The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

It's a hassle for colleges to get all the people supervising their courses to have the necessary CRB checks to work with children. Admission is essentially down to the discretion of the individual DoS, and, while there might be some who are willing to accommodate someone who is 15 or 16, most probably won't.

It's something of a myth to say that mathematicians do all their best work before they're forty.

Those people who've taken time out of maths or come to it very late have achieved as great things (look at Karl Weierstrass, father or analysis) as young men and women.

Certainly, a year or two out of maths won't destroy you.

I know prodigious mathematicians who got all their A-levels and maths Olympiad medals aged 16 who were instructed (by Trinity College) to take a year out. I personally think it would be worse for the development of a young mathematician for them to spend three lonely years with little in common with their coursemates.

Please excuse my ignorance here. Some colleges have an Admissions Tutor (or Tutor for Admissions), and then often a tutor for undergraduate admissions, who may or may not be the same person, and then sometimes admissions tutors for different groups of subjects (e.g. arts, and maths and sciences), one of whom is probably the tutor for undergraduate admissions.

I don't understand where a Director of Studies comes in. I'd be grateful if you could explain some more. Before you posted, I'd assumed that for a younger student, the end-of-the-day decision would be up to maybe the top Admissions Tutor or perhaps even the Senior Tutor. If it's the Director of Studies, then would that be for the specific subject (e.g. maths) or a person who covers several for these purposes? Your post has completely thrown me, illustrating that there must be loads about the Cambridge system which, while not published on the College and University websites, is nonetheless common knowledge but unknown to me.

So in short, please can you start at the very beginning and explain to me what the role of a director of studies would be in admitting or not admitting a younger student, say aged 15-16. If, for the sake of argument, they wanted to admit someone at say 15-16, could they put their foot down and say "this is how it's going to be", even against colleagues' disapproval? And thus all the various arrangements regarding child protection would have to be sorted out, because 'the man' (or woman) had spoken? Or what? MANY THANKS!

Another point I'd been wondering about was is it really completely up to a College, or is there some office at the University that might be able to step in and obstruct someone from being admitted?

many colleges have students who live out or who rarely go to the college except to go to supervisions and see their directors of studies. Even that is playing a part. After all, a supervision is normally a three-person relationship; it's not about solitude. Sure, such people are relating to the community differently from those who join all the societies, are always cheering on the boating team (if they're not on it, or if they're not propping up the bar), and eat in hall every night. But their style of being in the college is not a problem for anyone. Come on, be more inclusive, my friend!

You mention the case of mature students with family but it is interesting to note that there are not many (if any) very mature students in the 'normal' colleges. Most students who are 40 or so are strongly encouraged to join one of the mature colleges which can offer them a more appropriate community for their age and circumstances than the normal colleges. This is not because of any prejudice - just because most people can see that a 40 year old with children will probably be much happier in a community where their are other people their age / with children. Whilst the normal colleges do accept mature students, then, they tend to be 21 year olds who live with everyone else.

There is no reason why any of the colleges should not accept them. You'll certainly get an interview (as long as your PS is reasonable) and then it's down to you.

Thankyou, just one more question - i was thinking of starting my personal statment off with a quote and maybe setting a background of my life and then tslking about my activities...what do you think? or shouldi just stick to the plain format

Up to you. Note that it sould be at least 2 thirds subject focused - what they really care about is why you want to study your subject and what particularly interests you within it. Extra curricular activities won't help you get a place at Cambridge.

vast majority should be subject related. I talked about my job for a brief paragraph, but related it to my subject (sous chef, economics. i talked about recession and rising food prices, blah de blah.) extra curriculer was literally "im a prefect, done d of e and play rugby and tennis". thats it, one sentance. the rest was why i wanted to study my subject.

thanks so much - that helps alot, i was just wondering - what are the alevels cambridge is willing to accept - is aaab good enough?

Thanks so much Dougie - also what colleges do you think are maybe willing to accept lower grades

this page:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/requirements.html#alevels

will tell you about entry requirements. as far as i know AAAB would be fine. although you're probably going to need an A* in there too.





don't think of the colleges in terms of which ones will accept people with lower grades. think of the college as being your home for 3-6 years. choose it based on which one feels right to you, has the type of facilities you want, location etc. if you apply to a college which wants all their students to have twelve A*s on GCSEs and A*A*AA on a-level, if you're good enough, they'll pool you. but, if you want more re-assurance, draw up a short list of colleges you like, and email admissions secretaries of those colleges with any concerns you may have.

if you have had your education disrupted, then apply through the special access scheme. also if you're a state school student, whose education may have been limited, this should be explained by either your referee or in the SAQ if there is space to. all colleges take into account disruption, disability and education advantage/disadvantage.

Pixie x

Pixie, you are magnificent! thanks soo much xxxxx

hey - i got 5 A* 5 A and 3 B's at GCSE, i want to do law, do you know of any colleges that are flexible and would accept these grades?

The boy's from Flanders. I searched some online newspapers, and these are two articles on him:
http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=F12CHDAP&word=cambridge
http://www.gva.be/nieuws/in-de-rand/aid846853/16-jarige-west-vlaming-verovert-plaatsje-op-cambridge-university.aspx
They're both in Dutch, so I've translated one of them here:

I've not translated it entirely, as it's full of inadequate references to J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series (Belgium newspapers seem to think Cambridge = Hogwarts and every popular author studied there). I've stuck to what might be useful to you.

Hope it's useful Good luck!

Thanks a million for this Claudia - I'm very grateful! (Have also PMed in reply to yours).

Funny how they mention Tolkien who was an Oxford man :-) I'm sure this young man will do very well at Cambridge - he certainly sounds very bright and full of motivation.
D

c-c-c-c-aaalm down.

those grades will more than suffice.

Note my careful use of language next time though before bashing straight into me. There will be exceptions, but only after long processes and good reasons.