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I don't know whether to reapply to Cambridge for Economics or not?!?!?!?
Hi, I've never posted before, here goes.
I got rejected from Cambridge today for economics after being pooled by Jesus after interview and reinterveiwed at Robinson then rejected. I really don't want to go anywhere else and am thinking about reapplying.
My scores are 9 A*s at GCSE then 564/600 maths + 87/100 FP1( doing further maths), 300/300 geography, 294/300 economics, and 260/300 History (which I dropped after AS). I have offers at warwick, bath and birmingham, and am waiting on bristol.
Does anyone have any advice about whether i should have another go at it? or should i just go to warwick or bristol?
Is it easier to get in to cambridge when you already have all your a level scores?
If I am to do a gap year, i dont have any plans, what should I do during that year?
what kind of a level scores do i need to make it worth while?
What college should I apply to second time if I do?
Thanks for your help
From Paddy
I got rejected from Cambridge today for economics after being pooled by Jesus after interview and reinterveiwed at Robinson then rejected. I really don't want to go anywhere else and am thinking about reapplying.
My scores are 9 A*s at GCSE then 564/600 maths + 87/100 FP1( doing further maths), 300/300 geography, 294/300 economics, and 260/300 History (which I dropped after AS). I have offers at warwick, bath and birmingham, and am waiting on bristol.
Does anyone have any advice about whether i should have another go at it? or should i just go to warwick or bristol?
Is it easier to get in to cambridge when you already have all your a level scores?
If I am to do a gap year, i dont have any plans, what should I do during that year?
what kind of a level scores do i need to make it worth while?
What college should I apply to second time if I do?
Thanks for your help
From Paddy
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I'd ask for feedback as why you were rejected before deciding.
The West Wing
I'd ask for feedback as why you were rejected before deciding.
Should I contact Jesus College and Robinson too? How does asking for feedback work. Thanks again for your help
Did you not apply to LSE?
I am in the same situation as you, got my rejection letter for Eco this morning, and I've been thinking about re-applying all day. I was online looking at gap year projects etc. and most of the deadlines are in march, so there is definitely time to apply for them!
I think the annoying thing is that being in the pool means you are good enough for Cambridge, not getting in means you are unlucky because if you applied to another college they would've taken you? It is like you are good enough but we don't have enough spaces so you can't come.
It depends on whether you think it is worth taking a year out just - if I may say, for Cambridge. If LSE/Warwick gave me an offer I would definitely go, because they are just as good as Cam @ Eco, not sure about Bristol. I think now that I have been pooled by Cambridge I sort of look down at other unis because Cambridge gave you the recognition that you are good enough.
I am waffling, but yes, definitely ask for feedback, although what they would actually say for poolees, I guess it will alone the lines of "strong competition" (which in our case is more likely to be true than for direct rejectees).
I am in the same situation as you, got my rejection letter for Eco this morning, and I've been thinking about re-applying all day. I was online looking at gap year projects etc. and most of the deadlines are in march, so there is definitely time to apply for them!
I think the annoying thing is that being in the pool means you are good enough for Cambridge, not getting in means you are unlucky because if you applied to another college they would've taken you? It is like you are good enough but we don't have enough spaces so you can't come.
It depends on whether you think it is worth taking a year out just - if I may say, for Cambridge. If LSE/Warwick gave me an offer I would definitely go, because they are just as good as Cam @ Eco, not sure about Bristol. I think now that I have been pooled by Cambridge I sort of look down at other unis because Cambridge gave you the recognition that you are good enough.
I am waffling, but yes, definitely ask for feedback, although what they would actually say for poolees, I guess it will alone the lines of "strong competition" (which in our case is more likely to be true than for direct rejectees).
you have very good grades. apply to things like Bank of England gap year programme, Deloitte and etc. take a gap year and then reapply to cambridge. it doesnt really matter which college you will apply to. all the colleges get almost equal results in economics and the admission will probs be of the same difficulty.
You have excellent grades and module scores so, to be brutally honest, you must have ****ed up both of your interviews pretty badly. Did you read widely around the subject and prepare sufficiently for the interview? I'm guessing that they thought you were more of a "revision machine" than genuinely knowledgeable, since, with those grades and scores, a rejection was unfortunate.
jcb914
You have excellent grades and module scores so, to be brutally honest, you must have ****ed up both of your interviews pretty badly. Did you read widely around the subject and prepare sufficiently for the interview? I'm guessing that they thought you were more of a "revision machine" than genuinely knowledgeable, since, with those grades and scores, a rejection was unfortunate.
That's a bit harsh, I can see where you are coming from but most Economic applicants have those grades ie. aound 10A*, 95% in 3 most relevant A-level, so the competition is really tough. When you are applying to something like Economics, all the talk of average 6A* and 89% UMS becomes rubbish because it is simply not applicable.
panda-size
That's a bit harsh, I can see where you are coming from but most Economic applicants have those grades ie. aound 10A*, 95% in 3 most relevant A-level, so the competition is really tough. When you are applying to something like Economics, all the talk of average 6A* and 89% UMS becomes rubbish because it is simply not applicable.
Okay, maybe he didn't "**** up" the interview, but it obviously did not go all that well. It obviously wasn't his grades which got him rejected, so his interview couldn't have been up to scratch. Nothing a bit more preparation and practice couldn't sort out.
PS - good luck for LSE. I was thrown on the short-list last year, too. The offer came through in the end.
Oh, and Warwick is good for econ but not as good as LSE or Cambridge!
Contact the original college you applied to and specifically ask for feedback - not all colleges send it automatically. The feedback should be detailed enough to let you know whether you stand a chance next time. Look out for comments about things you can work on such as intergiew technique, and things you can't - eg if they said they thought you would struggle.
Only after you've seen that should you make a decision. You should also phone up and ask what their policy is on gap years for economics as this may be a problem. You will definitely have to keep your hand in, so start applying for related internships asap.
Only after you've seen that should you make a decision. You should also phone up and ask what their policy is on gap years for economics as this may be a problem. You will definitely have to keep your hand in, so start applying for related internships asap.
If you can arrange something fantastic for a gap year (that Bank of England internship thing looked like a very good oppotunity), then it would definately be worth reapplying, because it would still have been worth it even if you didn't get in a second time round. If there are areas of your application you feel you could improve upon (more background reading maybe) then you have good grounds for reapplying. I suppose economics is the exception to the rules though, it's probably the most competitive course at cambridge both in terms of numbers and the calibre of the applicants.
I was drawn to this thread because someone I know has just been re-interviewed at Robinson for economics, and I haven't heard yet if they were successful; I thought it might be you because your grades are almost identical; I think he did different subjects at A level though. i suppose that just illustrates that though your grades are pretty faultless, there are many others with equally good grades.
I was drawn to this thread because someone I know has just been re-interviewed at Robinson for economics, and I haven't heard yet if they were successful; I thought it might be you because your grades are almost identical; I think he did different subjects at A level though. i suppose that just illustrates that though your grades are pretty faultless, there are many others with equally good grades.
jcb914
Okay, maybe he didn't "**** up" the interview, but it obviously did not go all that well. It obviously wasn't his grades which got him rejected, so his interview couldn't have been up to scratch. Nothing a bit more preparation and practice couldn't sort out.
PS - good luck for LSE. I was thrown on the short-list last year, too. The offer came through in the end. Oh, and Warwick is good for econ but not as good as LSE or Cambridge!
PS - good luck for LSE. I was thrown on the short-list last year, too. The offer came through in the end.
Oh, and Warwick is good for econ but not as good as LSE or Cambridge!Thanks, I really hope LSE comes, otherwise I really don't know what to do, probably re-apply and add UCL to my list.
I didn't apply to London Universities, cos I expect to end up there eventually. What more preperation for interview can i do? I read the FT everyday and the Economist, read a few economics books, which they didn't ask me about. They asked me only one thing about my personal statement to do with me liking the "artistic element" of economics and they asked me what i meant. I talked about decision making and how not all people are rational... Overall I thought my interviews were ok, but not great, but also not messed up. Thanks for the BoE internship and Deloitte's ideas.
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
pvanderpant1
I didn't apply to London Universities, cos I expect to end up there eventually. What more preperation for interview can i do? I read the FT everyday and the Economist, read a few economics books, which they didn't ask me about. They asked me only one thing about my personal statement to do with me liking the "artistic element" of economics and they asked me what i meant. I talked about decision making and how not all people are rational... Overall I thought my interviews were ok, but not great, but also not messed up. Thanks for the BoE internship and Deloitte's ideas.
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
get BOE gap year scheme, it will look very good.during an interview you also have to kinda lead them to ask you questions you want them to ask. i would also advise to research about particular DOS interest in the specific field in economics and ask her about his/her work in the end of the interview.it is true that ur grades are good, but they are just the standard for economics. some people on this course are ridiculously smart.
pvanderpant1
I didn't apply to London Universities, cos I expect to end up there eventually.
Sorry you got rejected.
LSE course is a step up from rest of UK universities. So if I understand you correctly in that you want to do postgraduate study then applying there for undergraduate would make sense.
I suspect problem is in convincing Cambridge that you are an Economist. i.e. your most excellant grades show ability but not inclination.
i.e. I have read many PSs and that is normally something that applicants find hard. Especially in early drafts.
I see that you are a new member so I assume that you did not use the PS helper service. If you do decide to re-apply then that might be one way of improving your chances 2nd time round. Yes I know Cambridge interview, but the PS gives your endowment position when you start the interview.
However I would not recommend that. Not a big difference between Warwick and Cambridge for economics (I said before big difference is between LSE and all the rest) they are both top 5 for economics. So unless you have a positive idea of what to do in a GAP year then that is what I would recommend. Anyway atleast go to the Warwick Open day!
All The Best
I know nothing about Economics but I thought I would offer you a word of warning. I applied to Trinity college Cambridge last year and was pooled, then re-interviewed by another college and then did not get a place. I reapplied this year, to King's college and was pooled but did not get a place. So the same thing can happen twice! Obviously, it is probably because I was just not quite good enough but remember that every year you apply, more and more others apply so you run the same risks each time!
Luckily, this year I applied to a number of other universities that I hadn't last year. I researched their courses in detail and found that I would like to go to any of them and I have got offers from those. But remember it could be quite upsetting if you had your heart set on it.
Oxbridge teaching is amazing and the level of personl tuition and guidance you get in your learning is obviously unrivalled but remember that it is your brain that would be doing the thinking, wherever you go. If you are really passionate and enthusiastic about your subject, with a drive to learn, you will enjoy the course wherever you go. *
* Within reason of course!
Luckily, this year I applied to a number of other universities that I hadn't last year. I researched their courses in detail and found that I would like to go to any of them and I have got offers from those. But remember it could be quite upsetting if you had your heart set on it.
Oxbridge teaching is amazing and the level of personl tuition and guidance you get in your learning is obviously unrivalled but remember that it is your brain that would be doing the thinking, wherever you go. If you are really passionate and enthusiastic about your subject, with a drive to learn, you will enjoy the course wherever you go. *
* Within reason of course!
pvanderpant1
I didn't apply to London Universities, cos I expect to end up there eventually. What more preperation for interview can i do? I read the FT everyday and the Economist, read a few economics books, which they didn't ask me about. They asked me only one thing about my personal statement to do with me liking the "artistic element" of economics and they asked me what i meant. I talked about decision making and how not all people are rational... Overall I thought my interviews were ok, but not great, but also not messed up. Thanks for the BoE internship and Deloitte's ideas.
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
Do I have a better chance next year, with full a level scores of say 580 econ, 564 maths, 540 further maths, 590 geog, excluding the 'better preparation' argument?
Is it possible to ask for a place for next year?
Thanks for all your posts x
LOL! No you can't "ask for a place for next year". If they thought you were good enough but just did not have room this year, they would have asked you if you could defer entry until 2009.
It's fair enough that you think your interviews went okay. However, you did not get an offer, which signifies there was something that other people had which you did not. People have got offers for Econ with wose grades than you, so we know that it isn't that your grades aren't good enough. Therefore, you either did not perform that well at interview, or your PS/reference was a bit crap.
It sounds to me like you think everything went perfectly, but I'm sorry - it obviously didn't and you need to figure out what went wrong and where.
I would reapply again anyway, because even if you don't get in to Cambridge I think you were mistaken not applying to UCL/LSE.
Yeah but they say they expect to end up in London eventually, so clearly they're not hating the idea, and with the exception of Warwick perhaps, my impression is that the London universities dominate the economics sphere outside of Cambridge, academically, and career-wise.
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