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Reapplying to Cambridge Engineering

Background: I received my A level results today and I got A* in physics, maths, and chemistry, A in further maths. I was 4 marks off an A* in further maths. Will get it remarked. In the 2023 application cycle I applied to Cambridge and was rejected after interview and after being placed in winter pool. Applied to Pembroke.
Is it a good idea to reapply to Cambridge with these grades? Is there a chance I can still be accepted?

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Original post by BeachBionicX
Background: I received my A level results today and I got A* in physics, maths, and chemistry, A in further maths. I was 4 marks off an A* in further maths. Will get it remarked. In the 2023 application cycle I applied to Cambridge and was rejected after interview and after being placed in winter pool. Applied to Pembroke.
Is it a good idea to reapply to Cambridge with these grades? Is there a chance I can still be accepted?


Hi there! :hello:

The entry requirements for engineering are A*A*A, including maths and physics. Some colleges specify that the A*s need to be in maths and physics, and FM is considered highly beneficial.

You've hit all of these requirements, so you're certainly a credible candidate if you reapplied. Though of course the applications are assessed holistically and not just in terms of grades achieved.

Did you get any feedback from your previous application? :smile:
Original post by BeachBionicX
Background: I received my A level results today and I got A* in physics, maths, and chemistry, A in further maths. I was 4 marks off an A* in further maths. Will get it remarked. In the 2023 application cycle I applied to Cambridge and was rejected after interview and after being placed in winter pool. Applied to Pembroke.
Is it a good idea to reapply to Cambridge with these grades? Is there a chance I can still be accepted?
Re-apply to one of Girton College OR Homerton College or St. Catharine's College. 😉

Get the A-Level Further Maths re-marked for sure!!!

Also, I wonder which papers you were let down by? FP1? FM1? FS1? FD1? FM2? 😧 As it might be worth resitting A-Level Further Maths for an A* in August 2025.
Reply 3
Original post by Saracen's Fez
Hi there! :hello:
The entry requirements for engineering are A*A*A, including maths and physics. Some colleges specify that the A*s need to be in maths and physics, and FM is considered highly beneficial.
You've hit all of these requirements, so you're certainly a credible candidate if you reapplied. Though of course the applications are assessed holistically and not just in terms of grades achieved.
Did you get any feedback from your previous application? :smile:

Yes, i did and it was not very detailed but it said i had to work on problem-solving skils.
Reply 4
Original post by thegeek888
Re-apply to one of Girton College OR Homerton College or St. Catharine's College. 😉
Get the A-Level Further Maths re-marked for sure!!!
Also, I wonder which papers you were let down by? FP1? FM1? FS1? FD1? FM2? 😧 As it might be worth resitting A-Level Further Maths for an A* in August 2025.

So my score breakdown for Edexcel further Maths, each paper is out of 75
CP1:65
CP2:65
FS1:56
FM1:66
Is there any reason I should apply to those colleges? How are they different to the other colleges?
Hopefully, I'll get a remark, I'm hoping that by some stroke of luck, my scores will increase enough to get the A*.
Original post by BeachBionicX
Yes, i did and it was not very detailed but it said i had to work on problem-solving skils.


Ok, so what that means in (very) brief is that it wasn't just on grades that you weren't made an offer, it was also probably some of your performance at interview.

This isn't to say not to reapply, but bear in mind that having now obtained the required grades isn't in itself enough to get an offer.
Original post by thegeek888
Re-apply to one of Girton College OR Homerton College or St. Catharine's College. 😉
Get the A-Level Further Maths re-marked for sure!!!
Also, I wonder which papers you were let down by? FP1? FM1? FS1? FD1? FM2? 😧 As it might be worth resitting A-Level Further Maths for an A* in August 2025.

Why St Catherine's? I'm assuming you're suggesting the other two because you don't know or have confidence in the pooling system but why Catz?
Original post by melancollege
Why St Catherine's? I'm assuming you're suggesting the other two because you don't know or have confidence in the pooling system but why Catz?
St. Catherine's is similar to Girton and Homerton and recieves a lot of "Open Applications" and so many applicants are allocated to the college. Engineering had 8 for example, and just 5 applicants per place.
Original post by BeachBionicX
So my score breakdown for Edexcel further Maths, each paper is out of 75
CP1:65
CP2:65
FS1:56
FM1:66
Is there any reason I should apply to those colleges? How are they different to the other colleges?
Hopefully, I'll get a remark, I'm hoping that by some stroke of luck, my scores will increase enough to get the A*.

You could always sit FM2 in your gap year if the remark is not as successful? I can upload the OUP FM1 FM2 CP1 eBooks with model answers. 🙂

Girton, Homerton and St. Catharine's don't get enough applicants for Engineering.
(edited 2 months ago)
Original post by thegeek888
St. Catherine's is similar to Girton and Homerton and recieves a lot of "Open Applications" and so many applicants are allocated to the college. Engineering had 8 for example, and just 5 applicants per place.

Are you sure? Cambridge's St Catz is a fairly old central college and doesn't seem to disproportionately accept from the pool or open applications.
Original post by melancollege
Are you sure? Cambridge's St Catz is a fairly old central college and doesn't seem to disproportionately accept from the pool or open applications.


Yes indeed, there was one point in recent years where we had the highest ratio of applicants to places, I think!
Original post by melancollege
Are you sure? Cambridge's St Catz is a fairly old central college and doesn't seem to disproportionately accept from the pool or open applications.

You can see for yourself here:

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics

That shows that the highest acceptance rates for Engineering in 2023 were Hughes, St Eds, Wolfson, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Peterhouse, Magdalene, Selwyn, Queens .............
Original post by threeportdrift
That shows that the highest acceptance rates for Engineering in 2023 were Hughes, St Eds, Wolfson, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Peterhouse, Magdalene, Selwyn, Queens .............

You're not selecting St. Catharine's and Engineering for Year 2024 and "Identify Open Applications"

As they had 8 "Open Applications"
Original post by thegeek888
You're not selecting St. Catharine's and Engineering for Year 2024 and "Identify Open Applications"

As they had 8 "Open Applications"


An open application is by definition not made to a specific college what I presume that covers is open applications that were assigned to Catz to assess and interview (because someone has to). Deciding who has capacity to do that is not automatically linked to who has spare places, I wouldn't think, rather to the time staff have to read applications and interview candidates.
Hello. I'm also in a similar position. I got A*'s in Math further maths physics and A in chem. I am considering whether to apply next year but am unsure of 2 things.

1.

What can I do this year engineering related?

2.

Would the experience be less fun competing with those I'm a year older than?

Original post by Anonymous
Hello. I'm also in a similar position. I got A*'s in Math further maths physics and A in chem. I am considering whether to apply next year but am unsure of 2 things.

1.

What can I do this year engineering related?

2.

Would the experience be less fun competing with those I'm a year older than?

Does your Sixth Form or College not have a "Work Experience Programme?" 😧
Following with interest. What do you mean a work experience programme for gap years? Is this a thing schools offer?

We had to find our own work experience for 6th form (well neigh impossible because of work related insurance. I didn't manage to get anything engineering related, apart from online free stuff. Instead did something with the one prof service firm who responded). I'm sitting on a surprise 3 A* as I only put the work in at the end. School didn't offer FM, but I've Maths & Physics. Worked part time throughout 6th form before & after school. Don't qualify for contextual though. Sport at county level. Not stellar GCSE, only 9 subjects at 7-9's and very few 9's. Into Uni for Engineering, but might consider a year out if I was reasonably confident of relevant work experience (I'm really not, as I really tried) - but is Oxbridge pretty unlikely anyway given previous mediocre grades?
Original post by Anonymous
Following with interest. What do you mean a work experience programme for gap years? Is this a thing schools offer?
We had to find our own work experience for 6th form (well neigh impossible because of work related insurance. I didn't manage to get anything engineering related, apart from online free stuff. Instead did something with the one prof service firm who responded). I'm sitting on a surprise 3 A* as I only put the work in at the end. School didn't offer FM, but I've Maths & Physics. Worked part time throughout 6th form before & after school. Don't qualify for contextual though. Sport at county level. Not stellar GCSE, only 9 subjects at 7-9's and very few 9's. Into Uni for Engineering, but might consider a year out if I was reasonably confident of relevant work experience (I'm really not, as I really tried) - but is Oxbridge pretty unlikely anyway given previous mediocre grades?
Apply to Cambridge University, perhaps Girton, Homerton or St. Catharine's. Because you're likely to get an interview with 3A* achieved as you have done so. However, if you have not studied A-Level Further Maths, you might be at a slight disadvantage. Engineering work experience is not vital but more important is the admissions test and interviews.

I wonder have you done CP1, CP2, FM1 and FM2 for A-Level Further Maths? I can send you the eBooks if you want? 🙂
Original post by thegeek888
Apply to Cambridge University, perhaps Girton, Homerton or St. Catharine's. Because you're likely to get an interview with 3A* achieved as you have done so. However, if you have not studied A-Level Further Maths, you might be at a slight disadvantage. Engineering work experience is not vital but more important is the admissions test and interviews.
I wonder have you done CP1, CP2, FM1 and FM2 for A-Level Further Maths? I can send you the eBooks if you want? 🙂

Thank you so much for reply & offer of papers. I sat CCEA, so Pure and Applied - Mechanics and Statistics. I've decided not to risk an unplanned year out and to go to my firm. I've commited to Uni Accommodation Thanks anyway.

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