Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: I have an interview at Oxford University tomorrow...
  • Subject: I have an interview at Oxford University tomorrow...
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: I have an interview at Oxford University tomorrow...
  • gamertag: Keir F
  • user homepage:

Well, yeah - I'm pretty darn nervous! The only interview I've ever been through before now was a total disaster. So Flood, how do you cope with this sort of thing? Got any stories to share?

  • 12.11.2012 8:47 AM PDT

I like to play Reach for fun. I hate MLG, campers, armor lock, and team killers because they ruin that fun. Deal with it.

Just keep calm and don't say anything dumb.

  • 12.11.2012 8:48 AM PDT

Practice. It sounds silly, but you can research the type of questions you may be asked - you can then spend some time thinking about how you might answer the question.
Practice sitting up straight and not figeting around, etc.

  • 12.11.2012 8:48 AM PDT

I really dont get what they ask you in those interviews besides what you want to do and ask you some school questions. I'll never know i guess.

oh yea and dont you need rich parents to go to these schools?

[Edited on 12.11.2012 8:51 AM PST]

  • 12.11.2012 8:49 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Foman is my favorite moderator. <3

The number one thing about interviews is making a connection with the person interviewing you.

I'd almost go as far as saying your qualifications are not more important than making a connection with/bonding with the person you are interviewing - most of the time that bonding has nothing to do with your qualifications.

People don't want a drone around the office, even if you went to Harvard. They want someone they can get along with and talk to at work. I've seen first-hand more qualified people get skipped over because they are boring/uninteresting people.

[Edited on 12.11.2012 8:50 AM PST]

  • 12.11.2012 8:49 AM PDT

Blind luck always prevails.

I had my interview at Oxford last year and have finished my first term. I'm guessing this week is Science subjects?

Anyway, if it's anything like mine (physics) then you'll get asked a bunch of questions. The first question I guessed the answer instinctively, but they made me spend ten minutes proving I was right. They don't particularly care for the answer, and you may have heard the question before anyway.

Basically, don't sit there silently even if you don't know the answer. Let them know any bright ideas you have, and if you think your idea could be wrong you can explain why. It may not be the right answer, but if you can still try and use relevant knowledge it's nearly as good.

Anyway, best of luck!

  • 12.11.2012 9:19 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I had my interviews at Cambridge last week. Don't get nervous. Not that it isn't difficult, but nervousness is why I did badly. So there you go.

  • 12.11.2012 9:22 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Foman is my favorite moderator. <3

Derp, I assumed job interview for some reason.

  • 12.11.2012 9:23 AM PDT

The Song Of Nephilim

Xenoblade <3

One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[

  • 12.11.2012 9:26 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:


Posted by: Nephilim713
One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[
Wait, so she got rejected for not being working class? Well, that's all the stereotypes about Oxbridge admissions processes gone up in smoke then.

I doubt it had anything to do with that though, personally.

  • 12.11.2012 9:29 AM PDT

Per Audacia Ad Astra

Keep it clean and play nice.

  • 12.11.2012 9:30 AM PDT

The Song Of Nephilim

Xenoblade <3


Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Nephilim713
One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[
Wait, so she got rejected for not being working class? Well, that's all the stereotypes about Oxbridge admissions processes gone up in smoke then.

I doubt it had anything to do with that though, personally.


It was. She had everything above A's.

  • 12.11.2012 9:31 AM PDT


Posted by: Bungie Sam
Keep it clean and play nice.

  • 12.11.2012 9:32 AM PDT

RIP Ginger

Spring 1997 - 6 January 2012


Posted by: Nephilim713

Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Nephilim713
One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[
Wait, so she got rejected for not being working class? Well, that's all the stereotypes about Oxbridge admissions processes gone up in smoke then.

I doubt it had anything to do with that though, personally.


It was. She had everything above A's.
There was a girl in my Physics class who aced everything but got turned down due to 'lack of ability' by Cambridge as well.

Best of luck though OP, hope things go well at uni.

[Edited on 12.11.2012 9:35 AM PST]

  • 12.11.2012 9:34 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:


Posted by: Nephilim713

Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Nephilim713
One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[
Wait, so she got rejected for not being working class? Well, that's all the stereotypes about Oxbridge admissions processes gone up in smoke then.

I doubt it had anything to do with that though, personally.


It was. She had everything above A's.
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.

  • 12.11.2012 9:35 AM PDT

(^}>

Good luck OP and yeah Oxford is really hard to get into, a guy in the year above me got refused purely because he didn't talk enough even though he had the top marks in everything.

  • 12.11.2012 9:37 AM PDT

The Song Of Nephilim

Xenoblade <3


Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Nephilim713

Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Nephilim713
One of my friends is super damn smart and she got refused from Oxford. She told me it was because "she was not a commoner"

I have to assume they were -blam!-.

But uhh best of luck? I remember the day when she told me she got refused 2 weeks after her interview..... God she was hurt =[
Wait, so she got rejected for not being working class? Well, that's all the stereotypes about Oxbridge admissions processes gone up in smoke then.

I doubt it had anything to do with that though, personally.


It was. She had everything above A's.
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


Well to be fair..... She was the only one who got an interview, and she always told me her sister was better than her in school. It shows she had potential ability, but was probably refused because she was not a commoner or posh enough.

  • 12.11.2012 9:39 AM PDT

Blind luck always prevails.


Posted by: tomgaz
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


I remember being told the average number of A* grades at GCSE for people being offered places was 6. I got in with 4, and I know someone that got rejected with 12. I'm pretty good at interviews so the admissions process actually suited me pretty well.

  • 12.11.2012 9:50 AM PDT

When speaking, the content is important but what is more imporant is your presentation skills, how you modulate your voice and not too many hand gestures, maintain good posture, and have confidence in your voice. If you follow these I think you will do fine.

  • 12.11.2012 9:53 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:


Posted by: Fatman IV

Posted by: tomgaz
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


I remember being told the average number of A* grades at GCSE for people being offered places was 6. I got in with 4, and I know someone that got rejected with 12. I'm pretty good at interviews so the admissions process actually suited me pretty well.
Yeah, it's only an average amount, not a cutoff point.

The interview does play a significant part as it's difficult to assess students based on their grades when it may depend on how good their school is. I mean, I got 6 A*s at GCSE and am predicted A*A*A* at A-level but I'm not expecting an offer from Cambridge as I made a right mess of the interview.

  • 12.11.2012 9:59 AM PDT


Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Fatman IV

Posted by: tomgaz
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


I remember being told the average number of A* grades at GCSE for people being offered places was 6. I got in with 4, and I know someone that got rejected with 12. I'm pretty good at interviews so the admissions process actually suited me pretty well.
Yeah, it's only an average amount, not a cutoff point.

The interview does play a significant part as it's difficult to assess students based on their grades when it may depend on how good their school is. I mean, I got 6 A*s at GCSE and am predicted A*A*A* at A-level but I'm not expecting an offer from Cambridge as I made a right mess of the interview.


Absolute bull.

I live/d in Oxford, so I know hell' of a lot of people that applied (and got in). The majority of them got in with 2 A*s and an A, nothing like this 6 A levels bull.

OP: GSCE's do count, but it does depend on your Interview. Don't be nervous, and make sure you seem enthuastic (not over the top), and make it sound like you know what your talking about.

Also, what College did you apply for?

[Edited on 12.11.2012 10:14 AM PST]

  • 12.11.2012 10:13 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Writer's Corner
6/15/2011 11:39 PM: bobcast [2597260] issued a 3 day ban expiring on 6/18/2011 11:39 PM.
Reason: A Bungie.net Forum Moderator has banned you for violating the code of conduct and/or rules of the forum in the thread below
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=61704535
Inappropriate. Went a little to far with the butt hole tearing.

You have to sell yourself, like a high class whore: subtle, but highlighting what you bring to the bedroom.

  • 12.11.2012 10:15 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:


Posted by: Empty Carecup

Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Fatman IV

Posted by: tomgaz
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


I remember being told the average number of A* grades at GCSE for people being offered places was 6. I got in with 4, and I know someone that got rejected with 12. I'm pretty good at interviews so the admissions process actually suited me pretty well.
Yeah, it's only an average amount, not a cutoff point.

The interview does play a significant part as it's difficult to assess students based on their grades when it may depend on how good their school is. I mean, I got 6 A*s at GCSE and am predicted A*A*A* at A-level but I'm not expecting an offer from Cambridge as I made a right mess of the interview.


Absolute bull.

I live/d in Oxford, so I know hell' of a lot of people that applied (and got in). The majority of them got in with 2 A*s and an A, nothing like this 6 A levels bull.

OP: GSCE's do count, but it does depend on your Interview. Don't be nervous, and make sure you seem enthuastic (not over the top), and make it sound like you know what your talking about.

Also, what College did you apply for?
I never said that you need an impervious academic record. In fact, I was arguing the opposite - that the interviews play a significant role. Not having 3 A*s is not a game-breaker. However, statistics show that you're more likely to get an offer if you have 3 A*s, as you'd expect.

  • 12.11.2012 10:21 AM PDT

Blind luck always prevails.


Posted by: tomgaz

Posted by: Fatman IV

Posted by: tomgaz
So do about 50% of applicants. It genuinely doesn't make an application to Oxbridge watertight; the interviews carry a significant weighting.

Sauce.


I remember being told the average number of A* grades at GCSE for people being offered places was 6. I got in with 4, and I know someone that got rejected with 12. I'm pretty good at interviews so the admissions process actually suited me pretty well.
Yeah, it's only an average amount, not a cutoff point.

The interview does play a significant part as it's difficult to assess students based on their grades when it may depend on how good their school is. I mean, I got 6 A*s at GCSE and am predicted A*A*A* at A-level but I'm not expecting an offer from Cambridge as I made a right mess of the interview.


From what I heard from people in my A-Level class Cambridge didn't seem to focus on the interviews as much as Oxford. I knew someone that wanted to do engineering, they could talk all day about it but they didn't get an offer from Cambridge.

It sounds like your grades are good enough anyway so I wouldn't rule out an offer at any rate.

  • 12.11.2012 10:32 AM PDT

Wizzy

Wish I was smart enough for Oxbridge =/

But my grades aren't good enough. My Higher grades went to -blam!- last year because I couldn't be arsed studying (got BBCD, lesson learned. Still taking Advanced Higher Maths and English). Probably go to Edinburgh Napier or Robert Gordon or something (which, to be fair, are pretty good universities and they don't ask for top grades).

[Edited on 12.11.2012 10:37 AM PST]

  • 12.11.2012 10:35 AM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2