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 
Genuine subject interest
– motivation and enthusiasm 
Suitability for chosen course 
Your school 
Irrelevant extra-curricular activities 
Your background 

4. The application process
Choose course
Choose a College or open application
UCAS application
15 Oct
+ 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
Cambridge Welsh Baccalaureate Applicants taking the Advanced Diploma in the Welsh Baccalaureate are expected to have studied three subjects at A Level as part of their qualification. Offers are conditional on achievement in the A Levels within the qualification rather than the overall Baccalaureate award

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’
Cambridge interviews over 80% of applicants
At Oxford, for some courses over 90% applicants interviewed but for heavily over-subscribed courses can be less than 30% interviewed
Interviews usually held late November or during the first 3 weeks in December – please avoid making any unbreakable commitments for this time!
Discussion-based and will challenge students to think in new ways and beyond what they know - combining existing knowledge and skills with new material
Background information for presenter to be aware of
The Interviews in Action film on the Cambridge website ( and podcasts on the Oxford website ( show what typical interviews are like so applicants know what to expect. 14

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!
Interviews aren’t the ‘final hurdle’ – all aspects of a student’s application are considered together
Interviews allow Admissions Tutors to assess:
whether applicant’s interests and aptitudes are best suited to the course chosen
genuine passion for the subject area
enthusiasm for complex and challenging ideas
clarity of thought and analytical ability
intellectual flexibility
where appropriate, vocational or professional commitment
Expect to think hard but remember that interviewers aren’t trying to catch anyone out
Very often no right or wrong answers to the questions so don’t panic if you don’t know the answer to a question - interviewers are looking to see how you think and apply what you know to new challenges
How you reach an answer is generally of more interest than the answer itself
Note: aware of private companies who charge to offer info and advice on our admissions process and interviews – we DO NOT support/encourage any such commercial enterprises and none have access to any info not already readily available free of charge from the University Admissions Office, Colleges and University Students’ Unions 16

17. P R E Preparing to apply Programme of study Results Engage and explore
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 Oxford
Oxford
If you have any remaining questions, do not hesitate to ask a College Admissions Tutor or Admissions Officer