What should I do to improve my chances of getting into Cambridge

9

I am in year 9 and I really want to go to Cambridge.
I'm studying for my first GCSEs rn, as I'm doing them early.
Problem is I'm home educated and I just don't really know if I'm doing enough rn to really impress Cambridge one day.
Are there any courses, books or anything like that that I should do or read?
I want to do Law btw.
Also I don't do any sport.
Will Cambridge care about that ?

Reply 1

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

18

Original post

by Liaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I am in year 9 and I really want to go to Cambridge.
I'm studying for my first GCSEs rn, as I'm doing them early.
Problem is I'm home educated and I just don't really know if I'm doing enough rn to really impress Cambridge one day.
Are there any courses, books or anything like that that I should do or read?
I want to do Law btw.
Also I don't do any sport.
Will Cambridge care about that ?

I'd say it's quite early to be worrying about what to do for Cambridge specifically. Focus on getting the best grades you can at the moment. For supercurriculars (that is, things outside your curriculum that are related to Law), let your interests guide you but at the moment it is still quite early to be worrying about that. Extracurriculars that are not related to your subject will not affect your application so whether or not you do a sport will make no difference.

Reply 2

XwhoisthisX

9

Hi, there are some online sessions you can do
I know that Gonville and Caius does a 9&10 session (I didn't do it so I don't know what it is like)
They don't care about extracurriculars or being 'well-rounded'. It can be good to talk in an interview about skills you have developed from any clubs or hobbies that can help you with your subject.

But really, year 9 is quite early to be thinking about all of this, there will be more opportunites as you get towards y12 and 13

Reply 3

Picnicl

17

There are no mandatory subjects however, for a strong application, Cambridge Law dept particularly like students to have A Levels in English, History, and Ancient or Modern Languages, and they say that most successful applicants have at least one of these. The ones who get in with none of those have usually taken at least one of these at A Levels: Economics, Law, Mathematics, Psychology, a science subject.
Source: Cambridge Law dept Entry Requirements page on their website.

This still gives applicants plenty of options. The likes of Philosophy and Politics can clearly have relation to Law. Some of your choices don't have to have specific modern day relation to Law. Classics, for example.

Of course, getting the required A Level grades is very important so, generally, don't apply to do an A Level in something you did relatively badly in or didn't enjoy at GCSE.

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 4

aiden_

Original post

by Liaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I am in year 9 and I really want to go to Cambridge.
I'm studying for my first GCSEs rn, as I'm doing them early.
Problem is I'm home educated and I just don't really know if I'm doing enough rn to really impress Cambridge one day.
Are there any courses, books or anything like that that I should do or read?
I want to do Law btw.
Also I don't do any sport.
Will Cambridge care about that ?

As far as im aware, sports dont affect your chances of getting in, what really matters is grades, a good interview, and the activities they call supercurriculars, you can find those on their website:
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/improve-application
Good luck with your application!

Reply 5

Plumywumy

6

Original post

by Liaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I am in year 9 and I really want to go to Cambridge.
I'm studying for my first GCSEs rn, as I'm doing them early.
Problem is I'm home educated and I just don't really know if I'm doing enough rn to really impress Cambridge one day.
Are there any courses, books or anything like that that I should do or read?
I want to do Law btw.
Also I don't do any sport.
Will Cambridge care about that ?

Hi,

My daughter was homeschooled up until sixth form, and got into Cambridge, so it’s not a barrier.

Just focus on getting the best grades that you can for GCSE’s (though not getting all 9s does not mean you shouldn’t apply).

For A level, it helps to do 2 facilitating subjects (english, history, any language, etc). It’s also easier if these subjects align well with what you want to study. If you are not going to sixth form and remaining home educated for A’ levels and therefore are not able to access an Oxbridge group (the purpose of which is to give you guidance to apply for Oxbridge) it would be a good idea to get a personal Law tutor who has had experience of interviewing and teaching students at Cambridge. They could help you refine your personal statement and set you some entrance tests and give you honest feedback as to what your weaknesses are so that you can improve. This would help to make sure you got the same application support as others. They could also give you a mock interview.

It might be useful to contact such a tutor for one session when you start your A levels to give you an idea of the sort of extra curricular reading or activities you should be doing alongside your studies to include in your personal statement. Planning early for what you really want is never a bad idea! Finally my daughter never did a sport in her life, they don’t care. Also, if you are really into Law just indulge your passion and start reading any book about law you fancy. Don’t constrain yourself, if you fancy reading a book about roman or medieval law go for it. The more obscure stuff goes down very well on Oxbridge personal statements and interviews as long as its a reflection of your passion for the subject rather than a desire to show off. Good luck!

Reply 6

Muttley79

20

Original post

by Plumywumy

Hi,
My daughter was homeschooled up until sixth form, and got into Cambridge, so it’s not a barrier.
Just focus on getting the best grades that you can for GCSE’s (though not getting all 9s does not mean you shouldn’t apply).
For A level, it helps to do 2 facilitating subjects (english, history, any language, etc). It’s also easier if these subjects align well with what you want to study. If you are not going to sixth form and remaining home educated for A’ levels and therefore are not able to access an Oxbridge group (the purpose of which is to give you guidance to apply for Oxbridge) it would be a good idea to get a personal Law tutor who has had experience of interviewing and teaching students at Cambridge. They could help you refine your personal statement and set you some entrance tests and give you honest feedback as to what your weaknesses are so that you can improve. This would help to make sure you got the same application support as others. They could also give you a mock interview.
It might be useful to contact such a tutor for one session when you start your A levels to give you an idea of the sort of extra curricular reading or activities you should be doing alongside your studies to include in your personal statement. Planning early for what you really want is never a bad idea! Finally my daughter never did a sport in her life, they don’t care. Also, if you are really into Law just indulge your passion and start reading any book about law you fancy. Don’t constrain yourself, if you fancy reading a book about roman or medieval law go for it. The more obscure stuff goes down very well on Oxbridge personal statements and interviews as long as its a reflection of your passion for the subject rather than a desire to show off. Good luck!

The concept of 'facilitating subjects' was stopped a number of years ago. It's no longer relevant.

Just look at the subject requirements for a degree ...

What should I do to improve my chances of getting into Cambridge

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