Reapplying to Cambridge: Guide for Reapplicants

O rly?

@NeverLucky I'm still reading it (! ), but just on the 3 or 4 A-level bit: Cambridge are very clear that 3 A-levels are as competitive as 4. In particular, the point about it being useful having 4 for NatSci is just that it can give you more options when selecting your modules - not that it makes an applicant more competitive.

Also a re-applicant can't really change their A-level profile - it's too late - so I wouldn't want to in any way discourage a 3 A-level applicant just on that basis. Ok?

I suspect that for many applicants who've been rejected post interview, looking at how they could have improved their interview or any admissions tests would be more relevant advice than the A levels, because the college has already assessed those (assuming that the applicant met the predicted grades of A*A*A) and offered an interview on the back of them.

Just noticed this @NeverLucky 'decide to apply to Cambridge instead because you decided Cambridge was better'

This is a useful resource, but as @Doonesbury says there are some mistakes in Chapter 2. In particular, the second paragraph contains some errors. The standard offer for NatSci is A*A*A, and I don't think any student should be advised to 'take another A level in your gap year' if they've 'only' got 3. I suspect that for many applicants who've been rejected post interview, looking at how they could have improved their interview or any admissions tests would be more relevant advice than the A levels, because the college has already assessed those (assuming that the applicant met the predicted grades of A*A*A) and offered an interview on the back of them.

Ah, awesome thread, thanks for tagging me!

My only suggestion at the mo is to break up the paragraphs if pos

I assume, although I could be wrong that A*AA is competitive for Oxford for those subjects asking AAA and A*A*A for those asking for A*AA. But of course, the more A* grades the better. Also the grades would be contextualised and as Never_Lucky suggests, extenuating cicrumstances would apply.

The Oxford and Cambridge attitudes to A-level grades are massively different. Without extenuating circumstances, in Oxford they are viewed very much as a requirement that is either met (allowing the application to progress further) or not met (meaning that the applicant is rejected pre-interview). Based on the LMH Oxford Q&A thread, is no advantage to exceeding the standard offer when applying post-qualification since decisions are made almost entirely from the admissions test and interviews.

I've decided that I won't be reapplying for HSPS. Whatever I do during a potential gap year, I don't think I'd be able to return to such intense study after a fairly lax year.

Applying to Cambridge was definitely an experience, I'm very happy I did so and it was nice to have a dream to latch onto for two years.