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Cambridge Graduate Applicants Questions/Chat '09/'10

codflaps

General Chat/Question thread for postgraduate applicants to Cambridge for 2009 entry. Those with a ' :beard:

' symbol have got an offer.

List of Applicants:

Arts:

•

Dondokken13 - M.Phil Classics.

•

Codflaps - Ph.D English. (? :beard: ?)

•

Cyberpoet - M.Phil English: C18th & Romantic Studies.

•

Fleur1 - M.Phil English: Medieval. :beard:

•

Kajama - M.Phil English: Criticism & Culture.

•

Analina - M.Phil Medieval History. :beard:

•

Wholenewworld - M.Phil Modern European History. :beard:

Finance/Management/Business:

•

Frisch - M.Phil Finance.

•

Maxzara - M.Phil Finance.

•

Neutrino0 - M.Phil Finance.

•

ThePebble - M.Phil Finance.

•

Panta_rhei - M.Phil Finance (Real Estate).

•

Clomipramine - M.Phil Management.

•

Thomass - M.Phil Management.

•

Coolshling - MPhil Innovation, Strategy and Organization.

Maths and Science:

•

Stottlemeyer - M.Phil Statistical Science + CASM (Part III). :beard:

•

Athena - Ph.D Population Genetics. :beard:

Social Sciences:

•

Aimee Brown - M.Phil Criminology. :beard:

•

EstherVan - M. Phil Criminology. :beard:

•

Eru Lawliet - LLM.

•

Hippopotamus - LLM. :beard:

•

S_Dimelow - LLM. :beard:

•

Degree_hunter - M.Phil International Relations. :beard:

•

Karat - M.Phil International Relations. :beard:

•

Sunflower52 - M.Phil International Relations. :beard:

•

Chocchu444 - M. Phill Development Studies.

•

Nomfundo - M.Phil Development Studies.

•

Silverside - M.Phil Modern South Asian Studies. :beard:

Reply 1

Dondokken13

I'm applying to Cambridge this year for the Mphil in Classics. I too am conjuring references. I'll be sending it soon though, before Christmas just so it will be there in time for the deadline.

Reply 2

ThePebble

I applied to Cambridge for the MPhil in Finance, but I'm not holding my breath. No harm in trying though - even if it meant having to deal with the pile of mush that is CamSIS! :wink:

Also, thanks to the OP for the superior thread title.

Reply 3

Andante

I considered applying (or maybe I am considering) but the poor online application form has put me right off. Call me shallow for judging on a purely aesthetic basis, but.......

Reply 4

rottcodd

3

Yes, the online application form is awful. I still haven't completely figured out how many copies of everything I need to send, so I'm just sending lots of copies to be sure. My entire application stands at about 55 pages long at last count, and I still haven't finished it.

Reply 5

ThePebble

CamSIS was shocking. I've never seen an application form contradict itself so many times.

"include four cover sheets with photos" vs. "if you are a UK student include two cover sheets" vs. "you only need a photo on the first cover sheet"

The instructions for references were just as bad, made worse for me given that one referee had to post it directly to Cambridge after moving abroad.

It looks like I got through it, as CamSIS is no longer reporting that I need to send any documents to them.

Reply 6

rottcodd

3

ThePebble

"include four cover sheets with photos" vs. "if you are a UK student include two cover sheets" vs. "you only need a photo on the first cover sheet"

I especially hated that bit; it made me rage at my computer.

It looks like I got through it, as CamSIS is no longer reporting that I need to send any documents to them.

So did you send your application off incompleted, and then it showed up on CamSIS what you were missing, and then you just forward it off at a later date? I'm thinking of doing that as I'm paranoid I'm going to lose my application somehow.

Reply 7

ThePebble

rottcodd

So did you send your application off incompleted, and then it showed up on CamSIS what you were missing, and then you just forward it off at a later date? I'm thinking of doing that as I'm paranoid I'm going to lose my application somehow.

Yeah, I submitted an incomplete application online and it told me (in a somewhat ambiguous way!) which documents they still needed. From what I remember they asked for cover sheets, two references and copies of my transcript in addition to the application form. A day or two after my packet arrived with them, the list of pending documents went blank which I'm guessing is a good sign. :smile:

Reply 8

rottcodd

3

Cool. I just posted mine off this afternoon. I guess it's best to send it off now then forward on my reference later - gives them a chance to tell me about stuff I've missed off, which I inevitably have done.

My passport photos look hot though - I tried to look arty and troubled in an attempt to gain favour.

Reply 9

Nicholas Urfe

9

Andante

I considered applying (or maybe I am considering) but the poor online application form has put me right off. Call me shallow for judging on a purely aesthetic basis, but.......

This was exactly my problem. I was considering applying for Cambridge's M.Phil in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, but the online application form, like you say, is horrible. I just can't be bothered to spend so much time on an application form when I've got important undergraduate work to be getting on with.

Reply 10

Dondokken13

So it's ok to send the online form and then send references etc. along as and when after? I haven't got all of my material together yet.

Reply 11

rottcodd

3

Dondokken13

So it's ok to send the online form and then send references etc. along as and when after? I haven't got all of my material together yet.

Yeah I did that just now. I just noticed a thing on the to do list where it says that, after four weeks of making your application, if they haven't received your details they'll assume you are not applying. I just phoned them up to check about that (took me ages to get through) and she said just to ignore it, as long as you send SOMETHING in before that date. So yeah, I would send stuff now and forward references on when you get them.

Reply 12

maxzara

1

I've sent off my application for an MPhil Finance for next year. I found the application quite straight forward.

Reply 13

wholenewworld

8

I sympathise with anyone who has had it tough with the Cambridge application system. It's brilliant that they now how an online application system, with the rider that you pay to submit your application online, but still have to post all the supporting material including essays, references, etc in paper form.

And this in a trillion copies! I had to send stuff to the Board of Graduate Studies and also to the Department of History. The Department of History did not accept anything online. So it begs the question what is the online application system for? Looking back I wouldn't have bothered with 'half-applying' online.. (And was seriously wondering afterwards how many people are put off by the application process itself.)

Reply 14

apotoftea

19

rottcodd

I'm fed up of seeing the Oxford one at the top of the forum.

That my dear rottcodd is because we have taste :p:

*runs away*

Oh and you need passport photos?! The Oxford online system is soooo much better :p:

*runs out of thread again* :p:

Reply 15

rottcodd

3

apotoftea

That my dear rottcodd is because we have taste :p:

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft at you, and all you stand for :p:

Oh and you need passport photos?! The Oxford online system is soooo much better :p:

Yeap, they want our mugs. I'm hoping to get bonus points on the application for being handsome to make up for the poor application in all other respects. Who could turn down my lovely face, I ask you? None! That's who.

Reply 16

apotoftea

19

rottcodd

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft at you, and all you stand for :p:

If they didn't have the sources that I need AND a decent supervisor, I wouldn't be applying there so :p:

*polishes halo*

Yeap, they want our mugs. I'm hoping to get bonus points on the application for being handsome to make up for the poor application in all other respects. Who could turn down my lovely face, I ask you? None! That's who.

Now that's a plan, perhaps I'll upload a photo under "supporting documents" :biggrin:

Reply 17

rottcodd

3

apotoftea

Now that's a plan, perhaps I'll upload a photo under "supporting documents" :biggrin:

But apot, dear - uploading a picture of me to support your application would just be cheating! Though just one look and Oxford will want me, inevitably, so it might be an idea. But your conditional offer would end up being based on getting a distinction + becoming manish, so you would have to be open to the possiblity of growing a beard...

Reply 18

apotoftea

19

rottcodd

But apot, dear - uploading a picture of me to support your application would just be cheating! Though just one look and Oxford will want me, inevitably, so it might be an idea. But your conditional offer would end up being based on getting a distinction + becoming manish, so you would have to be open to the possiblity of growing a beard...