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MPhil in Management at Cambridge - What are my odds?

wa.wa.

Hi! =) I'm from Canada and this is my first post on TSR! To explain my situation briefly, I'm a 4th year undergraduate student majoring in Economics at UBC (University of British Columbia). Up until today, I had my eyes set on a 9-month business management masters program provided by my university for non-business majors; but today, I've come across basically the same program, but offered at the prestigious Cambridge University - MPhil in Management.

I currently have a 4.0 GPA, but I haven't really made any achievements other than that... so I guess the chances of me getting into this program are close to zero.

How can I make my application stand out from the others? Would I have a better chance if I had a double-major or if I had gone on exchange? (I did do a student exchange program in Japan in my 3rd year.) If I can improve my odds by taking 1 extra year to make my application look more appealing, I'm willing to do it!

Please, any information you may have would be kindly appreciated!! =)

Reply 1

chocolat321

16

You have an outstanding academic record, which is obviously the main requirement to get into any programme at Cambridge.You also meet the other requirements, like having a degree that is not in Management.
So what you really need to do is show why you are a good candidate for the programme, and why it will help you achieve your goals.

You can strengthen your application by taking the GMAT/GRE, as the link says.

http://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/mphil_management/apply/requirements.html

Reply 2

prospectivEEconomist

16

I'm wondering the same. Obviously Cambridge stipulate a First in your undergraduate degree, but how much do they care for internship/work experience? I would hope that my 4 internships would counteract my high 2.1/ borderline First; does anyone know if this would be true?

Reply 3

chocolat321

16

prospectivEEconomist

I'm wondering the same. Obviously Cambridge stipulate a First in your undergraduate degree, but how much do they care for internship/work experience? I would hope that my 4 internships would counteract my high 2.1/ borderline First; does anyone know if this would be true?

What's your percentage?

Reply 4

prospectivEEconomist

16

chocolat321

What's your percentage?

68%, which if I maintain in my final year would be rounded up to a First.

Reply 5

chocolat321

16

prospectivEEconomist

68%, which if I maintain in my final year would be rounded up to a First.

You do have a chance, imo. And the internships should definitely boost your application. Extracurriculars don't really count, but relevant internships probably will to an extent, especially to show that you're actually interested/are a suitable candidate.

Reply 6

wa.wa.

OP

Thanks for your reply!
I still have a few more courses I need to complete before I finish my degree, and my biggest fear is doing poorly on these courses and causing my GPA to drop drastically. I see that the minimum requirement is 3.7, but would a 3.7 alone be enough to get in?
I will definitely be taking the GMAT! =)

Reply 7

prospectivEEconomist

16

wa.wa.

Thanks for your reply!
I still have a few more courses I need to complete before I finish my degree, and my biggest fear is doing poorly on these courses and causing my GPA to drop drastically. I see that the minimum requirement is 3.7, but would a 3.7 alone be enough to get in? I will definitely be taking the GMAT! =)

Obviously not. There will be a lot of people like me who are borderliner 3.7 but with a lot of relevant internships.

Reply 8

chocolat321

16

wa.wa.

Thanks for your reply!
I still have a few more courses I need to complete before I finish my degree, and my biggest fear is doing poorly on these courses and causing my GPA to drop drastically. I see that the minimum requirement is 3.7, but would a 3.7 alone be enough to get in?
I will definitely be taking the GMAT! =)

A 3.7 GPA is a minimum requirement, so that alone will not get you a place on the programme.
Take the GMAT, and try to get a score over 700.
You plan to apply soon, right, and not after finishing your degree?
If so, you'll be applying with your 1st, 2nd and 3rd year grades, and hence with the current GPA.

Reply 9

wa.wa.

OP

Thank you for all the helpful info =)

Just one more question: I know that my university looks only at the grades of the most recent 30 credits completed in undergrad; does Cambridge do the same? or do they look at all undergrad grades?

Reply 10

beefmaster

16

wa.wa.

Thank you for all the helpful info =)

Just one more question: I know that my university looks only at the grades of the most recent 30 credits completed in undergrad; does Cambridge do the same? or do they look at all undergrad grades?

they look at your whole transcript.

Reply 11

Warrior King

17

Hi there.

I'm interested in applying for MPhil Management course at Cambridge which I'd like to study after finishing my medical degree (and prior to my foundation years). I'm keen on doing an MBA and whilst some places will consider me without work experience (given that other factors are strengthened) Cambridge have said they won't consider anyone for the MBA programme without at least 3 years postgrad work experience. The MPhil seems very similar in content to the MBA and is specifically aimed at students who haven't studied business/mangement at undergraduate level so I'm keen on applying for this.

Basically I want to combine my knowledge of Medicine and Business to go into some medical-businessy related if that makes sense (e.g. set up my research/pharmaceuticals company etc.).

Is there anyone currently on the course who could give me an insight into what it's like and any tips for applying and strengthening an application? Also I'm keen to hear from any Medicine/Science graduates who may be studying or applying for the course and any tips you can offer. I'll email the admissions office for more specific advice about my application etc.

Also does college choice make a huge bearing on the success of your application like it does at undergrad level? I understand you can stipulate 2 colleges on the form and the colleges only consider you after the department has made you an offer. I am also aware they're split into categories; A being most popular, B being slightly, and C roughly equal ratio of applicants to places.

Would it be unwise to apply to 2 "Category A" colleges or would the advice be to pick one comepetetive and one less competetive?

I'm keen on applying to both Trinity and St John's although I'm also considering King's, Gonville and Caius, Hughes Hall, Peterhouse and Girton.

Sorry I know I've typed quite a fair bit but any help and advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you. :smile:

Reply 12

Athena

6

Applying to Trinity and St John's is probably a bad idea. You're reasonably likely to be turned down by both, and by then only band C colleges will be left. If you want the "traditional" Cambridge experience, I suggest you don't apply to Hughes Hall or any of the graduate colleges. It's also probably worth looking at which colleges you're interested in take more or fewer one year students (versus PhDs). For example, at Darwin the vast, vast majority of the students are on one year courses, whereas King's seem to bias their MCR towards PhD.s Obviously every college takes a mix, but some seem to like MPhils more than others.

Reply 13

Warrior King

17

Athena

Applying to Trinity and St John's is probably a bad idea. You're reasonably likely to be turned down by both, and by then only band C colleges will be left. If you want the "traditional" Cambridge experience, I suggest you don't apply to Hughes Hall or any of the graduate colleges. It's also probably worth looking at which colleges you're interested in take more or fewer one year students (versus PhDs). For example, at Darwin the vast, vast majority of the students are on one year courses, whereas King's seem to bias their MCR towards PhD.s Obviously every college takes a mix, but some seem to like MPhils more than others.

Ah shoot

Is there anything I could do to strengthen my application and boost my chances of getting a place at Trinity or St John's? Would applying to both send out "bad vibes" to the selectors and result in me getting rejected not only from both colleges but also from the programme?

When you say only the category C colleges would be left, I'm guessing if you're made an offer you're guaranteed a college place? I'd be fine with whatever college I'm given in all fairness, getting into Cambridge is the main bit hehe!

I was planning on steering away from the graduate colleges although Hughes Hall does seem quite nice and more traditional than the other mature/graduate colleges.

My heart's set on Trinity or St John's to be fair. If I had to pick one Trinity would just edge it but I've heard good things about St John's Ball.

Also, is it true Peterhouse really lacks on social and ents? I've heard they haven't run a ball for sometime and when they do it's only every couple of years. Peterhouse being the oldest of the colleges really did attract me but I've heard some rather off-putting stories about the social life there.

Reply 14

Athena

6

Warrior King

Ah shoot

Is there anything I could do to strengthen my application and boost my chances of getting a place at Trinity or St John's? Would applying to both send out "bad vibes" to the selectors and result in me getting rejected not only from both colleges but also from the programme?

When you say only the category C colleges would be left, I'm guessing if you're made an offer you're guaranteed a college place? I'd be fine with whatever college I'm given in all fairness, getting into Cambridge is the main bit hehe!

I was planning on steering away from the graduate colleges although Hughes Hall does seem quite nice and more traditional than the other mature/graduate colleges.

My heart's set on Trinity or St John's to be fair. If I had to pick one Trinity would just edge it but I've heard good things about St John's Ball.

Also, is it true Peterhouse really lacks on social and ents? I've heard they haven't run a ball for sometime and when they do it's only every couple of years. Peterhouse being the oldest of the colleges really did attract me but I've heard some rather off-putting stories about the social life there.

Putting Trinity and/or John's down won't make you any less likely to be selected for the course. However, they're probably the two most over-subscribed colleges, so by the time your application gets to one or other of them, there's a good chance both will be full. Therefore you really want your second choice college to be one at which there may still be places left - hence the recommendation to pick a band b college (or a slightly less popular band a college). You are guaranteed a college place somewhere, whatever happens.

Reply 15

beefmaster

16

Athena

Applying to Trinity and St John's is probably a bad idea. You're reasonably likely to be turned down by both, and by then only band C colleges will be left. If you want the "traditional" Cambridge experience, I suggest you don't apply to Hughes Hall or any of the graduate colleges. It's also probably worth looking at which colleges you're interested in take more or fewer one year students (versus PhDs). For example, at Darwin the vast, vast majority of the students are on one year courses, whereas King's seem to bias their MCR towards PhD.s Obviously every college takes a mix, but some seem to like MPhils more than others.

what would you say are A, B, C band colleges?

Reply 16

Athena

6

beefmaster

what would you say are A, B, C band colleges?

Read this: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/colleges/keyfacts.html

Then click in a college of interest (say Clare) and click underneath it on "Key facts and figures" http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/colleges/clare/facts.html

Then check the admissions category (in this case, C). Voila :smile:

You'll also find buried away here things like the data on the MPhil:PhD ratio.

(edited 15 years ago)

Reply 17

LysFromParis

10

What's wrong with mature college ? As I will be 25 if I'm accepted, I planed to go there as I though it will be more comfortable and give a better work environment.

Reply 18

Athena

6

LysFromParis

What's wrong with mature college ? As I will be 25 if I'm accepted, I planed to go there as I though it will be more comfortable and give a better work environment.

It depends whether you want to be in old buildings, with formal hall, a lively college bar, a half-decent summer ball and - shock horror! - undergraduates. However, if you hate "young people", a mature students college will probably suit you better.

I've been at a grad college this year and it was living hell. The library facilities are poor, I don't rate the sports facilities/teams, the social life is pretty much dead, the college staff are incompetent and there just isn't the support network (college family, nurse, chaplain etc) you find at an undergraduate college. I'm sure not all of the graduate colleges are as a bad as mine, but from stories I've heard from friends, it's a bit of a mixed bag (more so than at other colleges). Some of my female friends have found Lucy Cavs to be very supportive, but I don't think an all female atmosphere is for everyone.

Reply 19

Dalousy

PS - They don't really care about extracurriculars (ie internships). The admission criteria is almost entirely academic. After all it is meant to be a pre-experience program.

If you don't have a 1st or a 3.7 you might as well not apply. It's a clearly set out guideline, and this is a very competitive program. The admissions committee has a very difficult job in selecting 30-40 candidates from 500 applications, the first people they are going to reject are the people who do not meet the clearly set out criteria. Don't mean to sound like an ******* but it's true.

Good luck all!

MPhil in Management at Cambridge - What are my odds?

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