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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

what the hell is UMS? For Cambridge applications..

38 replies

papayasareyum · 06/07/2017 11:22

my daughter is looking at applying to study engineering at Cambridge. She's taken AS maths, but done mock exams in her other A levels (they no longer do AS levels in these)
She attends a state school with high percentage who go to Oxbridge, so I'm presuming they'll be able to help her. But I just had a look at the student room online and it says that your A level predicted grades are important, but you need 95% ums for Cambridge. What does that mean? She got 84% in her physics mock and the grade boundary for an A was low, so she got a high A, but would she need 95% in that exam to stand a chance of Cambridge? Should I tell her to maybe think again about Oxbridge?

OP posts:
PandaG · 06/07/2017 22:36

We've been today. Most subjects have pre interview exams, this year on Nov 2. Some subjects have written tests on the day of interview, others require STEP (sixth term exam paper - taken just after A levels, I know maths and some colleges for engineering require step)

PandaG · 06/07/2017 22:39

Just reread and see it is engineering she is applying for. The tours of engineering were really busy today, so much so that only prospective undergrads and not parents could go on them. Was a courtyard to sit in, I was glad I had my kindle!

WeyHay · 07/07/2017 11:10

Most academics are deeply underwhelmed by posh parents.

Don't worry !

Original poster
papayasareyum · 07/07/2017 19:18

well, we just got back. My feet are so sore. It was so hot! We had the same experience in engineering, students only allowed to follow the guys with flags around on the tour. It was a welcome opportunity to sit down. And the same with the introduction talk, prospective students only.
My daughter loved it and definitely wants to apply now, so it was a very useful visit for her.

OP posts:
Original poster
papayasareyum · 07/07/2017 20:00

Oh and I loved the staff badges with "dogsbody" on them! Grin

OP posts:
boys3 · 08/07/2017 18:39

papa glad you survived Grin

Quite an eye opener. as although DS1 is already there, DS2 booked sessions at another college which also provided some good parent only sessions. Costs there seemed different (more) to DS1's experience. Likewise had tours round a few others which again in set up (living, kitchen etc) different again. Nightmare journey home (and we did not even leave late). But all in all a very enjoyable day, certainly opened DS2's eyes.

Original poster
papayasareyum · 09/07/2017 19:06

it was an eye opener wasn't it?
I was worried before we went because her A level choices are almost but not exactly what Cambridge prefer and I didn't want her to be disappointed if she's doesn't get called for interview. We spoke to a lovely very down to earth admissions tutor who reassured her that she was absolutely qualified to apply and that the entrance exams are now a good indicator (because most school have dropped the AS levels so Cambridge can't get their beloved UMS scores anymore). My dd is really good in exams and is hoping that she can blow them away with her exam result and increase chance of interview/offer

OP posts:
SerfTerf · 09/07/2017 19:46

I think STEP, TSA, BMAT etc are great levellers. There's a lot of superstition and misinformation around Oxbridge entrance especially on Mumsnet

Original poster
papayasareyum · 09/07/2017 20:27

Serf, which superstitions do you mean?

OP posts:
SerfTerf · 09/07/2017 21:06

Oh the whole "You need five fluent MFLs, six instruments to grade 8, two sports to at least county level, the social poise of Jackie Kennedy AND straight A*s all the way back to nursery" narrative.

(You'd have to advance search to judge how much I'm exaggerating.)

Allthebestnamesareused · 10/07/2017 15:58

Actually SerfTerf is correct - Oxbridge is notorious for wanting super curricular not extra curricular.

jeanne16 · 10/07/2017 19:12

My son has just finished his A2 exams and has an offer from Cambridge for engineering. It is AA A offer, so tough.

Btw my DD went to Cambridge too and nearly all her College were State educated so stop stressing about that.

The way it worked for my DS and should be the same this year is as follows: they fill in the UCAS application in which she will be able to give her Maths and Further Maths AS grades plus her predicted grades for the other subjects. Then Cambridge send a supplementary application form on which she will be able to put her actual Maths and Further Maths module marks. If she has over 90% average for Maths, she should get an interview, provided her other predicted grades are good. However she will also need to excel at the engineering entrance exam which they do online at school. There are practice papers online which she should do. My DS said they cover A level material. Hopefully she will have done Mechanics modules in Maths as there are lots of questions on this.

Then some get invited for interview by the College of their choice. My DS went up and had 2 interviews on the same afternoon. Some get offers, some rejections and some are pooled.

Please feel free to message me if you want further info.

jeanne16 · 10/07/2017 19:13

His offer should read 2 A stars and an A. The stars don't seem to work on my iPad!

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