Discover Top Posts Tagged with #oxbridge week

Preparing for Any University Interview

Chances are, a large number of you are going to have to interview for a university, be that Oxbridge or elsewhere: university interviews are fairly common, and there are several things you can do to make you interview process better:

1) Read lots beforehand

If you’ve been reading a lot for your personal statement, then this should be somewhat easier for you, as you will have a list of books that you have read that you have opinions on that you can talk about, or at least discuss ideas within these books. Keep reading- the more you read, the more you’ll have to talk about, and the less likely you’ll be to run dry during the actual interview, since you can keep drawing on things you know to answer questions about things you don’t (in the form of “I don’t know about [x], but it sounds a bit like [y])

2) Talk to anyone who will listen

Practising is the best thing you can do before an interview: explain concepts to people, get them to ask questions, figure out the clearest way to make a point, ask people who know stuff about your subjects questions. The more you practise, the easier it will get, and although I only spoke to one person who had a background in the subject I chose, there were plenty of contributions that other people had to offer, and influences from their own subjects that I hadn’t though of before. This will help you to come out of your shell and ask questions in the interview, something that people often neglect but is essential in showing your willingness to learn and understand new concepts.

3) Make sure you know the kinds of other things you may be expected to do in the interview

Often, a conversation is not the only thing that you will be expected to do, especially in Oxbridge interviews where you will normally be given something else to do, often analysing something you’ve never seen before, or conducting the interview in another language. The interview is already highly stressful, and you will find yourself surrounded by nervous people, and being caught out by an entire section that they have mentioned somewhere will not put you in the best mindset for the interview. That being said, you can’t expect to be prepared for everything they fire at you in the interview, and the more you accept that you’re going to get curveballs and things you can’t prepare for, the more relaxed overall you’re going to be in the interview.

4) Check out what the interviewer specialises in

Looking at who is interviewing you does not mean researching their work and trying your best to prove yourself to them in their own field: interviewers are not looking for that. It’s useful to know what they specialise in case you have an interest in what they work on, or the areas that they specifically teach, and if you can ask questions and open up a meaningful dialogue in which you can learn new things even in your interview, which further shows the interviewer that you are ready and willing to be taught.

5) Remember that the interview is a conversation

This obviously relates to the ideas of being willing to be taught and willing to learn in the interview, as is mentioned in the other points, but this also refers simply to the fact that you can’t let your nerves get the better of you. You’re not being interrogated, and the interviewers generally do not want to make it difficult and stressful for you. The more relaxed and conversational you are, the more likely you’re going to feel that the interview went well, and the more relaxed you’re going to feel about the application overall.

My ask box is open this week for a Q&A, so ask anonymously or not and I will answer your questions on university applications (Oxbridge in particular but elsewhere as well, as obviously I did not just apply to Cambridge).

Links to all posts for Oxbridge week here.

Last Minute Personal Statement Adjustments You Should Be Making

As you have probably already figured out, writing a personal statement is trickier than you think it is. If you’re applying to Oxbridge in particular, but also any top UK university (especially those that are demanding an interview from you), you need to be able to show that you are actively engaging with your subject and with new ideas, as well as going above and beyond outside of the classroom in your non-academic interests. As a result, here is a list of things you should be checking and adjusting in your personal statement if you really want to prove to the admissions staff that you deserve a place.

1) Is everything productive in some way?

It’s all well and good that your charity trip or holiday course or whatever shows you’re able to work in a team and plan and organise, but anyone can put that in their personal statement regardless of what they have done. Instead of wasting your characters on this (although this is useful maybe once if you really want to show something off but can’t think of what you gained), try thinking: how did what I experience help enrich my understanding and exploration of a subject. If you are doing languages, for example, and you worked with children (in your own or another language), perhaps you noticed that children take ownership and understanding of a language differently to adults? If you are taking science and did something outdoors, for instance, how is what you’re observing linked to the things you are planning to study? You see the pattern- there is always something useful in every experience, and admissions staff want to see you seeing these links and viewing your subject as something bigger than what you are learning and experiencing directly. Everything is productive, you just need to find a way to write it.

2) Books, books, books

Especially for Oxbridge, and humanities in particular, showing that you’ve read books and engaged with your subject through texts is super important (science students, don’t think that you don’t have to read anything, though- there are many areas of debate and chances are there’s already a book on something you’re interested in). Read books and have opinions. Did you like the argument? What holes can you pick in the logic? How did it help you understand the book further? If you can, mention that you read the book without just wedging it in, and then briefly touch on an opinion that you may have. It will be easy for an interviewer to pick you up on it, and you’ll already be prepared for a lengthy discussion and debate where you will have your ideas challenged (and you will be tested on how you respond to and take in new ideas). Don’t go too overboard on books: mention perhaps one landmark text in your field that you read, and then mention one that is a little bit unusual (to show wide reading) and think about your opinions on it.

3) Fluidity

Chances are, if you’re applying for Oxbridge or Russell Group Universities, whoever is supervising your personal statement will probably have picked you up on your fluidity. It’s simply a case of just checking if your personal statement flows and doesn’t feel clunky and awkward, and it’s doubly important to check if your statement feels like it was written by you. Obviously, if your style is typically wordy, then that’s a problem, but often there are ways of expressing things that are more ‘you’ than others, and appearing genuine is much more important than it would first seem.

4) Are you in your statement?

This could have been phrased better, but it’s linked to the last point: are the things you value the most prominent in your personal statement? I, for example, really value my musicianship, which I detailed in my statement even though it wasn’t productive in the sense of the firsts point. In another sense it was, however, as it was a talking point in my interview, and it helped the people interviewing me to learn a bit more about my personality, which is a minor influence on their final decision (as ultimately it is a question of ‘do you fit in this learning environment, are you a rounded person, and are you teachable?’

5) Don’t overthink

Obviously, there are some basic things that need to be checked and re-checked and constantly edited and improved, but once you have a statement that both you and your teacher/head of sixth form is happy with, don’t keep picking at it. Be confident that your personal statement conveys the best side of you and that it’s the true you. I know this sounds a tad contradictory to the rest of the points, but once you reach the point where the above is evident, don’t keep messing with it. Trust yourself that you are showing the universities the best version of yourself, and that you personally cannot do any more. I know relinquishing control is scary, but it has to be done at some point.

Links to all posts for Oxbridge week here.

Preparing for Oxbridge and University Admissions Tests

Admittedly, since this is technically “Oxbridge Week,” I do need to focus on specifically Oxbridge Admissions tests, but obviously most of the advice that I am giving below is also relevant for other universities with admissions tests. My own experience has exclusively been with Cambridge Admissions Tests, although I did practise an Oxford mock once, so I’m going to try and help as much as I can but if it is not comprehensive then I can only apologise.

1) Remember what is being looked at

Of course, some universities are prioritising aptitude: some test mental maths, physics, chemistry, etc. If your university or subject falls into that category, then focus on really revising and getting to know the subject so you can ace the test. People I know who were applying for these types of subjects did from half an hour extra a day at before they submitted their applications, to up to three extra hours a day in the weeks before the tests. I know, it’s gruelling, but if you really want it, then you need to work hard. If you are applying for a humanities-based subject, admissions tends to look more for the way that you think and analyse a problem that is given to you. My subject (Linguistics) was a mix of science and humanities, and assumed no prior knowledge, so I had a translation of made-up language section, raw data analysis, and an essay section (it’s a lot, I know). I didn’t finish my essay (I didn’t even really start it- I wrote little more than a plan), but the Director of Studies told me that they weren’t looking necessarily for perfect results: they wanted to see what we did under pressure (this is, in a sense, what happens when they push you in interviews). Just a heads-up for everyone taking any kind of these tests: these exams are designed so that they are nigh impossible to complete, so just bear that in mind. That’s not an excuse not to revise hard where you can, though.

2) Find alternative ways to revise

Don’t rely just on practise papers to prepare for any admissions test: if you are lucky, there will be one or two practises, but little more. Try maths/science/linguistics Olympiad past papers, or comparing two random poems you find in a book, or analyse random paintings (History of Art). Reading widely for humanities papers also helps: even if they’re unlikely to pick a common painting/extract/concept, you may have ideas and influences that can be used in essays (this is essentially what allowed me to do something with my essay section so don’t knock it).

3) Do a proper mock exam

This is another reason you shouldn’t just use the past papers as a revision tool, because (as you should well know by now), doing something under exam conditions is very, very different. Obviously you can’t perfectly replicate the nervous conditions that you’ll get when you do the actual thing, but this is as close as you can get. Time yourself. Make sure you really really stick by it. Do it in an environment where you’ll be uncomfortable. It will be horrible, but it will be worth it. Check out the unviersity’s website to find a mock paper, and normally there is an answer paper to go with it. Even as I’m writing this the feeling of sitting the paper in a lecture room with five minutes to go and a 20-minute section that I hadn’t started is creeping back, but it worked out for me so it’ll be ok for you.

4) Work with others

Do you know anyone who is applying for the same subject as you? Did you meet anyone on the open day who is still considering applying? Reach out to them! They will be preparing for the test as well, and working together will be a very productive way for you to figure out what you know, as well as gaining new insights and influences to include in your own work.

5) Remember that the assessment is not the only part of your application

The Director of Studies I spoke to told me that some people who are in the bottom few for the admissions tests still get offers, because they’re really good in the interview and their personal statement is good, and all manner of combinations of ability. The whole point of an Oxbridge application is to provide the most rounded view of your strengths and abilities, and the phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” couldn’t be truer, as working too much on this test (which you won’t be able to get 100% on unless you’re Einstein) will sacrifice time spent creating an application that is the strongest you can give given your own strengths and abilities.

Links to all posts for Oxbridge week here.