Applying from a North American High School

Candidates should be aware of a possible mismatch between the broad liberal arts curriculum of the North American High School and the specialist emphasis of British degree courses. Very few students enter a Cambridge College directly from a US High School. Entry to Cambridge is at least as competitive as for Harvard, Yale etc and we would expect at least three APs in addition to a combined SAT score of at least 1900, and normally a GPA of 3.7 or above.

Applicants to Pembroke from North America (USA and Canada) would, in addition to the High School Diploma, in which we would expect a very good pass to be achieved or predicted, usually be required to sit:

1. EITHER three IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level subjects in which they will have achieved or be predicted to achieve, grades 7,7,7 or 7,7,6; for some Cambridge courses, particular IB Higher Level subjects would be required. Such requirements would be in line with A-level subject requirements, as detailed on our individual course information pages;
2. OR Advanced Placement Tests (APs) in at least three appropriate subjects at grades 5,5,5 (appropriate subjects can again be gauged from the advice given to A-level students on our individual course information pages). By way of information, it should be noted the field is extremely competitive. Although 5s in three appropriate AP subjects represents our minimum requirement, and outstanding students have certainly been admitted with such results, the norm is for successful applicants to the University as a whole to have achieved 5s in at least FIVE Advanced Placement Tests in the appropriate subjects.

University Guidance on APs can be found here.

There are four other possibilities which High School graduates wishing to come to Cambridge might consider:

1. To complete a degree program at an American university and then come to Cambridge (ideally with a scholarship) as an 'Affiliated Student'. (This is essentially what President Clinton did as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.) The Gates Scholarships offer possible funding for this for exceptional students.
2. To study at an American university which offers the possibility of studying for one year at Cambridge through a 'Junior Year Abroad' program competed for through the American institution. Pembroke, for example, participates in such schemes with Columbia, Brown, Caltech, Yale, Harvard and the Butler Scheme. There is also a University link with MIT.
3. To spend a year at a British Further Education College studying for Advanced GCEs while applying for a British university place for the following year. This route is most often taken by people educated in the American system, but with family here they can live with.
4. To apply for a Cambridge undergraduate course after a year spent in suitable preparation at an American university.

Canada

Much of what is said above about applying from the USA applies equally to those wishing to apply to Cambridge from Canada. We do not normally accept candidates applying directly with a Canadian High School diploma. Evidence of advanced study, either through the International Baccalaureate or US Advanced Placement courses, or other equivalent, is required. Few Canadian universities have 'junior year' links with Cambridge colleges, but we are happy to consider the occasional exceptional student at Pembroke.

Blyth Cambridge Scholarship The Blyth Scholarships provide graduating Canadian high school students with the opportunity to gain admission to Pembroke College with full funding. Applicants who wish to apply for a Blyth Scholarship should consult the Scholarship website for further information. If you do decide to apply for such a scholarship you must also apply in the usual direct way to Pembroke College and to UCAS, via the UCAS website.

Please note: The Blyth Scholarship is not applicable to those who wish to apply for Architecture, Medicine or Veterinary Medicine. If, however, you wish to apply for these subjects as an "ordinary" overseas applicant then you MUST be prepared to come to Cambridge for interview, if invited, in December.