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should i apply to cambridge?

im in yr 12 and id love to study engineering at cambridge but im worried my gcse grades aren't up to standard. they're good grades but most people at my voluntary grammar school got the same and plenty got better than me. i also didn't excel in subjects that are necessary for cambridge eng like physics and maths. and im not taking further maths even though my school offers it because my school had a requirement to get A*A* in maths and further maths gcse. the a-levels im taking rn are maths, physics, chemistry and biology. im doing some engineering work experience this june and i take part in supercurricular things like the ukroc competition.

here are my gcse grades (my exam board uses A*-G not 9-1):
math- A
further math- A
english lit- A
english lang- A
spanish- A*
religious studies- A*
art and design- A
physics- A
chemistry- A
biology- A*

im doing well in a-level maths (and my other a-levels) but i want to improve my maths skills so they're more on par with undergraduate engineering level. i dont know if i should try to arrange something with my school so i can sit further maths next year? apparently 96% of successful applicants had further maths even though its not required.

i know things like esat, personal statement and interviews are important but i dont know if i should even apply in the first place, like idk if i would even get an interview bc i seem sort of average against the standard of my school. i was eligible for fsm for years and i used to live in a rlly poor area until mid way thru yr10, but since i dont anymore im not eligible for lots of contextual stuff.

if i was able to apply to as many courses as i want i would just go for it but if its unrealistic then i dont want to waste a spot on my ucas.

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

im in yr 12 and id love to study engineering at cambridge but im worried my gcse grades aren't up to standard. they're good grades but most people at my voluntary grammar school got the same and plenty got better than me. i also didn't excel in subjects that are necessary for cambridge eng like physics and maths. and im not taking further maths even though my school offers it because my school had a requirement to get A*A* in maths and further maths gcse. the a-levels im taking rn are maths, physics, chemistry and biology. im doing some engineering work experience this june and i take part in supercurricular things like the ukroc competition.
here are my gcse grades (my exam board uses A*-G not 9-1):
math- A
further math- A
english lit- A
english lang- A
spanish- A*
religious studies- A*
art and design- A
physics- A
chemistry- A
biology- A*
im doing well in a-level maths (and my other a-levels) but i want to improve my maths skills so they're more on par with undergraduate engineering level. i dont know if i should try to arrange something with my school so i can sit further maths next year? apparently 96% of successful applicants had further maths even though its not required.
i know things like esat, personal statement and interviews are important but i dont know if i should even apply in the first place, like idk if i would even get an interview bc i seem sort of average against the standard of my school. i was eligible for fsm for years and i used to live in a rlly poor area until mid way thru yr10, but since i dont anymore im not eligible for lots of contextual stuff.
if i was able to apply to as many courses as i want i would just go for it but if its unrealistic then i dont want to waste a spot on my ucas.

Why not? Dreams come true only if you dream.

Applying to Oxbridge will be quite exhausting. Browse Cambridge UCAS web page to see what they require and start preparing your UCAS application. The deadline is mid-October, when you just moved up yo Yr 13.

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

Your GCSEs are fine but, as you probably appreciate, not taking Further Maths may make you a less competitive candidate for Engineering at Cambridge. If you could drop, say, Biology and take Further Maths instead, that might be a good idea. Good luck!

Reply 3

username6911293

Not taking further maths - whilst cambridge cannot technically penalise you as some colleges do not offer it; it puts you at a slight disadvantage however never say never! for engineering it is a SUGGESTED a level. i went through the whole application process in my year 12 - only to decide over summer it wasn't for me and withdraw. and that's fine -the only way you'll know is if you find out. realistically the worst thing that can happen is they reject you ; realistically this happens to a lot of people every year and it's normal! don't let it dishearten you - push to apply and whatever happens will happen. i'm sure you'll do amazing either way. any questions with engineering don't hesitate to ask - as this is the path i've just had 4 Uni offers and some degree apprenticeship stuff in

Reply 4

Wired_1800

Original post

by Anonymous

im in yr 12 and id love to study engineering at cambridge but im worried my gcse grades aren't up to standard. they're good grades but most people at my voluntary grammar school got the same and plenty got better than me. i also didn't excel in subjects that are necessary for cambridge eng like physics and maths. and im not taking further maths even though my school offers it because my school had a requirement to get A*A* in maths and further maths gcse. the a-levels im taking rn are maths, physics, chemistry and biology. im doing some engineering work experience this june and i take part in supercurricular things like the ukroc competition.
here are my gcse grades (my exam board uses A*-G not 9-1):
math- A
further math- A
english lit- A
english lang- A
spanish- A*
religious studies- A*
art and design- A
physics- A
chemistry- A
biology- A*
im doing well in a-level maths (and my other a-levels) but i want to improve my maths skills so they're more on par with undergraduate engineering level. i dont know if i should try to arrange something with my school so i can sit further maths next year? apparently 96% of successful applicants had further maths even though its not required.
i know things like esat, personal statement and interviews are important but i dont know if i should even apply in the first place, like idk if i would even get an interview bc i seem sort of average against the standard of my school. i was eligible for fsm for years and i used to live in a rlly poor area until mid way thru yr10, but since i dont anymore im not eligible for lots of contextual stuff.
if i was able to apply to as many courses as i want i would just go for it but if its unrealistic then i dont want to waste a spot on my ucas.