Official Cambridge 2020 Applicants Thread

I really wouldn't worry about it, I think you'll be absolutely fine! I really wish you the best of luck in your application! It's true, I am trying to divert all of my attention onto the admissions test which I feel is a lot more pressing. Are you doing the test on the 30th or is yours at interview?

anyone thinking of PBS?

Do you think it’s worth missing a day of school to prepare for the admissions test this Wednesday?

wait you're at school? I'm on half term.

I’m back at school unfortunately, I think independent schools get 2 weeks but most comprehensive, sixth form colleges, where I go, are back I believe. Anyway any advice?

I’d maybe do a few papers tonight if you have time, then take them in to school tomorrow and have your teachers of the subject you’re doing the test for have a look at them and give you some feedback, then do some more tomorrow evening?

Me! Though I'm screwed because I don't do psychology and I find the essays really hard like i can't think that way

I’ve just started a level psych and oml I can’t wrap my head around research methods yet 😂 you don’t need to do psych tho for the degree so I’m sure it’ll be fine, what courses do you do??

I'm thinking of withdrawing my application and taking a gap year and applying next year instead
Would Cambridge be okay with that?
I'm applying for medicine

Great idea for medics to take a gap year, but now that you have done the application you may as well do as many interviews as you can this year, just regard them as practice for next year. You could also request deferred entry, it is not too late to do that.

Deferred applicants do their interviews this year. They then can get rejected, or get a deferred offer, or can get a normal (not deferred) offer. This all happens this "year" (you will hear the news in 2.5 months time).

It's usually "harder" to get a deferred offer, since you are asking the university to say "this person is definitely going to be in the top X% of applicants next year". Which obviously deals with more unknowns (the next year may have stronger applicants, or simply have more applicants and therefore the standard would also increase). So you would have to perform in a way that makes it clear that you would not be borderline for almost any year of admission.

The Uni may also look at your gap year plans and say quietly "I dont think so", and infer this with a direct offer. This wouldn't be for someone who has a clear and logical plan (e.g. going on a course, doing voluntary work, doing placements or something), but more for someone who just wants a gap year "for travelling" or who has absolutely no plans yet - I could see a number of academics taking the line that it's bad for your development to take a year out, particularly if the course heavily derives itself from A-Level subjects.

It's very very unusual, but also possible that you can get a deferred entry offer even if you didn't apply for it. There should be a section on the SAQ dealing with if you'd accept immediate/deferred offers.

I got a deferred offer without applying for it last year! That was because I’m under 18 though

i have the GAA on the 30th aswell . at first is was quite an unusual test but now that ive done the past papers and practice i feel a lot more comfortable and less stressed for Wednesday .

Ahh same - how have you prepared for section 2 and what type of marks have you been getting? Literally no one is doing the GAA

Yep, there was a bionatsci in my year from The Netherlands who had a deferred offer because she was also too smart for her own good at 17 also

I think the whole deferred offer thing is mostly down to college discretion though. While I know John's, Trinity, Emmanuel, Newnham do not have any problem taking younger students, I know that Catz and Pembroke seem to discourage it (and give deferred offers). Probably this is just boring admin/HR level stuff (since being under 18 means you can't do various things, and also means if you get into trouble or something happens to you, the body (the college) responsible is held to a different standard). The colleges probably do not make this kind of internal admin level decision public so there's really no way to know apart from anecdotal "evidence".

Yep, there was a bionatsci in my year from The Netherlands who had a deferred offer because she was also too smart for her own good at 17 also

I think the whole deferred offer thing is mostly down to college discretion though. While I know John's, Trinity, Emmanuel, Newnham do not have any problem taking younger students, I know that Catz and Pembroke seem to discourage it (and give deferred offers). Probably this is just boring admin/HR level stuff (since being under 18 means you can't do various things, and also means if you get into trouble or something happens to you, the body (the college) responsible is held to a different standard). The colleges probably do not make this kind of internal admin level decision public so there's really no way to know apart from anecdotal "evidence".

Also you can email a colleges admissions director and they’ll tell you pretty clearly how they feel about under 18s