Columbia to University of Cambridge

College Search & Lists
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<p>Currently, I’m a freshman at Columbia University, but due to a deep interest in medieval Germanic languages, literature, and culture, I’m considering “transferring” to the University of Cambridge to study in the Anglo Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Department (ASNC). I realize that there is no such thing as a “transfer” program at Cambridge, so by transfer, I mean that I would apply this year in October to enter in October 2010. Meanwhile, I would remain at Columbia University, and probably drop out in January 2010 were I to be admitted to Cambridge. I have a few questions, and any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>My primary question is whether this is a viable option or not. If I were admitted to the university, I would be entering in 2010 as a 20 year old; would this be strange?</p>

<p>As far as the application goes, I’m having a little trouble getting a complete picture of necessary materials. Since I’d be coming from Columbia, would I need recommendations from professors? from my dean? Would I be submitting high school grades as well as college grades?</p>

<p>Are my college grades good enough? In my first semester at Columbia I got an A- GPA (Dean’s List) after taking 24 credits (about 6 more than the usual number). I’m looking to do better in the second semester.</p>

<p>Based on what Cambridge’s website says, it looks like I’ll have to submit SAT and AP scores. I got 660 Math, 790 Writing, and 800 Reading. Good, bad?</p>

<p>As far as AP scores go, I’ve read that they only look at AP scores which apply to the discipline you’ll be studying. However, my high school was very limited in its AP offerings and I only took US History, French, and Calculus AB. I received 4, 3, 4, respectively, but obviously, none of those subject areas relate to what I’d be studying at Cambridge. Any thoughts? In addition to those scores, would any other testing be necessary?</p>

<p>Finally, I entered college set on being a Classics major. Accordingly, I’ve studied Ancient Greek and Latin, and am still very much interested in Classics (not quite as interested as ASNC, though). Were I to remain at an American university, I would look to double major. However, no American university offers the depth of education or the renown of Cambridge’s Department of ASNC. Is there anything similar to a “double major” at Cambridge, whereby I could study both Classics and ASNC? I don’t think there is, but I’m just curious.</p>

<p>I’m sorry for the ridiculously long post! Thank you very much for any insights!</p>

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<p>Your biggest issue is that Cambridge is a 3 year program. It would probably depend on how well what you took so far would jibe with their program. Contacting them with specifics is the only way to find out.</p>

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<p>Yep, I realize that it’s a 3 year program. I’ve read that credits are not transferrable, because there are no credits at Cambridge. My parents and I are willing to deal with that. If there’s no such concept as a “double major,” basically nothing I took this past semester or will take this semester will jibe, because they’re all Classics related. Columbia doesn’t offer anything similar to the ASNC Department. For instance, this past semester I took:</p>

<p>2 core classes
Accelerated German I + II
Intensive Elementary Greek
Intermediate Latin I</p>

<p>So I don’t think I’ll get anything for those.</p>

<p>But absolutely, I’m planning on contacting them in the very near future. Thanks!</p>

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<p>I would take some AP tests in related fields (Euro Hist or World Hist and German??) and maybe retake the sat (maybe). I heard that oxbridge doesn’t care about American high school grades and its all interview/essay/Standardized Test based. So right now you have a 2250 which is great, but if you can raise the math portion above 700 (maybe even 750+?) then I think you have a great shot.</p>

<p>I assume you will enter as a first year??</p>

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<p>If you can’t convince them to judge you based solely on your college grades, no chance with those AP scores</p>

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<p>He had to have something schools like, he’s at Columbia!</p>

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<p>SmallCollegesFTW:
Ok, well at the end of this year at Columbia, I will have taken the equivalent of two college years of German, so I could probably do well on that AP. And yes, I would be entering as a first year.</p>

<p>ee33ee:
Fair enough, but that’s my question: what do they want to see? High school based scores or college grades? I have to believe that coming from Columbia gives me some some sort of advantage over coming straight from an American high school.</p>

<p>hmom5:
Thanks!</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Not at all. When I was at Oxford I found that most British students actually take a gap year and enter when they are 19. Plus British students tend to be a bit more mature than your average American student, so you would probably fit right in as a 20 year old.</p>

<p>I think a big part of your consideration at Cambridge will be your interview with a don. So make certain that you can come across personable, intelligent, and inquisitive in conversation. You will also want good letters of recommendation from your Columbia professors. And also try to figure out which colleges will be the best fit for you at Cambridge as well – not all Oxbridge colleges are created equal.</p>

<p>I’m not certain, but I don’t think you could double major in both classics and medieval Germanic at Cambridge.</p>

<p>Also, for what it’s worth, Cornell has a great program in German and medieval studies. Not to mention Classics.</p>

<p>[Cornucopia</a> - Medieval Studies at Cornell](<a href=“http://www.arts.cornell.edu/medieval/Program/undergrad.htm]Cornucopia”>http://www.arts.cornell.edu/medieval/Program/undergrad.htm)</p>

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<p>“I would take some AP tests in related fields (Euro Hist or World Hist and German??) and maybe retake the sat (maybe). I heard that oxbridge doesn’t care about American high school grades and its all interview/essay/Standardized Test based. So right now you have a 2250 which is great, but if you can raise the math portion above 700 (maybe even 750+?) then I think you have a great shot.”</p>

<p>Cambridge does consider high school grades more than they do SAT scores. Your 2,250 SAT scores are fine. You should do very well on your interview.</p>

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<p>I know this is completely out of the blue, but have you considered Berkeley? I met a guy at a wine dinner last year who was entering a Masters/Ph.D. program in Berkeley’s English Dept. focusing on Midievel language and literature (poetry mostly I think) … it’s not my field, but it sounded like his interest was the period commencing just after Beowulf but before Chaucer. As I recall he started at a college I didn’t recognize, then transferred to Columbia to finish undergrad.</p>

<p>I would think that connecting with a faculty mentor at Berkeley with a long term research goal in mind might be fruitful.</p>

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<p>CayugaRed2005:
Ok, excellent, thank you for your insights. Yep, I’ve taken a look at Cornell’s offerings which are among the best in the US, but I think I still prefer the the opportunities provided by the ASNC and the format of the education.</p>

<p>RML:
Thanks!</p>

<p>DunninLA:
Interesting, thank you. However, the problem is that Columbia doesn’t offer any Old Norse courses, and currently isn’t offering any Anglo Saxon courses either. I could try an independent study or self-teaching (which I’ve been doing), but frankly, I think I’m ready for a classroom experience. As far as transferring to Berkeley, I just feel that the ASNC Department would be a better fit in terms of what I’m looking to study.</p>

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<p>Harvard used to have a Celtic Lang and Lit dept, and I know their English dept offered AngloSaxon, since I took it there during summer school.</p>

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<p>Consolation:
Thank you for the suggestion, but the language/literature I’m most looking to study would be Old Norse (the language I’ve been teaching myself up to this point). Unfortunately, Harvard (like nearly all other American universities, save for Cornell and the UC schools) does not offer any Old Norse. It also has a graduate focus for its medieval Irish and Welsh programs. The thing that I like about Cambridge is the fact that I’d be able to study Anglo Saxon, Old Norse, Celtic, and insular Latin, all under the aegis of the ASNC. Thanks anyway though!</p>

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<p>Out of curiosity, did you look into any German or Scandinavian universities?</p>

<p>And if you get a chance, I would at least take a ride up to Cornell to take a look at their Icelandic collection. Unlike some other universities, all of Cornell’s libraries are open to the public.</p>

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<p>I think you have a pretty good grasp on things. Cambridge is certainly one of the best in your field of interest and others have already offered pretty good advice. Your SAT is fine. If you have the time and money it wouldn’t hurt to take another AP or two, but with a year at a world renowned university under your belt, I doubt they’ll hold you to the 5,5,4 AP score standard that most North Americans have to meet. On another not, it’s funny that you want to leave Columbia for Cambridge…the two universities that I had to choose between (different field though).</p>

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<p>Ah, in that case I would write or call John Lindow at Berkeley and ask him what he would do in your position!</p>

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<p>

UNC and Chicago also have significant course offerings in this area, although not as regularly as Cambridge.</p>

<p>Be sure to check out the University of Toronto, which can easily give Cambridge a run for its money in Celtic & Germanic studies. The structure would be more similar to what you’re used to, and it’d certainly be a great deal cheaper.</p>

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<p>CayugaRed2005:
Yep, I’ve looked at some German and Scandinavian universities, but really, I still prefer Cambridge’s program.</p>

<p>VastlyOverrated:
Great, thank you. That is funny; which one did you end up choosing?</p>

<p>IBclass06:
The problem is that neither UNC or Chicago have Old Norse programs. I’ve looked into Toronto’s program (which is one of the world’s best) before, but still, I prefer Cambridge’s program.</p>

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<p>Double post. Sorry!</p>

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<p>Unlike some other posters, I think you have to improve your AP scores. I believe Cambridge expects 5s on relevant APs. I am also of the impression that the top British unis want to see 700+ scores on SATIIs. Your GPA probably will count because you are in college and you seem to be competitive at Columbia, which looks great. On a separate note, I think you are wise to not consider Scandinavian universities.</p>