Don't know how to feel about getting a maths interview

(3 A* predicted) I wasn't the happiest when I found out I will have a maths interview in 2 weeks' time yesterday, I'd kind of resigned myself by this point to being fine with being rejected and now I am very stressed. I've done the foundation STEP modules and stuff, but I feel that my mathematical ability, even compared to my peers in Further Maths, is severely lacking and I don't feel that I could manage to do the STEP, or deal with the pressure of Cambridge in general (I also have generally bad mental health and I can hardly cope with school as it is).
I know that given a chance to go to Cambridge, anybody should try, but this just makes me feel demotivated. I initially applied because I thought I would have improved a lot more by the time of interviews, but I have largely been unable to work/focus on school, and now that I am trying to do questions, stress makes me unable to think logically, so I don't know if I will even be able to prepare properly.
I'm really sorry to those of you who deserved an interview but didn't get one and I don't want to sound like I am bragging.

Reply 1

seymourrr

6

Well done on getting the interview. I would say just go through the process and see how far it takes you. It sounds like you wouldn't mind being "knocked out", so that means there's absolutely no pressure on you at interview. If you do get an offer and take STEP, then - again - you'll still have a second choice uni so just see where the process takes you.

Reply 2

mqb2766

21

Original post

by Anonymous

(3 A* predicted) I wasn't the happiest when I found out I will have a maths interview in 2 weeks' time yesterday, I'd kind of resigned myself by this point to being fine with being rejected and now I am very stressed. I've done the foundation STEP modules and stuff, but I feel that my mathematical ability, even compared to my peers in Further Maths, is severely lacking and I don't feel that I could manage to do the STEP, or deal with the pressure of Cambridge in general (I also have generally bad mental health and I can hardly cope with school as it is).
I know that given a chance to go to Cambridge, anybody should try, but this just makes me feel demotivated. I initially applied because I thought I would have improved a lot more by the time of interviews, but I have largely been unable to work/focus on school, and now that I am trying to do questions, stress makes me unable to think logically, so I don't know if I will even be able to prepare properly.
I'm really sorry to those of you who deserved an interview but didn't get one and I don't want to sound like I am bragging.

Wbf, Id really have a chat with someone who knows you/your mental health/how youre currently working/performing and if necessary just pull out now/inform the college.

If you go ahead, youd hear end of jan about whether you had a step offer and realistically youd probably have to start preparing for step 2 now and step 3 in ~feb and its a fair additional workload over your a levels.

Depending on whether youre happy with your other choices, it may be better to not increase your workload with step preparation and possibly miss your a level grades for other places.

But youd probably be better off talking it through with someone who knows you.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

Anonymous #2

Honestly if you’ve made peace with being rejected I’d just go for it. The interview is an amazing experience- worst case you don’t get in, the prep you’ve done will help massively with your a levels. Even if you get an offer you don’t have to take it, and if by spring you decide to give up on step/ take a step back for your mh, that’s also fine too

Don't know how to feel about getting a maths interview

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