1 / 18

Making a Competitive Application

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

zenia
Download Presentation

Making a Competitive Application

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Making a Competitive Application Dr Sam Lucy, Admissions Tutor, Newnham College, University of Cambridge

  2. 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.

  3. What are we looking for? Academic ability and potential  Subject requirements  Suitability for chosen course  Your background Genuine subject interest – motivation and enthusiasm     Irrelevant extra-curricular activities Your school

  4. The application process Choose course UCAS application 15 Oct Choose a College or open application + SAQ (Cam) 22 Oct 1 in 5 applicants made an offer (on average) Admissions test? Check registration deadline Written work and/or admissions test Decision (Jan) Interviews (Dec)

  5. 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’

  6. 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

  7. The 2012 gathered field: Medicine

  8. The 2012 gathered field: History

  9. Wider exploration

  10. 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?

  11. Tests Medicine and Veterinary Medicine BMAT (all Colleges) Registration deadline 1st October 2013, test takes place 6th November 2013 Law Cambridge Law Test (most Colleges) Taken at interview Mathematics STEP (all Colleges) Forms part of conditional offers and is taken with A2-levels Other subjects TSA – Economics, Engineering, Natural Sciences (depends on College) Some other subjects have short additional tests at interview

  12. Preparing for tests

  13. 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

  14. 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’

  15. Interviews: what to expect SUBJECT-SPECIFIC INTERVIEW Discussion based on academic interests mentioned in personal statement Sciences: a specimen to discuss Assess knowledge and understanding of subject and flexibility of thought Discussion of any submitted essays Application of existing knowledge to new situations Arts: perhaps a text to discuss Challenging questions relating to A-level courses Sample teaching session – like a supervision Sciences: problems to work through

  16. 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!

  17. Preparing to apply P R E P • 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

  18. Finding out more 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

More Related