Applying to imperial: grades?

To assume the best applicant is the one who gets As in all modules first time around is a little ignorant considering different situations can cause the brightest of students to receive a B in a module, and if hypothetically an applicant received over 90% in all modules but messed up and got a B in what is often considered an irrelevant module in Decision maths (I don't actually know whether decision maths modules are irrelevant to university maths but that does seem to be the consensus among people on TSR and in school) is it fair to assume this person is less able than other math applicants? I’m not here to criticise IC it is obviously a good university for mathematics, however the policy of all As in all modules without the option of retaking was quite a shock and I most certainly know that I am not the only person who feels this way.

That's true in a way. Although the best applicant isn't necessarily the one who consistently gets the highest UMS, because they don't seem to interview during their selection process, it's the only black and white method of academic distinction between the bright and not so bright.

That's true in a way. Although the best applicant isn't necessarily the one who consistently gets the highest UMS, because they don't seem to interview during their selection process, it's the only black and white method of academic distinction between the bright and not so bright.

Instead of setting silly requirements like asking for loads of A's in maths modules, the should make STEP (which is a FAR better indicator of mathematical ability) compulsory, just like Cambridge and Warwick.

Instead of setting silly requirements like asking for loads of A's in maths modules, the should make STEP (which is a FAR better indicator of mathematical ability) compulsory, just like Cambridge and Warwick.

Well in my computing interview they only asked questions on maths. Probably because I didn't do A-levelk Computing. They asked me questions from AS Maths, and they would have asked me about induction if I did FM as well.
I don't know much about JMC interviews but they should be along the same vein as the Copmuting ones, because not everyone will have done Computing A-level.
They teach all the computing stuff from scratch anyway, but Maths really is the key A-level.

Thanks, I think i'll be applying for that course.

Well in my computing interview they only asked questions on maths. Probably because I didn't do A-levelk Computing. They asked me questions from AS Maths, and they would have asked me about induction if I did FM as well.
I don't know much about JMC interviews but they should be along the same vein as the Copmuting ones, because not everyone will have done Computing A-level.
They teach all the computing stuff from scratch anyway, but Maths really is the key A-level.

Imperial would have to make lots of offers to compensate for those who didn't quite make the mark on STEP.

Because A-level computing is balls. I know I did it.

Why is that a problem? All they have to do is adopt a new admissions policy, giving out offers to most people they believe have the potential to do well in both their A-levels and STEP.

does anyone know if I do a maths and computer science Bsc can I do a masters in just maths?

Exactly. From what I've heard from friends that actually did it, you learn a bit about computer architecture and do a bit of Delphi and Basic, but apart from that it's pretty mundane.

Fields medallists rarely mean anything (unless there are lots of them in a given department, which is not Imperial's case), it's always good to have them but they represent more outstanding research by one indiviual than that of the department. By the way Donaldson, one of Imperial's Field medalists, did his award winning research at Oxford.

You are right in saying that there's not much between those four unis, though I would personally rank them as follows: Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Imperial. Most mathematicians would agree with this I believe.

Google COWI mathematics and you will find many comparisons.

Unless you go to a private school i wouldn't bother if i was you.
I got good grades in my AS levels all AABB (maths physics french economics respectively) My subjects were relevent to the course i applied for (civil engineering) I was predicted AAA for my a-levels. I got invited for an interview (so my personal statement must have been good enough), which in my opion went really well. BUt i still got rejected. They didnt say why, so the only thing i can think of would be that i go to a state school and not a private school. Which, if you think about it, doesn't makes sense becuase, admittidly, the teaching in state schools is worse compared to teaching in private schools, therefore someone getting an A grade is a particular subject in a state school is actually better than someone getting an A grade in the same subject in a private school.

But besides, why do you wanna go to imperial? You would have much more fun at other unis