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Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

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Original post by egypt94

Hi, sorry for the postgrad question but I was wondering if you have admissions stats for postgrad applications/acceptances to Peterhouse (History in particular). Also, I don't know if this is your area or not, but would a current undergrad average of 67% have a reasonable chance of getting an offer for a history masters?

Hi, postgraduate admissions are dealt with slightly differently to undergrad with Departments and the Board of Graduate Studies being the main point of assessment. I'd suggest you email them, or you can try my colleagues at [email protected].

(edited 8 years ago)

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Original post by to4ka

In the main uni website it says you accept the CAE exam grade B, as well as IELTS 7.5. But what happens if you have taken CAE 3-4 years before applying (and get a B)? Would you still accept it? And do conditional offers always include IELTS/CPE/etc. (talking about international applicants)?

Before interview, we would want to see some evidence of English language ability and this may be something like a previous qualification, study of English at school or IELTS at a lower grade. At interview, your English language ability will be assessed. If there are any concerns, an IELTS condition would be added to any conditional offer made. We only set IELTS conditions where there are legitimate concerns (or for things like where we can't assess writing ability if there's no written elements to the interviews) as we recognise that taking IELTS is a commitment of time, energy and money.

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Original post by ComputerMaths97

Could you please tell me the possible flags that come up next to an applicant and also explain each of them in a bit more detail? I'm being given conflicting answers from "Non-official" sources :biggrin:

:biggrin:

Thank you!

I think @vincrows has posted what you need! Let me know if anything isn't clear.

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Original post by Lesmisgirl

Thank you for your information. How do flags work for EU and overseas applicants?

There wouldn't be any socioeconomic data unless you live in the UK, and similarly no schools data unless you've studied at a UK school so the only flags would be the individual ones such as extenuating circumstances or a disability.

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Original post by danncfc11

Hi,
I'm predicted A*A*A* and I want to apply for History. Only problem is my History UMS at AS was quite low (84%). Would that be a problem for me?

If you're on track for A*AA then it needn't be a problem.

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Original post by katzecacao

Hello Peterhouse admissions,
I would like to apply for chemical engineering and I have done 2 AS Level: Mathematics (86%) and Chemistry (89%) :frown:

:frown:

I am planning to take A2 Mathematics and Chemistry and A Level Physics, and my teacher predicted me A*A*A
I was just wondering, do I still have a chance to be admitted to Cambridge? Do you have any advice ? :s-smilie:

:s-smilie:

So you'd be taking all 6 modules of Physics in a year? Does your school offer Further Maths? Which route into Chemical Engineering interests you?

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by mja2106

How much of an advantage is conferred by doing 4 a levels?

I would be applying for engineering, with Maths, Further maths, Physics and Computing - I'm thinking of dropping computing as I really don't enjoy it and I'm already stressed about the coursework.

My AS UMS average was 99.3% across Maths, FM and physics. I also got an A in computing.

Typical offers for Engineering are based on 3 A levels (A*A*A) with physics, maths, further maths a great combination. We only expect you to be taking 3 A levels in year 13 (so excluding any taken early) and it is far better to excel in 3 than to do less well in 4. Remember that some Colleges (such as Peterhouse) do sometimes set STEP conditions for Engineering, so you want to be sure you have time to prepare for that. Do check with other universities you're applying to - they may prefer 4.

(edited 8 years ago)

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by econam

Hi and thanks for the thread :smile:

:smile:

I hate to ask one of these questions but I'm thinking of applying for Economics and was wondering if I have a realistic chance at an offer or even an interview?

4A* 7A at GCSE and for AS my UMS scores are - Maths 270/300 F Maths 257/300 Economics 192/200 Geography 166/200. All from an average state school.

Thanks in advance

Hi, we aim to interview all realistic applicants and there's a good likelihood you would be interviewed. However, Economics is very competitive and I can't really say any more until we've seen you full application and how it compares with the gathered field across the University. You are not an unrealistic candidates, but perhaps not one of the strongest on paper.

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Original post by Ayooo

Hi, I just wanted to ask how competitive the music course is at Cambridge in general? Do most applicants get to atleast interview stage when they apply?
Do certain subject combos matter when applying for music or is having music A-level all we need? I know i'll be doing english and two other sciences.
Would I have to be on grade 8 on my main instrument by the time I apply?

Hi, most applicants to all courses are interviewed (generally between 85 and 99% of them), provided they are realistic (studying a suitable combination of subjects and on track for the typical offer conditions). Music A level and an essay subject like English is a good combination. More information on our entry requirements can be found on our website.

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by thedylanman

Hi. I asked the same question to the Christ's tutor but am keen to see what your response would be since if I applied to Cambridge, I would apply to Peterhouse. I want to apply for medicine and achieved the following AS UMS percentages:
Maths + FMaths: 95.857....%
Physics: 94.6666....%
Chemistry: 86.6666...%
Biology: 80.3333....%.
This gives me a UMS average of 92% in best three. However, I was concerned that due to low scores in biology and chemistry which are of course the most relevant for medicine, how would I fare as an applicant? I decided not to apply but my teachers are still encouraging me to with these results. I understand that a high BMAT score can compensate but want to know what kind of scores are required to compensate. Thank you.

It's difficult to say how you'd fare without seeing your full application and how you compare to all applicants in Medicine across the University. As you mention, BMAT is important too. There's no particular weighting applied so there isn't any exact way that interview scores or BMAT results compensate for lower UMS. I think that lower UMS in Chemistry and Biology would be concerning, but wouldn't immediately rule you out. However, do bear in mind that most Medical students exceed the conditional offer (the average this year at Peterhouse is a little over 3 A*s each).

Original post by Peterhouse Admissions

Hi, most applicants to all courses are interviewed (generally between 85 and 99% of them), provided they are realistic (studying a suitable combination of subjects and on track for the typical offer conditions). Music A level and an essay subject like English is a good combination. More information on our entry requirements can be found on our website.

Would you need to be on grade 8 on your main instrument?

Original post by Peterhouse Admissions

So you'd be taking all 6 modules of Physics in a year? Does your school offer Further Maths? Which route into Chemical Engineering interests you?

Yes, I will take all 6 physics modules in a year
Unfortunately my school doesn't offer further maths :frown:

:frown:

I'd ike to take the NatSci route

I once read that Cambridge rejected someone for having a math UMS of 84%
Considering that my math UMS is just 86%, is there really a chance for me to get in to Cambridge?
How much actually does the UMS thingy affect my application?

(edited 8 years ago)

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by simbasdragon

I'm interested in studying English at Peterhouse but I'm unsure of my chances.

Gcse:4A*,4A,2B
AS level:
History -89% ums
English lit -88%ums
RS-86%
Classics-86%.
So my top 3 average is only 88%, and i'd appreciate it if you were entirely blunt with me about my chances of getting an interview and/or offer.
Would i be in the lowest cohort and be sifted out immediately?

Thanks.

We aim to interview all candidates on track for the typical offer conditions and studying a suitable combination of subjects. You wouldn't have the highest scores, but I'd be surprised if you were the lowest. You are not an unrealistic applicant, but to say more we'd need to see your full application and how it compares with others.

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Original post by Hydeman

For science subjects, it's not the best three that count, it's the most relevant three. So you would have to include biology and chemistry in the calculation, I'm afraid...

'Most relevant' just means best 3 science/maths subjects.

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Original post by lreejigfredks

Hi!

Do Natural Sciences applicants for Peterhouse have to sit a test for admissions?

Also do these grades give me a good chance of receiving an offer?:
Physics - 92%
Maths - 99%
Chemistry - 91%
French - 92%

Thankyou! :smile:

:smile:

No test unless you're being interviewed overseas. Those scores are good. In terms of chances of an offer, that depends on many other things!

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Original post by thedylanman

No it isn't for medicine it's the best three.

No, it's SUMS (best 3 sciences/maths).

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Original post by Sajabajax

Firstly thank you for this thread!

I am applying to study law, do my grades give me a possible chance of getting an interview?

GCSE's: (taken at an underachieving school)
5A*'s, 4A's and 1C

AS results: (taken after moving to a grammar school)
History = A
Politics = A
Philosophy = A
Biology = A
My average UMS percentage is 95%

Very likely/certain to be interviewed. Remember we aim to interview over 85% of our applicants.

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by dk3

Hi!
I have a UMS related question for Economics.
I got an A* in maths in year 12 but my UMS average across my top 3 is 93.7 (94.3 - maths 92- economics 94 for physics). I understand this lies roughly around the average for economics applicants, however, will having an A* in maths already lead to a considerable increase in my application's competitiveness?
I got 10A* and an A at GCSE and will be doing further maths this year. How competitive will my application be as an estimate?

thank you

Don't worry about UMS averages! :smile:

:smile:

I imagine you're likely to be interviewed and you would have a competitive application.

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by albaboludalopez

Hello, I visited Cambridge during the July open day and fell in love with Peterhouse the moment I got there. Nevertheless, although content with my results I'm not sure if I have any realistic chance to get in or if I'm "Cambridge material". I would like to study economics. My results are these:
IGCSE: 6 A*, 3 A
AS level:
- Geography B (dropping it for A2)
- History A (83% average)
- Economics A (87% average)
- Maths A (87% average)
- Spanish A (98% average)
I'm expecting A*A*AA as predictions for this year.
Also, I wanted to ask to what extent the lack of further maths weakens my application, and whether spanish a-level counts given that I'm actually Spanish :colondollar:

:colondollar:

. Thank you in advance.

Hi, glad to hear you liked our open days!

If you're a native speaker of a language then we don't consider your result as part of your assessment. I'm afraid your results are a little borderline for a subject as competitive as Economics and there's a chance you wouldn't be invited to interview were you to apply. Sorry I can't be more encouraging.

Peterhouse Admissions

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Original post by Lisb

Hi. I want to apply to history for 2017 entry. I am taking maths, further maths, physics and history at A-Level. Is this combination acceptable, or will the lack of a second essay-based subject alongside history hinder my application?
Thanks :biggrin:

:biggrin:

Hi, that's an unorthodox mix of subjects, but your application would certainly be considered. You should be aware that you will be competing with applicants with several historically-based subjects.

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