Cambridge Natural Sciences application Helllllllllllllllllpppppppppp!

[frenchteacher2]

please.

Have been really interested by all the Oxbridge advice of late and would really like to help out a friend's dd who is set on Cambridge for Natural Sciences so wondered if anyone had any direct experience of this. Will now have to take a deep breath as the only college she and parents have mentioned so far is Trinity (so am kind of anticipating the first point )but maybe someone has to apply!

The school is one of the best state schools locally but doesn't seem to be giving any specific guidance.

I have only been involved in Mod Langs prep for Oxford and not very recently so any light to be shed would be really appreciated.

Obviously I can't say whether her Maths is up to it and she is resitting one AS module although got high A marks in another one.

Is work experience going to count as well and also does anyone know if, as in languages, there will be either an aptitude or problem solving written test on the day and if so is this college wide or likely to vary.

Anyway makes me think I will go and have a look at current entry procedure for langs though not sure I would fancy having to take the test myself now! Thanks all

The Cambridge University website should help quite a lot. There is a lot of information on there as to what is required etc.

Am sure someone will be along soon with more specific info. At my DCs school they recommend at least 7/8 A*s at GCSE, and predicted 3/4 As at A2.

A friend's dd did Cambridge Nat Sci application last year & she definitely had a test when she went for interview (said it was v hard too). But I don't know if that's college specific.

Thanks,snorkle did she get a lot of help from the school? Have since done a big search and have found that this was a hot topic a while back, and thanks though BoffinMum, if you are still around or here under another name.

Lots of colleges use tests for a wide range of subjects these days I believe, but they try to design them so they are based on how you reason with a given set of info, not on what you already know. They will be trying to find out if she can think on her feet. The main thing is not to be freaked out if it appears to be asking her a question about something she doesn't know anything about - odds are it will be a test of reasoning skills.

Work experience only matters for a few subjects such as medicine. Showing genuine interest in the subject beyond the school syllabus is important. Admissions tutors I know are always ranting about this - parents often think things like having grade 8 viola matter, but actually it's much more helpful to have read a few books on the subject that go beyond your school syllabus and be able to talk about them enthusiastically.

(this is based on conversations with friends who do or have done admissions for various subjects - I don't have direct experience of Natural Science.)

Not sure frenchteacher. She is stunningly bright so may not have needed it, but the school gets an average of about 4-5 to oxbridge each year, so they may well provide help.

My DB did natural sciences at Cambridge - and was at Trinity College! He got 5As at A level and had to do an entrance paper as well.

Get them to look at This forum where offers are discussed

Real insider secrets coming up now . I haven't done admissions for NatSci, but I did interview some relevant colleagues for a research project, and the topic came up. It looks good to have been involved in national clubs, organisations and/or competitions relating to the science subjects, and this is even sometimes a way of meeting or otherwise encountering some of the lecturers and getting your name known a bit before the interviews.

Plant Sciences at Part II is often a bit sparsely populated with students, so if relevant, hinting at an interest in that area might also possibly give an applicant an edge.

More than that I don't know.