Daniel

St Edmund Hall

I chose to apply to Oxford for its thorough Earth Sciences program. Having not studied Geology before, I was unsure which areas would interest me most, and the first two years at Oxford had few option modules, ensuring I wouldn’t miss out on a subject I had prejudged. Also, knowing I wanted to study Geology, I thought ‘why waste time with Natural Sciences?’

Before I came up for my interview, I had been reading the New Scientist for a year. I also read 'The Earth: A Very Short Introduction' and Bill Bryson’s 'A Short history of Nearly Everything'. I learned a few facts about the Earth such as its radius, gravitational field strength etc. and revised my AS Maths Chemistry and Physics notes.

I only had one interview at St. Edmund Hall, but most applicants had one or two more at the department for other colleges. The interview lasted about twenty minutes and consisted of questions testing my thinking and reasoning ability. Initially, as one of my interviewers (I had two) faffed about getting paper and pens (I was the first candidate to be interviewed) I was asked about the trombone, a hobby I had mentioned in my personal statement, and what kinds of music I enjoyed playing. In retrospect, I think this may have been a test to see if I were lying as I was asked a few things only a trombonist would know, and claimed to be grade VIII standard. Fortunately I told the truth and could fully answer anything they threw at me. Then the academic questions began. They mostly revolved around GSCE and A level standard science altered to suit my A level choices (for example no hard biology questions as I dropped that after GCSE). I felt that the knowledge required wasn’t what was being tested, the interviewers seemed to care more about how I arrived at my conclusions than the final answer. Most of the questions, as a result, were quite tricky. I had to pick up from the question what physical or chemical principal they wanted me to use and apply it to a real world situation in a way I hadn’t done before and all this from only one sentence from them.

When not being interviewed, most applicants hung out in the JCR watching films or playing on the arcade machines. Teddy Hall employs ‘nannies’ current students who hang around in college directing you to wherever your interview is and answering your questions. A few delight in feeding your anxieties but most understand how nervous you are and are there to offer a calming word. All the applicants are in the same boat, petrified to an equal level, its only how this manifests itself that’s different. Some cower in their rooms and others boast their credentials loudly. At interviews you meet a broad range of people, some you befriend others are branded into your memory so regardless of how the interviews go you have a good time.

A Levels: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, French