[Gates Cambridge 2016-17]

On 1/7/2016 at 1:02 AM, Hockey Diva said:

I'm not as disappointed by this news as I thought I might be. I guess deep down I knew it was a bit of a longshot. I'm sure I'm much older than the average applicant, and I would not be surprised if I were the oldest. While they say they do not have an age limit, I have also heard that they want to fund students who will be making an impact for decades after they complete their degree, and I might work less than 20 years after I finish.

On the other hand, I have a number of accomplishments already that a younger candidate would not have, so I might be starting my post-PhD work at a more senior level than a new Ph.D. without my level of experience. 

I'm a little more worried about what it might suggest about my odds for admission at all. It is true that I could have been at the top of my department's shortlist and still not been invited to interview, but it is more likely that there are others higher on the list. And maybe I wasn't even on the list?

Or, does the email indicate I WAS somewhere on the department's list (so I'm likely to get an offer of admission)?

So many ways to obsess about it!

 

I would try not to worry about the Gates rejection. Nobody gets the Gates (of course people do, but that's so rare that it might as well not exist). If obsessing about admission is unavoidable, a better way to do that is to check the status of your application on CamSIS. The rule of thumb is that if your status says your application is being checked by the Board of Graduate Studies, then you can assume you've been admitted. It might also be worth it to join the conversation at the UK forum, The Student Room: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3533661

[Gates Cambridge 2016-17]

On 12/18/2015 at 10:27 PM, cableknitmanatee said:

I'm also in social sciences and after getting accepted to my program in early November had been hopeful that I might get shortlisted for an interview. From talking to friends who applied in previous years, my impression is that they don't send out rejection emails, but I'm not sure about that. I'm holding out hope for another week or so that they might not have sent out the invitations for people in social sciences yet.

Hi there, Gates does send out rejection letters but not consistently. In 2012 when I applied for my MPhil I didn't receive one but last year when applying for a PhD at Cambridge, Gates sent me a rejection email sometime in mid-January.

[Funding in Oxbridge]

I am in Balliol. Great college, especially for grads because we have a graduate complex where most people live. The MCR is very active.

 

So far I am only applying to stay in Oxford (with the CS department). I do have some back-ups, but I have not applied there yet to avoid the situation of having to accept one offer before hearing from Oxford.

I don't know what it is like in Cambridge, but I do think that the Oxford course structure makes it rather awkward to apply for PhDs for the next fall. Most applications deadlines were before we had even finished the first term. We had no grades whatsoever yet. On top of that, the course does not end until the end of September so that you will have a late start with your PhD unless you go for a UK uni. Therefore, many students are taking a year out.

 

It's the same at Cambridge--you apply for "leave to continue" from the masters to the PhD during the first term. Also, Feanor, I have a friend doing the PhD in Pure Maths who studies Category Theory, so at least you wouldn't be the only one if you receive an offer/decide to go to Cambridge!

[Funding in Oxbridge]

Thank you very much for this information, this is very helpful Zigsun. Still, it seems that if I accept Oxford's offer now (but get admitted to Cambridge later), I could possibly miss a Cambridge scholarship I'd be considered for... is that correct? They want me to accept the initial offer by February 16...

 

Are you a MFoCS graduate, Kleene? It does sound amazing and I'm inclined to take their offer, but in case Cambridge makes me an offer for Part III it will be a really tough decision to make.

 

No problem! I think your best bet is to tell the Cambridge department that you applied to that you have an offer from Oxford and that you need to know the status of your application. My guess is that if you applied more than a month ago, they may have already made a decision on your application, so it's worth asking. If they've already decided to accept you and they nominate you for University funding, then they'll forward your application to the appropriate funding bodies before the deadline. Also, I think you can withdraw from an offer that you've accepted (at least I remember that being an option when I accepted my offer last time), but you should email graduate admissions at Oxford to be sure.

[Funding in Oxbridge]

Does anyone know when people tipically find out about decisions regarding scholarships and funding in Cambridge and Oxford (such as the Claredon Fund)? 

 

It is complicated to decide wheter to take an offer without knowing the whole financial scenario and I can't seem to find this information online...

 

I can only comment on Cambridge's funding timelines, but as an international student (I'm assuming you're from Brazil?), you should find out about funding from the Cambridge International Trust starting in March and ending sometime around June. I think Gates Cambridge announces shortlisted candidates for non-US in March. Colleges have their own funding timelines, so I would suggest not waiting until you have your college offer before applying in case you miss their deadline. College funding timescales run the gambit--one scholarship I'm applying to at St. John's announces results in April, while King's announces scholarship recipients in August, so it really all depends. I imagine Oxford is similar, but I think it's safe to assume that the funding processes at Oxford and Cambridge are separate and independent. Boa sorte!

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (and Rejections) Thread]

Thank you for your useful information. I would also think they gonna ask in-depth questions about my research proposal and probably why I decided to come to Cambridge/ why I need to pursue a PhD degree. Thanks again for your info! 

 

No problem! And yeah, it's safe to assume they'll ask those questions. Really, I'd just be prepared for anything. If you're worried about nerves, just try to be confident in your abilities and you'll be fine! Cambridge is a great place to study. Hope you make it!

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (and Rejections) Thread]

Congratulations on your acceptance! I just received an email from Cambridge asking me for the interview-I applied for the PhD in Education. I am anxious about what gonna be discussed during this interview. Any experience to share?

 

Thanks! And congrats on your interview! Interviews can really depend on the professor and the department. I interviewed for the sociology PhD and the geography PhD--very different experiences. For my sociology interview, it was in person and we just talked about overselves and our research interests over tea. My geography interview was a formal Skype interview and the professor grilled me on my research proposal and didn't ask me anything about myself. It was actually pretty clear once I had the geography interview that it wasn't a great fit, so I wasn't surprised when I received a rejection from geography. So, interviews differ, but you'll definitely be asked about your research, so be prepared to discuss your proposal in depth. I'd also try to use the interview as a way to assess fit, because it's as much about your needs and what you want out of a PhD program as it is about their need to admit quality students. Also, since the PhD there is basically a three-year independent study, it's important to make sure that your propspective supervisor is someone who you not only would want to work with, but who will also support you and who will be invested in your success. Good luck!

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (and Rejections) Thread]

Hi all -

 

Hope I'm not jumping the gun here, but in years past, there's always been a thread discussing acceptances, interviews, and (for those brave and kind souls willing to share), rejections. I know I stalked these a whole bunch this summer, and was especially appreciative of people who posted their stats and past experience - maybe we can do this too.

 

Anyway, it looks like someone posted the first sociology acceptance of the season today, to the University of Cambridge. Does anyone want to claim it and share details?

 

Best of luck to everyone in the coming months!

 

Hi! That was me..I found out that day that I received a conditional admission for Cambridge's Sociology department. As for details, I'm not sure how much information you're looking for, but I applied in October. I also interviewed, but it was an informal interview with my prospective supervisor last summer before I applied. I should also mention that I went to Cambridge for my master's in Latin American studies. Funding is a separate process, so the waiting's not over yet!