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The Cambridge Special Access Scheme (CSAS) - Anyone?
Does anyone know about this? ...have any knowledge ?
The stipulation i fall under is bad schooling, we failed ofsted 2 times while i was there and i obtained 2nd best gcse's in the year. A*AAAAABBBB.
I was hoping to use this and apply via CSAS to Clare for Economics, hopefully i can get 3 A's, they do lower offers sometimes however. What do you think my chances are etc?
Thanks
The stipulation i fall under is bad schooling, we failed ofsted 2 times while i was there and i obtained 2nd best gcse's in the year. A*AAAAABBBB.
I was hoping to use this and apply via CSAS to Clare for Economics, hopefully i can get 3 A's, they do lower offers sometimes however. What do you think my chances are etc?
Thanks
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We can't tell you chances, because we dont enough about you. I have written many posts on this before so if you search im sure youll find them!
If you are applying on the grounds of poor schooling, there is the additional stipulation that no one from your family can have gone to university.
I applied for medical reasons but its still the same. Provided you qualify on both accounts, (both lack of university education in the family and not having many people from your school going to university, ie even if they fail ofsted, if loads of people still go to uni you are not eligible) then by all means go for it. You don't actually apply for it, your referee has to fill out an extra form for you, saying how your education was disadvantaged by your circumstances.
The advice given to me, and that i have passed on to others, was that if you werent sure, then to apply for it anyway, and if they didnt think you qualified they would ignore it and treat you the same as everybody else. The average performance of the school is taken into account anyway, so if you are unable to apply CSAS, they will still have that information to take your grades into comparative account accordingly.
Hope this helps.
If you are applying on the grounds of poor schooling, there is the additional stipulation that no one from your family can have gone to university.
I applied for medical reasons but its still the same. Provided you qualify on both accounts, (both lack of university education in the family and not having many people from your school going to university, ie even if they fail ofsted, if loads of people still go to uni you are not eligible) then by all means go for it. You don't actually apply for it, your referee has to fill out an extra form for you, saying how your education was disadvantaged by your circumstances.
The advice given to me, and that i have passed on to others, was that if you werent sure, then to apply for it anyway, and if they didnt think you qualified they would ignore it and treat you the same as everybody else. The average performance of the school is taken into account anyway, so if you are unable to apply CSAS, they will still have that information to take your grades into comparative account accordingly.
Hope this helps.
-x-Nina-x-
We can't tell you chances, because we dont enough about you. I have written many posts on this before so if you search im sure youll find them!
If you are applying on the grounds of poor schooling, there is the additional stipulation that no one from your family can have gone to university.
I applied for medical reasons but its still the same. Provided you qualify on both accounts, (both lack of university education in the family and not having many people from your school going to university, ie even if they fail ofsted, if loads of people still go to uni you are not eligible) then by all means go for it. You don't actually apply for it, your referee has to fill out an extra form for you, saying how your education was disadvantaged by your circumstances.
The advice given to me, and that i have passed on to others, was that if you werent sure, then to apply for it anyway, and if they didnt think you qualified they would ignore it and treat you the same as everybody else. The average performance of the school is taken into account anyway, so if you are unable to apply CSAS, they will still have that information to take your grades into comparative account accordingly.
Hope this helps.
If you are applying on the grounds of poor schooling, there is the additional stipulation that no one from your family can have gone to university.
I applied for medical reasons but its still the same. Provided you qualify on both accounts, (both lack of university education in the family and not having many people from your school going to university, ie even if they fail ofsted, if loads of people still go to uni you are not eligible) then by all means go for it. You don't actually apply for it, your referee has to fill out an extra form for you, saying how your education was disadvantaged by your circumstances.
The advice given to me, and that i have passed on to others, was that if you werent sure, then to apply for it anyway, and if they didnt think you qualified they would ignore it and treat you the same as everybody else. The average performance of the school is taken into account anyway, so if you are unable to apply CSAS, they will still have that information to take your grades into comparative account accordingly.
Hope this helps.
I thought it was - Low entry to higher education from your current institute AND your family cant have degrees.
Or your schooling was disrupted etc.
Well its weird because my schooling was disrupted, and in my current institute hardly anyone goes off to uni, but both my parents have degrees
Hey, this is the John's JCR page on the special access scheme. Hope it helps!
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/sjc-jcr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=49
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/sjc-jcr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=49
thanks for that, but im scared of tests 
Clare has just an interview lol
1. Very few people from the applicants school/college proceed to higher education and the applicant's family have little to no experience of entry into higher education to study for a degree.
Or
2. The applicants education has been significantly disadvantaged or disturbed, through health or personal problems, disability, or problems with schooling.
I fall under that...
Clare has just an interview lol1. Very few people from the applicants school/college proceed to higher education and the applicant's family have little to no experience of entry into higher education to study for a degree.
Or
2. The applicants education has been significantly disadvantaged or disturbed, through health or personal problems, disability, or problems with schooling.
I fall under that...
It's probably not a case of black and white (yes you are eligible/no you are not eligible). You might aswell apply through it, even if they decide you aren't eligible they'll still keep your situation in mind and maybe be a bit more lenient.
Incidentally, I could have applied through CSAS but I didn't, but I remember filling in a form after which asks if you were eligible for it - I said I was there so that might have made them treat me as a SAS candidate anyway.
Incidentally, I could have applied through CSAS but I didn't, but I remember filling in a form after which asks if you were eligible for it - I said I was there so that might have made them treat me as a SAS candidate anyway.
If they decide that you aren't eligible, does that mean that they look at you less favourably? Like they might think that you were making excuses for poor performance (I am not in any way suggesting that people do that, I know how tough it is trying to get good grades whilst also dealing with health problems, but I don't know how the admissions tutors would perceive it). I've missed about a month of school this year due to health problems (as yet undiagnosed after a year but under investigation) and so it's been quite difficult catching up on some topics - especially in maths, there are some things that you just have to be there for. It's also been quite difficult for me to do homework/revise, as I'm constantly shattered/in pain. I'm predicted AAAA but really doubt that I'll get it (probably AABB or AAAB). Should I apply under CSAS?
T bag, that doesn't sound like a strong enough case to me. However, its not something you nominate yourself for. CSAS is something your tutor recommends you for. You'll need to go and tell them about it, and ask their advice. If they think you have a case, they'll put you through for it.
I applied through it my first time round, and almost did this time round except my tutor was too busy and never got round to completing the form.
I applied through it my first time round, and almost did this time round except my tutor was too busy and never got round to completing the form.
Crazy_emz
If they decide that you aren't eligible, does that mean that they look at you less favourably? Like they might think that you were making excuses for poor performance (I am not in any way suggesting that people do that, I know how tough it is trying to get good grades whilst also dealing with health problems, but I don't know how the admissions tutors would perceive it). I've missed about a month of school this year due to health problems (as yet undiagnosed after a year but under investigation) and so it's been quite difficult catching up on some topics - especially in maths, there are some things that you just have to be there for. It's also been quite difficult for me to do homework/revise, as I'm constantly shattered/in pain. I'm predicted AAAA but really doubt that I'll get it (probably AABB or AAAB). Should I apply under CSAS?
I think you should definitely go for it yes. I strongly doubt that it will harm your overall application to have applied through it even if they choose to ignore it.
I agree with Craghyrax on both points. Tbag, you haven't mentioned your schooling being disrupted, just that it was a bad school, and therefore doesnt count unless your parents dont have degrees, which they do.
Crazy_ems I think you definitely have a case, but be careful, as if its medical you have to provide evidence (i know i did), and if its not diagnosed yet you may have problems.
Crazy_ems I think you definitely have a case, but be careful, as if its medical you have to provide evidence (i know i did), and if its not diagnosed yet you may have problems.
Crazy_ems I think you definitely have a case, but be careful, as if its medical you have to provide evidence (i know i did), and if its not diagnosed yet you may have problems.
Ok, thanks! I'm going into hospital next month so I may know by the time I have to fill in my application but, if I don't know, would it be ok to get a doctor's note describing the symptoms and how they're affecting my everyday life? I really want to apply to Cambridge, as I love the sound of the MML course.
-x-Nina-x-
I agree with Craghyrax on both points. Tbag, you haven't mentioned your schooling being disrupted, just that it was a bad school, and therefore doesnt count unless your parents dont have degrees, which they do.
Crazy_ems I think you definitely have a case, but be careful, as if its medical you have to provide evidence (i know i did), and if its not diagnosed yet you may have problems.
Crazy_ems I think you definitely have a case, but be careful, as if its medical you have to provide evidence (i know i did), and if its not diagnosed yet you may have problems.
It was a bad school, students always wld disrupt lessons, teachers couldnt control the kids, half the bloody lesson the teachers would spend telling students to shut up, and as a result teaching was totally rubbish. Thats how it was disrupted.
Crazy_emz
Ok, thanks! I'm going into hospital next month so I may know by the time I have to fill in my application but, if I don't know, would it be ok to get a doctor's note describing the symptoms and how they're affecting my everyday life? I really want to apply to Cambridge, as I love the sound of the MML course.
That should work fine! Good luck with getting better! ;console;
T_Bag
It was a bad school, students always wld disrupt lessons, teachers couldnt control the kids, half the bloody lesson the teachers would spend telling students to shut up, and as a result teaching was totally rubbish. Thats how it was disrupted.
I went to the crappest college in my region. It was really rubbish and disrupted, the teaching was appalling, and you could barely work for the noise and chaos of the out of hand kids I was with.
I applied for CSAS but I didn't mention any of this in my argument.. I didn't consider it something significant enough to raise, even if it wasn't the only card I had to play!! At uni you will be expected to learn independently. I taught myself A2 Bio because our lecturer was so ignorant that he could barely deliver a basic lecture, nevermind answer questions. I pitched up to meet attendence requirements to cover my exam fees. I taught myself at home in my bedroom by reading my textbook and doing past papers. I approached my lecturers and they agreed to let me off from study sessions, or leave the class for the individual working bits so that I wasn't disturbed. They also let me use my iPod..even in mock exams, so I could focus.
Basically a rubbish school shouldn't be enough to hold you back if you're determined to succeed and proactive about your learning.
Craghyrax
I went to the crappest college in my region. It was really rubbish and disrupted, the teaching was appalling, and you could barely work for the noise and chaos of the out of hand kids I was with.
I applied for CSAS but I didn't mention any of this in my argument.. I didn't consider it something significant enough to raise, even if it wasn't the only card I had to play!! At uni you will be expected to learn independently. I taught myself A2 Bio because our lecturer was so ignorant that he could barely deliver a basic lecture, nevermind answer questions. I pitched up to meet attendence requirements to cover my exam fees. I taught myself at home in my bedroom by reading my textbook and doing past papers. I approached my lecturers and they agreed to let me off from study sessions, or leave the class for the individual working bits so that I wasn't disturbed. They also let me use my iPod..even in mock exams, so I could focus.
Basically a rubbish school shouldn't be enough to hold you back if you're determined to succeed and proactive about your learning.
I applied for CSAS but I didn't mention any of this in my argument.. I didn't consider it something significant enough to raise, even if it wasn't the only card I had to play!! At uni you will be expected to learn independently. I taught myself A2 Bio because our lecturer was so ignorant that he could barely deliver a basic lecture, nevermind answer questions. I pitched up to meet attendence requirements to cover my exam fees. I taught myself at home in my bedroom by reading my textbook and doing past papers. I approached my lecturers and they agreed to let me off from study sessions, or leave the class for the individual working bits so that I wasn't disturbed. They also let me use my iPod..even in mock exams, so I could focus.
Basically a rubbish school shouldn't be enough to hold you back if you're determined to succeed and proactive about your learning.
Yeah exactly same for me but they dont give me any time off lol, because i voluntarily take time off to study my self, its more productive...i ahve to make excuses
I also self taught bio, as well as math.emz, the letter should be fine, its more than I had.
Tbag, I'll be honest, I dontthink you have a strong case, but what do I know. Bear in mind that it is your tutor who applies for CSAS, not you, and whether they are likely to sit there and say that your schooling has been genuinely disrupted and that the school is bad. Noisy abusive classmates dont count.
Tbag, I'll be honest, I dontthink you have a strong case, but what do I know. Bear in mind that it is your tutor who applies for CSAS, not you, and whether they are likely to sit there and say that your schooling has been genuinely disrupted and that the school is bad. Noisy abusive classmates dont count.
Tbag you seem to have confused disrupted education/problems with schooling - ie missing several years of education through illness, not being able to take exams, unable to participate in lessons - with going to a **** school. Cambridge already take into account the quality of your school when judging your application, but by going to a poor school (as Nina is saying) you don't fall within the second statement which is designed for people who fall into the categories i've listed.
Also, people have mentioned teachers having to nominate you for CSAS. My teachers didn't have a clue about the Cambridge application system and i had to point out the CSAS to them, rather than the other way around (though i was a pretty concrete case for the CSAS so it didn't really matter who suggested it). If your teacher doesn't know about the provisions on offer or does not know about the details of your case, then mention it to them.
Also, people have mentioned teachers having to nominate you for CSAS. My teachers didn't have a clue about the Cambridge application system and i had to point out the CSAS to them, rather than the other way around (though i was a pretty concrete case for the CSAS so it didn't really matter who suggested it). If your teacher doesn't know about the provisions on offer or does not know about the details of your case, then mention it to them.
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