The weeks leading up to your Oxbridge interview are the most important time for enhancing your subject knowledge, improving your problem-solving skills and developing your interview technique. You have already put so much work into your application: selecting your college, submitting your UCAS and completing entrance exams. However, everyone applying will have top predicted grades, polished personal statements and excellent school references. It is the interview that acts as the key differentiator between candidates. In this article, I discuss my top tips for preparing for your interview and how to maximise your chances of getting into Oxbridge.
1. Become an all-rounder in your subject
After submitting your UCAS application, you should research as much as possible around your subject, focussing on topics which spark your interest the most. This may include reading academic articles and books, attending lectures and watching documentaries. You should hopefully find this process enjoyable as this is what studying at university will be like. The weeks, or even months, prior to your interview is an ideal time to do this research as it will stay fresh in your mind and keep you updated with the latest developments in your academic field.
Most importantly, make sure you know the topics that you included in your personal statement inside out. This will often be used as a starting point for the interview so it’s important not to be caught out here.
2. Have a system to keep track of your research
Students often do a good job reading around the subject and gathering the relevant information. However, it’s easy to forget much of your research by the time of the interview. It is therefore important to have a system for keeping track of all of your research. I would recommend keeping a notebook or electronic system to store any interesting information you come across. For example, you could cut and stick articles into your notebook and highlight the relevant information, or write a short summary of the article in your own words. When I was applying to Cambridge, I maintained a folder with dividers for my favourite topics. Whenever I came across any interesting articles, I would add them to my collection. This approach will keep all of your research in one place, which you can then review a week prior to your Oxbridge interview.
3. Practice your interview skills
Alongside your reading, you must be comfortable talking about your academic interests and supporting your point of view on a particular matter. It is no use knowing all of the academic information without being able to articulate yourself well. It is therefore essential to practice your interview skills with different people. For example, you can ask friends and family to have an interview-type discussion with you on any topic of their choice. Alternatively, you can ask your teachers to give you some subject-specific practice interviews. The more practice you have the better!
However, if you really want to ace your interviews, I would recommend getting some private one-to-one interview training from a specialist educational consultant. York-Weaving Education has an excellent team of Oxbridge graduate tutors, who focus on developing students’ interview skills and subject-specific knowledge. Please contact me via this form to book your free consultation on how we can help you prepare for your Oxbridge interview.
4. Change your mindset
Students are often (and understandably) stressed for their Oxbridge interviews. After all, you want to perform your best to secure a place at the university. However, it is important to keep your emotions under control, as they can cloud your judgement and thought process on the actual day.
What can help is changing your mindset about your interview. Firstly, do not compare yourself with other candidates. Once you get an interview, you stand as good a chance of gaining an offer as any other candidate. More importantly, treat your interview as a chance to discuss your favourite subject with some of the world’s top academics. The interview format is similar to the regular supervisions or tutorials you will have if you succeed in gaining a place at Oxbridge. The interview is a great opportunity, so try to enjoy it as much as you can.
5. Think out loud and don’t say “I don’t know”
Expect questions that you don’t know the answer to. The interviewers will be checking how you think, not just what you know by heart. It is therefore absolutely crucial to think out loud. Never say “I don’t know”. Instead start by saying: “I am not quite sure, but I think I would go for this answer, because …”. One of my peers had two interviews at Cambridge and at both they just answered “I don’t know” to many of the questions. Guess what? They didn’t get an offer. Always make sure you think out loud to give your interviewers a chance to assess your way of thinking. They will then help lead you in the right direction with your answer.
6. Be polite, smile and thank them for the opportunity
Always be polite and smile during the interview. Remember that the interviewers are also assessing whether you are the right fit for their college and whether they would enjoy teaching you in the future. They understand that you are naturally stressed and will do their best to take that into consideration. As with any university or job interview, it is about finding the perfect fit between the organisation and the candidate. If you walk out of the interview thinking that you really enjoyed it, this is a good sign that you are well suited for the Oxbridge teaching style.
7. Don’t dwell after the interview
Try not to overanalyse how you think you did at your interview. Paradoxically, the harder your interview felt, the more likely it went well. This is because the interviewers were able to ask you harder questions and stretch your subject knowledge. At the end of the day, it is difficult to predict the outcome. I would suggest waiting for your letter and again avoid comparing yourself with other candidates. Try to enjoy a well-deserved festive break without worrying about your interview!
I hope you find these tips useful. I always love hearing from my readers, so please do not hesitate to contact me for any further questions via the contact form. Best of luck in your interview!
Comments