The Applications Process
There are a lot of rumours going around about the applications process to Cambridge - hopefully this page will dispel a few myths plus give you a useful insight into what to expect when you apply.
Step 1: Apply
Once you have sent off your UCAS application, you can sit back and wait until you hear from your college. Christ's normally sends out an email acknowledging your application, and both an email and a letter some time later telling you if you have an interview and, if so, when it is. The vast majority of candidates are interviewed at Cambridge.
Step 2: Interview
Don't worry! Everybody is nervous for their interviews. The best you can do is make sure you've done your homework - e.g. prepare answers to obvious questions (why you want to study your subject, why Cambridge although this is rarely asked). Interviews are designed to test how you think and not how well you can recite facts you've crammed the night before. Interviewers expect you to be nervous and are very nice!
Step 3: Waiting
This is the worst part! Christ's sends out decision letters in early January.
Step 4: The Letter
Contrary to popular belief, the thickness and colour of your letter doesn't indicate the outcome of your application! For example, your decision letter might be just one piece of paper. Your outcome will be one of four:
- Non-Standard Offer - well done! These offers are given to a small proportion of the strongest successful applicants, and only ask you to pass 2 A-levels or equivalent for entry.
- Standard Offer - well done!
- Unsucccessful
- Pooled - Christ's were unable to take you but still think you're Cambridge material. You will then be offered to other colleges, and hopefully somebody will pick you up. The pool is Cambridge's way of balancing out applications across the University - so some of the less popular colleges don't end up short on students. See the official explanation.
If you were Pooled.... reinterview?
If another college wishes to reinterview you you'll be notified and the whole process starts again... (although, if you're rejected again there's no second pool)
Step 5: The big information pack
At the end of August you will be sent a large information pack with all sorts of interesting reading material in. There are forms to send back to the nurse, chaplain and bursar as well as information about which room you have and a Fresher's Guide which tells you everything you need to know before coming up.
Step 6: Arrive!
Freshers normally arrive the Sunday before term starts. Freshers week gets underway (with a small number of lectures starting on Thursday and Friday). For more information see the 'Freshers' and 'Prospective Students' sections of the website.