Students should start getting ready for their interviews. Some people find the Oxbridge interviews the hardest part of the application process. But it’s also a rare and exciting chance to meet admissions tutors and make an impression that will last. To do well in the interview, you need to prepare. Here are some items you can do to assist your kid get ready.
Why should Oxbridge accept your child?
This is the main question that the whole process of getting into college tries to answer. Please help your child think of some important things they should tell the interviewer to help them come up with a good answer. Interviewers are looking for students who are interested in what they are learning.
They should also show they are committed to studying hard and that they can make interesting, logical, and well-informed arguments. You don’t have to make great points or answer impossible questions to do well in an interview. Interviews are a chance to see how students think and how involved they are in the subject.
Personal statement
Check your child’s statement to see if they understood the main points. Even if you don’t know much about the subject, it will be very helpful for students to practice saying what they think out loud. The interviewer will ask questions based on the student’s statement, where the student explains why they are interested in the subject.
Because of this, personal statements have to be learned very well. If a specific book, author, play, historical figure, or other topic comes up, ensure your child can talk about it confidently and confidently. If you can do this, the questions will seem less scary to your child.
Theoretical questions
Give your kids questions about the subject they want to learn more about. Help them find articles, podcasts, and videos that will add to their knowledge and make them stand out in the interview if they are having trouble. As serious academics, the people interviewing you want to see that you are interested in your subject on a theoretical level and can answer more general questions about it.
For example, a person who wants to study history or to be a lawyer. Tell your kids to approach them carefully and that it’s okay to take a long break before talking. Questioners are not watching for a specific answer, and there is no right or wrong answer. Instead, they are more interested in how the person handles the question and how they organize their answer.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Even though you can’t know what will be asked in an interview, practicing is still important. Take place with your child and ask them questions in the style of an interview, such as:
- Why did you want to take this class?
- Why did you choose to apply to Oxford or Cambridge?
- What do you think you could bring to college life?
- How should we judge how well you did during your time here?
- Why would anyone want to go to college?
It can be awkward at first, but their confidence will grow as they talk through ideas more and more.
Enjoy it!
Your children can get a feel for what it will be like to study at Oxford or Cambridge during an Oxbridge interview. This is a wonderful chance for them! The process lets students learn more about a topic they’re interested in. It’s not stressful, but it is exciting.
If you need to assist in getting your child ready for interviews, there are a lot of Oxford and Cambridge students and graduates on our site who can help. Find a tutor today because they all want to help. Holly, our tutor, has been helping her students in the following ways:
Hi! Last night, I read a personal statement from a student who wants to study medicine at Oxford. She said the feedback was very helpful because it was clear and specific. I also suggested different ways to say things instead of telling them to “do more x, y, or z.”
Based on what she said in her statement, I also told her what things she should read up on before going to an interview. I like putting together a list of my student’s accomplishments and qualities and helping them present them in a method that is simple to read.
I am teaching them what will catch the eye of a tired Oxford Tutor who has been reading hundreds of statements! I think that after 5 years at Oxford Medical School, I know many of the teachers well and have a good idea of what would impress them.
Last night, I began my lesson by asking her interview-style questions based on the draft of her statement. This showed her what she had said that wasn’t clear and what she had left out. Then we talked about it in more depth, and I suggested changes.
On that particular day
Stay calm. Both you and your child have been getting ready. Make sure they wear clothes that look good and feel good. You want your child to make a good impression, but you also want them to be themselves and feel comfortable in the interview room. Arrive on time. Make sure you know how long it will take to get there and if there might be traffic.
On the day of the interview, there may be a lot of waiting, and your child might be given more interviews than other applicants. This is normal. Try to get them to enjoy the day to the fullest. Keeping calm throughout the day will be easier if they talk to other applicants, look around their college, and read their preparation notes.
Add Comment