SPS at Cambridge

If you're aiming for Cambridge in particular it'd be worth asking an Oxbridge specialist in a careers service. I spoke to the head of Oxbridge applications in my college and he was really helpful, because they look for that something more at Oxford and Cambridge.

i applied for SPS and i've not done sociology or psychology. I got in nevertheless.

My personal statement was the most difficult thing i've ever written - i applied for SPS, development economics, economics & politics, social policy & economics (thats about 4-5 different disciplines) elsewhere at other universities. I brought in my work experience etc into it which was related to politics and thats about all i wrote on politics! I also brought some sociology into it by saying something about Anthony Giddens, but i made no mention of psychology.

I also didnt use any paragraphs at all on my personal statement - as i wanted to write as much as possible - i don't know if thats good or not!

I used the CAF form to re-enforce what i'd said before, but i also added: Why i want to go to cambridge (i.e. to develop my ideas) and what i can offer to cambridge (why they should accept me).

It was a challenge! I asked just about everyone and anyone to review it for me and tell me what they thought of it.

Well a personal statement should reflect why you want to go into a particular field & what you have to offer. At least, i wrote all this in mine. I wrote about why i want to do the course, what i want to do later on in life, how i think this field will help me achieve my goal, my extra-curricular stuff/work experience, showed instances where i received certificates (for whatever), how i participated in college life, what makes me the ideal candidate to do the course i want to do, the skills i have to offer. And mentioned a book somehow - i cant remember how i blended that in. I also showed i could work on my own initiative - by carrying out independent projects (without the help of a tutor).

tomdav, I'm as wise as you are but I would imagine that whether your UMS marks are high enough will be judged in relation to the calibre of the other applicants in your year.

While the fact Cambridge asks for the modular UMS marks suggests that they are used as a tool for judging applicants, remember that many other factors are also important (such as your personal statement, interview performance, reference, predictions &c.) in deciding whether or not to make a candidate an offer.

The instructions for applicants information on the AS/A Level Unit Sheet says:

"If you are taking AS and A levels please complete this form so we know which units you have taken, which units you are currently studying towards and which units you are planning to retake. You should enter the UMS scores you have received for all completed units (both last year and this) below. Please note that UMS scores should be listed for each sitting of the unit and regardless of whether or not you have certificated or retaken the unit. Units should be listed by subject rather than by date taken. In addition please enter details of the units that you are currently studying towards/planning to take overleaf. If you are applying post-A level you should also record your unit marks in the appropriate section.

[We appreciate that in some schools/colleges early units are done only for practice and indicate little about eventual performance.]"

I think so.

I've not yet visited Oxford yet (but am going next month - eeeee!