Applying to Cambridge

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi guys, I'm a rising senior who's recently decided that I'm interested in going to Cambridge for undergrad because of the specialized education. Unfortunately, the website does not mention anything I could find about US applicants, and searching through past posts has given me conflicted information. Hopefully, someone who has gone through the process of applying from the US can help. </p>

<p>First of all, I sorta picked up that there's a UCAS (er...I probably spelled it wrong) application that you apply from instead of the normal application. I was wondering where I could get this. Also, there are a lot of unfamiliar tests that show up in the requirements section. Are these tests required for US students? From some past posts, it seems they aren't. Being from an AP school, I haven't taken any IB tests, which I thought were the standard for applying to international colleges. Is it okay if I use my AP scores instead?</p>

<p>Second, is it true that they only accept 6 students from the US every year? It seems the admissions is solely based on test scores, and I imagine that more than 6 people with many perfect test scores apply. Where does the differentiation come in then? Is it the interview? Speaking of which, can someone expound on how the interview works for US students?</p>

<p>Third, is there anything special my school needs to do? I haven't started school yet, and I hear that the application is due earlier for US students, which worries me.</p>

<p>Fourth, is it significantly more expensive than enrolling in an American university? Are there any special scholarships offered? How's the financial aid?</p>

<p>Lastly, I know that they don't care much about EC's, but does it help if I perform well in national competitions or if I've been extensively involved in research? </p>

<p>As you can see, I'm very lost right now, and I would sincerely appreciate any guidance. Some more information about me:
-I'm interested in applying to the mathematics program at Cambridge
-I have ambitions to do pure math (none of that applied nonsense)
-I live in the Midwest
-I've never been to Europe
-I'm a Chinese Male
If you'd like to know more, feel free to ask! Thanks very much!!!</p>

2

<p>as far as i know, you have to actually go to the school in england for the interview...</p>

3

<p>This iis not true. They come West for interviews, but they come to regions. Hence, someone on the West Coast would go to Vancouver for an interview; I don't remember where the Eastern interviews were a few years ago. The interview is very academic. It is not fluff.</p>

<p>I was not aware of a quota of a particular number for U.S. students.</p>

<p>Yes, the deadline is quite early for U.S. students, who are considered naturally Internationals for application. It's usually October 1. </p>

<p>The "special" things your school needs to do is to start getting their ducks in a row NOW. (Our school is casual about <em>U.S.</em> application dates! They need to be prodded.) This is especially important for Ox/Cam since the student has less control over the application. I don't know how this is handled now with the online option. Perhaps there's a separate affidavit or statement signed by the recommender. (Your recommender must approve everything on your application, so accuracy & honesty are important.) As I recall, they send it in, not you. When does school start for you? If it starts after Labor Day, I would be in the GC's office every day if I were you. </p>

<p>It's definitely more expensive than a U.S. college. Less aid for internationals, and more expensive to live there. For Oxford, you also have to move out of your residence at the end of every term (or it used to be that way). Not sure if that's true for Cambridge, too, but that could get into storage money.</p>

4

<p>Heads up, usually less than 10 US kids are in each class at Cambridge. I'm pretty sure that this year there will be 6 matriculating to Cambridge.</p>

5

<p>I'm in the same boat and I'm just as clueless.</p>

<p>I do know though that Cambridge does not conduct interviews in North America. I emailed their office and that was their response. They said the majority of overseas applicants do not receive interviews.</p>

6

<p>i don't know much but I have a friend who got into Oxford a couple of year ago. I believe she did a phone interview.</p>

7

<p>I remember reading that the valedictorian of Exeter or Andover went to Oxford or Cambridge. That's the competition you're up against.</p>

8

<p>I'd be interested to see official figures for Cambridge admissions.</p>

<p>When I was going through the process, I immediately turned away from Cambridge because there is a req of knowing two languages, regardless of the subject for which one is applying. Apparently this can be waived, but this isn't advertised.</p>

<p>Also, it'd seem that applicants must fly to Cambridge for interviews, which isn't true for Oxford. Oxford requires Americans to fly to New York City.</p>

<p>The total cost of just applying is so high that it dissuades many applicants from doing so.</p>

9

<p>Everytime I read this board there are YET MORE misleading threads on applying to UK universities which are filled with a load of twaddle.</p>

<p>Try www the student room .co.uk
remove the spaces and you will find a UK version of this forum which will be helpful.</p>

<p>First of all, applying to UK schools is so easy you can do it with your eyes closed.</p>

<p>You have to apply through UCAS
<a href="http://www.ucas.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.ucas.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Fill in the online form. You can only apply to up to 6 schools. You can't apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same year. For each school you have to specify the course you apply for (essentially you major. But it is a course of study which will be detailed on the website/prospectus of the school in question) and basially you can't change your mind unless there are exceptional circumstances. So you have to be SURE or I would advise you not to apply in the UK.</p>

<p>You have to fill in a "personal statement" of about half a page or so. This should be along the lines of "I am interested in studying X because...." It is NOT supposed to be a US-style application essay and it's not supposed to be about ECs (which are compleltely irrelevant). Most people put one line about their ECs at the end. It is all about how focussed you are on your course of study. That is what they like. Definitely NOT about being "well rounded" which US schools like. If you have work experience (so a research lab would count) they love that. Medicine applicants have to have work experience for example.</p>

<p>You also need a "reference" from a teacher. The bit where they ask for predicted grades/A-levels is where you put the predicted grades of APs/IB scores yet to come. </p>

<p>One form, one payment and press enter. It is pretty idiot proof. One click and you're done.</p>

<p>There are many many thousands of overseas applications to the UK every year. Admissions people are familiar with APs and the like (unless you have attended a school in outer mongolia i guess). Your "offer" should you receive one will be based on getting certain grades in AP subjects if that is what you are taking.</p>

<p>There is no real concept of financial aid in the UK. Universities fund themselves by charging overseas students 20x the price that home students pay. In fact for the majority of lesser ranks UK schools if you are a full fee paying international you will be offered a place no questions asked. They need your cash.</p>

<p>There are no quotas of overseas/minority students and again there is no real concept of this. Being a minority will not help or hinder you.</p>

<p>For Oxbridge you have to also fill in an extra (brief) form, which I have linked below (but using Google is easy people!)</p>

<p>Applications open between 1st Sept and 15th October 2007 for entry 1st October 2008. Oxford interviews in New York or Vancouver if you'd prefer not to travel to England. If this is the case the deadline is even earlier - usually 20th Sept I believe. I'm not sure where Cambridge interviews but the same deadline applies. In theory some people can have a phone interview for Oxford - I have never known anyone have this though!</p>

<p>For certain subjects you may be asked to submit some examples of your school work to Oxbridge. they will send you all the details after your application is received. But this info is also availbe online (linked below)</p>

<p>Cambridge
Application Overview - including CAF application form
<a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Info for Internationals
<a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/apply.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/apply.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>selection criteria/written work for interview
<a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>NB Maths at Cambridge has the reputation for being the hardest undergraduate course on planet earth. Don't say you weren't warned. It is probably pure math heaven. Very academic and not in the least applied.</p>

<p>Oxford
All forms for everything
<a href="http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/forms/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/forms/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Info for internationals
<a href="http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>selection criteria/written work for interview
<a href="http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/criteria.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/criteria.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>-Cupcake
Cambridge Undergraduate
Oxford Graduate
Probably institutionalised</p>

10

<p><a href="http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/north-american.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/north-american.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Pembroke college Cambridge famously said only 6 US students were admitted STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. The actual total number of US students is about 700, of which 60 or so are undergrads. But the majority of them completed a year at a US college first. UK schools generally consider US high schools at least a year behind European ones. Having said that, if you are brilliant, that will not matter.</p>

11

<p>Thank you, that was very helpful!</p>

12

<p>All of Post 9 also accords with my previous research, including the part about U.S. interviews. </p>

<p>When we had inquired directly of Cambridge & Oxford, they were quite familiar with the AP's and the SAT's, etc., & even suggested minimum numbers of these & scores in these. </p>

<p>Thank you to this poster for providing the links, et al.</p>

13

<p>oh well that would make sense then about my friend being able to have an interview with Oxford right here. we're only a little bit away from NYC</p>

14

<p>re: cambridge maths</p>

<p>an old prof told me that oxford and cambridge undergrad maths are pretty similar now. the material covered is pretty much the same.</p>

<p>the legendary cambridge tripos part III on the other hand, that is something else ....</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
NB Maths at Cambridge has the reputation for being the hardest undergraduate course on planet earth. Don't say you weren't warned. It is probably pure math heaven. Very academic and not in the least applied.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I didn't go to Cambridge, but, as far as I know, I don't think it's strictly correct to say that the Maths Tripos is "pure math heaven". In fact, it appears that all math students are actually required to study both pure and applied mathematics in the first two years, see the course description. </p>

<p>In other words, if you go to Cambridge, not only will you study your standard analysis and algebra, but also you will be exposed to theoretical physics topics like relativity, quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetism on the applied math side. </p>

<p>I'm not sure either if Cambridge maths is the "hardest undergraduate course" in the world, but probably it's one of the hardest and one of the best in the world. I'd assume there may be courses of equivalent level in countries with a strong tradition in mathematics like France (in institutions like L'</p>