Cambridge Admission Through Non-traditional Qualifications

International Students
1

<p>I’ve heard that UK universities are more strict on objective screening: high school grades, test scores, qualifications, etc.</p>

<p>But then I’ve also heard they value how much you love the course you’re applying to.</p>

<p>So then, is it possible, however little the chance, to secure an offer with minimum qualifications and more course-related ECs?</p>

<p>My qualifications aren’t totally out of place: I’m a high school graduate. But let me just say that my high school is considered… insufficient compared to other schools. I didn’t have IB or AP in my school. Plus the whole education system is different from US or UK style.</p>

<p>I contacted Cambridge and they said it’s unlikely that I’ll be accepted based on my qualifications.</p>

<p>So my chance pretty much is based on my personal statement, supplement materials, test scores, etc.</p>

<p>I want to study Computer Science. And I think I can show them my skills by sending some of the projects I’ve been working on. (program development, etc) I also know people who can testify my love for the subject.</p>

<p>Now, will that override my poor qualifications a bit? I’m not under-aged, and I studied all the sciences and humanities offered in secondary education. I didn’t have stellar grades, but my high school is considered competitive. (top 5 in the country actually) But of course, I wouldn’t stand up to straight A IB or AP folks in terms of grades.</p>

<p>So is there a chance for me to be as competitive as IB/AP all-A students using supplement materials directly linked to the subject I’m applying to?</p>

<p>I’m also confident that I would do well on interview and Thinking Skill Assessment, but I don’t know how important those are on admission decisions.</p>

<p>Can any Cambridge affiliates or UK experts help? :D</p>

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<p>Honestly, ECs count for very little in the UK. There is no way they will overide your lack of relevant qualifications. I am not sure they will acept you sending them projects you have worked on. First they select likely candidates, and then they might ask for stuff like that. The problem is, you might not get through the first round of selection.</p>

<p>In the UK, students like you usually study something called an “Access Course”. This is a (usually) 1 year course for non-tradiational students - students over 21 or who didn’t finish high school usually. Cambridge don’t offer access courses themselves I don’t think, but they will accept them for admissions. There are some quite highly ranked UK unis such as Bath which do offer such coruses. You could even ask Cambridge admissions if there are any they recommend. You basically need a 1 year science or computer science Access Course to make up for your lack of APs. Alternatively, a year at a US college with consistently high grades should help. UK unis prefer US students who have complete a year of college already (you would have to start in the first year in the UK though. No transfers).</p>

<p>I am concerned that you don’t think you are a very good student, but expect one of the top unis in the world to accept you. Cambridge are looking for very bright, very academic and very focussed students. 60 horus a week of studying, maybe more. Is that what you want?</p>

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<p>For an American to get into Cambridge (or Oxford) you are pretty much going to need AP tests with INCREDIBLE scores. To get into other British universities you will probably also need AP tests, but not such incredible scores.</p>

<p>If you have contacted Cambridge and they have told you that you don’t have the qualifications, then you don’t have the qualifications.</p>

<p>So if you want to go to Cambridge, you have to GET the qualifications. You have to take those AP tests and get those incredible grades.</p>

<p>Let me put it this way, in the U.S. “AP” level stuff is what only the best students study. In the UK, that is the stuff that everyone studies if they don’t drop out of high school. In other words, all the stuff that Americans study their first year of college, UK citizens have already learned BEFORE they go to college.</p>

<p>For an American to say, “My qualifications aren’t totally out of place: I’m a high school graduate” when talking about applying to a UK university is ridiculous. Being a high school graduate does not qualify you to go to a UK university (as it would in the US).</p>

<p>Cambridge will not be impressed by someone who is trying to say “No, I am not smart enough to pass any AP exams, but look at all the messing around with computers I have done . . .”</p>

<p>If you want to go to Cambridge, GET the qualifications.</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

4

<p>Agree completely with what’s been said above, just want to add that Cambridge is a highly selective school that would have no reason to accept a students without GREAT qualifications, let alone with minimum ones. They will already have enough applicants who are far more qualified than you sound that they have to reject each year.
Yes loving the course will help, but it will help distinguish one excellently qualified applicant from another, and won’t make a difference if you aren’t up to their standard.</p>

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<p>Hmm, I get it. I should forget about it then. :P</p>

<p>For your information, I’m not from America. (Did you honestly think I wouldn’t have taken APs in a top 5 US high school?) The reason why I did not have APs or IBs is simply because the system in the country is not AP friendly at all. (I did not go to an international school.) Just wanted to clarify.</p>

<p>Anyways, thanks for the replies. I’ll just focus on US unis then.</p>

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<p>You could also look at less competitive UK schools, although US schools would probably be easier as they generally look a lot more at ECs.</p>

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<p>Melody,</p>

<p>You didn’t tell us what country you were from. Since you mentioned “AP exams”–which are AMERICAN–I assumed you were American.</p>

<p>You need to contact Cambridge and ask them what the qualifications for someone from YOUR country would be. (I don’t understand why they would require AMERICAN AP exams from someone who isn’t American) And maybe you should tell us what country you are from. (We’ve also been talking to someone who is from the Caribbean, and so takes a completely different set of exams from EITHER the British “A-level” exams, OR the American “AP” exams.)</p>

<p>Don’t give up on your dreams. If you don’t have the qualifications to get into Cambridge NOW, then find out what the qualifications would be for someone from your country, then GET THOSE QUALIFICATIONS. If you haven’t taken the right exams, whatever they would be for your country, TAKE THOSE EXAMS. Or whatever the qualifications are for your country. The plan will be different depending on what country you are from.</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

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<p>You know, I have a friend who applied to Cambridge (I’m to lazy to be bothered with flying over to the UK to get an interview), she had 4 A* for Phys, Math, Chem, and His, and was rejected. As far as I know, with the qualification, as long as you pass the first round, which is the part where they select you for an interview, then you are set… In fact, I think interview and their annoying aptitude test are even more important than the Alevels. Which is why I want to tell you that, if you make it to the interview part, SHOW UR PASSION, and then do well in the aptitude test (if ur a good studenty it’s going to be really easy), you still have a good shot… Anyway, good luck.</p>