<p>Living in the UK, I sometimes see articles in the press that I think may be of interest to non-Brits applying to uni here. In the past I've posted them in the 'Study Abroad' section but frankly I'm tired of the "oxbridge vs. ivyleague' responses they provoke or the 'everybody knows that' reaction of the few English kids on the forum. So I'm going to post the following article from todays The Times (London) here. Some parents may have offspring applying across the pond - and even if no one responds now, a later search for 'oxford interviews' may help some future applicants. Not sure how timely this is - here students are interviewed in December. I have a vague feeling overseas interviews are conducted earlier. </p>
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<p>Thanks. Mine has an app in for Cambridge - I think their interviews are somewhat similar. I rather like this. It seems more revealing and certainly less boring than the usual flabby “What do you like to do?” sorts of questions.</p>
<p>I hope the interviewer would also explain to a confused American what Coronation Street is! It wouldn’t look good to be googling on an iphone during the interview.</p>
<p>I think though, it is such an inane way to assess intellect and ability. Some of the most brilliant and creative minds I have be honored to meet or work with as academics, are not necessarily clever on the spot in a hot situation, nor necessarily fast on their feet in novel situations. </p>
<p>In their defense, however, I know many of the Oxbridge colleges are moving to written cognitive assessments as well. It is a needed addition I think. As we know, any of these means of assessment in isolation is pretty error prone (be it GPA, SAT, essays and the like). At least these interviews can’t be coached, gamed, or cheated upon quite like most of the US criteria.</p>
<p>Oh, I agree, Starbright. Any of these assessment measures taken in isolation can be misleading. There are definitely written tests/personal statements/references that are thoroughly reviewed before the interview stage is reached. I think the crucial difference with the US admissions process is that these interviews (at the Colleges) are conducted by the tutors who will be teaching the candidates who get in. So basically they’re looking for young people they’re going to enjoy working with - one-on-one or in small tutorials - for the next couple of years. Very different from interviews I’ve conducted as an alumna or those done by Admissions Officers. Good luck to any oxbridge candidates - the tutorial system is certainly not for everyone and the interview serves as a taster - so they’re valuable to applicants as well as tutors.</p>
<p>Oxbridge interviews ARE JUST LIKE TUTORIALS. But you don’t find that out until you get in of course. Basically they are testing whether you respond to their teaching method, and like samuck says above, whether they really want to teach you one-to-one for the next 3 years. It’s not really like a hot seat with quick fire questions. The candidate sits there are discusses the question with the interviewers. There is no right answer, no wrong answer and no time limit. They just want to see how you think. My personal experience was that waiting to go in for the interview was terrifying. Lots of ultra-competitive students boating to each other in the waiting room. But the actual interview was fine. Not anywhere near as stressful as I imagined it would be.</p>
<p>Coronation street is a long running British soap opera (rather less depressing than EastEnders). Contrary to popular belief, the Oxbridge interviewers aren’t usually evil, cruel or perverse. I am sure they wouldn’t ask a foreign student a question about UK TV. These questions are just examples. They are just trying to make the process less scary by using a popular culture reference. </p>
<p>I have posted at length about my interview questions (for Natural Sciences at Cambridge) being about the colour of curtains and bat wing muscles. They are always points of discussion rather than closed answer questions.</p>
<p>Thanks so much , cupcake. As usual, your posting is very helpful. I’m sure the waiting is wretched, but then, the stress of college admissions just permeates all aspects of the process. Perhaps, in a way, it’s better to think of the interview as more of a first date.
Thinking about the very bright kids that I know - there are some that I just can’t imagine working at their best in the tutorial system, there are others I can see thriving in it and some that I wouldn’t venture a guess about.
I’ll be interested in seeing how my son’s interview goes (should he get to that stage). I’ll make sure to point him toward that film as well.</p>
<p>I recognise though that I had a good experience because I got in. For those who are very uncomfortable with the interview format, the experience might be much worse. It depends on the individual. Even if you hate the interview, it’s nice to spend a few days staying in one of the colleges when the town is all ‘Christmassy’ and lit up in December (and I think a good wake up call for all those who have only visited England in the summer!)</p>
<p>My best friend from Cambridge, who is now a researcher at an American university and very successful in her career, actually hated tutorials (“supervisions” as they are known at Cambridge). In our final year we were pretty much free to arrange tutorials with whichever staff we liked whenever, and she just stopped going to them. She was still very successful in the exams. I think she just preferred private study.</p>