<p>Hey, I'd figured if there was an Oxford thread, why not Cambridge. Anyone else applied?</p>
<p>If so...
Where from?
What subject?
What college?</p>
<p>Me:</p>
<p>Illinois, USA
Computer science
Robinson (I sent open application, this is where i was placed)</p>
<p>Singapore, Singapore
Natural Sciences - Physical
Trinity Hall</p>
<p>I'm a junior now so I won't apply until 2008, but can anyone assess how difficult it really is for American students to get into Cambridge? By an extremely large spread of test/competition results I'm one of the top 10 Latin/Greek students in the United States. I have extremely strong SAT-I, SAT-II, GPA, rank, APs etc and my ECs are also good-typical competitive applicant for American Ivies (I know irrelevant to English universities, but to illustrate my profile). I would definitely read Classics at an English university and will very likely go to graduate school in either the UK or the US. As I mentioned earlier, I have numerous additional qualifications in the subject I want to read (and some others too). How strongly can I hope for a Cambridge admit?</p>
<p>Also I will only be 16 when I apply to Cambridge and 17 at the start of first term, so I have to apply to one college. Which colleges are friendliest to Americans (especially female Americans)? I know which are best in my subject but I'd like to hear more.</p>
<p>As I mentioned in another thread, it is very rare for US applicants to be admitted into Cambridge straight out of High School. A famous quote from Pembroke College's website mentions that, out of approximately 3,000 students admitted each year by the Cambridge colleges, only six or so are US citizens. That's not because American students are dumb or anything like that, but rather because Europeans in general tend to dismiss an American High School education as extremely weak by their own standards and insufficient as preparation for university studies. Nevertheless, as I also mentioned in another thread, it is ** much easier** to be accepted after a full year as a regular student at an American university.</p>
<p>In any case, if you are interested in Classics, I strongly suggest you apply to Oxford or Cambridge, as there is nothing in the US (not even at Harvard or Yale) that could even remotely compare to the intensity and depth of an Oxbridge classics program. Oxford colleges may be slightly more friendly to US applicants than their Cambridge counterparts.</p>
<p>I would STRONGLY advise you to take a year out or apply for deferred admission. A very small number of 17 year olds do get in, but 99.9% of the time they're from Scotland which has one less year of (high) school than the rest of the UK and so it's ok. Most college very very reluctant to take on anyone underage (18) and bear in mind that many people take a year out and will be aged 19-20 when they start.</p>
<p>You know there there are two forms of Classics right? 3 year and 4 year courses. The 4 year course is for people who haven't studied much Latin and Ancient Greek previously and basically gets them up to speed on the languages. I don't think Oxford does 3 year anyway. I think Cambridge still does both. If you Google some A-level Latin/Greek papers, this will give you an idea of the standard needed to go straight into the 3 year course.</p>
<p>I do know about the 3-year and 4-year degrees, but 4 years of tuition and expenses are beyond my means, so I find myself limited to Cambridge. I have seen both of the A-level tests and did not find them more difficult than the Latin and Greek I read (on sight) on a daily basis. To give you an idea of my level, I began Latin in the seventh grade and Greek in the ninth, and am now a junior. At the moment I read daily about 100 lines of Cicero straight from original texts and without reference to commentaries, in the span of about two hours. The same number of lines in a 5th century Greek tragedy would take me about twice as long. I read Caesar and comparable Latin historians, or the Greek New Testament, as fast as I read English. Several university professors (none of them typically inclined to flattery) have told me that my work is on American graduate level now.</p>
<p>In addition to all of the classics I am directly doing, I am studying for 3 other AP exams in areas related to my interests in the classics (I have not yet taken either of the Latin exams, but will take both this year). I have also scored 4 times among the top students on the nation on the National Latin Exam, was top in the nation on an exam in sight Latin translation, and have been first in my state on Junior Classical League exam results 26 times. For reasons related to my school's funding I have never attended the National Junior Classical League, but I have taken the tests administered there and made scores comparable to the national top 10 in each. Additionally (though I realize English universities are unlikely to consider much but exam scores) I am in the process of translating the Bacchae of Euripides for a school play (which I am directing) to be performed in Greek, with my translation issued to the audience. </p>
<p>Do you think this could overcome my being 17? Acquaintances of my professors at a local university (where I have taken non-degree courses) have spoken favorably about my chances of being admitted or at least interviewed, but I don't think any of them realized that I would apply while underage. Should I try to contact colleges about their policies for underage applicants? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances (exclusive of a gap or other delay year, which I probably cannot afford)?</p>
<p>
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In addition to all of the classics I am directly doing, I am studying for 3 other AP exams in areas related to my interests in the classics (I have not yet taken either of the Latin exams, but will take both this year). I have also scored 4 times among the top students on the nation on the National Latin Exam, was top in the nation on an exam in sight Latin translation, and have been first in my state on Junior Classical League exam results 26 times etc etc
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Well I'm studying Biology so this is all Greek to me. I can't tell you anything about how valuabe such things are in Classics I'm afraid. I was just saying to assess yourself you could have a look at the A-level papers, if you were unsure.</p>
<p>
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Additionally (though I realize English universities are unlikely to consider much but exam scores) I am in the process of translating the Bacchae of Euripides for a school play (which I am directing) to be performed in Greek, with my translation issued to the audience.
[/QUOTE]
DEFINITELY put this in your application!!!!! This isn't an EC, it's related study and the perfect thing to put in your application and show you are really interested in the subject. Exactly the sort of thing they look for. Cambridge does a big "Greek Play" once every 3 years (so you can only take part once while you're an undergrad) which is a big deal in the Classics world (again, not the sort of thing i know much about).</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Do you think this could overcome my being 17? Acquaintances of my professors at a local university (where I have taken non-degree courses) have spoken favorably about my chances of being admitted or at least interviewed, but I don't think any of them realized that I would apply while underage. Should I try to contact colleges about their policies for underage applicants? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances (exclusive of a gap or other delay year, which I probably cannot afford)?
[/QUOTE]
Cambridge interviews about 95% of applicants so that doesn't mean anything. Definitely contact the college/s you are interested in to check if they will take underage students. Many of them won't. You don't have to pay for a gap year of exotic travel and study programmes. You can just work and save money for college. This is what many students in England do. Getting work experience (of any kind) is considered favourably.</p>