Cambridge prospective Mphil Finance applicants 2011/2012

Ok actually here y'all go...

"Half-way through our admissions process the University has imposed the capping on the number of offers all MPhil programmes at Cambridge can make. We have therefore been compelled to put a ranked list of applicants aside until the University informs us later in April whether they are able to make any more offers.
Until then, we are not in a position to proceed with our admissions."

Then I wrote back asking what exactly they meant by ranked list. and she said this....

"Sure. We have put aside a list of a small number of people to whom the admissions committee would offer a place depending on whether the University allows any more offers to be made and depending on how many. We fear the University will not allow any further offers but are prepared to go ahead should they do so.

Sorry I can’t give you any better news..."

Ok actually here y'all go...

"Half-way through our admissions process the University has imposed the capping on the number of offers all MPhil programmes at Cambridge can make. We have therefore been compelled to put a ranked list of applicants aside until the University informs us later in April whether they are able to make any more offers.
Until then, we are not in a position to proceed with our admissions."

Then I wrote back asking what exactly they meant by ranked list. and she said this....

"Sure. We have put aside a list of a small number of people to whom the admissions committee would offer a place depending on whether the University allows any more offers to be made and depending on how many. We fear the University will not allow any further offers but are prepared to go ahead should they do so.

Sorry I can’t give you any better news..."

Wat??? but thats insane.. waiting till April is gonna be a real bummer... are u guys holding on to offers from other Uni's which require deposits??? and did they inform you on which position u are on this "ranked list"???... on the bright side, it's better than a rejection.. so keep ur hopes up, and good luck..

the admin committee met in early march so i guess things are just being finalized..this whole process seems very confusing though

Hi Adri2010, what is your application's current status now? Have you also been recommended an offer?

no i have not..its says...'under consideration by department'..how about urs ??

Under "recommended for an offer". It first appears on 5 March (Saturday). Not sure whether that notice from Cam will affect me or not.

why don't you give them a call n check?

I have contacted the chief clerk of BoGs, she said that they had already received the recommendation from JBS and would deal with it within 10 days. She also reminded me to check my self-service regularly for the updates.

So i guess that means within 10 days the majority of the applicants would know the outcome....was she able to tell u about your individual application???

So i guess that means within 10 days the majority of the applicants would know the outcome....was she able to tell u about your individual application???

Adri2010, you better ask JBS directly about your application. If that "short list" does exist, ask whether you are short listed (neither JBS nor BoGS mentioned anything about the short list to me, though) . However, if you search for GraduateUnion, such a short list did appear last year as well ... and yes ... unfortunately, most short listed people kept waiting and got rejected in late April.

I also sent an email to BOGS to ask about the "capping" and short list yesterday. They haven't replied me yet, though.

I fully understood the pain to wait like this. What other offers do you have now? I really hope that you can eventually get a place.

thanks..i really hope so too..i emailed them on tuesday but i am yet to hear from them...can you give me the number you called and who i should probably speak to?....I have offers from warwick msc finance, cass msc investment management and LSE A&F...

I contacted the University by emails only. You might want to find Nena, <[email protected]>, she is the secretary of the MPhil Finance admissions committee.

Good luck with your application.

But at least you have got into LSE, there is really nothing to worry. LSE is clearly an excellent business school. I am happy for you.

Ok actually here y'all go...

"Half-way through our admissions process the University has imposed the capping on the number of offers all MPhil programmes at Cambridge can make. We have therefore been compelled to put a ranked list of applicants aside until the University informs us later in April whether they are able to make any more offers.
Until then, we are not in a position to proceed with our admissions."

Then I wrote back asking what exactly they meant by ranked list. and she said this....

"Sure. We have put aside a list of a small number of people to whom the admissions committee would offer a place depending on whether the University allows any more offers to be made and depending on how many. We fear the University will not allow any further offers but are prepared to go ahead should they do so.

Sorry I can’t give you any better news..."

My conditional offer is out. Only two major conditions:
i) Attend the math & stat course
ii) Provide a new reference letter from one of my referees, written on institution letterhead paper and bearing original signature. (I guess my supervisor either forgot to use a letterhead paper or forgot to sign again on the reference letter itself).

The following information may help some people to understand the overall admission process.

Application submitted (and completed): the second last week of February
Received a recommendation of offer: first week of March
Conditional offer received: 23 March


I resummarise my info as follows. Hopefully, this can help explain some admission myths. It may be particularly useful to people who are going to apply next year.

No GMAT/ No GRE
No internship or industrial experience (only worked as a teaching assistant for one semester)
Bachelor's degree in quantitative economics/econometrics; Master's degree in quantitative finance
Top Australian universities.
First class honours. (84% - when 80% is the min requirement for first class)
Thesis, high distinction (something like A* in the US system)
Reference letters from thesis supervisor and thesis examiner

My info may look highly ordinary but that's how I got through the admission.

I personally understand very well how painful the waiting process is and the eager to know more information from others. My final comment is, we all have good academic qualifications (and some with impressive industrial experience), however, it is very hard to guess what Cam is exactly looking for. Some luck is involved I think (for my case, very much luck is involved) So, please don't get frustrated even if you miss out the offer. It does not mean in any sense you are academically inferior. In fact, most of you have received offers from other excellent universities which is quite a message that you are top students. Good luck everyone.

Hi can you help me please. I want to hopefully apply to the mphil programme some time in the future. However, which is percieved as more respected or will place me in a better position, Economics or Economics,econometrics and finance?