Academic Interviews
Ellie Rendle, Trinity College
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COLLEGE
Interviews
Why . . . ?
• “Interviews tell us important things about a
candidate which are not captured by grades or
test scores. We can see how candidates think,
rather than merely parrot information.”
• “I interview to find what we call ‘potential’ and
disentangle it from either poor schooling or
coaching.”
• “Interviews give us the chance to see whether an
applicant has the intellectual capacity to learn and
be stretched by our teaching system”
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COLLEGE
Short-Listing
. . . and how?
Examinations
UCAS Form
Oxbridge Specific
GCSE grades
AS-level
grades
Predicted Alevel/IB results
Personal
Statement
Academic
Ability and
Potential
Teacher
Reference
Written work
Written test
results
SAQ
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COLLEGE
The Interview
What to Expect
•
Interviews are an academic, subject-focused discussion in which tutors
hope to see applicants thinking problems through for themselves.
•
Tutors have no hidden agenda, and do not ask ‘trick’ questions or erect
‘hurdles’ for applicants to jump over .
•
Focused and challenging questions, typical of how you might be taught at
university
•
A variety of starting points and directions.
•
Expect questions to become steadily more challenging.
•
New approaches to existing knowledge and problem-solving questions.
•
There won’t always be a right answer, and there will be a stage when you
simply don’t know!
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The Interview
What makes a good interview?
Good Ideas
•
Answer the question you are asked,
not the one you want to be asked.
•
Explain your thinking.
•
It’s fine to admit you don’t know you aren’t expected to know
everything.
Bad Ideas
•
Staying silent.
•
Refusing to change your mind when
the evidence is overwhelming/being
contrarian for the sake of it.
•
Making it up/lying!
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COLLEGE
How to Prepare
(Re-)Reading your Personal Statement
“I have chosen to study French and Spanish as a joint course firstly due to a love of these two cultures gained through visits
to the countries. I have studied in a French language school in Bordeaux and have also taken a language and culture course
in Barcelona, as well as taking part in an exchange with a school in Pamplona.
My choice of subject is especially due to a very keen interest in the literature of these cultures, and I really relish the
prospect of broadening and deepening my knowledge of them through further study and time abroad. I have read widely in
both languages and have particularly enjoyed Molière and Voltaire (French), and Márquez and Borges (Spanish). I have
worked hard to acquire a thorough knowledge of the grammar of both languages, and I strive to speak and write them as
accurately as possible. A friend and I were instrumental in re-founding the School’s Modern Languages Society: we invite
visiting speakers and show foreign language films.
I am a very keen sportsman and have represented the school at Rugby (1st XV), Football (2nd XI) and Cricket (2nd XI). I also
play both rugby and cricket for local teams, and am a keen golfer. I play the violin to a high level, and play a strong role in
the school orchestra. In my spare time, I volunteer at a local charity shop on some weekday evenings and the weekend. I
am also a House monitor at school.”
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COLLEGE
How to Prepare
Talking about your subject
• Ask a teacher you don’t know to give you a
mock interview
• Find a “buddy” and interview each other
• Talk to your parents and siblings, and friends!
• Remember it’s an interview, not just a
conversation.
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COLLEGE
How to Prepare
Talking about your subject
• Why do you enjoy your subject?
• What interests you about your subject?
• How have your studies at school inspired you
to further study?
• Do you have a favourite topic/module?
• How have you encountered your subject
outside of your academic studies?
• What are the underlying ideas/themes in what
you are studying?
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COLLEGE
On the day
Practical things to remember
• Check the information carefully
• Wear something you feel comfortable in
• Bring a book or magazine
• Remember a snack and a drink
• Talk to other candidates
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COLLEGE
Remember…
Tutors are human too!
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCOKx-LBk6s
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COLLEGE
Any questions?
admissions@trinity.ox.ac.uk
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COLLEGE