So pretty much every collegeconfidential post i’ve gone through said with confidence that you don’t send in transcipts for a Cambridge application. However, while i was just perusing their website, it said that american students who haven’t taken UK approved requirements must send in a transcript. ?!?!?!?!?!?? So I’d really appreciate if someone can explain why everyone’s comments contradict the cambridge website. Thanks.
I haven’t seen that as strongly as you have (though I spend less time on the Cam threads than the Ox threads, or maybe I just didn’t notice it). Guessing that most don’t know about the COPA?
Either way, they do know that the transcript is a relatively unimportant part of the application process for Cambridge. Cambridge says that they like to see a decent GPA (3.5+), but (along with other UK unis) does not put much weight on continuing assessment marks. In the UK & Ireland your in-class marks are not what counts- they might be used to stream you into a level of a subject (honors/regular) and ‘predict’ your standardized testing results (‘mock’ exams are also used for predicting), but in the end they don’t count for anything.
For Cambridge, it’s all about your test scores (APs) in relevant subjects, admissions test (Cambridge is now following Oxford in having most subjects have some form of aptitude test), an ok SAT, your PS and LoR, submitted work (for those subjects that require it)- and of course, the interview. The transcript is really a footnote to those elements.
Cambridge tells US applicants to submit transcripts as part of COPA. There is no question or uncertainty there.
Ah thank you collegemom.