<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I’m interested in studying theology and religious studies at Cambridge, and I have a couple questions to ask.</p>
<p>1) I know that Cambridge doesn’t care about GPA, but I was checking out the admissions website and they require a transcript for international students. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I have a poor cumulative GPA (3.58), but high test scores. Would this be a major hindrance to admittance?</p>
<p>2) I have 5 AP 5’s on English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, World History, United States History, and Spanish Language and Composition. I also have 800s on the SAT Subject Tests in Literature, Latin, and World History, and a combined 2250 on the SAT. If I were to do well on the interview, is there a large chance I’ll be admitted?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>SATS mean nothing at Cambridge. Marks and your personal statement are what get you an interview and your GPA is unlikely to be good enough.</p>
<p>imo, lime overstates both the SAT and GPA piece of a Cambridge application: in both cases they are gate checks: you do need a respectable SAT & GPA, but once you are over the hurdle, they don’t matter as much as your APs and SATIIs. And based on the applicants I have seen your SAT ticks the box nicely and your GPA doesn’t rule you out (especially if your transcript indicates that your GPA is strong relative to your cohort and/or your school doesn’t do weighting). Either way SAT > GPA.</p>
<p>To your original question, they won’t double count your Lit & World Hx, but the extra Latin will stand you well for theology. I assume that you have perused this table: </p>
<p><a href=“Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge”>Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge;
<p>to see what extra testing / essays will be required. Btw if you are considering gaming the system by applying to a college with what looks to be an ‘easier’ application requirement (say, essay v test), be aware that about 20% of successful applicants were ‘pooled’ to a different college than they originally applied to ;-)</p>
<p>I also assume that you have done some homework on the personal statement part of the application, which is quite different from the US college application essay. In the PS (which every university you apply to in the UK will see), you make your case for why you are a good candidate for the course, both in interest and aptitude, including evidence of things you have done beyond regular school work (often reading). </p>
<p>Finally, I assume that you have looked at the information about the interview, which is also very unlike the US. The objective of the interview is to see how you think and learn, your aptitude for the subject, and how well the tutorial format works for you.</p>
<p>That said, if your PS and essays are good, imo you would have a decent shot at getting an invitation to an interview. After that, nobody here can say what your chances would be for an offer.</p>
<p>SATs and Advanced Placement Tests</p>
<p>Prospective applicants from Canada and the USA taking SATs and Advanced Placement Tests should note that offers are usually made on an individual basis. In addition to high passes in the High School Diploma and the SAT, successful applicants have normally achieved 5s in at least five Advanced Placement Tests in appropriate subjects.</p>
<p><a href=“Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge”>Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge;
<p>GPA serves as a performance indicator for assessing high passes in the high school diploma. </p>
<p>It’s possible that they’re referring to the document with your AP scores on it (which you get College board to send to them) as the transcript. I would just email them and double check.</p>