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Making a Competitive Application
Dr Sam Lucy, Admissions Tutor, Newnham College, University of Cambridge
What information do we use to assess applications?
We consider every application individually, taking all aspects into account:
• Academic record• Personal statement• Teacher’s reference• Admissions test results
(where required)• Written work (where required)• Contextual data• Interview (if interviewed)
No part of an application is considered in isolation – all available information is looked at together before decisions are made.
What are we looking for?
Academic ability and potential
Subject requirements
Genuine subject interest
– motivation and enthusiasmSuitability
for chosen course
Irrelevant extra-curricular
activitiesYour
backgroundYour
school
The application process
Choose course
Choose a College or
open application
UCAS application
15 Oct
+ SAQ (Cam)22 Oct
Admissions test? Check registration
deadline
Interviews(Dec)
Decision(Jan)
Written work and/or
admissions test
1 in 5applicants
made an offer (on average)
Personal statements
• Personal
• A starting point for interview discussion
• Reflect rather than list
• Less can be more
• Focus on the chosen course(s)
• ‘Why you should choose me for your course’
• Care and attention to detail
• Beware Googled quotations, ‘I have always’
Examination results
• These are fundamental to any successful application
• Cambridge asks for AS marks (UMS) in its SAQ
• Both universities take GCSEs into account – less weight placed on these by Cambridge
• Typical A Level offers:
• Cambridge A*A*A (Sciences) A*AA (Arts/Humanities)
• Oxford A*A*A - AAA
The 2012 gathered field: Medicine
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1455.00
60.00
65.00
70.00
75.00
80.00
85.00
90.00
95.00
100.00Applicants from the 2012 Admissions Cycle with A* GCSEs and AS/A2 UMS
Application
Offer
Number of A* GCSE
Bes
t S
UM
S A
vera
ge
The 2012 gathered field: History
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1455.00
60.00
65.00
70.00
75.00
80.00
85.00
90.00
95.00
100.00Applicants from the 2012 Admissions Cycle with A* GCSEs and AS/A2 UMS
Application
Offer
Number of A* GCSE
Bes
t U
MS
Ave
rage
Wider exploration
Getting the most from your wider (deeper) reading
Genuine interest in the subject outside the confines of the formal syllabus
Extra reading and exploration are crucial to success, not just in arts subjects
Critical engagement with reading:
• What is the argument in this book/article?
• What is the supporting evidence?
• What do I think? How can I find out more?
Tests
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine BMAT (all Colleges)Registration deadline 1st October 2013, test takes place 6th November 2013
LawCambridge Law Test (most Colleges)Taken at interview
MathematicsSTEP (all Colleges)Forms part of conditional offers and is taken with A2-levels
Other subjectsTSA – Economics, Engineering, Natural Sciences (depends on College)Some other subjects have short additional tests at interview
Preparing for tests
Written work
• Depends on subject (Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) and College – list on university website
• Most commonly a piece of work completed as part of sixth form studies (some Colleges set a question)
• Encourage applicants to think about the marker’s comments
• The most effective submitted work tends to be that which applicants are likely to enjoy discussing and which has been completed relatively recently
Interviews: An overview
• Normally two or more interviews, each usually lasting 20−30 minutes
• Conducted by academics and predominantly academic and subject-focused
• Discussion-based and intellectually challenging
• Check the websites for videos and further information
The last piece in the jigsaw rather than the ‘final hurdle’
Interviews: what to expect
SUBJECT-SPECIFIC INTERVIEW
Discussion based on academic interests
mentioned in personal statement
Assess knowledge and understanding
of subject and flexibility of thought
Challenging questions
relating to A-level courses
Sample teaching session – like a
supervision
Application of existing knowledge to new situations
Sciences: problems to work
through
Arts: perhaps a text to discuss
Discussion of any submitted
essays
Sciences: a specimen to discuss
Interviews: What are Admissions Tutors looking for?
• Academic ability and potential to be successful
• Self-motivation, commitment and serious interest in the chosen course
• Ability to think independently and critically
• Use of existing knowledge to assess new problems
No trick questions!
Preparing to apply
Programme of study• Course choice is the most important decision –
research thoroughly, personal interest(s)
Results• Work hard to do as well as you can in your current
studies
Engage and explore• Be proactive in your learning – current studies and
interests relevant to your intended degree
Practise• Discussing your academic interest(s)• Past/example admissions test papers• Time management – generally and for tests/exams
P
R
E
P
Cambridge
www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/
Oxford
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/
If you have any remaining questions, do not hesitate to ask a College Admissions Tutor or Admissions Officer
Finding out more