Overseas Applicants for Medicine

**LightElf7** · 17-01-2008, 06:00 PM

Hi people, I am an overseas applicant for Cambridge this year, but was pooled and eventually dropped, so I am forced to go to some other university choices I applied through UCAS. I'd really appreciate it if you can answer some of my questions.

I therefore am thinking of entering year 1 of my second choice uni, and then re-applying to Cambridge next year, and if I get an offer, just exit the uni I was going to and transfer to Cambridge. Do you people think it;s worth it? I really wanted to go to Cambridge.

But since I am an overseas applicant, I am affected by this damn quota stuff. So if I change my passport to EU passport now, am I recognized by Cambridge as an EU applicant or still an overseas? Because I heard this rumor about needing to live for at least 3 years with a EU passport, I am not sure if I will be immediately accepted as an EU applcant.

Also, I heard that if one of my parents is an EU national, I wont be treated as an overseas applicant? Is this true? If yes, does the minimum 3-year thing also apply here?

Also, which college accepts the most overseas people?

**Dr.Funk** · 17-01-2008, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by LightElf7

Hi people, I am an overseas applicant for Cambridge this year, but was pooled and eventually dropped, so I am forced to go to some other university choices I applied through UCAS.

Don't make it sound like such a bad thing! Provided you chose carefully I am sure those other universities are 3 other fine choices. Personally I would not reapply to Cambridge, I fail to see how peoples chances can be increased by reapplying when all along the quality of applicants are getting better. It seems to me that if you were to reapply they would expect you to do something wonderful in that year out and I personally would take a dim view of switching from another medical course.

I think at the end of the day you have to remember that if you get an offer from anywhere you are very lucky and to make the most of wherever you end up. I personally feel Cambridge is not suited to the clinical practice I would like to do so am not disappointed after being pooled and rejected. It would appear medical research is high on your agenda if your so set on Cambridge and if thats the case I am sure with hard work you could do just aswell at another university. Imperial for instance could be an excellent choice.

Just my opinions but best of luck with whatever you do

**LightElf7** · 17-01-2008, 09:31 PM

Its true what you're saying. What really matters is how well I do at wherever I end up.

But the thing I am concerned about is that everyone thinks Oxbridge people are like geniuses (though they're not), so you might be overshadowed by oxbridge people later in life due to such a social bias that exists. Think about it, if lets say two young doctors apply for a place in a hospital but there is only one place to give, and one is from Cambridge and the other from somewhere else, and have the same grades. Provided they do equally well on other measuring tests (like interviews), chances are that the Cambridge person will get accepted as they'd think that person is much better. Cambridge will always have a stronger name value than Imperial whatever happens.

But aside of looking for jobs, when talks about education come up when you're with other people, you'll always get overshadowed and fall behind the oxbridge guys. This of course should not be something to dwell about, but in some places, like my home country (they have extreme bias there concerning education), people from higher level universities like Oxbridge or Harvard receive such an unfairly better treatment than others with equal qualifications. Thats one reason why I really want Cambridge over anywhere else, although I'd be fine at Imperial.

**Dr.Funk** · 18-01-2008, 03:59 PM

I see. Thats a real shame but I understand where you are coming from.

**Pammy** · 19-01-2008, 01:29 PM

I am not sure this is true in the UK. If you look at the people who are PROFESSORS in Cambridge Medical School, so many of them have done their undergrad at other places than Oxbridge. It doesn't matter where you go, it matters how good you are...And of course it's important to find a course that's suited to your personal preferences, but the Imperial and Cambridge undergrad courses are similar in their approach.
I think it would be more worthwhile to worry about how best to become a good doctor rather than about the name of the school on the CV!

**Koziasty** · 20-01-2008, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by LightElf7

But since I am an overseas applicant, I am affected by this damn quota stuff. So if I change my passport to EU passport now, am I recognized by Cambridge as an EU applicant or still an overseas? Because I heard this rumor about needing to live for at least 3 years with a EU passport, I am not sure if I will be immediately accepted as an EU applcant.

Also, I heard that if one of my parents is an EU national, I wont be treated as an overseas applicant? Is this true? If yes, does the minimum 3-year thing also apply here?

So. I am quite positive, that if you have an EU passport, you're an EU citizen and as such considered a home candidate. You might have troubles getting a UK passport, if you haven't lived here for a few years, that's true.
However, if one of your parents is an EU national, you should be able to obtain a passport from their country of origin, and thus be treated as a home candidate.
Also, if in doubt, you may want to contact the universities.

**>Freak<** · 21-01-2008, 04:59 PM

Hey guys, i have one question to ask, i'm not sure whether it's too dumb to ask this question or not but..i really want to know the truth. If i get a place in a university(not Cambridge) and i've already embarked on my first year in that University, can i still apply to Cambridge the 2nd year(while i'm already a first year medical student at a particular University other than Cambridge?).

To Lightelf: If i'm not mistaken, Caius College accepts the most overseas students(around 2 per year)(they have the highest number of medical students in Cambridge also..so i'm not surprised to read that somewhere else)

**ernest.chew** · 24-09-2008, 10:26 AM

Hey >FREAK<,

I went around asking the same question too.. But well, as expected the answer is No. u'll have to go back to year 1 and start it over. I mean, Cambridge's teaching is much much different from most typical UK universities. Unless, the university that you are currently in is Oxford/Harvard/(Some top world university) or smth..

Yeah, Lightelf, I heard Caius has the most overseas students too

**venn** · 01-10-2008, 06:41 PM

hello. any other overseas applicants here who sent in their Cambridge Overseas Application Form before the 20th of September because they wanted to make it for the overseas interview?

And if so, anyone heard anything about the interview already?

**ysl89** · 07-10-2008, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by venn

hello. any other overseas applicants here who sent in their Cambridge Overseas Application Form before the 20th of September because they wanted to make it for the overseas interview?

And if so, anyone heard anything about the interview already?

I'm applying for an overseas interview as well. Well, they did send me a confirmation e-mail. Which college did you apply to?