future-scientist

Well, I've looked at Durham and it does seem like a good school but, somehow doesn't seem the carry the same flair as Cambridge - at least, in my opinion.

I was looking through the Cambridge website and I read that they are looking for students 'passionate' about the subjects they wish to study; Which is the way I am towards science. I don't think my grades will be a problem. I'm in the IB program and have predicted high scores on my exams.

I have not taken the SATs yet - I'm a rising junior but, I'm sure my score will be fine. I've looked at statistics for the university, and I know it is not easy getting in as an international student, but maybe if I were to really express the enthusiasm I feel towards science in the interview that might give me a chance.

My counselor will want me to stay in my home state and will probably try to persuade me out of applying to an international school due to the tuition costs. But, I have my heart set on Cambridge and even if it isn't the only school I am applying to, I know I want to study and live in the UK.

Cupcake, when did you start your year at Cambridge? If you can brief me about how your interview went I would appreciate it. The interview portion of the admission has made me a bit nervous. Hopefully, by the end of this year I'm well prepared for it.

There is one more worry that I have about attending a international college is the cost. I come from a very low-income family, my father is handicap with a permanent disease, and my mother is a struggling artist. I am in great need of some financial assistence and I need a scholarship or some other funding of some sort so that I can attend the university.

Most people say that I should just stay in the US if I'm so financially deprived, and I know that may be a wiser decision but, my heart is already at Cambridge. Going there has always been my dream and I will work hard to be admitted there. So even with my financial issue, I'm hoping scholarships will cover that.

Although, I still have a lot of other colleges in mind that I will apply to. So even if I don't gain acceptance into Cambridge, which I hope is not the case, I will not deprive myself of the best education I can get at another good school. Even if it has to be in the US.

nbg127

I looked into Oxford a few years back. The biggest issue I ran into is that they don't admit many "freshman" from the US. Supposedly, the UK students finish school at a higher level than we do in the US. In effect, we need 1 year of college to compete on the same level. Their program was a 3 year program...but I so loved Oxford! Thinking of applying to St. Andrews for fall of 09 due to the closer lineup to the US colleges but worried the area will be too small. Yes, Britain is wonderful.

bv123

Natural sciences (biology, chem, physics) at Cambridge is pretty tough to get into...
I'm applying this year to read bio, but don't think I have a good chance.

Anyway,
looking at your subject choices, I don't think they'll take you if you apply to read bio/chem.
I've contacted nine colleges, and all but one said you'll need either AP Chemistry or HL Chemistry to read bio/chem.
Queen's College is the exception, but they strongly recommend Chem and said although they'll look at your application, the chance of getting an offer without chem is slim.
Furthermore, many biology courses have a chem prerequisite, so without advanced chem your course selection will be extremely limited too.

Physics might be a more plausible route for you?
But then I think they'll require either AP Calculus BC or HL Math if you want to major in physics.

Their offers are also pretty tough to meet...
Ranging from 38 (7,6,6) to something as crazy as 42 (7,7,7).

As far as ECs go, include only things relevant to your intended major in your personal statement.
I've heard they like people who concentrate on their passion more than people who do everything.

You may want to visit The Student Room, it's like the UK equivalent of CC.
There's an IB forum!

Good Luck!!


Edit:
Just read that you're from a low income family.
You may apply of course, but the chance of getting an undergrad scholarship from Cambridge is really slim.
If you don't have scholarship...
Then the tuition is about 13k, college fee about 3k, and living expense will probably be around 10k (9 months there).
Which adds up to over 50k US$ a year, and about 150k for the whole 3 year program.
Similar to how much it'd cost to go to a regular private school in the States...?

cupcake

Not year, whole 3 years. I graduated, did a masters at York and am now doing a PhD at Oxford.

If you go to the Cambridge web-site you will see there are videos of interviews. The interview is very much like the supervisions/tutorials you get once you are actually enrolled. You don't need to know the answer to every question. Just show you know how tot work it out, or say why you made an educated guess. I actually interviewed at Caius as my first choice college, and was "pooled" to New Hall (now suddenly re-maned Murray Edwards college because someone gave them £50 million).

well you'd better get finding it because you're not going to get anything from Cambridge. Think of it as like a US public school. You're out of state. If you (or rather your parents) don't pay taxes in the UK, you get nothing. Many internationals have scholarships from their own countries (especially Asian countries) but not from Cambridge or any UK school. That's they way it works. You have never paid into the UK system so why should they pay for you?

Yes! ITA. I loved Cambridge but it's not worth getting into that much debt for. You could always come here for graduate school (where there are many more scholarships availabe for internationals). I totally agree with bv123's post above.

I also agree about the Chemistry. It's usually compulsory for Chem/Bio subjects. You'd have to be genius, or have some strong reason for not have taken it, to get in without. UK schools think US high schools are very weak in science (before someone posts saying my high school isn't, that's not the point. Cambridge admissions people are not going to investigate every US high school. Their perception is that US high schools do not teach up to A-level standard science and you can't change this) and therefore very rarely admit US students to science courses. In fact the majority of US undergraduates have already completed a year at a US college before applying to Oxbridge.

Perhaps for the OP the best way would be to apply to US colleges which offer a study abroad scheme in Cambridge? There are many and this may make it an affordable option for you.