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Cambridge Overseas interview!~

Hey guys,
I am an overseas student applying for Mathematics.. I was just wondering, do you need to take an extra exam if you are to have an interview in China/Singapore? (not referring to the STEP papers) This is what it says on the Word documnets:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/

Also is it extra harder to get into Cambridge as an overseas student? (ie if the interview is conducted overseas)

Thanks a lot
Reply 1
Avatar for Zhen Lin
Zhen Lin
12
I don't think it is harder... but on the other hand, I think all (four) of the Malaysians in my year who are doing Mathematics were interviewed in Cambridge. There were two in the year above who were interviewed in Malaysia, however.
Reply 2
Avatar for DiRai[Zera]
DiRai[Zera]
OP
Zhen Lin
I don't think it is harder... but on the other hand, I think all (four) of the Malaysians in my year who are doing Mathematics were interviewed in Cambridge. There were two in the year above who were interviewed in Malaysia, however.


Sorry just one more question please,
Is there an additional test one needs to take, if interviewed overseas?
I'm not actually at university yet - but it's easier to get into a university as an overseas student believe it or not, because although it might not seem fair, universities want as much diversity within the student body as possible based on the belief that students will perform better which isn't really the case. So if anything, you have higher chances than those who actually live in the Uk (including myself)

Good luck :redface:)
Reply 4
Avatar for Swiffy
Swiffy
1
:O really? not for medicine though- I've heard the UK govt sets a certain quota for amount of medics to be admitted each year.
OP- from what i've heard, for some subjects it is definitely better to go to Cambridge for the interview, though officially, it shouldn't make a difference.
When interviewed overseas, the interviewer is not necessarily from the college you applied to. They are part of the international team. When you have your interview, they write up their comments and recommendations, which then gets sent off to the college you applied. The college will then review it along with other candidates interviewed in the UK.

However, bear in mind that getting interviewed overseas means that you'll only have one 30 minute interview, not two or three you will get going to the UK. Having more interviews mean that it's less risky.
I was originally going to have it in Malaysia but it clashed with an exam so I ended up going to the UK instead. I was happy about how things ended up...my college looked so pretty!
Reply 5
Avatar for Zhen Lin
Zhen Lin
12
For Medicine (and Dentistry and Vet. Med.), yes, there is a quota on non-EU students.
It's only harder for medics I think. When I did my overseas interview in Malaysia I didn't have to do any extra examine. But I think my other friends who weren't applying for medicine had to take the TSA or something (they applied for engineering and economy or something like that)
Reply 7
Avatar for jjarvis
jjarvis
14
TheDarKnight
I'm not actually at university yet - but it's easier to get into a university as an overseas student believe it or not, because although it might not seem fair, universities want as much diversity within the student body as possible based on the belief that students will perform better which isn't really the case. So if anything, you have higher chances than those who actually live in the Uk (including myself)

Good luck :redface:)


I don't think this is actually true at Oxford or Cambridge. Other places, fees matter quite a bit and they will sometimes accept overseas applicants with marginally lower marks than domestic applicants. But I don't think Oxford and Cambridge give preferential offers to overseas applicants.

I think this is in part because they interview everyone, and they have to teach the people they accept. They wouldn't reject a brighter student simply because they would get more money--tutors make the admissions decisions, not the finance office. LSE, on the other hand, is jampacked with overseas students.
Oh well, these are all speculations though aren't they? Cambridge and Oxford are never going to tell us exactly whether they prefer overseas students & why. According to the 2008~9 student numbers statistics though (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2009-10/special/04/studentnumbers0809.pdf page 6) there were 1291 overseas out of 12145 total undergraduates, so that gives you about 10.6% overseas. I guess that's about how much we know :biggrin: the rest is simply speculation.
Reply 9
Avatar for Verden
Verden
TheDarKnight
I'm not actually at university yet - but it's easier to get into a university as an overseas student believe it or not, because although it might not seem fair, universities want as much diversity within the student body as possible based on the belief that students will perform better which isn't really the case. So if anything, you have higher chances than those who actually live in the Uk (including myself)

Good luck :redface:)


Umm not really. I would say the application process is sometimes harder when you apply overseas. I only got one interview, as compared to UK applicants who get 2 (?), the interviewers were not necessarily from my college OR from the field I want to study (I was interviewed by a biologist from Pembroke and a mathematician from some other college - I applied to PPS), I had to sit an exam that the UK applicants at my college did not have to do, I had to submit extra written work, and I had to apply even earlier than the UK applicants.
That being said, whether they in the admissions process prefer overseas students, I don't know. We might have an advantage, but then again we have also been through a longer selection in terms of interview and exams. I doubt Cambridge would select students just for the "diversity" - they obviously want students who are capable of doing a Cambridge degree. If these students happen to bring diversity on top of that, well then thats great I guess.

(Then again, I doubt how much diversity I'm bringing --- I applied overseas, but I go on Home fees and will be a Home student).

ultramarine

According to the 2008~9 student numbers statistics though (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/...umbers0809.pdf page 6) there were 1291 overseas out of 12145 total undergraduates, so that gives you about 10.6% overseas. I guess that's about how much we know the rest is simply speculation.

I think 10% international students is pretty common for many UK universities, and the percentage you would find at most unis ... correct me if I'm wrong.
Cambridge doesn't select for the money like some schools do ... I applied from overseas, but I go on Home fees - therefore they will get the same money from me, as they would from a UK student.
Verden

Cambridge doesn't select for the money like some schools do ... I applied from overseas, but I go on Home fees - therefore they will get the same money from me, as they would from a UK student.


Haha that sounds right. I mean, Cambridge is rich :biggrin: a few more thousand pounds probably wouldn't make so much difference to them

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