Making a Competitive Application

Dr Sam Lucy, Admissions Tutor, Newnham College, University of Cambridge

What information do we use to assess applications?

We consider every application individually, taking all aspects into account:

• Academic record• Personal statement• Teacher’s reference• Admissions test results

(where required)• Written work (where required)• Contextual data• Interview (if interviewed)

No part of an application is considered in isolation – all available information is looked at together before decisions are made.

What are we looking for?

Academic ability and potential

Subject requirements

Genuine subject interest

– motivation and enthusiasmSuitability

for chosen course

Irrelevant extra-curricular

activitiesYour

backgroundYour

school

The application process

Choose course

Choose a College or

open application

UCAS application

15 Oct

+ SAQ (Cam)22 Oct

Admissions test? Check registration

deadline

Interviews(Dec)

Decision(Jan)

Written work and/or

admissions test

1 in 5applicants

made an offer (on average)

Personal statements

• Personal

• A starting point for interview discussion

• Reflect rather than list

• Less can be more

• Focus on the chosen course(s)

• ‘Why you should choose me for your course’

• Care and attention to detail

• Beware Googled quotations, ‘I have always’

Examination results

• These are fundamental to any successful application

• Cambridge asks for AS marks (UMS) in its SAQ

• Both universities take GCSEs into account – less weight placed on these by Cambridge

• Typical A Level offers:

• Cambridge A*A*A (Sciences) A*AA (Arts/Humanities)

• Oxford A*A*A - AAA

The 2012 gathered field: Medicine

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1455.00

60.00

65.00

70.00

75.00

80.00

85.00

90.00

95.00

100.00Applicants from the 2012 Admissions Cycle with A* GCSEs and AS/A2 UMS

Application

Offer

Number of A* GCSE

Bes

t S

UM

S A

vera

ge

The 2012 gathered field: History

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1455.00

60.00

65.00

70.00

75.00

80.00

85.00

90.00

95.00

100.00Applicants from the 2012 Admissions Cycle with A* GCSEs and AS/A2 UMS

Application

Offer

Number of A* GCSE

Bes

t U

MS

Ave

rage

Wider exploration

Getting the most from your wider (deeper) reading

Genuine interest in the subject outside the confines of the formal syllabus

Extra reading and exploration are crucial to success, not just in arts subjects

Critical engagement with reading:

• What is the argument in this book/article?

• What is the supporting evidence?

• What do I think? How can I find out more?

Tests

Medicine and Veterinary Medicine BMAT (all Colleges)Registration deadline 1st October 2013, test takes place 6th November 2013

LawCambridge Law Test (most Colleges)Taken at interview

MathematicsSTEP (all Colleges)Forms part of conditional offers and is taken with A2-levels

Other subjectsTSA – Economics, Engineering, Natural Sciences (depends on College)Some other subjects have short additional tests at interview

Preparing for tests

Written work

• Depends on subject (Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) and College – list on university website

• Most commonly a piece of work completed as part of sixth form studies (some Colleges set a question)

• Encourage applicants to think about the marker’s comments

• The most effective submitted work tends to be that which applicants are likely to enjoy discussing and which has been completed relatively recently

Interviews: An overview

• Normally two or more interviews, each usually lasting 20−30 minutes

• Conducted by academics and predominantly academic and subject-focused

• Discussion-based and intellectually challenging

• Check the websites for videos and further information

The last piece in the jigsaw rather than the ‘final hurdle’

Interviews: what to expect

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC INTERVIEW

Discussion based on academic interests

mentioned in personal statement

Assess knowledge and understanding

of subject and flexibility of thought

Challenging questions

relating to A-level courses

Sample teaching session – like a

supervision

Application of existing knowledge to new situations

Sciences: problems to work

through

Arts: perhaps a text to discuss

Discussion of any submitted

essays

Sciences: a specimen to discuss

Interviews: What are Admissions Tutors looking for?

• Academic ability and potential to be successful

• Self-motivation, commitment and serious interest in the chosen course

• Ability to think independently and critically

• Use of existing knowledge to assess new problems

No trick questions!

Preparing to apply

Programme of study• Course choice is the most important decision –

research thoroughly, personal interest(s)

Results• Work hard to do as well as you can in your current

studies

Engage and explore• Be proactive in your learning – current studies and

interests relevant to your intended degree

Practise• Discussing your academic interest(s)• Past/example admissions test papers• Time management – generally and for tests/exams

P

R

E

P

Cambridge

www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/

Oxford

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/

If you have any remaining questions, do not hesitate to ask a College Admissions Tutor or Admissions Officer

Finding out more