Applying to Cambridge Kathryn Singleton Schools Liaison Officer

Applying to Cambridge Kathryn Singleton • Schools Liaison Officer • St Catharine’s College

Why Cambridge? o One of the top 5 universities in the world o Be taught by leading experts in your subject o Small-group teaching (‘supervisions’) o Excellent graduate opportunities, irrespective of degree discipline o UK’s best university careers service o Academic, pastoral and financial support o Guaranteed university accommodation for your full degree!

Why Cambridge? o Over 800 university clubs and societies o Over 80 sports o Music and Arts o Student-run newspapers and magazines o In the UK’s top 5 universities for extra curricular activities

Collegiate System o Around 30 Cambridge Colleges across the city o UCAS will ask you for a preferred College o A College is like a mini campus, providing a base for students: o Accommodation, dining and recreation o Organise supervisions (all other teaching takes place at department with students from other colleges) o Facilities for academic study o Support network:

Support Network in a College o ‘College Parents’ o JCR (Junior Common Room) o College Nurse o IT Office, Maintenance Team… o Porters o Chaplain and/or Counsellor o Director of Studies and Tutor o Financial Support

What are we looking for? Academic ability and potential Subject requirements Suitability for chosen course Genuine subject interest – motivation and enthusiasm Irrelevant extra -curricular activities Particular school types Particular backgrounds

Application Process Choose course and college Decision (yes/no/pooled) January UCAS Application 15 th October Interview + assessment December SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) 22 nd October Written work and pre-interview assessments

What is assessed? A lot is taken into account: o Academic record: o Typical offers: A*AA for arts, and A*A*A for sciences o Personal statement o School or college reference o Contextual data o Submitted written work, where requested o Assessment results, where required o Interview

Personal Statements Personal statements go to all the Universities you apply to – should be general and about the subject, rather than specific course/uni Why you want to do the course: o Explain your enthusiasm for subject o How your academic study has prepared you o Other preparations – work experience, training, responsibilities, extra reading o Future plans (if any) o (Extracurricular activities) Cambridge Admissions Tutors’ advice: o Literate, simple, focused o Truthful o Individual, reflective, invites questions See UCAS website for their guide to personal statements

Interviews: Assessing your academic potential o Enthusiasm o Discuss information you gave in your personal statement and SAQ o Other relevant interests, reading, news, submitted work o Thinking about new concepts, using skills from school o Problems, texts, articles o Interviewers will be looking for evidence of how you think, not what you know o If you’re stuck – do ask questions! Check out the University of Cambridge’s You. Tube channel for example interviews and lots of advice!

Interviews: Preparation o o o Practise talking about why you have chosen the course you have applied for Read more than just what is required for your A-level courses Be familiar with the content of your personal statement and any submitted work Have an awareness of what people are currently talking about and doing in relation to your chosen subject Think critically about specific areas of interest within your subject Dress comfortably

Oxbridge: Frequently Asked Questions Is there a minimum GCSE requirement? What’s the most important part of an application? Which Colleges are better for which subjects? Are some Colleges easier to get into than others? What extra-curricular activities will help my chances of admission? Can I apply to both Oxford and Cambridge?

Find out more Schools Liaison Officer (Me): @Caths_SLO SLO@caths. cam. ac. uk/schools for a copy of this Power. Point Unfortunately St Catharine’s doesn’t admit undergraduate students for: Architecture, Education, History of Art, or Linguistics University Open Days 5 th July 6 th July Book via undergraduate. study. cam. ac. uk Catz Open Days 7 th July 8 th Sept 15 th Sept Book via the Open Days page of our college website: caths. cam. ac. uk