SAQ : The Supplementary Application Questionnaire
The Supplementary Application Questionnaire, or “SAQ” as we affectionately call it, is Cambridge’s way of getting some extra information after you submit your UCAS application. You can find full details of what it includes here, but we’re going to focus on The Supplementary Application Questionnaire Optional Additional Personal Statement.
That’s a mouthful. SAQOAPS? No… Let’s go with SAQ Personal Statement.
The SAQ Personal Statement is an additional, Cambridge-specific personal statement.
This is particularly useful when you’re applying for Land Economy. Because you won’t be applying for Land Economy at any other university, your UCAS statement won’t talk about your interests that are specific to Land Economy. This means that the SAQ Personal Statement is a great chance to add a little more information to your UCAS personal statement.
Just remember that the SAQ Optional Additional Personal Statement is just what it says in the name: optional. You will not be penalized if you write nothing at all. So if you feel that you have nothing useful to add, leave it blank.
SAQ Personal Statement: Do’s and Don’ts
Your Supplementary Application Questionnaire gives you some great opportunities to say a little more through the SAQ Optional Additional Personal Statement. Here’s a little advice on how to make the most of your SAQ Personal Statement.
DON’T repeat yourself.
If you’ve already said what you need to say in your UCAS statement, that’s fine — leave this one blank. When we say that it’s optional, we really mean it. Remember that when we read your application, one person will sit down and read the whole thing cover to cover, so consider how your SAQ will work alongside your entire UCAS application.
DO tell us why you chose Land Economy.
We know that Land Economy is a degree that is unique to Cambridge. We understand that, unlike other subjects, you won’t mention Land Economy by name in your UCAS Personal Statement, because you need to make this statement work for other degree programmes that you might be applying to. This means that the SAQ Personal Statement is your only opportunity to tell us why you have chosen Land Economy, and how your particular skills, interests and aptitudes make you well prepared for this course.
DO plan ahead.
You know it’s coming, so you can write your SAQ Personal Statement alongside your UCAS personal statement. This will help you make sure that the two work well together, and that you don’t get repetitive.
DON’T repeat us.
Just like the first point, the main thing to remember is that you should tell us something new. We already know how our supervision system works, for example, so only talk about supervisions if that’s going to help you tell us something new about you and your academic potential.
DO focus on the Big Question.
Try to make sure that your SAQ personal statement, together with your UCAS personal statement, helps to answer the question, “If we give this person a place to study Land Economy at Cambridge, are they likely to succeed and thrive on the course?”
If your SAQ personal statement is not adding new evidence to support your resounding Yes! answer, then maybe you should try again, or leave the question blank.
