Interview advice

[ijakings]

Now that people are starting to get thier personal statements finished and are handing in their Ucas forms, I thought I'd shift Studentials focus to looking at interviews. I've already created a quick guide to interviews at http://www.studential.com/guide/intervie...ew_faq.asp, with more stuff to follow, but I wondered if anyone here had any particular questions or advice.

If you've already had an interview, please post the questions you got, the university and course you applied for and how you felt the interview went.

Also post your thoughts if you havent had an interview yet - is there anything you're worried about, or questions you don't know how to answer?

[jbpaton]

I applied to do mech engineering at Leeds, Loughborough, Soton, Birmingham, Exeter and Brighton and after about two weeks I am hearing back from them. Birmingham want me to go for an 'informal interview/ open day on Monday, and southampton want me to do the same in Feb. Brighton and Exeter say they are making me offers which I should recieve shortly and I have a B-B-C offer from Leeds.

I was just wondering what questions I should think about for Birmingham on Monday, and what questions I should ask. They pretty much said my performance on monday will decide what sort of offer I get (if any). I'm a bit anxious as to what to expect but at least it will prepare me for Southampton which is my first choice - it's only a shame they are keeping me waiting until February. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers.

[Chocoholic]

Thought I'd post my thoughts on the interview I had yesterday, for Psychology at Leeds. I was interviewed because I am a mature student (will be 24 next year) and I do not have the usual qualifications they ask for. I was asked firstly about the essay they'd asked me to write, how I approached it etc. I was a bit thrown by the next few questions which were about the content covered in the degree course and the form of the teaching; I was very nervous and everything went out of my head so I don't think I made a very good first impression! Next few q's were about my Access Course, what have I learned from my job, how do I think I'd cope moving from full time employment to study, etc. My overall impression when I left was that I think they'd be reluctant to offer one of their places to a mature student when places are so competitive. At least they said they'd let me know within a week. Hope this helps anyone else going for an interview and any other mature students out there - good luck everyone.

[Belle Noire]

My interview was straight off my PS, so I suggest you look that over (even though your interview will probably not be that much like mine.)

[Peacebie12]

I had my Law interview last month and it was some experience. Oxbridge interviews are not like anywhere else as I'm sure you've all heard. I got asked loads of questions testing my thought process and not my knowledge of Law. One word of advice is that it's really important that you talk through your thoughts, if any of you are thinking of applying there. I didn't backtrack but I contradicted myself loads of times, because they kept on changing the situation slightly until the case was completely different in the end. It was pretty tough! :o The tutors aren't scared of arguing with you so you shouldn't be of them (they're really nice ppl!). They just want to see how you think.

[Guest]

Have an interview coming up next week and it's my first one. Not sure how to prepare for it other than to look over the prospectus and my personal statement, which I've done. But in regards to being updated in current affairs, not sure how i should go about doing that seeing as my major is related to the arts. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[ijakings]

Guest - 15/2/2005 6:37 AM

Have an interview coming up next week and it's my first one. Not sure how to prepare for it other than to look over the prospectus and my personal statement, which I've done. But in regards to being updated in current affairs, not sure how i should go about doing that seeing as my major is related to the arts. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Maybe current developments would be a better word - unless your doing something like history Just have a good general knowledge of your subject - a quick read through of any notes you have should be enough to get it fresh in your mind and ready for any questions you might get.

You also might want to take the oppertunity to think up answers to any questions you might get asked - things like why do you want to study this course / at this uni? are very hard to answer on the spot. You could also think up a couple of questions you might want to ask the interviewer about the course or the university.

Good luck - let us know how you get on

[Guest]

loftx - 16/2/2005 9:40 AM

Maybe current developments would be a better word - unless your doing something like history Just have a good general knowledge of your subject - a quick read through of any notes you have should be enough to get it fresh in your mind and ready for any questions you might get.

You also might want to take the oppertunity to think up answers to any questions you might get asked - things like why do you want to study this course / at this uni? are very hard to answer on the spot. You could also think up a couple of questions you might want to ask the interviewer about the course or the university.

Good luck - let us know how you get on

Thank you . Well, I honestly don't know how I did, was a bit nervous at first I think :o. He didn't ask me any of the typical, general standard of questions which I was expecting and had prepared for (i.e Why did you apply to this program? uni? etc..). It was a bit odd some of the stuff we conversed about that had no bearing on my major and getting into politics and whatnot. Just keeping fingers crossed now.

[ijakings]

Guest - 21/2/2005 8:23 PM

He didn't ask me any of the typical, general standard of questions which I was expecting and had prepared for (i.e Why did you apply to this program? uni? etc..). It was a bit odd some of the stuff we conversed about that had no bearing on my major and getting into politics and whatnot.

I had a similar experiance and don't think I could realy have prepared for my interviews. One was an informal interview where the tutor seemed more concerned selling the uni to me than asking me anything (UCL) and the other was purely subject related questions (Oxford) and not much talk about why i choose the degree or uni. I guess the tutors are more interested in your knowedge of the subject and finding out about you than your actual reasons for coming.

[irisng]

I wouldn't stress about interviews unless it was something like medicine or Oxbridge or something. I've had 4 formal interviews - am a normal undergrad applicant - and of the 4 only the Cambridge one was a proper interview. The other 3 - Bristol, Reading and Manchester - were very laid back etc and they only really "interviewed" people to see what they're like I think - of those Reading and Manchester offered me (and everyone else) on the spot. Bristol pretty much told everyone they wouldn't be there unless they were wanted.

All in all, just relax, prepare for some of the obvious questions and maybe look at some relevant stuff to your course - but I woudln't worry about it!