Hi again everyone! We (
@Christ's Admissions,
@Murray Edwards Admissions and ourselves) are back to help answer any questions about results, the summer pool, confirmation of places and starting at Cambridge. This thread will run through A level results week and until the 21
st August. We've put together a short FAQ below to help answer some of the most common questions at this time of year. TSR also has a
very helpful guide on results day. Edit (12/08/2020): please also see the Cambridge guide to outcomes of results
here.
We know how stressful and emotional it can all be. We all get quite invested too, particularly in cases where we have applicants who we've seen in school, have come to our events/open days then the offer-holders open day or applicants who we know have had to overcome some seriously tough times. There's honestly quite a bit of air punching and excitement or swearing and disappointment when the results come in. It isn't us spouting clichés, we really do view each applicant as an individual and we're rooting for them!
If your question is along the lines of 'I think I missed my offer, what are my chances' then I'm afraid that nobody on TSR can help as
all decisions on missed offers are made individually on case-by-case basis and there's really no point in engaging in long hypotheticals or trying to learn from previous cases. All our offer-holders are individuals and we treat them as such.
FAQMore general information, an FAQ about results day is
here!
When do you get the results and make decisions?We have some results now and will get more in the next few days and will aim to make and enter decisions for the majority of applicants ready for them to go live A level results day. However, there will be cases where a decision cannot be made yet (usually because we have placed you in the Summer Pool because you were very close to meeting the offer you were set).
What could happen?Accepted if you meet the offer conditions
Accepted even though you missed
Still under consideration by you preference College or the Summer Pool
Rejected and released to your insurance choice or clearing if you miss the offer and are not thought to be of interest in the Summer Pool (the University has clear guidelines for this)
You won't be accepted by another College on the 13
th.
If you miss your offer and are still pending on the 14
th, the Summer Pool takes place and you may:
Be accepted by your preference College
Be accepted by another College
Be rejected and released to your insurance choice or clearing
How will I know if I’m in?You will know via UCAS Track, from the results you have achieved (if you meet or exceed your offer, your place is certain) and you should also hear from the College by email (hopefully on results day but possibly the next day). If Track updates to show you as ‘unconditional’ at Cambridge then
you’re in, regardless of whether the results you get meet the offer or not. Celebrate!
Do not phone, email or turn up to check – if it says you’re in, then you’re in.
When will UCAS Track update?Track updates by 8 am on the 13
th.
Don't read too much into things if your Track doesn't update - go and get your results before contacting us. There may just be a delay in the news getting from Cambridge to UCAS (we don’t update Track, UCAS do).
If Track hasn’t updated then collect your results before getting in touch with your college. Emailing your college is better than phoning (we’re busy and answering phones slows us down but we’ll respond to emails as and when we can).
Do not turn up at the College as you will not be allowed in to see the Admissions Team and there’s nothing you can’t do via email
. I’ve missed my offer – what now?If you have missed your offer conditions then you could still end up at Cambridge if Track is showing ‘conditional.’ Your preference College may decide to relax your conditions if you have just fallen short of your offer. All decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis taking all available information into account. This includes your personal statement, Admissions Assessment, submitted written work, teacher’s reference, interview reports, how close the missing grade was, how many other people missed their offer in your subject etc.
If your preference College isn’t willing to relax your conditions then you may be either rejected or put into the Summer Pool (see below).
If your Track shows as rejected then I’m afraid your application to Cambridge has been unsuccessful and you have been passed to your insurance choice or into clearing. This won’t be what you hoped for so take some time to let things sink in. If this has happened there is
no way to revisit your application unless a re-mark or results appeal means that you meet the original conditions of your offer by 31
st August. A re-mark where you grades improve but don’t meet the offer conditions will not allow us to take you.
More information on what to do if you have missed your offer but would intend to take exams in the autumn will be posted here in due course. We would, however, recommend informing your college when you are sure that this is the route you wish to take.
Should I reapply?Christ’s will be running a
post-exams clinic to help state school students who did better than they thought decide whether to apply to Cambridge for 2021 entry. Successful reapplicants typically exceed the typical offer for their course so if you haven’t met the offer and don’t have compelling extenuating circumstances then a reapplication for the same or a different course is unlikely to be successful.
We appreciate that you have been thinking about starting in Cambridge and it will be a shock if you’re not accepted but remember that there are many excellent universities and that students who don’t come to Cambridge go on to do fantastically well, and be fantastically happy, elsewhere. Don’t make any rash decisions (e.g. rejecting your insurance because you feel angry) without talking to your supporters and advisers first.
I was rejected in January but have great results! Can I come to Cambridge?The only way to start at Cambridge in October is to hold an offer already or be eligible for Adjustment. You will have been informed in January if you meet our widening participation criteria. If you were not told at this time, you are not eligible. There have been claims this year that there may be places available as international students are less likely to attend. This is NOT TRUE. Please do not call us ‘on the off chance’ – there is no chance of you being given a place this way, no matter your results.There is no opportunity to revisit unsuccessful applications at this point. Christ’s will be running an advice clinic if you want to think about reapplying for 2021 entry but remember that you may be rejected a second time so you should only consider this if you’re excited about the idea of a gap year and have something planned. Take your time and think very carefully about offers you hold to start in 2018.
What should(n’t) I do?DO: Make a plan ahead of time for what you will do in case you miss your conditions. Are you happy with your insurance? Do you want to go into clearing?
DO: Take a charged smartphone if you have one, along with the relevant email addresses and phone numbers you might need.
DO: Stay calm! If you don’t get the results you were hoping for then it is probably best to get on top of sorting out remarks (once you’ve checked Track) before getting in touch with us as they are time-sensitive.
DON’T: Inform us of extenuating circumstances on results day – we can’t take them into account unless we know about them in advance.
DON’T: Phone to check if you’re really in or that there’s not a mistake on Track or you’ve not been sent the wrong letter – if you’re in then you’re in – congratulations!
DON’T: Phone around colleges hoping to be accepted – that isn’t how the Summer Pool works.
If you weren’t made an offer in January then I’m afraid there’s no way to be accepted now. If you’re thinking of reapplying then there’ll be another thread for you along shortly. Please note that Cambridge does not take part in adjustment.
DON’T: Get your teacher/parent/carer/supporter/friend to call up for you. We can only discuss the details with the candidate themselves.
The Summer PoolIt is much smaller than the Winter Pool and about 25% of this is Maths. There isn't a set number of places - this depends on how many colleges are looking, how short of students they are (in all subjects) and who is in the pool. Colleges and the University can vary the number of students taken overall and taken in most subjects in response to the strength of candidates. Colleges would rather end up with a smaller year group than take a weak candidate* but success rates are generally higher than in the Winter Pool as colleges only Pool candidates who are realistic prospects for a place.
*So if you are fished you are meant to be at Cambridge - students from the Summer Pool or with waived conditions get the same results (no significant difference statistically) as those who met their offers.
How do I get put in the Summer Pool?The College you hold an offer at decides whether they want to relax your offer or not and whether they think you're of interest in the Summer Pool (but there are strong guidelines as to what counts as a realistic Summer Pool candidate and there are some compulsory pooling criteria, just like at the Winter Pool). Only a minority of those candidates who miss their offer are put in the Pool.
THE PROCESS IS DIFFERENT IF YOU ARE AN OPEN OFFER HOLDER – SEE BELOWHow will I know if I am being put in the Pool?Your preference College should tell you on the 13
th that you are being put in the Pool and check that you’re happy with this.
If you’d rather be released to your insurance or into clearing then let them know at this point.THE PROCESS IS DIFFERENT IF YOU ARE AN OPEN OFFER HOLDER – SEE BELOWWhen is it?The Pool happens on the Friday after results day (14
th).
When will I find out if I’ve been taken?You should hear by the Friday evening but there is a chance that a small number of people won’t hear until the Monday. You’ll hear whether you are successful or not but please be reactive and don’t chase us – the more time we spend answering phones or emails then the less time we have to do what needs doing.
Open offersI have an open offer – what does this mean?If you have an open offer and meet your conditions then your place at Cambridge is guaranteed. However, which college you’ll be at may not be determined until the Summer Pool on the 14
th. We would then aim to communicate decisions as quickly as possible via email and UCAS track, to be followed up by full details in the post exactly as for others offered places in the summer pool. If you are an open offer holder and you miss your conditions, you may still be put in the Summer Pool but you wouldn’t be guaranteed a place.
Freshers informationHow do I get my university email address?You don't have to wait until you get here but you do have to wait for an email from Student Registry. This will have instructions on what to do. There's a leaflet from the University with information which is sent to all our incoming students but it can also be found at
http://www.uis.cam.ac.uk/for-students/gettingstartedIs there any preliminary reading?Glad to hear you’re keen! There might be or there might not be, depending on your course and College. If there is anything your Director of Studies would like you to do then they will be in touch but please don’t chase us - there might not be any and make sure you’re taking a break!
Depending on your course you might also be registered for Moodle before you arrive so you can access reading lists and preliminary work. This can be done using the email address you gave on your application (which I hope you all kept up to date and isn't an expired school email!).
When should I arrive?Your College will be in touch with dates. Lectures etc. will start in the week of the 1
st Oct so most students will arrive over the weekend before and certainly by the 2
nd. Your college may specify arrival times to help with the unloading of hundreds of cars into old buildings.
Overseas and EU students may be allowed to arrive a week earlier to attend some of the optional settling in events in international freshers week. You may also have to arrive early for course-specific summer schools etc. but
your College will be in touch.How do I sort accommodation?Your College will be in touch with details of your accommodation. Cambridge is not like other universities - we work on the assumption that everyone will live in so you don't need to register for accommodation in the same way as at other universities. Your college will let you know when you can move in.
What's provided in my room?It is difficult to say exactly what you'll get in all colleges but your room will be furnished and you'll almost certainly be provided with a duvet, pillow, lamp, desk, chair etc. Your college may be in touch with more information, otherwise drop your JCR freshers' rep an email - they'll be happy to answer any questions you have. There may also be an official freshers group on facebook or something.