Maths

I would really like to go to either oxford or cambridge and my teachers want me to apply as well but I really cannot decide which I prefer. I am taking further maths but not physics and I don't enjoy mechanics modules as much as others (although it's still maths so i much prefer it to my other subjects) so I don't know if i'd be suited to the cambridge maths course as it seems to be very physicsy and they do want A level physics to do it. Also there's the STEP papers. I wanted to do them anyway just because they seemed like a fun idea at the time so the maths teacher has agreed (taking them in 2005 with a' levels) and some others in my class are doing them too,though we're not really getting trained for them. Hopefully we will get some practise ones soon but it's still very competitive.
Oxford, however, don't seem to have as much physics in the course and, even though they set a test, it doesn't look as hard as the STEP pspers, but then it's not supposed to be quite as good as cambridge and I prefer cambridge as a city too.
My father wants me to apply to cambridge because he went there but my mother doesn't want me to go to either because they're too far from home (i'm from the north east) and too stressful with the short terms and she thinks I would have a breakdown or something because I'm too much of a perfectionist and won't be able to get used to the idea that I may get things wrong.
so...cambridge or oxford? I really cannot decide!

Reply 1

HammaL

11

Maths at cambridge has alot of physics so if u don't do physics and don't enjoy mechanics then cambirdge is a no no.
U can always apply to Maths and Statistics @ oxford.

Reply 2

fishpaste

I took double physics in order to get over the "they want physics but I'm not doing it" problem. It seemed to work well. You might consider that.

Reply 3

Hoofbeat

14

fishpaste

I took double physics in order to get over the "they want physics but I'm not doing it" problem. It seemed to work well. You might consider that.

Double Physics?!?!?!?

Reply 4

fishpaste

Hoofbeat

Double Physics?!?!?!?

6 modules in one year.

Reply 5

Hoofbeat

14

fishpaste

6 modules in one year.

Surely that's the same as doing the normal A-Level but in a shorter time span? Would have thought it was still just "Physics" though and not "double physics"? :s

Reply 6

fishpaste

Hoofbeat

Surely that's the same as doing the normal A-Level but in a shorter time span? Would have thought it was still just "Physics" though and not "double physics"? :s

Yes absolutely, sorry, it's just my college does it with a few students and they refer to it as double physics.

Reply 7

KELLARY LEUNG

both cambridge and oxford are extremly good ...
have u been to their open day ?
which one do u like most ?
dont think about your dad and mum ...
it's your future !!
do what u wanna do !
:wink:

Reply 8

JamesF

1

Maths open day for Cambridge was last Saturday, maths open day for Oxford was today.

Reply 9

Goldfish_Wins

JamesF

Maths open day for Cambridge was last Saturday, maths open day for Oxford was today.

How was Katie then? :wink:

Reply 10

k@tie

10

Goldfish_Wins

How was Katie then? :wink:

huh?

Reply 11

JamesF

1

Goldfish_Wins

How was Katie then? :wink:

Lol, and you are?

Reply 12

elpaw

15

JamesF

Lol, and you are?

'tis bono

Reply 13

JamesF

1

elpaw

'tis bono

Thought it might be :rolleyes:

Reply 14

mussed

Someone already mentioned maths and stats, but you can do maths and philosophy and never do *any* applied maths! :wink:

If you prefer cambridge as a city, definitely apply there; in reality I'm sure they won't force you to do mechanics after first year and anyway, it just gets more mathematically focused. Oxford's test isn't easy, either: this year's one was much, much harder than the specimens and rather like STEP II/III instead.

Reply 15

S@sha

7

That's what I found as well. The specimens do look incredibly different, but the real thing was significantly harder. I was quite pleased coming out of the test, knowing that I must have done quite a lot better than others judging by the looks on their faces.

Reply 16

Leeroy

definitely - i found the specimens striaght forward so didnt do any prep for the main one - bad decision lol

Reply 17

Hoofbeat

14

interstingly, the specimin for Oxford's Physicists seemed harder to me than the test I had to do at my interview! lol

Reply 18

BazTheMoney

undercover-ange

I would really like to go to either oxford or cambridge and my teachers want me to apply as well but I really cannot decide which I prefer. I am taking further maths but not physics and I don't enjoy mechanics modules as much as others (although it's still maths so i much prefer it to my other subjects) so I don't know if i'd be suited to the cambridge maths course as it seems to be very physicsy and they do want A level physics to do it. Also there's the STEP papers. I wanted to do them anyway just because they seemed like a fun idea at the time so the maths teacher has agreed (taking them in 2005 with a' levels) and some others in my class are doing them too,though we're not really getting trained for them. Hopefully we will get some practise ones soon but it's still very competitive.
Oxford, however, don't seem to have as much physics in the course and, even though they set a test, it doesn't look as hard as the STEP pspers, but then it's not supposed to be quite as good as cambridge and I prefer cambridge as a city too.
My father wants me to apply to cambridge because he went there but my mother doesn't want me to go to either because they're too far from home (i'm from the north east) and too stressful with the short terms and she thinks I would have a breakdown or something because I'm too much of a perfectionist and won't be able to get used to the idea that I may get things wrong.
so...cambridge or oxford? I really cannot decide!

Firstly, If you're a prefectionist you'll fit in just fine at Oxbridge. You tend to find that most Oxbridge students suffer from the same problem.

Cambridge is better for Maths, quite a lot better in fact. That's not to say Oxford isn't good, but Cambridge is noticeably better, and if I was applying for Maths, I'd apply to Cambridge.

Reply 19

Hollings

BazTheMoney

Cambridge is better for Maths, quite a lot better in fact. That's not to say Oxford isn't good, but Cambridge is noticeably better, and if I was applying for Maths, I'd apply to Cambridge.

What makes you say that Cambridge is better for maths ??

To go back to Undercover-Ange's first point, i was in a similar situation last year (i am in yr 13 now). I didnt do physics, but do further maths. Having visited both places (and i would highly recommend going to both) in consecutive days, it rained in Cambridge but was sunny in Oxford - so i chose Oxford and got in ! :wink:

Maths

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