Member Advice on University Interviews

Disclaimer: This doesn't really apply to interviews in general, rather this opinion is specifically aimed at how to get a place at Oxford or Cambridge and covers the whole application procedure.

Want to get into Oxbridge? Well, the application process can be quite daunting, and I certainly can't promise you a place, but I'm here (currently in my second year of PPE at Oxford), so there's hope for everyone! Right, I'll say a bit about ...
...(I'll provide a quick summary at the end too)

Me

Thankfully I went to a good Grammar School with a tradition of sending around eight people a year to Oxbridge. They were quite prepared to guide us in the applications process, offer us a trip to Oxford to see the colleges and some training at interviews. I decided in the end to apply for Politics, Philosophy and Economics as it looked an interesting combination and ... more

Disclaimer: This doesn't really apply to interviews in general, rather this opinion is specifically aimed at how to get a place at Oxford or Cambridge and covers the whole application procedure.

Want to get into Oxbridge? Well, the application process can be quite daunting, and I certainly can't promise you a place, but I'm here (currently in my second year of PPE at Oxford), so there's hope for everyone! Right, I'll say a bit about my experience, then take you through stages bit by bit... (I'll provide a quick summary at the end too)

Me

Thankfully I went to a good Grammar School with a tradition of sending around eight people a year to Oxbridge. They were quite prepared to guide us in the applications process, offer us a trip to Oxford to see the colleges and some training at interviews. I decided in the end to apply for Politics, Philosophy and Economics as it looked an interesting combination and kept my options open. I didn't look at all the colleges - I made my choice mainly between Jesus and Christ Church and Jesus won because it was a smaller friendlier seeming place, and offered accommodation for all three years of my course.

The interview wasn't as bad as I expected. Everyone was very friendly, and the whole process didn't seem as daunting (or difficult) as I expected. PPE's the first subject interviewed (3rd-5th of December 1999 in my case) and I received my offer on the 21st.

Obviously what I'm going to say comes primarily from my experience. It may seem strange for me to be writing now (half way through my second year) but I've discussed admissions with those in the years above and below me, people from my old school (those who were accepted and rejected) and some of the people attending interview in December 2001. The process varies a lot, so keep in mind that my experience is of Jesus for PPE - in other colleges, subjects and years it may be very different (although as I say I have spoken to several other people and hope this will be of some use to everyone).

Do you really want to go Oxbridge?
This is an important question to consider. Some people feel pressurised by teachers or parents into applying, which means either their heart's not in it and they don't get in, or they do and don't enjoy it here. Oxford and Cambridge are different from just about any other university - there'll be lots of hard work to do, and you'll be surrounded by lots of other clever people (I've known people drop out because they're used to being 'top of the class' and can't adapt to this), they can also be quite traditional/old-fashioned in many ways. Don't assume an Oxbridge education will automatically be the best, there are many top class universities that can offer similar - not just the old or respected ones like Durham or York, but even new ones can be very good in specialist areas (particularly 'new' subjects - the Oxbridge curriculum tends to be rather traditional).

Applying

Believe it or not, this stage probably weeds out the most people! I remember having a meeting in our lower sixth for any interested Oxbridge applicants - there must have been over 80 people there, yet less than a third of those actually applied...

Of course, there are many reasons why people might change their minds. If you're going to apply, you need decent grades - the sixth form college in our town recommended minimum GCSEs of 3 A*s and 6 As, plus good A-level predictions. These aren't essential - there are people here whose GCSEs are quite a bit worse than that, but on the other hand I've known other people turned down without interview. Exactly how the new AS levels work remains to be seen...

Anyway, whatever situation you're in, you won't get into Oxbridge without applying. The number of applicants per place varies tremendously, but is typically much lower than at other universities. You may not be sure you're the 'Oxbridge type' but the reason more people from state schools and the like don't get in is usually that they don't apply!

I should warn you though that you should be ready for possible rejection. The applications system isn't foolproof, and is very competitive, so no matter how good you are, it may happen. It's best to treat it as like a lottery ticket - you don't expect but know you have to be in it to win it. Do your best to enjoy the applications process, not many people get the chance, and just keep your fingers crossed.

I have heard it said also that other universities discriminate against Oxbridge candidates - they're less likely to give you an offer, or will make you a high one (like AAB) to force you to pick them or Oxford. Technically I don't think they should do this, but it does seem to happen - certainly in my case although I got to Oxford I had only three offers (out of a possible six) through UCAS.

The 'Oxbridge type'

The perception is still of rich public school kids. Thankfully that's not so much the case now. I won't deny that in some cases 'who you know' does seem to help - someone in my year (who shall remain anonymous) did go to a good private school, and was told by his teacher that he could be 'helped' into Christ Church (he rejected the offer and is at Jesus with me). Interestingly, there were 27 people from his private school who received offers, but only 16 made the grades - which shows you still have to be good enough in the end!

There are all sorts of schemes such as Target Schools to encourage applications from 'poor' schools - one of my flatmates went to a London comprehensive and hence was let in with slightly lower grades too. Currently the intake is about half-and-half between boys and girls and state and private-schooled people. One of my friends' dads was an admissions tutor at Cambridge, and apparently from any intake he would pick out the definite offers and rejections, but decide between the many 'maybes' partly by trying to balance the intake on these criteria - in the wake of Laura Spence and other cases, not being the 'Oxford type' may help quite a bit. Although I still think teachers at public schools may receive better interview training, I know this doesn't always impress tutors either.

Oh, and don't think you have to be rich either. Ok, house prices in Oxford and Cambridge may be pretty high (and balls cost a lot too!) but they're not much more expensive than other universities (thank goodness the government hasn't introduced 'top up fees' for 'top' universities!). All students face financial difficulties, but you'll be eligible for LEA-paid fees, student loans and hardship funds just like everyone else; you don't have to be rich to come to Oxbridge any more.

Open Days and choice of College

It's best if you can to come to an open day to get a feel for the place - you may decide not to come after all! - and have a look at the colleges. Picking a college shouldn't be a hugely daunting task, on the other hand, some will tell you it doesn't matter, and that's not true either. What a lot of people don't understand is you don't really go to 'Oxford University' (or Cambridge for that matter), as far as practical matters go, you belong to a College.

No one's going to interrogate you as to your choice and interview, and it doesn't really matter where your uncle went or whatever. Have a look at what's on offer, because your choice does make a big difference - older colleges are often richer so may offer more benefits, bigger libraries etc but on the other hand newer colleges may have more modern accommodation and less 'stuffy' traditions. Think what appeals to you - some colleges are sporty, some quite academic. Think about location, intake etc and pick whichever you like the look of.

If you don't care, you can have a college allocated to you (it'll probably be an under-subscribed one, which may be easier to get in). You'll be allocated 'reserves' too - if you're a good applicant but don't quite make it to your first preference, one of these other colleges may still make you an offer. Wherever you go, by the end of the first term you'll doubtless have bonded with your college and be happily partaking in the silly traditions and feuds...

<plug> There's a VERY brief overview of the Oxford colleges, and more information about Oxford University generally, in my opinion on Oxford University </plug>

Application Forms

When applying to Oxbridge you have to submit an additional form for Oxford or Cambridge in addition to your standard UCAS form. There's an additional fee (around £12) accompanying this - that pays for your interview if you get one and is pretty reasonable compared with the offer Durham made me for overnight accommodation with my interview. The form itself is pretty simple. The only difficulty is choosing a college (see above) - you can leave this blank and will be allocated a less popular one (girls normally get allocated the all-girls St Hilda's in Oxford). There's room for an additional personal statement, but if you have nothing worth adding to your UCAS one don't bother - it is optional.

The Interview

Obviously this is the most significant part of the whole thing. Unfortunately it's where I can offer the least advice because they differ so much. Be assured although 'urban myths' of really strange goings on abound (tutors doing disconcerting things like standing on their head, throwing apples at interviewees or simply saying 'surprise me') I haven't heard of anyone actually having one like that!

My interview was actually far simpler. We had a written test in the morning; we were given a passage of political theory with some questions at the bottom, had the day to study it (until our allocated interview time) and then went into the room with the two tutors who basically asked us the questions...

Of course, it might sound really easy to just ask a friend or look in a book for the 'answers'. Obviously for my subject the point is there aren't answers anyway, but tutors will try to draw out your responses - whatever you answer (and it may not matter so much if you're 'right' they'll ask 'why?'). They're impressed not so much with what you know (the whole point is to teach you) but with how you reason and argue.

You won't get trick questions as such, but some are a bit unexpected. The physicists were asked whether a room containing a fridge with the door open will get warmer or colder (it may be surprising at first, but it will get warmer). Some economists were asked to draw a supply and demand graph for some well-known theoretical anomaly - many who'd been coached were able to get it right straight away, but not necessarily understand why; tutors were more impressed apparently with those who started off wrong but could reason onto the right track with a few prompts.

It's commonly said that if you think you've failed or the interview was impossibly difficult it may be the tutors were impressed and tested you further. Predicting results is very difficult, and you should try not to worry about it (particularly with A levels coming up). Treat the interview as an experience, meet lots of fellow interviewees (it's always very sociable given you're competing...), sit in the JCR and sample the night life (but don't get slaughtered the day before the interview naturally...)

Although our interviews were over Monday, we had to wait Tuesday while tutors compared notes to see if any of us would be called for second (or third) interviews at other Colleges. Only one or two (of about 16) were, the rest of us were allowed to leave Wednesday morning.

The Offer

For Oxford, the decision comes just before Christmas (pretty bad if you're rejected). Cambridge I think send them later, so you spend the whole holiday worrying either way! Opening the envelope's pretty daunting, but in our case we could tell - rejections were simple slips of paper saying 'thanks but no thanks' as it were, the offers contained more details, so were in bulkier envelopes. If you have an offer, you have to write back to confirm that you'll accept it, or else it'll be given to someone else.

It's normally AAB, excluding general studies and sometimes with other conditions. One of my flatmates was actually offered As in Maths and AS Further Maths - technically just 15 UCAS points.

A Levels

By the time you sit your A levels you'll already know if you have an offer and what grades you need. There's not much more to say but study hard, don't crack and keep your fingers crossed. Everyone who gets an offer should be capable of making it (usually AAB), so don't worry yourself too much. If you are one of the few who miss your place, it's not the end of the world. Speak to your college, they may let you in if it's only a 'narrow miss', or perhaps you could defer to re-sit one of your A levels or something and apply again. Failing that, you could go elsewhere - it's not the end of the world and, like I said earlier, there are many other good universities out there - if you applied for Oxbridge you had to be ready for rejection anyway, but can still go on to do well at another university.

Summary - To get into Oxbridge you need to:
1. Apply!
2. Fill in the standard UCAS form by an earlier deadline (mid-October)
3. Complete a separate application for Oxford/Cambridge (you can't apply for both by the way)
4. Have good GCSEs and predictions and be able to demonstrate passion for your subject
5. Attend open days (optional) and pick a college
6. Submit written work (in most cases)
7. Come for interview - try to enjoy it and hope to impress the tutors, don't think it's as scary as it sounds
8. Wait for an offer (fingers crossed) - it's usually AAB
9. Pass those A-levels!

Well, that's it (unless there're any more questions - leave a comment and I'll do my best to help). Good luck to anyone who does apply!
 

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