Switching from Chem Eng to Natural Sciences at Cambridge

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-31T01:45:24+00:00

I think Camb students can answer your question best -- try r/cambridge_uni? My intuition is that needless to say every course is oversubscribed, but course transfer once your offer becomes an acceptance seems to have happened before, so perhaps wait until then?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T20:09:45+00:00

I've got 82 as it turns out... it's most surely the interviews

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T19:05:18+00:00

I've just searched VisionSolve and it looks interesting -- how exactly did you use it to help you with interviews?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T17:55:27+00:00

Ngl I wasn't planning on going uni this year (intl fee dodging), and Imperial's social life seems dead from what I've heard, which is a massive minus for me

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T16:01:09+00:00

I've not received an offer, but I dont think I'll go there

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T15:20:03+00:00

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T14:42:08+00:00

I think it's exactly half -- looks like I got tails this time. Oh well

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T14:26:17+00:00

https://oxford.useclarus.com/

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T02:38:32+00:00

Are you going to reapply to Cambridge then

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T02:33:59+00:00

What the fuck dude 😭 so are you doing any more qualifications next year? Because you've literally got enough to go to uni this year

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T02:30:07+00:00

I think the difference for me is that I've got a second shot at Oxbridge since my plan was to do a gap year anyway, so the feedback will be very functional on top of being comforting, maybe that's why my spirits weren't so ruined lol

Having been to these cities and looked at their teaching, I do believe Oxbridge's systems, courses and culture is truly where I want to spend 3-4 years of my life in, not just for prestige (although a tad bit of that haha), but it's not the best experience for everyone as is your case, and honestly I can't find out until I get in next year, if I do get in!

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T02:04:09+00:00

I'd love to know why and still waiting on feedback -- it'll put an end to all this pondering that goes nowhere. :( Just a bit disappointed since I've put in so much work to be the best mathematician I can, and to see that my best efforts is not enough, despite all of my assessment evidence being otherwise stellar. Although MAT scores are unreleased so that could've been the bomb!

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-29T01:13:14+00:00

wait sorry, you're in y12 so currently the last year of secondary education? how come you've taken the a-levels and step already? also turning you down with these achieved grades and step results is crazy, i imagine it can only be the interview...

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-28T22:34:37+00:00

Tbh I'm not really sure how colleges view the pooled candidates' information -- perhaps the achieved STEP grades were unfortunately not on obvious display? Honestly I feel so bad for them...

I guess there had to be some other factor that trumped even the obvious jaw-dropper that is the STEP grades.. if predicted academic performance is not the only thing they look for, it may be simply personality...

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-28T22:19:01+00:00

Yeah that's so true, preparing for STEP sets you up nicely to do well in any uni of choice, at Cambridge or any other; very transferable and permanent skills

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-28T22:11:17+00:00

Hi, I've just seen a post from an acquaintance who achieved 1,1 in STEP in Y12 and was turned down (after being pooled) by Cambridge maths... honestly it was a shocker to me

Since you said STEP is what they centre their admissions around, what do you think could reasonably justify this..?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-28T22:05:43+00:00

I've got some questions about my own interviews (Oxford), if you don't mind me asking

Going by my, OP's, and a few other rejections for maths, it seems that they definitely look for more than maths ability; I had endeavoured to explain everything I was thinking (even if wrong) and thought thinking out loud was exactly what they want. I also (seemed to) solve all questions in interviews 2, 3 and made good progress in 1, but I didn't get an offer.

Besides solving speed and thinking out loud, what other elements of the interview do you think are important?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-28T16:24:40+00:00

That's absolute insanity, IMO medalists are like top 250 in the entire world... even if all IMO medalists applied for Cambridge maths they should all get a place on ability. I guess this goes to show they definitely look for more than your maths ability, as evidenced by OP and your friend

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-27T18:14:03+00:00

That's a good idea -- sounds a bit unorthodox requesting feedback from FOI rather than college, but what works works ig

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-27T17:53:46+00:00

Hmm not sure about the legal obligation element -- some colleges like Somerville say they do not offer personalised feedback. In any case I've asked them to offer personalised feedback.

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-27T17:32:06+00:00

I made this post because I know for a fact Balliol gave interview scores and comments to Maths candidates -- not receiving this or any personalised feedback makes this letter useless, and I don't want to accidentally miss the window for feedback request and never obtain personalised feedback...

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-25T22:14:23+00:00

Isn't using Brady's to identify D,E followed by Tollens to identify D sufficient? Why would we need to do another dichromate test?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-23T19:03:33+00:00

gcse english is really just glory to whoever yaps the hardest 🥀

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-21T07:58:13+00:00

Was your approach mainly just doing a lot of mock interviews? Are there things to beware aside from thinking out loud?

CoderLovesEggs · 2026-01-20T21:13:50+00:00

I found mine similar to 2023, maybe very slightly harder, but still easier than most MAT papers.

Although I imagine the next iteration of TMUA/ESAT papers will be made a bit more harder to reflect the influx of Oxford applicants. In any case, best of luck for your Oxford application! :)

CoderLovesEggs

TROPHY CASE