I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me![]()
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I want to attend university, but I am only 15 watch
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JohnMacDonald
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- 14-02-2016 00:15
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Elegantsolution
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- 14-02-2016 15:30
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me
What subject for? Do you mean apply next year as in 2017 for entry in 2018? -
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- 14-02-2016 15:53
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me
They only accept very small number of applicants who are one year younger than normal application age, and it is even rarer they accept anyone younger than that. There's statutory legislation they need to comply when they accept an underage applicant, too. It is a very exceptional case. Just achieving a typical entry requirement will probably not be enough.
Why haste anyway? -
TheConfusedMedic
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- 14-02-2016 15:54
chill.
Spoiler:ShowEDIT: just realised my pic fits really well with my postLast edited by TheConfusedMedic; 16-02-2016 at 13:34. -
♥Samantha♥
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- 14-02-2016 17:26
I'm 15 rn and I may apply to Oxford or Cambridge also this autumn (for entry September 2017). As long as you meet their entry requirements you are not disadvantaged.
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Plagioclase
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- 14-02-2016 17:33
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me -
sweeneyrod
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- 14-02-2016 20:29
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me -
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- 15-02-2016 08:38
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
I live in Scotland and am taking the 4 National 5s which are: English, Physics, History, and Biology. But I am also taking Higher Maths, and Higher Computing, the latter of which I got 98% in the prelim. I want to go to Cambridge University as I totally fell in love with the place during an open day in 2015, however, does my age put me at a disadvantage?
I want to apply next year, hopefully, the grades I will have will be: Higher Chem, Higher Biology, Higher Physics, Higher History, Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Computing. I understand that I am just about short of the typical application for Cambridge, but would I be able to compensate somehow?
Any help would be invaluable to me
So it does depend for me on whether you have a birthday between now & September.
If you go at 16 you will be too young to qualify for any internships or research placements in the holidays which means these will have to be done after you complete university. You will be at university with those who are 18,19 & 20 and they often will find a 16 year old too young to make close friends with. So you risk loneliness that far from home. It will be hard to find a girlfriend. You won't be able to drink or go into clubs if you want to socialise that way. Part of university is the social experience of meeting and debating with people from all walks of life and parts of the country.
The university does look twice at underage applications and there are child protection issues which put them off for those who are more than a few months young. The experience of taking in the very young (normally mathematicians) has generally been sub-optimal for all. -
Elegantsolution
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- 15-02-2016 10:29
(Original post by Colmans)
There is more to university than getting a degree and there is more to education than completing it early. I went to university a year early (17, becoming 18 that year) and I think that can be fine, especially if you have been a year up at school but to go at 16 would I think be a big disadvantage socially and for future employment.
So it does depend for me on whether you have a birthday between now & September.
If you go at 16 you will be too young to qualify for any internships or research placements in the holidays which means these will have to be done after you complete university. You will be at university with those who are 18,19 & 20 and they often will find a 16 year old too young to make close friends with. So you risk loneliness that far from home. It will be hard to find a girlfriend. You won't be able to drink or go into clubs if you want to socialise that way. Part of university is the social experience of meeting and debating with people from all walks of life and parts of the country.
The university does look twice at underage applications and there are child protection issues which put them off for those who are more than a few months young. The experience of taking in the very young (normally mathematicians) has generally been sub-optimal for all.
Regardless of what you want to do after University, you will have to be very patient. There is no rush when it comes to academia, and if you want to go into work, then you will find that the companies will look for someone that has a little life experience as well as the grades.
You should also consider that although you are probably one of the most gifted students at your school, it will probably be very different at Cambridge (or at any top university). Doing your highers early is good, and shows some academic promise, but there is a lot more to success at university than just potential.
If it is Maths that you are thinking about doing, why not consider preparing for STEP 1 next year, then 2 and 3 the following year? These would give you an indication of where you are in comparison to the other cambridge applicants, and would help keep you occupied. You could also enter the British Mathematical olympiad. -
JohnMacDonald
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- 15-02-2016 23:30
(Original post by Elegantsolution)
What subject for? Do you mean apply next year as in 2017 for entry in 2018? -
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- 15-02-2016 23:32
Slow down, Usain Bolt.
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JohnMacDonald
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- 15-02-2016 23:39
Thank you for your comments guys!
The reason I want to leave early is because at the end of next year I will [hopefully] have all the qualifications I need to go to university, so why wait stay in school doing Advanced Highers that are simply not relevant to my subject (e.g History). If someone could please clear this up for be that would be greatAlso the subject which I was planning on studying was Computer Science.
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- 16-02-2016 09:20
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
Thank you for your comments guys!
The reason I want to leave early is because at the end of next year I will [hopefully] have all the qualifications I need to go to university, so why wait stay in school doing Advanced Highers that are simply not relevant to my subject (e.g History). If someone could please clear this up for be that would be greatAlso the subject which I was planning on studying was Computer Science.
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Elegantsolution
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- 16-02-2016 10:40
In terms of strengthening your application, practicing the tests that you'll have to sit before the interview is the best thing you can do outwith getting the raw grades. This is all subject to change soon, and by a quick glance at the computing science page, it will be one that changes as the colleges have a few different tests.
Have you thought about applying now for deferred entry? In terms of benefits of staying on a year more at school, if you ask me the biggest one is being 18 when you start Uni. Seeing everyone else able to go out and drink and generally enjoy the other side of uni life when you can't won't be much fun. You may think that it'll be all about academics, but that's not the case.
Although I'm from Scotland I don't know much about the Scottish education system as I took A levels, so I'm not sure exactly what you'll need to get in.
Another option, is to get the grades, and spend what would have been your sixth year at school in some kind of work or industrial placement. -
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- 16-02-2016 10:49
Good for you. If you think its the right think to do, especially with fees probably going up soon. But like a few others have said, you may feel a little out of your depth. Everyone around you will probably be a lot more mature and you will miss out on certain social functions.
At 15 they may give you distance learning or put you with a host family as opposed to staying in halls as well. It depends what course, what college and how mature they think you are.
Best of luck! -
Elegantsolution
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- 16-02-2016 10:55
(Original post by donte)
Good for you. If you think its the right think to do, especially with fees probably going up soon. But like a few others have said, you may feel a little out of your depth. Everyone around you will probably be a lot more mature and you will miss out on certain social functions.
At 15 they may give you distance learning or put you with a host family as opposed to staying in halls as well. It depends what course, what college and how mature they think you are.
Best of luck! -
JohnMacDonald
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- 16-02-2016 12:06
(Original post by sarahpr)
Cambridge normally expect 3 advanced highers. -
Biologyquestions
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- 16-02-2016 12:08
Why throw your childhood away?
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Doonesbury
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- 16-02-2016 12:40
(Original post by JohnMacDonald)
To me, this the biggest barrier I am facing. By the time I leave school I would only have 2 AH's and 6H's, I don't know how Cambridge would look upon that. :/
http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.a...qualifications
"Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
Offers usually require AAA at Advanced Higher Grade.
NB: We recognise that the Scottish secondary school sector is undergoing significant curriculum reform. Please see the University's admissions policy statement on Curriculum for Excellence for information.
In some cases, two Advanced Highers and an additional Higher may be acceptable (eg when an applicant is prevented from studying more than two Advanced Highers due to reasons outside their control) – such applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis and should seek advice from the College to which they are considering applying as early as possible.
For advice about suitable subject choices see course requirements. Please note that for these purposes, Highers will satisfy AS Level subject requirements, and Advanced Highers will satisfy A Level subject requirements.
If you're studying towards a Scottish Baccalaureate qualification, you're expected to offer three Advanced Highers as part of it."
I suggest you ask Peterhouse Admissions or Christ's Admissions if you need clarification. -
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- 16-02-2016 12:47
I went at 16. Wait.
Travel, start a company, get an internship, get a job, enroll in therapy, keep a blog, write some books, indulge a passion, learn a hobby, publish a book, learn a language, build a boat, learn to code.... Just do anything else but more school right now.
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Updated: February 16, 2016
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