Mia

I applied to Oxford because I was attracted by the unique tutorial teaching system.  I wanted to further my interest in science at a world-class institution where leading experts in their field are carrying out cutting edge research.  Also, Oxford is a beautiful city.

What preparation did you do for your application and before your interviews?

I read science journals like New Scientist and Nature as well as a couple of popular science novels.

Please describe the format of the interviews you had, including some of the topics covered (but not specific questions) and how the interviews went.

I had two separate interviews one at the college I applied to and another at a different college. 

My first interview was with my prospective tutor and it was definitely challenging.  It included short discussions on a piece of scientific writing I was given to read.  The aim was to make my think on my feet and be analytical.

The second interview was a set of problem solving exercises and by discussing the problems at hand; I was able to work through them.  It felt a bit like a tutorial and I actually enjoyed the experience.

What activities and experiences did you enjoy when not being interviewed?

I enjoyed going out to dinner with fellow applicants and exploring the beautiful grounds of New College.

Was there anything you did which you thought helped, or anything you think you should have done when preparing which would have been useful?

Showing a genuine interest in the subject is a definite must.  I explained my thought processes as I answered the questions.  Demonstrating that I am an active thinker really helped.  Also, I wish I could’ve been less nervous about it because there really wasn’t any reason to be.
 
What was your overall impression of the interview process - what did you expect, how did it compare to what happened and what did you take away from the process?

The interview process was a challenge for me.  I’d never really been put on the spot like that before and I felt like a lot was at stake.  I walked away feeling good about the fact that I faced up to it and tackled it the best I could.  I feel that what they really wanted was to see that you are passionate about learning and that you are suitable for the tutorial system.  They were more interested in your potential to learn as oppose to how much you know already.