Ask an Admissions Tutor IV, 7 July - 27 July 2014

Thank you very much for creating this thread, I was just about to email the Mathematics department. I wanted to ask if there is any chance I could be invited for an interview or be made a standard offer given my circumstances. I am doing the whole 18 Units for Mathematics so that would give me 3 A-Levels in Mathematics and I am also doing A2 Economics. I shall also be sitting STEP 2 and 3.

I am a private candidate and was set to sit exams for AS Mathematics, AS Further Mathematics and AS Economics earlier this year during the summer exams but unfortunately my health took a turn for the worst and I only managed to sit 3 out of my 8 exams. Out of those 3 only one was for Mathematics - Core 1. I am very disappointed not to have been able to sit those exams as I was certain that I'd do well. I would understand if not having enough proof of my abilities is a good enough reason not to be considered but given a letter from my G.P who is well aware of my condition as well as a letter from a private tutor who knows me very well as a student and knows of my ability in Mathematics would I have a chance of being considered?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you- this has been helpful!

Sorry to bombard you with questions! but what does an admissions tutor look for in a student who is applying for say Economics or HSPS? and what would make an application stand out (apart from grades lol) for these chosen subjects. Thanks

Hello, and thank you for the thread

I'm planning on applying for geography at Cambridge - I couldn't make the open day

I just have a few questions:
1) across the university, is geography highly demanded by students? Is it a popular subject in comparison to economics or medicine?

2) I've just been through the list of colleges at Cambridge (I haven't got a clue which to choose) - would it be better for me to choose one and stick with it, or apply without choosing a college and then be placed in one automatically, should I get a place? Could I chance colleges if this was the case?

3) how important are GCSEs in choosing who to give an offer to? Would they be taken into account if, perhaps, you didn't meet the required grades by a small amount?

Thank you!

Hi there, don't worry about not making the Open Days, there are plenty of college open days in September if you do want to go on one. At Christ's ours are on 30 September and 1 October if I may be permitted a plug!

To answer your questions: 1) Geography has slightly fewer than three applicants per place, meaning that it is not one of the more over-subscribed courses like Medicine or Economics.

2) There is no advantage in terms of being successful in your application to choosing a college or aking an Open application thanks to our moderation system (the Pools). Essentially, it comes down to whether you wish to make your own choice or allow a computer to do it for you. if you genuinely can't decide then you might be happy to let a computer do it but, equally, you might want some ownership of the decision. I've heard the one at the top of the alphabetical list is a good college!

3) GCSEs matter, but not as much as AS Levels for those that do them. When a candidate misses their offer, we will look at all aspects of the applicatio before making our final decision about what to do.

Thank you for your message and I am sorry to hear that you were ill. Your situation is a tricky one. If you have GCSEs then these would help us to make an impression of your application beyond the 3 AS modules you have taken. Your GP would need to fill in the Extenuating Circumstances Form.

It is very hard to say what would happen without seeing the whole application. If you apply and do not get an interview or did get an interview and were not made an offer, I would not be too downhearted. You may well be in a better position in a year's time, once you have completed your A2s.

Sorry not to be more explicit but I hope this is of some use.

Hi,there. I'm planning on applying for Law at Christ's and I was wondering how important the grade for the fourth AS I sat is? As in, the subject that isn't one of my top three AS's. Say, for example, I got AAAC (worst case scenario) with 93+ UMS in the subjects I got A's in, would the C in the fourth subject completely jeaopardise my chances? I study History, Gov. and Politics, Sociology and Philosophy. I'm expecting to get the lower grade in Philosophy.

Thanks a lot!

Thank you for the very helpful and quick reply!

So if I were to let a computer choose my college for me (and I get allocated to, for example, Jesus college) but I want to change to Christ's (or any other college) would this be possible?

If, say, I weren't able to come to any open days (or only one or two) is there any other way of establishing a view of all the different colleges, to help me choose which one?
(If my question isn't phrased correctly, what I mean is, is there a way on deciding which college to go to without actually being present on campus?)

Many thanks again

Hi, I'm planning on applying to read economics or land economy which I have researched and understand is vastly different, however I intend to apply for maths and economics for my other uni choices. Would my application be looked down upon since my personal statement would blatantly show that I wish to study maths and econ elsewhere?

Thank you for your reply. I am so disappointed in myself for falling ill at such a bad time, I shall ask my G.P to fill in the Extenuating Circumstances form for me but even then I don't have much hope. May I ask if my predicted grades won't help anything? I am certain I can meet the entry requirements, I just hope I get the chance

Hello! Thank you for the thread

I was wondering about the importance of GCSEs in the case that one doesn't do modular A-Levels? I will be doing Pre-U at Sixth Form and therefore will only have predicted grades by the time of applying. Does that mean my GCSEs will matter more compared to those who do AS/A-levels?

Many thanks in advance!

Hi, thanks for running the thread.

I have a couple of questions. I wish to study Natural Sciences on the biological route. I have taken Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. I feel the unit 2 chemistry exam didn’t go as well as planed and as a result I predict my chemistry grade will be the lowest. Hopefully my average UMS for Biology, Chemistry and Maths will be above 90%, I feel with Physics included this should rise to above 93%. Which brings me to my first question, would having a higher average UMS across all four of my As levels account for / reduce the impact of having a lower UMS average across my three most relevant courses?

I have got two confirmed summer schools and hopefully a third. The first is a three day Biology course at Selwyn College, and I also have a six day Biology course at Durham University. The third will hopefully be a five day Biology: Cell Biology and Genetics at Villers Park Educational Trust. My question is this, (assuming that I get on the third residential) due to the fact that only two residential courses can be put on a UCAS application which ones should be put on the application (Aside from talking about them on my PS)?
Due to Chemistry not going as well as planed I feel I would be more likely to get an A* in Maths at A2 level. Would achieving an A* in Biology and Maths be acceptable or just as desirable as A* in Biology and Chemistry?

Would only continuing three subjects to A2 level (having done four As levels) put me at a disadvantage compared to continuing with four(with regards to UCAS points)? In essence I would rather drop Physics and continue with my other subjects to avoid it affecting my other grades, but if this would disadvantage me much rather continue with four.

I achieved 3A* 2A 3C at GCSE (unfortunately), to what extent will this affect my application bearing in mind I went to a failing state school witch came one mark of special measures in an Ofsted inspection in my final GCSE year.

Sorry for all the questions.

GCSEs are important for all candidates who have them. In case of those who do not do modular A Levels then they become more important as we do not havve Year 12 results. Plenty of people doing Pre-Us or the IB get offers every year, so do not worry that you will be disadvantaged. If your GCSEs are less strong than you would like, and you think you are likely to do much better in the sixth form, there is always the possibility of applying once you have your Pre-U results. Essentially, you should be aiming for D1s and D2s if possible, though D3s are sometimes acceptable. Good luck!

Hi again, thank you for your previous reply, I have yet another question

I'm a fast-track student and I've completed my A levels within one year this year and it was very difficult. On top of that I'm a private candidate who is self taught because my health put me at a disadvantage when I was in school and I missed a lot of it and got 'bad' (compared to the average Cambridge applicant) GCSE grades and by 'bad' I mean A*A*BBBBCCCD, the two A*s are in the most relevant subjects-English and History (I'm applying for English Literature). (Also I attended a failing state school in a poor area)

I would like to ask, if I get the grades (at least A*AA), how would Cambridge view my application as a fast track private candidate?

Thank you!

Thank you for such a quick reply! I'm much appreciated