realistically is cambridge still an option ?

hiyaa i go into year 13 next year and i really want to apply for maths at cambridge but im worried my grades are not good enough:

gcse: 9888776665
a level predictions: A*A*A*A*

my gcse results are not that good for personal reasons meaning i had to cram the night before basically every exam because i left it so late but im scared other applicants like the people from my school have straight 9s

also i looked on cambridge website and it said most people who study maths there took maths further maths physics and chemistry and i take maths further maths biology and psychology so im worried they will dismiss me because my subjects are easier even though my predicted grades are good literally everyone i see get in are academic weapons rip

any advice would be much appreciated thank you <33

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

I would say apply and give it a go. Just remember that those who don’t apply never get in, those who do will have a chance to get in.

Reply 2

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

hiyaa i go into year 13 next year and i really want to apply for maths at cambridge but im worried my grades are not good enough:
gcse: 9888776665
a level predictions: A*A*A*A*
my gcse results are not that good for personal reasons meaning i had to cram the night before basically every exam because i left it so late but im scared other applicants like the people from my school have straight 9s
also i looked on cambridge website and it said most people who study maths there took maths further maths physics and chemistry and i take maths further maths biology and psychology so im worried they will dismiss me because my subjects are easier even though my predicted grades are good literally everyone i see get in are academic weapons rip
any advice would be much appreciated thank you <33

You are fine, it's STEP that counts for Maths.

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

The important A-level subjects are maths and FM, so you're fine on that front as they won't care what your other subjects are. You also have all A*s predicted, and excellent GCSE grades, so I think provided you don't apply to Trinity College you have a very high chance of being interviewed as they do aim to interview the majority of applicants.

Bear in mind if you do get an offer after interview, there will be a STEP condition to that - which about 50% of applicants fail to meet. Maths at Cambridge is a little unique in that a lot of the attrition actually comes later in the process through that STEP condition.

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by artful_lounger

The important A-level subjects are maths and FM, so you're fine on that front as they won't care what your other subjects are. You also have all A*s predicted, and excellent GCSE grades, so I think provided you don't apply to Trinity College you have a very high chance of being interviewed as they do aim to interview the majority of applicants.
Bear in mind if you do get an offer after interview, there will be a STEP condition to that - which about 50% of applicants fail to meet. Maths at Cambridge is a little unique in that a lot of the attrition actually comes later in the process through that STEP condition.

thank you ! ive been revising for step since january because i was so worried about not being considered due to my gcse grades being not good compared to others and im pretty confident on step 2 and 3 I just hope it will be enough

Reply 5

russell2007

It's honestly worth a try, because if Cambridge doesnt send back an offer, then you have 4 more universities which will very likely send back offers with grades like that.
Besides that, they dont necessarily consider certain subjects as "easier", (or at least thats what they've always claimed), so I dont think that would be a reason to reject an application, plus biology is a STEM subject anyway and some places do count psychology as one as well