The Student Room Group

Reapplying to Cambridge Maths

Hi, I got rejected from Cambridge because I did badly in my interview and I currently have a place at Imperial. I'm considering reapplying since I did STEP anyway and got S S and this will help my application. I have already got confirmation from a few colleges that if I get an offer at them it will be unconditional but I'm worried I might mess up the interview again.
I know gap years are viewed badly for maths degrees, I'm wondering what my chances of being rejected from Imperial or Warwick will be if I don't do amazing on TMUA(last year I got 8.5 but I don't want to take risks), and how much my STEP grades will help.

Reply 1

Original post
by Fadelll
Hi, I got rejected from Cambridge because I did badly in my interview and I currently have a place at Imperial. I'm considering reapplying since I did STEP anyway and got S S and this will help my application. I have already got confirmation from a few colleges that if I get an offer at them it will be unconditional but I'm worried I might mess up the interview again.
I know gap years are viewed badly for maths degrees, I'm wondering what my chances of being rejected from Imperial or Warwick will be if I don't do amazing on TMUA(last year I got 8.5 but I don't want to take risks), and how much my STEP grades will help.

Also I got A* Maths, FM, and Physics with an A in AS Econ

Reply 2

Original post
by Fadelll
Hi, I got rejected from Cambridge because I did badly in my interview and I currently have a place at Imperial. I'm considering reapplying since I did STEP anyway and got S S and this will help my application. I have already got confirmation from a few colleges that if I get an offer at them it will be unconditional but I'm worried I might mess up the interview again.
I know gap years are viewed badly for maths degrees, I'm wondering what my chances of being rejected from Imperial or Warwick will be if I don't do amazing on TMUA(last year I got 8.5 but I don't want to take risks), and how much my STEP grades will help.

Focus on Imperial and aim for Cambridge postgrad.

Reply 3

Original post
by Wired_1800
Focus on Imperial and aim for Cambridge postgrad.
Do you know how common it is for people to go from Imperial to Cambridge postgrad? I figured it would be better to aim for Cambridge undergrad with my STEP grades, especially since I know I did especially bad at interview last time and I still got winter pool(but wasn't picked), whereas aiming for Cam from Imperial might be more difficult.
(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 4

Original post
by Fadelll
Do you know how common it is for people to go from Imperial to Cambridge postgrad? I figured it would be better to aim for Cambridge undergrad with my STEP grades, especially since I know I did especially bad at interview last time and I still got winter pool(but wasn't picked), whereas aiming for Cam from Imperial might be more difficult.

I honestly do not know but, as Imperial is a peer university, your chances for a Cam postgrad would be decent.

The problem with reapplication is that you dont know what would happen. You could get into Cam, but you could also lose both Imperial and Cambridge.

If you are super-keen, you should reapply. However, if you are 50:50, then best to stick with Imperial.
Original post
by Fadelll
Do you know how common it is for people to go from Imperial to Cambridge postgrad? I figured it would be better to aim for Cambridge undergrad with my STEP grades, especially since I know I did especially bad at interview last time and I still got winter pool(but wasn't picked), whereas aiming for Cam from Imperial might be more difficult.

How common is it for people from one of the top 4 maths departments to study at one of the other top 4 maths departments as a postgraduate? Very I expect.

Just do your maths degree at Imperial, unless you can't afford to live in London...

Reply 6

Original post
by Fadelll
Hi, I got rejected from Cambridge because I did badly in my interview and I currently have a place at Imperial. I'm considering reapplying since I did STEP anyway and got S S and this will help my application. I have already got confirmation from a few colleges that if I get an offer at them it will be unconditional but I'm worried I might mess up the interview again.
I know gap years are viewed badly for maths degrees, I'm wondering what my chances of being rejected from Imperial or Warwick will be if I don't do amazing on TMUA(last year I got 8.5 but I don't want to take risks), and how much my STEP grades will help.
Can you attend Imperial for the first year and re-apply to Cambridge. If you get through, move to Cambridge, otherwise, carry on at Imperial. The cost is one year of effort, time and money at Imperial but it will protect your brain of going rusty. It may sound not quite right...just a thought!
Original post
by Anonymous
Can you attend Imperial for the first year and re-apply to Cambridge. If you get through, move to Cambridge, otherwise, carry on at Imperial. The cost is one year of effort, time and money at Imperial but it will protect your brain of going rusty. It may sound not quite right...just a thought!


No you can't. Cam doesn't accept moves like that.
Original post
by Fadelll
Do you know how common it is for people to go from Imperial to Cambridge postgrad? I figured it would be better to aim for Cambridge undergrad with my STEP grades, especially since I know I did especially bad at interview last time and I still got winter pool(but wasn't picked), whereas aiming for Cam from Imperial might be more difficult.

It's absolutely routine to move from Imperial to Cam and Cam to Imperial. You will have no problem at all if you have the grades and will be on a par with Cam students. Take a look at the academics in the Department, sure some will be Cantab, Cantab, Cantab, but most won't be

Reply 9

Original post
by threeportdrift
No you can't. Cam doesn't accept moves like that.
Not even to start from the begining at Cambridge, not to consider the year you have at Emperial?
Original post
by Anonymous
Not even to start from the begining at Cambridge, not to consider the year you have at Emperial?


No, specifically not that. They don't want to a) get a reputation from other Unis for 'stealing' students or b) create an alternative entry route to Cambridge. Think about the dynamics of setting up another route, not from A levels, but by just going to another uni for a year, then leaving and getting in to Cam. The whole admissions system would fall apart, and the feeder unis would be left with great gaps in their classes.

Reply 11

Original post
by threeportdrift
No, specifically not that. They don't want to a) get a reputation from other Unis for 'stealing' students or b) create an alternative entry route to Cambridge. Think about the dynamics of setting up another route, not from A levels, but by just going to another uni for a year, then leaving and getting in to Cam. The whole admissions system would fall apart, and the feeder unis would be left with great gaps in their classes.

unfortunately true! It is frustrating though.

Reply 12

Original post
by Fadelll
Do you know how common it is for people to go from Imperial to Cambridge postgrad? I figured it would be better to aim for Cambridge undergrad with my STEP grades, especially since I know I did especially bad at interview last time and I still got winter pool(but wasn't picked), whereas aiming for Cam from Imperial might be more difficult.

I don't rate Imperial for Maths - and it's not a uni that supports students well.

I would try for Cambridge again and make sure your PS includes what you'll do to keep your Maths up to speed.

Reply 14


Reddit is not an authority I would trust - League tables are similarly suspect.

Reply 15

Original post
by Muttley79
Reddit is not an authority I would trust - League tables are similarly suspect.

Do you think the author falsified the data? If so, which data?

Reply 16

Original post
by Muu9
Do you think the author falsified the data? If so, which data?

It's just not a sensible way of comparing universities nor are any of the League tables.

Reply 17

Original post
by Fadelll
Hi, I got rejected from Cambridge because I did badly in my interview and I currently have a place at Imperial. I'm considering reapplying since I did STEP anyway and got S S and this will help my application. I have already got confirmation from a few colleges that if I get an offer at them it will be unconditional but I'm worried I might mess up the interview again.
I know gap years are viewed badly for maths degrees, I'm wondering what my chances of being rejected from Imperial or Warwick will be if I don't do amazing on TMUA(last year I got 8.5 but I don't want to take risks), and how much my STEP grades will help.

with SS? yes definitely

Reply 18

You can get into Warwick on the basis of STEP scores, so you at least have that as a fallback

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.