Cambridge SAQ Statement

Hi guys,

So i'm applying to Cambridge Engineering course and had no idea the SAQ had a section where you are allowed to add 1200 character statement. It's advised that it should be on "What interest you about the course" but I don't know what aspect they want.

Should it be like the personal statement where you are just trying to sell yourself by saying only your strong points? e.g. what you can bring to the College's sports team.

Should you say what your weak points are instead? E.g. Core maths stronger than Mechanics so thats what your going to work on improving.

Should you say course specific things straight from the course structure E.g. Engineering course is broad, therefore it allows freedom to specialise in any branch of Engineering you want, and perhaps state what im interested in (aero/mechanical/energy).

Or should it be more general e.g. passion and interest into engineering in general, as a discipline.

I'm really confused and have realised this is very important on first impressions :/ If anyone has applied to cambridge and submitted an SAQ statement for Engineering before can you please send me a copy of yours so I can get an idea for what I should be writing?

Thanks!

Hi guys,

So i'm applying to Cambridge Engineering course and had no idea the SAQ had a section where you are allowed to add 1200 character statement. It's advised that it should be on "What interest you about the course" but I don't know what aspect they want.

Should it be like the personal statement where you are just trying to sell yourself by saying only your strong points? e.g. what you can bring to the College's sports team.

Should you say what your weak points are instead? E.g. Core maths stronger than Mechanics so thats what your going to work on improving.

Should you say course specific things straight from the course structure E.g. Engineering course is broad, therefore it allows freedom to specialise in any branch of Engineering you want, and perhaps state what im interested in (aero/mechanical/energy).

Or should it be more general e.g. passion and interest into engineering in general, as a discipline.

I'm really confused and have realised this is very important on first impressions :/ If anyone has applied to cambridge and submitted an SAQ statement for Engineering before can you please send me a copy of yours so I can get an idea for what I should be writing?

Thanks!

May as well leave it blank then. Sometimes it's better. I've heard admissions people say that the SAQ statement doesn't give that much more detail or help them much more. It's more beneficial for cambridge only courses.

Yup, ATs and DoSs are quietly pleased when it's left blank

Unless you have something to say specifically about Cambridge and their course?

Unless you really have something new and useful to say, no. If in doubt leave it blank

Say you do have a few useful unmentioned points to make like taking up additional mechanics modules and my interest in the cambridge course itself as a pose to other courses, how do you go about writing that in?

Do you start off with an intro like a personal statement or just go head first into the main points?

I feel like my application just based on references and personal statement is not as strong as others having seen theirs. Obviously I plan on showing for it on the admissions test but if there's anything I can do in the saq statement that is worthwhile would be good to know.