Interviews at Oxbridge – top tips and FAQs!
Interviews at Oxbridge – top tips and FAQs!
Hi, I’m Ella, a first year English student at Oxford University!
PREPARATION BEFOREHAND
1. Thinking out loud
As this is an oral examination, it is important that you ‘show your working’- tutors are more interested in how you work out a problem than the answer you arrive at. If you lay out your thinking as you go along then they are able to see how you think and can correct or question different stages of the process. Talking through your thinking is not usually something which is formally assessed, so the best thing you can do is practice. Asking friends or family to ask you questions so you can talk through them, or a lot of speaking aloud in your own bedroom or bathroom mirror. It is a skill which takes some practice, and may feel a little strange at first, but is a helpful one! Do not learn answers by rote, get used to thinking on your feet and explaining each step of the way.
2. Practice questions you do not know the answer to
The interview is designed to push you to the limits of your skills and knowledge, to see how you work with problems you cannot have prepared before. For STEM particularly this can feel impossible if you hit a wall and do not know which techniques to use, so getting used to staying calm and thinking logically is a good idea! There are practice questions online, and even if the topics are completely different from any in interviews, doing those will be a lot more helpful than going over and over information you already know.
3. You have done enough to get here!
I know that I felt daunted among the beautiful architecture and studious atmosphere of the universities, and when every single person seems to be Grade 8 in every instrument and have won competitions in every subject, it can feel like you are out of place. This could not be further from the truth! Being invited to interview is an achievement in itself, and you deserve to be here. Being confident in your preparation and taking time to talk to other people (outside of comparing extra reading) or wander around the town rather than spending every second cramming may help you feel less stressed.
4. Rumours
Did you know that if you catch the rugby ball your interviewer throws at you that you get into Oxford? And if you kick it into the wastepaper basket you get a scholarship? No? No worries, then, because that is a very old and ridiculous rumour! You may have heard similar stories, but they are not true. It is usually best to steer clear even of true stories, like how other candidates did in their interviews, especially if they are applying for your subject.
5. What to wear?
This is not something professors will care about! Most people wore jeans and a shirt or jumper, some chose suits, others wore flowy dresses. As long as you are comfortable and neat, clothing is not something to worry about. If you go to the interview in person, comfortable shoes are also important, as if you are called to interview at another college you may need to walk over.
6. Go over your personal statement and recommendation letter beforehand
Questions will be drawn from these! Remembering what you said and referenced is handy. Interviews at Oxbridge – top tips and FAQs!
IN THE INTERVIEW
7. This is a simulation of teaching- not a test
Inevitably, you will get something wrong in your interview, or you will not fully expand on a point, etc. And that is really good! Because that is where the teaching aspect comes in. The tutors want to know that they can teach you for the next three to four years. So, look for opportunities to apply your skills and knowledge to new information, and work with corrections to build stronger answers. If counter-arguments are suggested to your point, make sure to engage with them fully, even if you still maintain your original position.
8. Be honest
If you do not understand a question- just ask! It is better than going off on a wild goose chase. If you are not sure of the answer, say so (but then show how you are making your guess). Never pretend to have read or studied something you have not- any help you think pretending to have read every single one of Shakespeare’s plays will have will not outweigh the risk of being found out.
9. Take your time!
The questions your interviewers are asking you are designed to be difficult and thoughtprovoking! While sitting in silence might feel embarrassing, it is completely expected that you will need to wait to put your thoughts in order. On a related note, I was incredibly embarrassed by a cold I had at the time, but nobody batted an eye at the fact I brought in tissues and a water bottle. In fact, both could be a good idea.
10. Talking to people
Over and over, I was told not to fidget and to make eye contact in the interview, to the point I became even more anxious about both behaviours. Again, the tutors are not here to assess your social skills, they want to look at your academic behaviour. Trying to occasionally make eye contact and not fiddling to the point it becomes distracting are good suggestions, but if you speak clearly that’s the main thing.
11. Stay calm
Getting into your top choice is not the end of the world. If you treat this like a learning experience and opportunity, then it will feel less stressful! Take your time, focus on the questions as they come individually rather than considering everything you want to show or include. Overall, remember that interviews are not designed to trip you up, but to give the best candidates an opportunity to prove themselves and (hopefully) experience a bit of college life!