Cambridge hopeful?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Well, I am currently a rising junior in the IB program and I wish (actually dream) of attending Cambridge university when I graduate high school. I'm in love with England, I'm fascinated with the history, I'm more than willing to withstand the difficulty of their courses, and I would love to be taught under the professor, Stephen Hawking.</p>

<p>I can't say too much about my academic standings but, here are my stats so far:</p>

<p>I have a 4.5 GPA. Counting the IB weight. (But, since I have 2 years of high school left, hopefully I'll be able to get it up to a 5.0 with extra college classes over the summer.)
I'm going to take my SAT this year, but I'm sure I won't totally bomb it.
I've been swimming competitively for 5 years and qualified for states.
I've done over 100 hours of community service (So far) and volunteer at two marine science centers and give lectures out to guests who come into the aquarium and museum.
I'm also an artist, and have won awards for my artwork in shows.</p>

<p>I'm extremely passionate about science. I've been waiting patiently in high school till the day I can finally have the chance to make a difference in the world. Therefore, I definitely plan on becoming a scientist, with a degree in many degrees such as marine biology, environmental science, astronomy, and physics. I enjoy reading anything related to science and I love to discuss it even more (To my parents dismay).</p>

<p>I know EC's don't count at Cambridge, but does this apply to other UK universities as well? I'll probably apply next summer and I know I'm going to be called back for a university IF I'm considered. Which I'm not to worried about because of my volunteer experience, I'm use to having to explain problems related to science to people daily. </p>

<p>I haven't done any science fair projects in high school because it's not required in my school but, hopefully that wouldn't really matter if your already knowledgeable in your subject?</p>

<p>My classes for next year is as follows:</p>

<p>Math Analysis and Math methods IB(two year course, calculus and up course)
HL (High level) Biology IB (2 year class)
SL Chemistry 2 IB (2 year class)
AP Physics
HL American history IB
HL english 3 IB
SL spanish 4 IB</p>

<p>As you can probably tell, I am a science nut and I'm taking all the hardest science classes that my school offers. I wish all my classes could be just science! =[ </p>

<p>Anyway, My senior classes will be about the same, since most of them are a two year class except my AP Physics which will be Theory of Knowledge IB in my senior year because it's required in the IB curriculum.</p>

<p>Other than science, I am interested in writing and movie making. I read pretty much anything, including fiction despite being a science nut (haha). I plan on incorporating my writing skillls and movie making with science. Perhaps making a book or document concerning something science base??</p>

<p>To put it plainly, I'm really, in the most paramount way, passionate about science and want to get into the best school, for me, for the subjects I wish to study. I've lived in America all my life, and I've always found it a bit boring. The history in America seems just to bland for me but, England has such a fascinating history behind it. & to know that Cambridge is about 800 years old is just WOW! Plus, I don't like the cities and from my internet surfing I found that Cambridge is a very small town that is mainly occupied by the universities
campus.</p>

<p>So any chance that I could make it in?</p>

2

<p>i don't know much about the england school system but based on my understanding, you send applications in england by using the UCAS forms. UCAS is like the "Common App"..more similar to the UC application, actually, where you just send in all your information and check off schools in england that you want to go to. </p>

<p>i think in england universities, the adcom looks at "predicted grades" for HL courses. they also look at your intended major in correspondance to those "predicted grades." So if, for example Cambridge requires a 7-7-7 in 2 HL Sciences and 1 HL math, and your predicted grades are 7-7-7 and you DO get 7-7-7 when you see your IBHL scores, then you are most likely to be offered admission. </p>

<p>i might be wrong about the system but that's my general understanding of it. i have IB at my school too but we also have AP, bottom line is to work hard and find out about the specific requirements for Cambridge. Aim for 7s in all your IBHL math/sciences. especially sciences. Cambridge is a top school and they want the top students!</p>

<p>you have a chance as long as you get the scores ;)</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

3

<p>Basically, since their system is totally different, they rely almost entirely on two things: test scores and the interview. You need to take something like 5 or 6 AP tests (with straights 5s across the board) and like 4 SAT IIs to show them that you've learned a lot from your education in the States. Then, if they like your initial application, they'll contact you for an on-campus interview (meaning you have to fly out to England). It's a very tough, evaluative interview (nothing like the "so tell us about yourself" alumni interviews here).</p>

<p>So, in short, take LOADS of standardized tests and do well on all of them, and you'll have a great shot, because I'm sure your passion for science will shine in the interview :)</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the advice =] Have any of you, by any chance, recently attended Cambridge or have been to the university?</p>

<ul>
<li>I'm not rich. My grandparent's will pay for most of the tuition fee but, I'll still have to pay the rest by myself. Is there any scholarship for international students? I've looked on the site, I saw a few scholarships - one for Hong Kong students but, obviously I'm not from there. & I know I won't have financial aid =[ So I guess I'm going to have to work somewhere in Cambridge to pay for tuition as I (if I) attend there.</li>
</ul>

5

<p>awesome, i can see ur passionate abt science
good luck, maybe u will find the cure to cancer
i also want to attend Cambridge, but for pol. science</p>

6

<p>Cure for cancer? haha nope not me. I'm more of a animal/nature/space/why things are the way the are (which, I guess relates to physics and quantum mechanics) kind of person. I'll leave the doctors to find the cure for cancer. Animals are the ones in need at the moment and humans are the ones destroying the world right now. <em>Restraining urge to right an essay about how and why humans are destroying the earth and causing the extinction of animals rapidly</em> LOL =b I guess I have very little sympathy for humans, but I'm not a crazed Peta member. I believe instead of using 'moral reasons' as a method of persuasion to stop the slaughtering of animals in the brink of extinction, - Scientific reasoning is a more valid and more persuasive method. Most groups like Peta and GreenPeace and Sea Shepard lean toward 'eco-terrorists' which is not the way to get people to listen; it only provokes them. Given the right facts, scientists can persuade fisheries and butchers etc what happens when 'this' amount of animal reduces to 'this' amount which leads 'this' to happen to the environment, eventually causing 'this' impact for humans. Unlike groups like PETA, who say, "Animals have feelings," (which is somewhat true) scientists will give the right facts that will explain what would happen if we continue killing 'this' type of animal.</p>

<p>Anyway, I don't have anything against PETA at all. I think what they're doing is right, I just don't think violence needs to be incorporated with all the protests and so and so.</p>

<p>*Sorry, got a bit off topic there lol</p>

7

<p>

That's not necessarily true--I emailed somebody from Pembroke and was basically told that SAT IIs were entirely unimportant. That said, they might be required for other schools you're looking at, so don't cross them off your list.</p>

<p>To the OP, your best bet is probably to send an email to someone from the university (more specifically, from one of the colleges you're looking at, 'cause you'll need to choose unless you want to make an open app) and get the information straight from them. Be sure to include what AP courses you've taken or are planning to take, because that way they can tell you whether or not you're in good standing and what grades you ought to achieve. Good luck! (:</p>

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<p>Hmm that would be nice if I didn't have to take the SAT (less to stress over) but, I know I have to anyway. =/ So if I were to get in touch with a person from the office of admission, would it be alright to ask him or her like 100 questions about Cambridge and what I need to do to get in as an international student? & keep in touch with that person throughout the rest of my high school years? Or would that seem like I'm just trying to become a 'favorite' or suck up to someone from Cambridge so I can get in easily. (Which is, of course, not true.) Because I would really like to keep in touch with one of the faculty members in Cambridge. Here in America I have no clue what's really going on in Cambridge (or England, on the matter) and my parents can't help me either so it would be great if I had someone to tell me all that I need to know. Or, like I said, would that seem too much like 'sucking up?'</p>

<p>& thanks for the reply kokakola =D</p>

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<p>Yes, unfortunately the SAT is important. :p It really is more pain than it's worth.
Anyway, I don't think it'd do you harm to try and stay in touch with someone at Cambridge. If anything, I think they would take kindly to you showing interest. It'll be helpful for you, too, so that you can avoid hearing about the school from people who may or may not be horribly misinformed. Try not to shower them with too many questions at once though--when I sent them something I asked way too many and only a few actually got answered (though they were very nice and very helpful!). Just try not to be annoying, haha.</p>

<p>(I should add that I'm not actually a Cambridge student, but will be applying for '09 entry, so...)</p>

10

<p>haha yea, I will definitely make sure I don't ask too many questions. Are you graduating in 2010? Because I'll be applying to Cambridge sometime in 2009 after my junior year also. The problem is, if I get called back for an interview <em>Crosses fingers, I hope it happens!</em> I would have to fly over there and I think it's about a 7 hour trip. I don't mind the wait, but I do mind the expense. My grandparents are going to hate me after they have to pay a large portion of the costs! ugh! lol</p>

11

<p>Nope, I'm graduating next year.
I feel the same about the interview! I know they interview the vast majority of applicants (something like 2-5% are rejected without interview) but provided I did get one I have no idea how we'd afford it. I have talked to my dad though so at least he understands... and then there's the matter of where to stay, how long to stay, having to get out of school for it, etc. Bleh.</p>

12

<p>Eh, yea, my family has been complaining about that too. When you do find a way to get there, at least you can admire the beautiful campus & town at Cambridge before you have to hit the books! Have you been reading up on the history of Cambridge yet? It's a 800 year old university so there's bound to be something historical that's interesting =]. I've been recently reading up on Cambridge and found out some weird things. Such as, there have been a lot of ghost sightings and 3 exorcisms that have taken place at the school. That kind of freaked me out a bit, nevertheless - I still want to go there. But, I know I'll have to inform myself about the entire city and the college so that I'm prepared without needing assistance wherever I go. </p>

<pre><code>I just really hope I DO gain acceptance there. That would be absolutely amazing =D

            - Good luck to you, as well =)

</code></pre>

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<p>Kokakola - what college are you applying to? There are so many colleges to choose from, I've rounded my choices down to about three colleges at the moment =) I like the older ones with the ancient cathedrals. I'm not so much for the newer buildings. lol But, all the gardens are absolutely beautiful !</p>

14

<p>You probably already know this, but choose your college wisely. The older colleges are generally the most popular and in many cases the most difficult to get into. I would suggest that you look at college admission statistics in your field and go from there.</p>

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<p>That's what I figured. The college that I want to get into is Goville and Caius college but, I have a feeling it is one of the hardest to get in. The requirements are tough - at least 720 on SAT and 7's and 6's in IB exams and 7's on the subject I plan to pursue at the university. Plus, Stephen Hawking is one of the professors there so I'm sure there are a lot of students who want to be taught by him. But, I'm still speculating over two other colleges - Girton college and Emmanual college. Gonillve and Cauis is my top, but I still have to look through my other choices before I make my final decision. </p>

<pre><code> -And I did look at the admission statistics for each college on the website. All of them seem pretty hard to get in. But, the college with the less number of admits were the ones that require only 'mature' students. Which I'm not, so there is no problem there.
</code></pre>

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<p>I don't think that Stephen Hawking being a fellow of Gonville and Caius influences applications as much as you think since he doesn't teach undergraduates. If having him as a teacher is your primary goal then you're (unfortunately) out of luck. Regardless, if I was into theoretical physics I would just want to be in his presence.</p>

17

<p>lol. No, I don't want him as a teacher because he doesn't teach what I want to study. So do you think Gonville and Caius would be easier than I think to get in? By the way, do you go to Cambridge?</p>

18

<p>I got an offer to study medicine at Cambridge, so if you want I could probably give you some advice on applying.</p>

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<p>Yes, I would definitley love some advice ! What college did you apply to and did you go for an interview?</p>

20

<p>Yeah, I applied to Sydney Sussex, which is one of the smaller ones in the center of the town. It's not quite as impressive to look at as Gonville & Caius or Trinity, but it's got more of a cozy and friendly feel to it. Plus, it's supposed to serve some of the best food.</p>

<p>As for the interview, I did go (interviews are pretty much mandatory in the UK if you want to study medicine, even for the less reputable universities). I don't know if you would have to do an interview for your subject, but my guess would be that you do. I have heard of some people who managed to get interviews by telephone for Oxford, but you should probably contact someone at Cambridge and see if they do the same.</p>

<p>Also, are there any other universities in the UK you were thinking of applying to if it doesn't work out with Cambridge? Durham and St. Andrew's are also really old and beautiful schools that it might be worth checking out.</p>