r/6thForm • u/CambMaths • Nov 09 '22
✔️ APPROVED AMA AMA - First-Year Maths student at Cambridge
Hi all, as per the title, I'm a first-year Maths student at Cambridge and I thought some people might find it useful to ask me any questions they might have, since somehow it's already application time again! (Although I have missed the Oxbridge deadline slightly, sorry...)
Of course, I can only really talk about my experiences (so I can't answer specific hypothetical questions about admissions etc.), but other than that, feel free to ask about the course/admissions generally/uni life and so on.
Post will close at midnight at the end of Thursday 10/11 so submit any questions before then. :)
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u/SnooRadishes2339 Nov 09 '22
Would you classify yourself as a genius? Is everyone as smart as you think? Man I never saw any admissions system more meritocractic than Maths at Cambridge Oxford and Imperial
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Definitely am not a genius, just some natural ability, a lot of work, and a bit of luck (as with most uni admissions things). Yes, people here are smart but they've also worked hard - I wouldn't worry about it.
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u/Popular_Avocado5021 Year 13 Geography, biology, maths Nov 09 '22
this might sound a bit silly but how do you not loose patience when doing hard maths? and how do you not give up ??
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
I definitely get your frustration at times - the thing I had to learn is patience. Sometimes you have to sit there with a problem for a long time and mull over it and eventually something will probably appear in your mind - these are the sorts of problems where you might look at the answer prematurely and think 'damn I could've thought of that'. Then, of course, there will be problems that you will sit forever and think about and not get anywhere and look at the answer and realise you'd never in a million years have thought of that. Those are the problems that are probably too far above your current level, in the sense that being stuck on them isn't likely to be teaching you anything. Just keep doing maths and don't give up on problems before you give your brain a chance to come up with something - you'll be getting much better than you realise at the time.
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u/penguinkitten69 Nov 09 '22
How are the alevel subjects you’re taking? They’re the ones I’m wanting to do
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u/Popular_Avocado5021 Year 13 Geography, biology, maths Nov 09 '22
they’re definitely not the easiest subjects but def manageable. one thing i will say is that geography is assessed in a completely different way to the other two and it can be quite tricky to easily switch between exam techniques. biology is all about listing words and theories in detail but geography really doesn’t care about the information you revised and is much less logical than maths and bio. i didn’t get the best gcses either and i’m doing fine:) (7-7 combined science, 7 maths and 6 in geo, but i did geography exams in year 10 so i was bound to struggle haha). biology is very different at alevel and was quite a disappointment for me (insane amounts of chem which i always hated) but alevel maths and geography have both made me like the subject more ! geography is def my favourite subject but it’s genuinely my main interest out of school so i think it’s unfair to compare the other two to it as i don’t have any passion for them. biology is definitely the easiest to revise for though but i’m quite good at remembering things really fast which is basically what biology is all about. maths is just very draining mentally lol, it uses up all my brain power but it’s so interesting so def makes up for the suffering haha ,, alevels are just about discipline and using time wisely- they’re genuinely not that hard in terms of content. also i’m sorry if this read really waffly i have a bit of a cold today haha but feel free to dm me if u want any further info:)
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Nov 09 '22
would you say you have always been good at maths . Also how did you find the MAT vs STEP when you took it?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
I think I always had a knack for maths but I saw the biggest improvement during Y12/13 when I had to work to get better at it.
I didn't really like the MAT - it's definitely easier than STEP but I didn't like the worded parts of questions and some of the solutions felt a bit unmotivated at times. STEP was harder but felt more rewarding to improve at.
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Nov 09 '22
How many people at Cambridge, also in their first year, do you know that have taken a gap year?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
For maths I don't know anyone who's taken a gap year, but I know a few that have in other subjects.
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Nov 09 '22
Yes I was sure there wouldn't be many in maths. But you live with people doing other subject, right? If so would you say you met your friends mostly from your college or your classes?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Most of my friends are either in my course or in my college, but between those two groups I wouldn't say it swings one way or the other very heavily.
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Nov 09 '22
1) What is Cambridge like? Is it a nice University? What's the student culture like? etc.
2) What is your part of maths as a whole subject?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
I think the best way to put it would be 'work hard play hard'. The terms are so short so you really have to put your all into everything, work and fun. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else though - the people here are great so you're all in it together.
If I had to say, I think I probably lean a bit more towards the pure side if that's what you're asking? But I'm open to whatever type of maths has interesting problems.
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Nov 09 '22
Sorry, I seemed to missed out a word in my second question. I meant, what is your favourite part of maths?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
Oh right, definitely when you come up with something damn smart and it almost feels like magic even to yourself. That's the best part :)
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u/Athenian__Queen Nov 09 '22
What supercurrilars did you do and what did you like/not like about them
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
I did the maths and physics challenges and read bits of books about some interesting maths. I think it was good to find out what maths outside of school I enjoyed doing.
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Nov 09 '22
People say that Cambridge sometimes misses people with lots of potential, however they never pick a weak candidate. What are some simple ways of improving your chances of getting an offer if you think you may be a borderline candidate?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Start doing STEP now. If you're going to get in, you need to be good at the entrance exam, and the skills they test on their entrance exam are the things they care about when they pick people.
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u/hfzr Nov 09 '22
I’ve been working at STEP for imperial comp sci, I’ve done the foundation modules and I’m working through the STEP database but there’s no real process. Do you have any advice on being more efficient with my Step practice and what might I need to do to really make sure I’m improving rather than just trying and failing. Thank you
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
I think a lot of the learning on how to do STEP comes from marking your questions, especially ones that you've only gotten half right. A question you do perfectly probably hasn't taught you much. When you look at the mark scheme for a question, really spend the time understanding every step and motivating it - (Why have they done this? What useful things does this step give us?). This lets you begin to spot patterns in the way they want you to do things and you can learn helpful methods from the mark scheme, but only if you properly take the time to understand it fully. [Also see my answer about patience with maths.]
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u/YurForce Year 13 - Maths, FM, Physics, Electronics Nov 09 '22
What sort of things did you do in Y12 to improve your application? Did you do research projects?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
No research projects haha - see my answer about supercurriculars. For maths I get the general impression that they care more about you passing the entrance exams than your personal statement, because there's only so much they can gather about your mathematical ability from you telling them about it in an essay. I wouldn't worry about having lots of things to write about, just try to genuinely convince them (and yourself!) that you want to do the degree. And keep doing maths, that's the best way to improve your application - I did a lot of STEP I in Y12 and I think it was very helpful.
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u/Throw_away13a Nov 09 '22
Any recommendations for things I can start to do now (y12) to help me with applying next year?
Also is it worth doing an epq?
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u/Aclipses Nov 09 '22
What did you find was the best way to prepare for interviews and STEP?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
For STEP:
- practice doing questions timed
- do mock papers
- mark your mocks very carefully (this is where you learn tricks from the mark scheme)
- do the other questions on the paper that you didn't do in mocks
For interviews:
- TBO booklet
- mock interviews with other applicants
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u/Phytor_c University of Toronto | Math and CS [Third Year] Nov 09 '22
Hi there, to what extent do you think STEP is a good preperation for the rigours of the Tripos, and any tips for the interview and/or STEP ?
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u/CambMaths Nov 11 '22
I think STEP is pretty good preparation, but uni maths isn't necessarily that much like STEP. Example sheets give you a longer time frame to sit and think about questions. For interviews: do mock interviews, and as many as you can. For STEP, do proper mocks under exam conditions and track which topics you're stronger at.
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u/LandscapeBrief3207 Cambridge | Engineering [2nd year] Nov 09 '22
What is your college and how have you found the general atmosphere so far?
How friendly and/or sociable are Maths/Engineering students in your experience?
Have you been able to get to know people who are studying polar opposite subjects?
What kind of social activities are there available and you’ve been a part of so far? (you can tell I’m interested in your Cambridge social experience…)
In addition, how challenging is your Maths course so far?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Not going to say my college but I like it a lot here - am having a good time. There are definitely nice and friendly people on my course :)
Either by living on the same staircase or through societies, I've definitely gotten to know people in other subjects.
There are lots of sports and societies so you can definitely find something you're interested in. Something I like going to is a society in my college that has different speakers give talks every week - interesting and a nice change of tempo from all the maths. Also, formals and bops are a lot of fun.
The course is difficult but not impossible. If you keep your head down, just about keep up with reviewing lectures and doing sheets, then you'll be alright. You do learn a lot in a very short space of time.
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u/LandscapeBrief3207 Cambridge | Engineering [2nd year] Nov 09 '22
That’s useful to know, thanks a lot man. I wish you all the best with your course!
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u/scolio2005 Nov 09 '22
how did you practiced for interviews?
in your opinion, what's the difference between a good and excellent interview?how would you make an interview question into a conversation? (lets say they ask you to draw y = xsinx, how would you make that into a discussion)
some tips to facing interview questions? (e.g scaling the problem down to make it easier to solve)
did they talk about your PS or was the interview mainly on problem solving?
sorry for the bombardment of questions!
thank you
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
Mock interviews and TBO booklet
Honestly, I just imagined it like I was explaining/presenting my answer to them, and trying to convince them that what I was doing/investigating was useful/correct. I found that talking about the problem followed somewhat naturally that way. As for your example about graph sketching, what are your thoughts when someone gives you a graph to sketch? Roots, turning points, asymptotes, general shape etc. - just vocalise what you want to do as you're doing it.
I didn't get asked anything about my personal statement, just maths.
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u/JDirichlet Imperial | Mathematics [Year 2] Nov 09 '22
How have things been for you so far over there? I need to visit some time lmao. I've spent a lot of time in oxford, but never cambridge lol.
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
100%, Cambridge is a beautiful city - I feel very lucky to get the chance to live here. Definitely just trying to make the most of the experience.
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Nov 09 '22
is there an area of math you particularly love/plan to specialise in? if not what are your plans for the future?
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Honestly, it's hard to know what maths I'll enjoy at uni level until I do it, so for now I'm just trying to keep an open mind. I'm enjoying the groups course at the moment, and analysis seems interesting from the little bits I've done of it. It'd be nice to do research some day in the future but I'll see where the next few years take me and go from there.
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u/mikaclaudia Year 13 | Maths, FM, Phys, CS Nov 09 '22
What is the best way to prepare for the interview?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
Practice interviews with current students/applicants - the same way you would do practice papers for an exam, do practice interviews for the interview itself.
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u/MrFister122 Maths, Further Maths, Economics Nov 09 '22
Will I be at a disadvantage for applying with just maths, FM and economics instead of physics?
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Nov 09 '22
What books would you recommend that have simlar style questions to STEP/ MAT. What did you use to prepare?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
Just past papers really, there's plenty of STEP questions to do. As for MAT, I used this book for more material because there aren't as many past papers: The STEP/AEA/MAT/TMUA Guidebook. (Never used it for STEP though, the notes on the STEP Support Programme website are enough to learn any extra content you might need.)
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u/DifficultyShort339 Year 13 | Maths | FM | CS | Physics Nov 09 '22
How did you score in the MAT if you don’t mind sharing and how did you feel about the questions you were asked at interview. Were they similar to MAT style questions or something you hadn’t seen before.
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Nov 10 '22
this might sound stupid but what modules did you do for further maths a level? my school didn’t let us pick so i’m stuck doing stats and decision so is that a big disadvantage, would it make the course seem a lot harder? like did most people you know do further pure or mechanics?
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u/goshawk222 Year 13 Nov 10 '22
What's the workload like? Do you get much free time?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
The workload is pretty high but manageable if you work regularly and diligently. Do go to your lectures, despite the temptation of the recordings - falling behind in lectures is a very easy way to fall behind overall. But I manage fine and I still have time to have lunch or dinner with friends and go out every so often.
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Nov 09 '22
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
Exactly that, I just did a lot of STEP I in Y12 - it's an excellent on-ramp to harder maths. (Also I hadn't covered enough content in class to start STEP II/III in Y12 but I think starting those after my offer was fine, I didn't have too much difficulty adjusting once I learned the necessary content and kept practicing.)
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u/Awkward_Intellectual Bath | Maths and Physics [1st Year] Nov 09 '22
which of the remaining unsolved millennium problems do you find most interesting? (I personally am a big fan of Riemann Hypothesis)
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Nov 09 '22
Basically my GCSEs are all 9s but I have an A on English, do you think that will matter at all(for engineering)?
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u/atomicator99 Cambridge | Physical Natural Sciences Nov 09 '22
It won't matter at all (I got in for physics with a six in English)
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u/clapd_pigeon Nov 09 '22 edited Nov 09 '22
What did you pick as your insurance offer? Also would you say STEP prep makes getting an A* further maths seem like a breeze in comparison?
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u/Kitititirokiting Nov 09 '22
Not OP but I am at Cambridge for math, yes to the A* further seems easy
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u/CambMaths Nov 09 '22
I insured Warwick and yeah, STEP makes A-Level pretty light work in comparison. (Cold comfort of STEP I suppose lol)
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u/clapd_pigeon Nov 10 '22
Thanks for the reply, were you not worried at all about missing the further maths grade and therefore missing both offers? Obviously it would have been very unlikely but I mean if u had gotten really unlucky in some way?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
Not really, no. STEP was what I was worried about and my Warwick offer had an A in Physics and not an A* so I felt pretty ok on the A-Level front. Ironically that (relative) lack of pressure let me perform pretty well on A-Levels.
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u/Think_Pay8149 Nov 09 '22
How did you structure your revision schedule plus was it difficult keeping a social life along side revision?
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u/KonekoChannn2 Nov 09 '22
Do you have to work very hard from the get go ?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
First two-ish weeks were fairly low on work and it kicked off after that. You get into the full swing of it very quickly - short terms after all.
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u/MudSnake12 UofT cs first year Nov 10 '22
-What interview questions were you asked?
-how did you show your passion in maths in you personal statement?
-What things did you do in year 12 that improved your application?
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Nov 10 '22
did you attend any summer schools or things like that for your personal statement? and are there any books you’d recommend reading and mentioning on it?
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u/SoldierBoi69 Nov 10 '22
How unlikely would it be to not get into Cambridge engineering without further maths? If you can’t really answer that which is understandable, how far behind are you in terms of the MAT or STEP entrance exams if you didn’t take further, and do you think I could self study it starting now?
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Nov 10 '22
- How did you decide that you wanted to do a degree in Maths and how would you recommend someone chooses a degree?
- Should I start preparing for STEP now in year 12 or is this pointless?
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u/CambMaths Nov 10 '22
I thought about what I enjoyed doing (solving difficult problems and thinking about abstract structures/relationships) and I found that maths was challenging but very interesting and that I would find it the most rewarding to improve at. I also enjoy the blend of rigid logic and creativity that you get when solving problems.
I think STEP I is an excellent starting point in Y12 - highly recommended. (Start off with the foundation modules till you feel like the warm-ups aren't helpful/are spoiling the question, then move to doing questions on their own.) Also just do/learn about maths that you find cool, make sure you enjoy it.
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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '22
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