Friday, August 21, 2020
How to Survive an Oxbridge Interview
How to Survive an Oxbridge Interview How to Survive an Oxbridge Interview You really donât have to be superhuman to get into Oxford or Cambridge. Itâs undeniably a tough process, but if you manage to get to the interview stage, all thatâs left is to shine brilliantly. How? Well, here are my top interview tips for how you can do your best in the days before and during your Oxbridge interview.1. Prepare: Read around your subject The more you read around your subject, the better youâll be at responding to unexpected questions, and showing off just how passionate and interested you are. Don't leave it to the last minute though â" I remember having to cram a huge textbook within the space of a week. Very bad idea. 2. Re-read your personal statementI recall spending hours writing my Oxbridge personal statement, only to forget all about it until right before the interview. This is not a good thing to do!Your personal statement is the part of your application where you really get the chance to express your love for your subject. Reading it again should help you focus on why you want to study your subject â" and why you are the best applicant to do so. Youâll also be expected to be able to talk about anything youâve mentioned in your statement during the Oxbridge interview, so make sure youâre ready for that.3. Ask questionsObviously donât just ask questions for the sake of it â" that could get p retty annoying! But asking carefully chosen questions shows you can think critically, and that you have a drive to learn. What teacher wouldnât like that?Present yourself as a curious and inquisitive student who is open-minded and logical. Donât be afraid of challenging what the question is really asking, or to step back and think out loud during your Oxbridge interview. Most of the time, tutors are interested in your ability to learn, rather than the facts you already know. Developing the habit of questioning different things about your subject is also a great mentality for learning, no matter where you go for university or future studies.4. Try not to worry!Itâs useless to waste time or energy worrying about the outcome â" easier said than done, I know... One good thing is that Oxford and Cambridge have a âpooling systemâ, which aims to ensure the best candidates will get in, either at their first-choice college or a different one. Personally I learned that worryin g simply is not useful at all. It only makes you disorientated and unable to focus.5. Don't believe the myths Yes, some Oxbridge professors are âeccentricâ, but youâre really unlikely to be faced with anything too strange! And while it can be useful to hear about other peopleâs experiences, remember that each interview is different, depending on the subject and individual tutors. So even if your friendâs sisterâs cousinâs brother was asked an unusual question about aliens invading the earth in his psychology interview (true story), you probably wonât get the same one!6. Eat a good breakfast Itâs vital to eat something filling and healthy before your Oxbridge interview. This is not the time to go on short-term diets or crazy binges. My interview was at 9:30am, so I had to get up very early to have a hearty breakfast, drink some coffee (only do this if itâs your usual routine â" caffeine can affect people differently!) and travel to the college. Having t oo many carbohydrates will probably make you sleepy. Make sure you get enough protein and fiber, which helps keep you full and awake when your interview comes. Bonus tip: Smile!I canât stress how important it is to smile during your interview. No one likes to teach someone who is serious all the time! As someone who has gone through the process, all that's left to say is good luck, have fun, don't forget to stretch those smile-making facial muscles â" and try to enjoy the experience!
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