Application Forms - Page:1, 2
UCAS Form
Like every other university, applications to Cambridge go through UCAS and you must fill in a UCAS form. Most of the form asks for normal information like your name and address so you won't struggle to fill it in. Just make sure you spell it correctly and check that all the information asked for is completed and in the right place.
Choosing a Course:
The course you choose to study is your decision and your decision only. You should listen to other people's advice but don't ever be pressured into applying for a course because your family, friends or anyone else tells you it's the right one.
People choose courses for many different reasons. At the very least you should be interested in and good at the course(s) you've applied for – it'll be a long 3 years otherwise.
Other reasons can include topics that you've studied at college and you want to know more about, or interest in a career that needs a relevant university degree (e.g. doctor or vet). It's a good idea to check out the content of the courses you are thinking of studying, either by visiting the department website or looking at the subject's page in the Alternative Prospectus.
Personal Statements:
The personal statement is the section of the UCAS form that everyone worries about most. Although there isn't one right way of going about it, the points below will help you produce a good personal statement.
- Write in continuous sentences rather than a list.
- Qualify everything – say why and how it's important so the reader knows why you've mentioned it.
- Use simple descriptive sentences that are clear and easy to understand.
- Avoid long, confusing sentences with obscure vocabulary – you won't impress someone if they don't understand you.
- Don't Lie. There is no need to. Unless you've spent all your life asleep, you will have enough relevant experiences to write your personal statement without needing to make anything up. It would also look pretty silly if you weren't able to talk about something you'd made up when asked at interview.
In terms of content, it's a good idea to only mention things that you'd be happy to talk about in depth at interview. Personal statements are generally about 2/3 academic and 1/3 about other interests.
Things that you might talk about include:
- What interests you in your chosen subject (and why).
- Why you want to study the subject(s) you've applied for.
- What you have learnt/done outside your college syllabus.
- Any activities you've done that have added to your knowledge of your subject.
- What extra curricular things you do and why they are important to you.
- Ideas about what you might think about doing in the future.
Remember that personal statements are just that - they are about you and no one else. There isn't one right way of writing one. Admissions Tutors know that not everyone has had a chance to go to Iceland to visit glaciers before applying for Geography. They are interested in how you make the most of what is available to you. This page is meant to give you an idea about the sort of thing you can write about – you don't have to follow all or any of it.
There are private companies who have 'Oxbridge' or 'Cambridge' in their name and claim they can draft a winning personal statement for you for a price. No matter what they say, they do not have any 'inside information' that isn't available to anyone for free. There is no such thing as a 'perfect' or 'winning' personal statement, on its own it will never be the reason you are offered a place. Admissions tutors do not give them that much weight. If you are worried about your personal statement, read the general information on this page or contact the Access Officer with specific questions.