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Mature Oxbridge Applications

shanghai shanghai

Hiya

Did any mature students apply for Oxbridge '07 entry? If so, with what qualifications and did you get in?

Reply 1

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Depends what you mean by mature. If you just mean 'over 21' then you will probably need much the same as an 18 year old school leaver wrt qualifications. If on the other hand you mean mature as in 'been out of education and in a career for 8+ years', then there seems to be considerably more leeway in terms of a balance between paper qualifications and qualities derived from the workplace. I base this on my own experience of a Masters application to Cam, that of other colleagues on the course, and a few mature undergrads I know at Cam.

Reply 2

mikeha

shanghai

Hiya

Did any mature students apply for Oxbridge '07 entry? If so, with what qualifications and did you get in?

Yep...I did. In case you don't know, there are three colleges which specialise in mature students - Hughes Hall, St Edmunds and Woolfson (and Lucy Cavendish, which is for women only).

I already have A level maths, further maths and physics - grade A.

I applied for maths, and got a "standard" offer, which is to pass the STEP II and STEP III exams with grades 1 and 2. This is very similar to the offers non mature applicants receive (the STEP exams are special maths exams Cambridge use to - in their words - determine the potential of candidates. They are b***y hard exams - for me, at any rate.)

In my interview it was made clear that as far as the college was concerend age wasn't an issue - they just wanted to be sure I had the commitment and potential to succeed on the course.

If you have any other specific questions I'll be happy to answer them if I can.

Mike

Reply 3

silent ninja

STEP is mighty tough. Good luck with it :yy:

Reply 4

mikeha

silent ninja

STEP is mighty tough. Good luck with it :yy:

Thanks.... I need all the luck I can get!!

Reply 5

MetalA

I applied to St Edmunds, got an interview but didn't get in. And I'm glad. Because:

St Edmunds is one of the "worst" colleges at Cambridge (each college at Cambridge has its own facilities eg library etc so if your college does not have decent ones then you will be at a disadvantage). The building and college date from the 60s so it did not have the esteem and history of most Cambridge colleges. Also, when I was called for interview it took place off site, and there was no provision for a tour, so basically there can't have been much to see. Also, St Edmunds contains mostly international postgrads, so no chance of making any lasting friendships for the three year duration of the Tripos!

I applied to St Edmunds because it said that it did not use a written test for my subject (History). However, after applying, the college wrote to me to inform that I would be obliged to sit a "pilot test" that would NOT form any part of the selection procedure. Nope, doesn't make any sense to me either. Basically, they were lying!

If I could apply again, I would have applied to Emmanuel, King's or Trinity College, not crappy St Eds.

Reply 6

sweet_fluffy_nuke

MetalA

I applied to St Edmunds, got an interview but didn't get in. And
If I could apply again, I would have applied to Emmanuel, King's or Trinity College, not crappy St Eds.

Dont bother. If you didnt get into St Edmunds, your chances of getting into Trinity would be vanishingly small. Meanwhile you are stuck at crappy UCL, posting bitter comments on internet forums. :rolleyes:

Reply 7

mikeha

MetalA

My offer of a place is from St Edmund's........

You are correct, in that it is certainly not the most "beautiful" of the colleges - in fact, it isa pretty average building etc.

However, as far as my interview process, and dealings with them are concerned, I have only priase for them. At all stages of the process they were open and straightforward about everything, and I (if I manage to get the dreaded STEP exam grades I need) will be extremely happy to go there.

As for applying to Emmanuel etc, that option is open to everyone, but as a mature student I certainly preferred St Edmunds.

Each to his/her own................

Reply 8

mikeha

T O R N E

I'm sure you'll get the grade you want, chin up :smile:

Thanks for that.... I'll do my best!! But I am very philisophical about thees things. ... if I don't it's for a reason, and I'll go elsewhere (UCL).

:smile:

Reply 9

mikeha

T O R N E

UCL is a very good university, a little on the expensive side though, cost of living in London etc. When will you know if you have got the grade you require to get in Cambridge?

The STEP exams are always the last ones - this year on 27/29 June.

Then it's the wait till the A level results are published in middle of August. STEP results are sent out at the same time.

So a long way to go yet!!

Reply 10

Posh Portia Kabine

Hello

Yes, I applied to read Law at Lucy Cavendish, Cambridge. I received a conditional offer (AAA in English Literature, History, and Law.), which I am striving to achieve!

I haven't come across that many mature law applicants going to Cam or Oxford unfortunately. Do speak up :biggrin:

Reply 11

california to UK

I've received an unconditional offer to read English at Bristol and now I'm wondering if I should have 'gone for gold' and tried for Oxford. I know I should be bloody grateful for whatever I can get, and that Bristol is way up there, but I'm 46 and if I'm going to do this I want to feel really good about what I'm doing. I guess I could try for postgrad at Oxford if I can make my money last.

Reply 12

mikeha

california to UK

Cambridge (and I guess Oxford) won't care how old you are- they are only interested in whether or not you can cope with the course. So postgrad etc will certainly be open to you.