The "Am I good enough for Cambridge?" thread

**anoushka** · 21-11-2006, 04:43 PM

aaaaaaaaw
cmon im sure ur alot more smarter to believe that nonsense, just prep for the interviews!

**Chris@G&C** · 22-11-2006, 11:48 AM

Does anyone know whether UCL Imperial or Bristol are PBL colleges?

**anoushka** · 22-11-2006, 03:59 PM

LOL slapmuna thanks for the comforting advice.

**bryony** · 22-11-2006, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by anoushka

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?

No, I did three sciences (Bio, Chem, Maths).

Originally Posted by Chris@G&C

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

I did short course R.E. which is counted as half a GCSE as it's half the normal course.

PBL is Problem Based Learning. In PBL, you work in a group (with the help of a tutor), and are given a clinically related problem. You then decide as a group on all the different things you need to research to understand the problem such as anatomy, biochemistry, symptoms of a disease, social background etc, and each person goes away and researches these topics individually. (Often there will be relevant lectures.) After a few days, the group gets back together to discuss what they've learned.

Manchester, Liverpool, Peninsula, UEA and HYMS all use a lot of PBL (check their websites for more info). Cambridge use it for one module I believe.

Does anyone know whether UCL Imperial or Bristol are PBL colleges?

I'm not entirely sure, but I think these three are all fairly traditional courses - not v integrated, and not PBL based.

**anoushka** · 22-11-2006, 04:28 PM

Thanks for the all the useful info you wrote before, I mean I'm still scared but I'm glad I know a little bit more although I have two more questions sorry.
1. I do the IB, not a-levels but on the website it does not specify how many IB points are expected from candidates, I tried to email them but only got an automated response and nothing else, should I email indvidual colleges then?

2. They discuss how people with mental disabilities should not be put off to apply but I was specifically wondering about the situation regarding medical school applicants who have ADD. Do you have any idea?

**Chris@G&C** · 22-11-2006, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by bryony

I did short course R.E. which is counted as half a GCSE as it's half the normal course.

PBL is Problem Based Learning. In PBL, you work in a group (with the help of a tutor), and are given a clinically related problem. You then decide as a group on all the different things you need to research to understand the problem such as anatomy, biochemistry, symptoms of a disease, social background etc, and each person goes away and researches these topics individually. (Often there will be relevant lectures.) After a few days, the group gets back together to discuss what they've learned.

Manchester, Liverpool, Peninsula, UEA and HYMS all use a lot of PBL (check their websites for more info). Cambridge use it for one module I believe.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think these three are all fairly traditional courses - not v integrated, and not PBL based.

Thanx a lot for the info. I'll check the UCL, Imperial and Bristol websites to make sure.

**Talia** · 23-11-2006, 12:07 AM

[QUOTE=anoushka]
1. I do the IB, not a-levels but on the website it does not specify how many IB points are expected from candidates, I tried to email them but only got an automated response and nothing else, should I email indvidual colleges then?[QUOTE=anoushka]

A few of my friends applied to Cam w/ the IB. I think the lowest offer was 38 (from St. Johns for Medicine, although there were requirements like 7 in Bio and Chem - but I'm not entirely sure). The highest offer was 41 (from Selwyn for History 2007, I believe).

Which college are you applying to? Perhaps it's something you could ask at your interview? (My experience with emailing admissions tutors/directors of studies is actually v v good - they usually get back to you really quickly and are as helpful as they can be. Def email your specific college.)

**Gannny J** · 23-11-2006, 12:06 PM

does anyone know what rep the IB has at Cam?

**anoushka** · 23-11-2006, 05:41 PM

thanks talia, well im in year 12 now, do u think it's too soon for me to email a college?
and i hope they are nicer than oxford, cos they weren't nice at all when i asked a perfectly valid question hah.
about what rep the IB has at cam, i have no idea, hopefully someone else here knows.

**bryony** · 23-11-2006, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by anoushka

Thanks for the all the useful info you wrote before, I mean I'm still scared but I'm glad I know a little bit more although I have two more questions sorry.
1. I do the IB, not a-levels but on the website it does not specify how many IB points are expected from candidates, I tried to email them but only got an automated response and nothing else, should I email indvidual colleges then?

2. They discuss how people with mental disabilities should not be put off to apply but I was specifically wondering about the situation regarding medical school applicants who have ADD. Do you have any idea?

As far as I know, the IB has a pretty good rep with most unis, but as for grades, yeah I think you should e-mail colleges individually. Or maybe try ringing them, cos I had a really good response when I tried ringing both the uni admissions office, and Kings admissions office.

As for ADD, I think you should probably discuss that with someone like an access or equal opportunities officer initially, who should be able to help you with their policy, and how to approach it with the colleges. Try the website for contacts?