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Natural Sciences at Cambridge or Biomedical Sciences at Oxford

Hi! I've got a dilemma. My GCSEs are 999998766, which makes me less than unlikely to be even interviewed for Biomedical Sciences at Oxford- since the average successful applicant has 9.6 A*s at GCSE. I reckon I could do some compensating in the BMAT, and my personal statement (like most applicants) will be the best it can- I've read books like The Selfish Gene ect. and I managed to get virtual work experience with a potential IRL week visit if that becomes possible. My school at GCSE and even more so at A level underperforms, so contextually I excelled- I'm the only one in my year applying for Oxbridge. The 2 6s were in art and music, and because of coursework moderation. For a good portion of year 11 I put my studying to the side a bit (still did a lot though) since we had a family thing.

After looking at the admissions statistics I think my chances are slim to none.

I have considered Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge, and although it seems quite broad, a biomedical sciences course still covers more than the 3 I'd have to choose. Cambridge is also less expensive than Oxford, I know I'd get a higher student loan but that doesn't fully compensate, I'd still have to pay more outright at Oxford, and I'd need a job because my parents aren't going to help me. So another point to Cambridge because I'd be more comfortable financially. Everything I've done to work towards has been directed at Biomedical Sciences though, and I'm still planning to apply for biomedical sciences courses at other universities. Also no prep for NSAA but it seems quite similar to the BMAT just without the thinking skills or essay.

tldr- I've been preparing for Oxford but my grades are too low, the Cambridge alternative I'm not prepared for and clashes with a purely biological focus.

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It might be my bad experience, but I always found Cambridge to demand more higher exam results from that single sitting, and Oxford rather more welcoming/forgiving of grades , allowing resits. Not applied for biomed tho’.
Original post by Anonymous
Hi! I've got a dilemma. My GCSEs are 999998766, which makes me less than unlikely to be even interviewed for Biomedical Sciences at Oxford- since the average successful applicant has 9.6 A*s at GCSE. I reckon I could do some compensating in the BMAT, and my personal statement (like most applicants) will be the best it can- I've read books like The Selfish Gene ect. and I managed to get virtual work experience with a potential IRL week visit if that becomes possible. My school at GCSE and even more so at A level underperforms, so contextually I excelled- I'm the only one in my year applying for Oxbridge. The 2 6s were in art and music, and because of coursework moderation. For a good portion of year 11 I put my studying to the side a bit (still did a lot though) since we had a family thing.

After looking at the admissions statistics I think my chances are slim to none.

I have considered Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge, and although it seems quite broad, a biomedical sciences course still covers more than the 3 I'd have to choose. Cambridge is also less expensive than Oxford, I know I'd get a higher student loan but that doesn't fully compensate, I'd still have to pay more outright at Oxford, and I'd need a job because my parents aren't going to help me. So another point to Cambridge because I'd be more comfortable financially. Everything I've done to work towards has been directed at Biomedical Sciences though, and I'm still planning to apply for biomedical sciences courses at other universities. Also no prep for NSAA but it seems quite similar to the BMAT just without the thinking skills or essay.

tldr- I've been preparing for Oxford but my grades are too low, the Cambridge alternative I'm not prepared for and clashes with a purely biological focus.

What is the actual success rate for those with 6A*s then?

Can you give us more detail about your costings? You don't even know your college yet so how can you know what living costs might be, and you don't sound international so I assume you're not talking about tuition fees... also don't think Oxford gets more student loan? Its not in London...
Original post by nexttime
What is the actual success rate for those with 6A*s then?

Can you give us more detail about your costings? You don't even know your college yet so how can you know what living costs might be, and you don't sound international so I assume you're not talking about tuition fees... also don't think Oxford gets more student loan? Its not in London...

Do cambridge let you get jobs in term time?
Original post by Theloniouss
Do cambridge let you get jobs in term time?

No and neither do Oxford. But both tend to be quite generous on the financial support side - another reason to ask how OP has arrived at conclusions above.

Holidays are long though I got Christmas jobs earning ~£2k. And in Oxford in particular there are lots of small and big medical trials that pay - big moral value associated with volunteering for them too.
Original post by Anonymous
Hi! I've got a dilemma. My GCSEs are 999998766, which makes me less than unlikely to be even interviewed for Biomedical Sciences at Oxford- since the average successful applicant has 9.6 A*s at GCSE. I reckon I could do some compensating in the BMAT, and my personal statement (like most applicants) will be the best it can- I've read books like The Selfish Gene ect. and I managed to get virtual work experience with a potential IRL week visit if that becomes possible. My school at GCSE and even more so at A level underperforms, so contextually I excelled- I'm the only one in my year applying for Oxbridge. The 2 6s were in art and music, and because of coursework moderation. For a good portion of year 11 I put my studying to the side a bit (still did a lot though) since we had a family thing.

After looking at the admissions statistics I think my chances are slim to none.

I have considered Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge, and although it seems quite broad, a biomedical sciences course still covers more than the 3 I'd have to choose. Cambridge is also less expensive than Oxford, I know I'd get a higher student loan but that doesn't fully compensate, I'd still have to pay more outright at Oxford, and I'd need a job because my parents aren't going to help me. So another point to Cambridge because I'd be more comfortable financially. Everything I've done to work towards has been directed at Biomedical Sciences though, and I'm still planning to apply for biomedical sciences courses at other universities. Also no prep for NSAA but it seems quite similar to the BMAT just without the thinking skills or essay.

tldr- I've been preparing for Oxford but my grades are too low, the Cambridge alternative I'm not prepared for and clashes with a purely biological focus.


Cambridge and I think Oxford forbid students from having a job whilst studying there. Also both have a poor reputation with mental health, and attitude towards LGBTQ , people of colour, women, disabled etc. At GCSE I got 9999999988A and want to do biomedical science. The course at Oxford has a lot more neuroscience than I wanted and Cambridge don’t really do it. Natural science is a lot more chemistry than biomed. And it’s very hard to get in to both, some of my friends applied and even though they had amazing grades, didn’t get an offer. And Cambridge focus on A levels, hence why their entry requirements are higher. Oxford focuses a lot more on GCSEs so you shouldn’t apply there, and only to Cambridge if you are predicted super high. I have a friend doing natural science at Cambridge and likes it but he wants to do a masters in chemical engineering and likes how there isn’t loads of biology. Also, avoid Imperial as an option for biomed. I went there and students on the course representing it told me and a few others to not go there because they run the biomed course so badly. And KCL have many bad lecturers, some who don’t even turn up and some who teach really badly so they don’t understand. That’s why I refused my offer from KCL.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by TsRtSr1001
Cambridge and I think Oxford forbid students from having a job whilst studying there. Also both have a poor reputation with mental health, and attitude towards LGBTQ , people of colour, women, disabled etc. At GCSE I got 9999999988A and want to do biomedical science. The course at Oxford has a lot more neuroscience than I wanted and Cambridge don’t really do it. Natural science is a lot more chemistry than biomed. And it’s very hard to get in to both, some of my friends applied and even though they had amazing grades, didn’t get an offer. And Cambridge focus on A levels, hence why their entry requirements are higher. Oxford focuses a lot more on GCSEs so you shouldn’t apply there, and only to Cambridge if you are predicted super high. I have a friend doing natural science at Cambridge and likes it but he wants to do a masters in chemical engineering and likes how there isn’t loads of biology. Also, avoid Imperial as an option for biomed. I went there and students on the course representing it told me and a few others to not go there because they run the biomed course so badly. And KCL have many bad lecturers, some who don’t even turn up and some who teach really badly so they don’t understand. That’s why I refused my offer from KCL.


Natural Sciences is a lot more chemistry than biomed?
Original post by Theloniouss
Natural Sciences is a lot more chemistry than biomed?


That’s what he said. Chemistry is going to be in all of it, even biomed, as it overlaps with biochem, but it’s natural SCIENCES so there has to be a lot of chem otherwise it would be natural biology
Original post by TsRtSr1001
That’s what he said. Chemistry is going to be in all of it, even biomed, as it overlaps with biochem, but it’s natural SCIENCES so there has to be a lot of chem otherwise it would be natural biology

yes, but you choose your modules for natural sciences. You don't have to choose chemistry.
Original post by Anonymous
I have considered Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge, and although it seems quite broad, a biomedical sciences course still covers more than the 3 I'd have to choose.

tldr- I've been preparing for Oxford but my grades are too low, the Cambridge alternative I'm not prepared for and clashes with a purely biological focus.


Original post by Theloniouss
Natural Sciences is a lot more chemistry than biomed?


Original post by TsRtSr1001
That’s what he said. Chemistry is going to be in all of it, even biomed, as it overlaps with biochem, but it’s natural SCIENCES so there has to be a lot of chem otherwise it would be natural biology


Not necessarily. It's entirely possibly to take three biological options in Part IA NatSci, only biological options in Part IB, and then in Part II you will usually be specialising in one area which if the student took all biological options thus far would normally be one of the biological subjects. It might even be possible to do less chemistry in NatSci than in BMS, although that might depend on what you define as being chemistry vs not and also on how much you count "incidental" use of chemistry in biological contexts. As stated there will be some semblance of chemistry, but in terms of formal study of chemistry NatSci offers more scope to avoid it if it's unwanted. It is however probably a common option for bio NatScis to take.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by Theloniouss
yes, but you choose your modules for natural sciences. You don't have to choose chemistry.


The way you’re defending yourself it sounds like you want to study it. Just know that if you want biology, natural science will not get you great careers at the end of the degree as it’s pretty vague, specialising after is necessary. Personally, with your grades and your preference of biology, I’d go to neither uni, and idk if you’d even get in to either. What are your predicted grades?
Original post by TsRtSr1001
The way you’re defending yourself it sounds like you want to study it. Just know that if you want biology, natural science will not get you great careers at the end of the degree as it’s pretty vague, specialising after is necessary. Personally, with your grades and your preference of biology, I’d go to neither uni, and idk if you’d even get in to either. What are your predicted grades?

what? You know I'm not OP, right?
But I’m confused. If you say you can’t get into Oxford then you can’t to Cambridge as they require higher grades.
Original post by Anonymous
You’re so vague with what you want but with your grades, you’re not Oxbridge material, maybe not even Russel group material. Try Loughborough, they’re non Russel group but still decent.

You're trolling, right?
Original post by Theloniouss
what? You know I'm not OP, right?


XD sorry, but apart from the directed at you, the rest is needed.
Original post by Theloniouss
You're trolling, right?


No I’m serious. Those GCSEs won’t get them into Oxbridge, especially Oxford. And as they said all of their work has been to biomed so why switch to NatSci with higher entry grades that they said they won’t get. And all of their facts about Oxbridge are wrong so it makes me think they are not smart in researching.
Original post by TsRtSr1001
XD sorry, but apart from the directed at you, the rest is needed.

The rest is incorrect. OP's grades are certainly good enough for Cambridge, and you do specialise on a Natural Sciences degree. Also, graduating from Cambridge in a science (the only science degree they offer) probably gives you pretty good career prospects. I've no idea why a preference for biology should discourage you from going to Cambridge, but I see no reason it should.
Original post by Theloniouss
The rest is incorrect. OP's grades are certainly good enough for Cambridge, and you do specialise on a Natural Sciences degree. Also, graduating from Cambridge in a science (the only science degree they offer) probably gives you pretty good career prospects. I've no idea why a preference for biology should discourage you from going to Cambridge, but I see no reason it should.


That’s not what I said, I think you misunderstand. They’d grades could get them in but highly unlikely. My friends that applied for 9999999998 and 9999999988 at GCSE and didn’t get offers, only my friend who got straight 9’s got an offer of A*A*A*A. They said they spent all their time working towards biomed so it makes sense to apply for that, and not just switch to NatSci because they are unlikely to get into the Oxbridge that does biomed
Original post by Anonymous
No I’m serious. Those GCSEs won’t get them into Oxbridge, especially Oxford. And as they said all of their work has been to biomed so why switch to NatSci with higher entry grades that they said they won’t get. And all of their facts about Oxbridge are wrong so it makes me think they are not smart in researching.

I know people with offers from Cambridge and at Cambridge with similar GCSEs. OP never said they wouldn't meet the entry conditions (as far as I've seen), and the only inaccurate fact seems to be about student loans.
Original post by Anonymous
You’re so vague with what you want but with your grades, you’re not Oxbridge material, maybe not even Russel group material. Try Loughborough, they’re non Russel group but still decent.

"maybe not even Russell Group material" - if the OP is realistically looking at Oxbridge they'll be able to get offers from most other universities in the country, lol. You say the OP is "not smart in researching" but you seem to overestimate the bar for university entry in this country.

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