Prerequisites for Cambridge? (Brits only)

[vitorioso]

Hello guys. So for very much five years now I have been thinking of attending Cambridge for a graduate major in Physics. From what I have heard they have one of the best Physics/Mathematics courses in the entire world, topping even Berkeley in the US.

Because of this I am sure it is extremely difficult to be accepted, probably need ridiculously high marks and a well-rounded education. I plan on going to Stuyvesant (a really hard high school to get into here in NY) and along with my various extracurricular activities (baroque musician, NJHS member, all that stuff) I hope that by the time I complete secondary school I will have a fair chance of getting in.

So I am asking mainly the Brits of VT if you have an older brother/sister/father/mother/relative that is going/has gone to Cambridge for whatever course of study. Was it a difficult process of acceptance? Do you know any foreigners that have attended Cambridge? I'm situated in New York but my passport is in check for the next few years. What is the process to obtain a student visa?

Thanks.

EDIT: If you have attended Cambridge as a foreigner how was your experience?

[NotASpyingRent]

I'm not British, nor do I have any relatives that have gone to Cambridge. I can tell you this though, it is rated by U.S. News and World Report as the top university in the world. You need to have realistic expectations. There are other FANTASTIC schools in the world. In this day and age, where you go to college is becoming less and less important. Any ivy league shooud have a very strong physics faculty.

U.S. News doesn't have a ranking for the best undergrad schools for physics, but they do have one for the best grad schools for physics. It should relatively be the same thing as a list for undergrad. They rank California Institute of Technology as the best, with Harvard as the second best. Maybe you should try for one of those two.

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/physics-rankings\

Regardless, I wish you the best in your endeavor.

[vitorioso]

Thanks. I considered those as other options as well. But I heard about their programs from my stepfather, he went there for mathematics. They recently constructed a new campus (or lab, I cannot remember) for Physics students and the tools at their disposal are amazing.

Also, I always thought schools like Harvard would be even harder to be accepted into, considering the ridiculous requirements they have. There have been articles of even valedictorian students who volunteered in Latin America to build homes for the homeless being turned down.

Anyways thanks.

[Caver]

Go onto the websites and see if you require for the student visa.

[ApresMidi]

Cambridge doesnt do a pure Physics course - I know ,as my brother looked into it.

They only do Natural Sciences.

So bear that in mind yeah?

Other than that minor detail of not doing the course you want ;) AMAZING GRADES, confidence, assurance, great interview technique, and general brightness.

Money ;)