Part III at Cambridge, Board of Graduate Studies and TOEFL scores

[wateryeyes]

Hello all! I had applied to the MASt in Pure Mathematics (Part III) at Cambridge in December 2016, and my application status had changed to 'Awaiting decision by the Board of Graduate Studies' last week. I am not too sure if this is a good or a bad sign, and what makes me more anxious is my TOEFL score. I received my TOEFL scores a few weeks back and was gutted to see that I received a score of 24/30 in speaking. Although I have a decent overall score of 112/120, Cambridge requires that all applicants have a minimum of 25 in each section. I would like to ask you all whether I should take the test again, or if Cambridge would be willing to make an exception as I have only marginally missed out on the minimum cutoff (I have not sent my scores to them yet). I have also heard that only IELTS scores are considered while applying for a UK visa. So if I must retake a language test, it makes sense to write the IELTS right?

Secondly, how long does it usually take for the BoGS at Cambridge to make a decision for Part III applicants? It's been over a week in my case so I was wondering if the delay is due to the unavailability of my TOEFL scores. Also, I have not been interviewed yet. Should I expect to be interviewed and if so, what kind of questions would they ask and how should I prepare?

Thanks a lot for your time!! 

[capplicant]

If you are at BoGS then you should receive a offer soon. No interview, your department has already given you an offer. The BoGS is checking now that you have all the requirements, and will set all the conditions (including English requirements).

Not sure if they will make an exception for a 24 instead of a 25, you should ask them once you receive an offer.

[wateryeyes]

Thanks for your reply. I hope something works out. Have you also applied to Cambridge?

[capplicant]

1 hour ago, wateryeyes said:

Thanks for your reply. I hope something works out. Have you also applied to Cambridge?

Yes I received an offer for the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science. It took me a week to go from BoGS to offer. 

[wateryeyes]

 

5 minutes ago, capplicant said:

Yes I received an offer for the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science. It took me a week to go from BoGS to offer. 

Cool. Congrats!

[radicule]

Hello! I applied for PhD English and after a skype interview my status has been Awaiting decision from BOGS for about a couple of weeks now. Although at the end of the interview with my potential supervisor I'd been told that I'd hear from the BOGS "in a few weeks", I'm still a bit nervous considering everyone here seems to say it took just about a day for the status to change to acceptance! But my primary cause of concern is, what happens to my funding possibilities if the BOGS takes so long? From what I've been reading around here, funding decisions are mostly made around March and April.

I'm aware that the timelines are different for different scholarships. Going by the information on the University website, according to which certain scholarships may be announced by June, I have another problem that crops up at this point. Because of the difficulty of receiving funding in the UK, I had applied to a number of US universities as well. As of now I'm waitlisted at one and have received unofficial acceptance at another (ugghh) and am waiting to find out about funding in a third. In the US, acceptances need to be made by April 15th. Now if Cambridge simply does not tell me, first about the acceptance, and then about the funding, what should I do???!
Have I gotten myself into a hopeless situation where I might have to do something utterly unethical by accepting a US offer and turning it down after April 15th, when I know something about Cambridge? Or is there a ray of hope here? Will it help to contact their admissions office?

So anxious and worried here, any help would be very welcome.

[Feanor]

The BoGS bit goes fast, but funding is unpredictable. I'd decide which one I'd go to in the US in case I can't come to Cambridge and, once with a formal offer, thank the program, reinforce my interest, but mention I am still waiting for other results as well before I can make a fully informed decison and that I will let them know as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I'd thank my department at Cambridge and say I'm very excited about the offer, but that I wouldn't be able to attend without Cambridge funding and that I have this deadline to reply to US programs, inquiring furthermore whether there is a prediction as to when I should hear about funding.

That is, of course, if you absolutely would rather go to Cambridge.

Good luck!

[radicule]

@Feanor thanks a lot for your very helpful reply! I had heard that BoGS takes very little time which is why I'm perplexed as to why mine's been there for over two weeks now. The website says that you can write with appropriate reasons, requesting them to expedite the process so maybe I'll do that. Once I have an acceptance then maybe I can write to the department. 

[tinker]

Hello all,

I applied to PhD engineering at Cambridge. I had an interview with my prospective supervisor after submitting the application. Now my application is under consideration by the department. I didn't hear back from my supervisor after the interview.  Does it mean that my chances are slim? If an application is successful after interview, how long will it take for the status to change from 'under consideration by the department' to the next stage. Or what if its the other way round? Can someone throw some light on the process after the interview? As I have other PhD offer, I need to make a decision as soon as possible. Will be thankful if I could have any reply. 

[Moso]

If you narrowly missed out, as you did, they will accept it and you will then have to complete a test at the language center. Google search Cambridge language center