information pertaining to Cambridge, this is also an invaluable tool that we can use to really 'suss out' how other people have made successful applications. Remember however that thousands of applicants make perfectly valid cases of themselves (without being successful), so this is a guide in the right direction rather than solid law when it comes to our applications. link

General Oxbridge Resources: When it comes to university, not every applicant has equal exposure, therefore it is up to those with the information to divulge it. Kindly, @Oxford Mum has decided to devote a thread for this aforementioned purpose, for the benefit of us prospective Cambridge applicants. link


For all your questions, @Peterhouse Admissions is quite active on this site, and so feel free to

Spoiler

ask them anything regarding admissions and Cambridge in general!


Good luck everyone!!



1. Economics, Modern history, Philosophy
2. Law at Cambridge as I feel like I’ll really get the most out of not only studying but also practicing the law whereas some courses don’t have that 50/50 balance.
3. 99887666 (the 6’s are in maths and science, I’m really sad about them but I don’t know if I should retake or not?)
4. I would rather not be on a school campus I feel like in a city if I want to get away from uni and clear my head it’s easier to do so
5. LNAT, probably next summer
6. I have done wider readings and I have been watching mock interviews on YouTube which I took notes from
7. Hopefully get a training contract at a law firm and eventually become a corporate solicitor or barrister either way I’d be really happy
8. Not yet:smile:
Original post by Oxford Mum
Please do not re-take the 8s, as they are seen as A* too and exactly the same as 9s. Instead concentrate on your A levels and your future course.


I’m just a bit worried as I go to a private school where loads of ppl get loads of 9s and I just want to make my application stronger. I feel like there’s no harm in doing the exams as u can’t get worse than before but I understand what you’re saying about not disrupting my a levels as that is also one of my worries. I do feel like only doing one exam won’t really disrupt it too much though but I’m still not entirely sure
Reply 43
1) What A Levels are you taking from September (or other eligible qualifications)?

> Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Economics + may do a Cambridge Pre-U (Italian)

2) What course at Cambridge do you have your eyes on? And why?

> I'm pretty final on veterinary medicine, just because that's the best course for me. I started off thinking that I could've directly jumped into an equine related degree from the beginning, but I think this course in particular will benefit the most, as I can still specialise in equine vet med later on.

3) What grades did you get at GCSE? Are you retaking any?

> 9999999988D*A*, no I am not, although I'm pretty disappointed with the 8 in chemistry :frown:

4) Why Cambridge specifically? and why not Oxford?

> Oxford doesn't offer vet med, but also, since the beginning of secondary school I've always found Cambridge so interesting.

5) Which admissions tests do you have to sit, and when will you start preparing for them?

> ‘Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment’ , to be honest I don't know much about it, although I have seen past papers so I'll probably begin this year.

6) What have you done in lockdown to help your studies and potentially your application to Cambridge?

> Small things to boost my CV and increase interview material, including both iDEA awards, Google Analytics courses (beginner and advanced, with official certificate), BHS qualifications and I've attended a Cambridge Webinar on Downing College and a week's worth of induction days for Cambridge too. I have also joined a mentoring programme :cute:

7) What do you want to do with your degree from Cambridge?

> I'm not sure what year you can choose to go the equine route, but I'll be doing that and hopefully at the end of the 6 years (if I decide to go Cambridge 100% and they accept me) I'll do an internship at an equine hospital or something similar and specialise in something like ophthalmology!

8) Have you decided which college you're applying to?

> I'm not sure, but Downing is appealing :yep:
(edited 3 years ago)
Having seen what you all have done, I feel vastly underprepared!!
Original post by zacn01
Having seen what you all have done, I feel vastly underprepared!!

I know right. Everyone's else's repertoire is amazing, and compared to them, I feel like I have done quite little.
Original post by macy_m
1) What A Levels are you taking from September (or other eligible qualifications)?

> Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Economics + may do a Cambridge Pre-U (Italian)

2) What course at Cambridge do you have your eyes on? And why?

> I'm pretty final on veterinary medicine, just because that's the best course for me. I started off thinking that I could've directly jumped into an equine related degree from the beginning, but I think this course in particular will benefit the most, as I can still specialise in equine vet med later on.

3) What grades did you get at GCSE? Are you retaking any?

> 9999999988D*A*, no I am not, although I'm pretty disappointed with the 8 in chemistry :frown:

4) Why Cambridge specifically? and why not Oxford?

> Oxford doesn't offer vet med, but also, since the beginning of secondary school I've always found Cambridge so interesting.

5) Which admissions tests do you have to sit, and when will you start preparing for them?

> ‘Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment’ , to be honest I don't know much about it, although I have seen past papers so I'll probably begin this year.

6) What have you done in lockdown to help your studies and potentially your application to Cambridge?

> Small things to boost my CV, including both iDEA awards, Google Analytics courses (beginner and advanced, with official certificate), BHS qualifications and I've attended a Cambridge Webinar on Downing College and a week's worth of induction days for Cambridge too. I have also joined a mentoring programme :cute:

7) What do you want to do with your degree from Cambridge?

> I'm not sure what year you can choose to go the equine route, but I'll be doing that and hopefully at the end of the 6 years (if I decide to go Cambridge 100% and they accept me) I'll do an internship at an equine hospital or something similar and specialise in something like ophthalmology!

8) Have you decided which college you're applying to?

> I'm not sure, but Downing is appealing :yep:

I was considering doing a Pre U, but on the Cambridge Pre U website doesn't reveal much information.
Reply 47
Original post by Bookworm_88
I was considering doing a Pre U, but on the Cambridge Pre U website doesn't reveal much information.

the only reason i may is bc its my mother tongue so i don't need revision, all they say is that they want Distinction i believe
Original post by macy_m
the only reason i may is bc its my mother tongue so i don't need revision, all they say is that they want Distinction i believe

Do you know how these courses exactly work?
Reply 50
Original post by Bookworm_88
Do you know how these courses exactly work?

not sure
Original post by Bookworm_88
Thanks, I was a bit undecisive whether to pick another STEM subject, as it would be helpful for NatSci, but I just went with what I enjoy, and it is English, not Maths.

Also @Oxford Mum, I would laugh, if there was an Oxford version of this thread. If not, I'll be happy to start one!:biggrin:

Would recommend that you do at least an AS in maths to strengthen an application for natural sciences. :smile:
Original post by macy_m
1) What A Levels are you taking from September (or other eligible qualifications)?

> Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Economics + may do a Cambridge Pre-U (Italian)

2) What course at Cambridge do you have your eyes on? And why?

> I'm pretty final on veterinary medicine, just because that's the best course for me. I started off thinking that I could've directly jumped into an equine related degree from the beginning, but I think this course in particular will benefit the most, as I can still specialise in equine vet med later on.

3) What grades did you get at GCSE? Are you retaking any?

> 9999999988D*A*, no I am not, although I'm pretty disappointed with the 8 in chemistry :frown:

4) Why Cambridge specifically? and why not Oxford?

> Oxford doesn't offer vet med, but also, since the beginning of secondary school I've always found Cambridge so interesting.

5) Which admissions tests do you have to sit, and when will you start preparing for them?

> ‘Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment’ , to be honest I don't know much about it, although I have seen past papers so I'll probably begin this year.

6) What have you done in lockdown to help your studies and potentially your application to Cambridge?

> Small things to boost my CV, including both iDEA awards, Google Analytics courses (beginner and advanced, with official certificate), BHS qualifications and I've attended a Cambridge Webinar on Downing College and a week's worth of induction days for Cambridge too. I have also joined a mentoring programme :cute:

7) What do you want to do with your degree from Cambridge?

> I'm not sure what year you can choose to go the equine route, but I'll be doing that and hopefully at the end of the 6 years (if I decide to go Cambridge 100% and they accept me) I'll do an internship at an equine hospital or something similar and specialise in something like ophthalmology!

8) Have you decided which college you're applying to?

> I'm not sure, but Downing is appealing :yep:

Is there a location in UCAS for your CV or are you boosting your CV for work experience next year? Also would you recommend iDEA for Engineering and hoe big of a time investment is it for it to be noteworthy?
Reply 53
Original post by ScienceApply_22
Is there a location in UCAS for your CV or are you boosting your CV for work experience next year? Also would you recommend iDEA for Engineering and hoe big of a time investment is it for it to be noteworthy?

i think for work experience, forgot to add for interview material too!! It took me like 1 day, just do it in general
Hi, I'm rosie.

1. I'm taking latin, math, chemistry, and bio. (and EPQ)
2. Medicine
3. Seven nines, 3 eights. I plan to retake math, chem, and phys (the ones which were eights).
4. I'd like to know my BMAT score before applying which you can't do for oxford
5. BMAT, I'll properly start in January. possibly UCAT as well but undecided atm.
6. Online work experience, started my EPQ, secured work exp for October, reading, working for a science journal, studying piano theory for tests later in the year, writing about climate change for a charity
7. Go into the NHS
8. I'm thinking Christ
Original post by Oxford Mum
That's right. Oxford only takes 150 students per year, and they use the BMAT to narrow selection down until once you get to interview, you have a one in three chance of getting a place. The Cambridge offer will be higher, though. For Oxford it's A*AA and for Cambridge A*A*A.

Gonville and Caius has quite the reputation for medicine and offers more than 30 places. Expect competition to be high.

Despite all this, any Cambridge college will be excellent for medicine.

How do you do virtual work experience though? I'm intrigued. And writing medical articles? What about? And where do you get them published?


I did a virtual internship by InvestIN education, which had a virtual ward round and GP consultation. I also did the BSMS virtual work experience, which was a bit like an online course. There is an online magazine which I write for about topics like antibiotic resistance, covid-19, cloning, etc.

Just wanted to ask: although I have my eyes set on Cambridge, I was wondering if it would be better applying to Oxford, considering my high GCSE grades. Obviously Oxford have a much higher weighting on GCSEs. Would it be a waste if I applied to Cambridge instead?
Original post by Paralove
Would recommend that you do at least an AS in maths to strengthen an application for natural sciences. :smile:


But the only issue with that is that I know that even an AS in maths will be an Achilles heel in my application, compared with anything else.
Original post by ScienceApply_22
Yeah, Pembroke had one of the lowest offer rates for engineering this year with 12%! On this website it says that Emmanuel and Pembroke (both are my "shortlisted" colleges) had 11 and 7 Pool Offers by Other Colleges respectively: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics
Does this mean that 11 of the 147 applicants got offers by other colleges and that 19 were still made directly by Emmanuel?
Also, would you say that e.g. Trinity as one of the most known colleges gets many of the strongest applicants? The offer rate seems to always be high and I was wondering if that is because it is so big and has such good applicants. Trinity is another of my shortlisted colleges but I might steer away due to how huge it is and a few other factors.


Maths is not my strong point and wouldn't like to comment on this! @Doones is the stats expert. I just provide the encouragement.

Wouldn't like to recommend one college over the other, and as you can see, even if you apply to another college, if you can't get in to your first choice, if you are still a great candidate, you may be pooled.

There are so many fantastic candidates for Oxbridge places, and unfortunately not enough places to go round.
Original post by Bookworm_88
Thanks, I was a bit undecisive whether to pick another STEM subject, as it would be helpful for NatSci, but I just went with what I enjoy, and it is English, not Maths.

Also @Oxford Mum, I would laugh, if there was an Oxford version of this thread. If not, I'll be happy to start one!:biggrin:

There isn't an Oxford 2022 version yet, no.
Original post by Bookworm_88
I know right. Everyone's else's repertoire is amazing, and compared to them, I feel like I have done quite little.

It's very, very early days yet, as Zac says. Don't worry about what the others have done, ever, never mind at this stage! Just do what you feel comfortable doing.

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