University Selection Interviews

Preparation for interviews

Most Oxbridge applicants will be interviewed, as will most applicants for medicine and health related courses such as Physiotherapy, Midwifery and Nursing. Likewise, applicants for teacher training can expect to be interviewed.  Interviews are becoming much less common on other courses simply because the number of applicants has increased so markedly. If you are called, assume it is a critical part of the selection process, even if ends up as little more than a pleasant chat. Departments sometimes use the interview to persuade you how good their course is.

 

It is useful to try and discover the format of the interview before you go and prepare yourself accordingly.  For example: is there an aptitude test? Are there group interviews? How long is the interview? All interviewers are different, some are trained and some aren't, but they will all be looking for evidence of one or more of the following:

 

• Your intelligence and academic potential
• Your ability to answer questions lucidly
• Your motivation and interest in the course
• Your communication skills
• Your ability to put forward views about issues
• The range of your interests

 

Above all, you want to be interesting. This does not necessarily mean pre-prepared answers (although you should certainly have thought through what you might be asked), but being able to engage in conversation, put forward ideas and questions of your own, being willing to admit to your weaknesses and promote your strengths.

 

Your preparation should include research on the university, the department and the course (tell them why you want to be admitted to their course and their university in particular); and you must have a very clear idea of why you have chosen the subject you have, and be prepared to answer questions in depth about it.

 

All Oxbridge candidates and those applying for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science will be given mock interviews. Applicants for other courses can have a mock interview if they want or need one, and are encouraged to do so – see Mr Worthington.  See below for some tips about preparing yourself for the interview, and for a list of the questions you may be asked. But you should also be prepared to ask your own questions.

Tips for interviews

The following tips can be used to help you convince the interviewer that he or she wants you in his department!

 

• Prepare the sort of things you would like to say at some stage in the interview, but not as a strict script.

 

• Ensure that you are entirely familiar with contents of the relevant parts of the prospectus and the subject leaflets. Have a good reason for wanting to be admitted to that particular course.

 

• If you know anyone who has gone to the university (and the department in particular), try and get in touch and get useful tips.

 

• Dress tidily, but comfortably. Avoid excessively formal dress (you may well be spending all day at the university), but also avoid scruffy clothing. It may be acceptable, but why take the risk?

 

• Plan to arrive early; you may be delayed on the way, and you may find it hard to find the right place.

 

• Remember that you are applying for an academic course and conduct yourself accordingly.  There is nothing wrong with a bit of humour from time to time, but an interview is not the place to be flippant.

 

• Maintain eye contact and avoid irritating or distracting mannerisms.  Learn about positive body language - for example, don’t slouch in your chair.

 

• Avoid monosyllabic answers and all negative comments - especially about school, teachers, work and other subjects.

 

• Show that you have a mind of your own, but avoid aggressive or arrogant answers.

 

• You may well have to justify or talk intelligently about anything that you put on the personal statement in your UCAS form. Make sure you have studied a copy of it to remind yourself what you put in it.

 

• Read a quality newspaper for at least a week before the interview so that you can show an intelligent interest in current affairs.

 

• Don't woffle or attempt to bluff. If you don't know the answer to a question, admit it openly. Ask the interviewer to repeat a question if you didn’t understand it. Try at all times to be honest, thoughtful (there is no problem with a pause before answering a question whilst you collect your thoughts), unpretentious and enthusiastic.
  
  

There is a Guide to University Admissions Interviews on the Careers section of the school intranet.  It has lists of subject-based questions.