PGCE at Cambridge 2010, do you think I'm good enough?

I'm planning on applying for the PGCE course at Cambridge for entry in 2010. Currently I'm on track for a 1st class or upper second class honours BSc in Biomedical sciences.

However, My A level grades were a pile of poo. I had 3 Cs in Biology, Chemistry and English Lit at A2 and a C in Fine Art As.

My GCSEs are ok, 2 A*s 10As and 2Bs and a D (in art which I took for 6 months once a week after school, lol).

On the graduate admissions website for Cambridge, it says that an upper second class honours degree is required (obviously with my degree I wan't to teach secondary science with specialisation in Biology). Do you think it's even worth applying with those bad A levels, or am I wasting my time?

Be brutally honest.

Reply 1

pippa23

im wondering the same thing for mine! sorry cant help though

Reply 2

inksplodge

17

Why don't you ask the admissions department? They might be able to give you a better idea.

Reply 3

Dondokken13

A-levels are pretty much irrelevant, if you have a good degree that is much more important.

Reply 4

Car freak

good luck

Reply 5

poossum

2

It's only Reading university, not the greatest institution. With those A levels i doubt it, with a first you may have a chance but with a 2:1 there is no chance, you have nothing therefore outstanding.

Reply 6

xhelen1989x

11

poossum

It's only Reading university, not the greatest institution. With those A levels i doubt it, with a first you may have a chance but with a 2:1 there is no chance, you have nothing therefore outstanding.

Right......

OP, if you take a look at the cambridge website it says for secondary courses 'We expect that most applicants will hold three A levels at an average of grade C.

GCSE passes (Grade C or above) in English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications are also required before a GTTR application can be considered.'

and

'We normally look for applicants who have or expect to obtain a degree class of 2.1 or above, but will consider other candidates who are able to demonstrate other strengths in their application'

So..I think you definately have a good chance..as someone else said in this thread the main thing they are looking for with people applying to do pgce's is a love for teaching and working with children rather than being academically outstanding..that doesn't make a 'good' teacher. Just make sure you get lots of relevant experience.

Reply 7

vinylate

OP

Well I have emailed before and they have said the same as detailed on their website (as summarised by xhelen1989x).

I also know a number of postgrads at Cambridge who got on to do the PGCE with a third class honours degree, but that may have just been to fill up spaces, who knows? I suppose you really are only as good as your last qualification.

I'm passionate about teaching and I know that an elitist attitude held by a very few ignorant members of Cambridge University won't make me a good teacher.

Reply 8

Angelil

19

poossum - kindly f off.
OP, your degree will count for more than your A Levels when applying for postgraduate study.

Reply 9

sophieliz

12

poossum

It's only Reading university, not the greatest institution. With those A levels i doubt it, with a first you may have a chance but with a 2:1 there is no chance, you have nothing therefore outstanding.

To the idiot who posted that which I have quoted-Do you actually know anything about the Cambridge PGCE?! I think not.

It is true that for an undergrad course, Cambridge expect straight As but this is not so for PGCEs. They are much more interested in a getting a well rounded, enthusiastic person with a good (not necessarily outstanding) academic background. State school experience is pretty much a requirement though.

It is also positive that you want to be a science teacher-they are in demand and you will get a grant of £9,000! It is a little less competitive than primary teaching (i have a place for this at Cambridge starting 2009), but now, because of the credit crunch, teacher training applications are up £35%!!

Even so,....GO FOR IT! you just never know what might happen. Get as much experience as possible and apply early. Good luck.

Reply 10

emj56

I totally agree with Sophie. I am only predicted a 2:1 from Lancaster but I have an interview in 2 weeks for Cambridge.
It is all about your motivation and experience. Before posting on forums such as this you should understand that people come on here for help, not for comments like that.

Reply 11

miss_world

3

What kind of experience would somewhere like Cambridge look for?

I'm seriously considering applying for a PGCE and so far my experience in schools or general EC experience working with children is underwhelming. Obviously I am trying to gain more experience and hopefully I will be able to sort out some tutoring and volunteering soon.

Reply 12

vinylate

OP

miss_world

What kind of experience would somewhere like Cambridge look for?

I'm seriously considering applying for a PGCE and so far my experience in schools or general EC experience working with children is underwhelming. Obviously I am trying to gain more experience and hopefully I will be able to sort out some tutoring and volunteering soon.

I'm in the same boat as you. I helped in a school every week for a year, but that was when I was in year 12/13 - so not really very recent. I'm finding it difficult also to gain enough work experience (especially in a school) because I'm on a lecture-heavy course. I'm volunteering to tutor children within local schools here, so hopefully my application will be successful. Other than that...I'm not sure where else I could help out. All of the after school clubs are over by the time I finish lectures (at around 6/7pm) and weekends aren't really an option because I travel home and work most weekends. I'm also working with a disabled 1st year student at my University - but I'm not sure if that will count at all.

Is there perhaps a correct forum where we could ask for some more ideas? I'd welcome many.

Reply 13

miss_world

3

hannahradford

I'm in the same boat as you. I helped in a school every week for a year, but that was when I was in year 12/13 - so not really very recent. I'm finding it difficult also to gain enough work experience (especially in a school) because I'm on a lecture-heavy course. I'm volunteering to tutor children within local schools here, so hopefully my application will be successful. Other than that...I'm not sure where else I could help out. All of the after school clubs are over by the time I finish lectures (at around 6/7pm) and weekends aren't really an option because I travel home and work most weekends. I'm also working with a disabled 1st year student at my University - but I'm not sure if that will count at all.

Is there perhaps a correct forum where we could ask for some more ideas? I'd welcome many.

I've just organised a volunteering placement for myself at an after school club in south London through my university. Wherever you are your university will have some sort of volunteering service, which will be able to help you. There's also http://www.do-it.org.uk/. If you're too busy during the day then perhaps try and find some kind of weekend placement, or something during the holidays. Universties usually finish a few weeks earlier than schools so perhaps you could try organising work experience or a work shadowing placement then?

Reply 14

a_s_king

There are many teaching schemes also which are sometimes promoted through some universities or schools. Like the student associate scheme, student ambassadors some of which you can find out through the tda websites etc, but you might have missed them for the academic year, they are generally time consuming for your last year though, with your modules and dissertation. So i would recommend volunteer work, and any experience you can get our hands on without compromising your degree.

Reply 15

Coldplay

Hi,

I am interested in studying at cambridge university in the year 2012, and I just wanted to know what you would need in order to get in besides the enTry requirments, what type of experience etc. I have a lot of experience in working with chidren, volunterring in 3 schools, i have gained level 2 and 3 in teaching assistant, taught abroad for 2 weeks, volunteered in schemes such as 'playing for sucess', kumon study center, space hop reading challlenge, playhouse play making scheme as well as working with aimhigher. If you are unsure what these things are then please do google them. I am on my secound year studying BA in education with English, hoping to gain a 2:1, but my a level grades were CCC in psychology, english lang and lit and ICT, and my GCSE grades werent amazing, just C all around with AA in ICT. Maybe i have included a lot of information, but hopefully with this you can tell me if i stand a chance, I am very passionate about teaching and learning, and i want to get in cambridge or IoE. I am asking around and i hope someone could help me.. please!!!!

Thanks

Reply 16

discojay

You don't say whether you want to do the Primary or Secondary PGCE or which subject if it's secondary?!

I did Secondary Geography recently. Grades are a large part of getting into there but I know people who got in subjects with a 2:2 and not all were from supposed leading universities - I came from Leeds. Experience helps a lot and the stuff you've done sounds great and is more than I had. Get a good personal statement and references, be honest in the statement and at any interviews and apply as early as possible. I didn't apply until June which is ridiculously late so I was lucky but I was questioned about it. Late applications also limit your back-up chances and primary places fill up quickest.

Good luck.

Reply 17

Coldplay

Hi,

I want to teach Primary, thankyou for the adivice, i hope your right and i get in

Reply 18

Kidders

15

Cambridge PGCE course is not the same as Cambridge undergraduate or postgraduate courses. It doesn't have the same 'elite-ness' about it. They don't even accept their undergrads....

Reply 19

xhelen1989x

11

Original post

by Kidders

Cambridge PGCE course is not the same as Cambridge undergraduate or postgraduate courses. It doesn't have the same 'elite-ness' about it. They don't even accept their undergrads....

'They don't even accept their undergrads...'

Where do you get that reasoning from? In our PGCE group theres 20 of us and 4 were undergrads at Cambridge....

PGCE at Cambridge 2010, do you think I'm good enough?

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