The "Am I good enough for Cambridge?" thread

**bryony** · 04-10-2006, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by MartinaOnline

Heya everyone, I am applying from Ireland... Going for Cambridge and Edinburgh definitely and Southampton and Newcastle most likely.
I read there in Bryony's notes that -

I was told by a tutor at Queens that they basically don't care about it at all {it= work experience}

Actually, I chose to apply to Queens' and I have a big long paragraph on work exp... Could you tell me any other life-saving things about Queens'??? Please?

I can't say much more about Queens as I didn't actually apply there in the end but basically this guy at the open day said they don't necessarily expect work experience and sometimes people can have too much. However, the too much comment was mainly aimed at vets who often do unimaginable amounts because some other unis actually require about 12 weeks of w/e for vet sci students. I don't think mentioning w/e can possibly jeapordise your application UNLESS you write about it to the exclusion of all else. I think it was the latter situation that the tutor was trying to prevent.

I would NOT take your w/e para out, because:
a) It will still help to give the right picture about you, just as any extra-curricular or volunteering might.
b) You definitely need it there for all the other unis you apply to.
c) Other tutors may have different opinions to the one I spoke to.

However, you must make sure you have spoken about your extra-curricular activities, because the tutor also said, that while you don't need to do loads of things, not to do anything at all would seriously jeopordise your application. (And I think that would apply to anywhere else too.)

The reason I made the original comment was to point out that while Cambridge may have the highest academic standards, they don't have the highest standards for every aspect of your application. I'm going to edit my original comment slightly.

**Gannny J** · 21-11-2006, 10:18 AM

can anyone tell me if I am good enough for Cam Medical (in particular Caius)?

I'm heading towards a 43 in the IB, with 7's in Chem and Physics. I'm also part of the school Rowing VIII, and I have an Assoc. Diploma in Classical Piano. Good Enough?

**slapmuna** · 21-11-2006, 12:06 PM

What part of the "YES YES YES" did you not understand?

**Gannny J** · 21-11-2006, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by slapmuna

What part of the "YES YES YES" did you not understand?

I Misunderstand You. Referring to me?

**slapmuna** · 21-11-2006, 01:29 PM

Ya.

You're applying to Caius too? Great... my chances of getting an offer grow smaller every day.

**anoushka** · 21-11-2006, 03:56 PM

bryony, did you do two science a-levels then?

thanks for clearing up the whole 3 sciences requirement thing, but i'm still put off by cambridge because apparently it's more competitive than oxford, is that true?

**Chris@G&C** · 21-11-2006, 04:25 PM

Well 2006 statistics show that Cambridge is the best university in the U.K and the second best in the world. Oxford is second and third respectively. So it wouldmake sense that Cambridge was more competitive

**Apollyon** · 21-11-2006, 04:31 PM

This thread kinda passed me by when it was first written because I was on holiday back then but should definitely be made a sticky as every year the same questions get asked by people and bryony gives great answers that could save everyone so much time and effort.

**Chris@G&C** · 21-11-2006, 04:32 PM

BTW could someone please tell me how you can have half a GCSE and what PBL is??
Thnx

**slapmuna** · 21-11-2006, 04:34 PM

Even if Cambridge is more competitive, it's most likely so by a very narrow margin. They're both tough to get into, and that's it. But if it helps, you can look at some of the people on this forum and feel comforted by the fact that they at least seem pretty stupid - meaning competition in numbers, not merit? <)