By Tilly Rose
So this time of year has come around again, the part of the application process that sends everyone into panic mode. If you're anything like me, you'll be scouring the internet desperate to get your hands on every bit of info possible, to try to understand this mysterious process.
Today, I'm going to try to dispel some of the myths and give you an idea of what Oxford Uni Interviews are really like.
1. They are not a trick
Oxford Interviews are a chance for you to show off your understanding of your subject. The Oxford system is centred around tutorials, meaning students often have weekly one-to-one meetings with their tutors. The interviews are a chance for the tutors to get to know you and to decide whether this intense, in-the-spotlight sort of teaching is right for you. They want to bring out the best in you. You can certainly expect to be challenged but not tricked. If you've heard stories of tutors throwing balls at applicants, telling them they're on fire and asking them how to react, then ignore these! All of the questions will be focused on making you think, getting you to explain your thought process and reasoning and sparking a discussion. The tutors want to bring out the best in you.
2. It's not about reaching the 'right' answer
This always seems to surprise applicants. I definitely thought it was all about getting the 'correct' answer to every question but this isn't the case. The tutor will pose a question e.g. in my interview, the tutor said: ‘It’s interesting that you’ve read Flush, many people deem it to be a ‘childish book’’
Now this could send you into panic mode...she thinks I'm a child! But this was not the point. Many critics comment that Flush is childish, she wanted me to explain what I thought and why I thought it. Flush is written from the perspective of a dog; I told them how I could see that it contrasted with Woolf’s other works because of its simple plot but I felt that it highlighted the importance of language as a form of communication and showed me the difficulties one, such as Flush, would face without being able to communicate through words. It didn't matter ultimately whether I thought Flush was childish or not, this was not about reaching a particular conclusion but rather EXPLAINING what I was thinking.
3. WHY? JUSTIFY!
You are probably well and truly bored of me banging on about this phrase but I cannot stress enough it is essential to every answer you put forward in your interview.
1. Put forward your opinion
2. Explain WHY you have reached that conclusion
e.g. In relation to the last point:
1. 'I don't think Flush is childish' - on it's own tells us nothing.
'WHY don't you think Flush is childish?'
1. 'I don't feel Flush is simply childish because...'
2. 'I think in this text Woolf is highlighting the importance of language as a tool of communication...'
3. Interviews are one part of a process
Applicants tend to get super stressed about interviews and, of course, I was the same but remember it is one part of your whole application - personal statement, references, predicted grades, admissions test, work submission etc are all taken into consideration.
We are going to have lots more posts coming on interviews over the next few weeks, plus we're uploading Instagram reels with real life interview questions and TikToks:
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