Rosanna

St Hugh's

I moved to America when I was 11 and had always wanted to come back to the UK, so when it came around to university applications I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I’d never visited the city before I arrived for the first day of freshers week, but that didn’t deter me.

Applying as an international student was difficult, and very different from anyone who applies and interviews here in Oxford. I had to fly to Canada for mine, where I was interviewed by a classics professor from a different college. I was left a little high and dry during the application procedure. Almost no one from my small town left the state for university, let alone the country. Interviews are also almost non-existent for undergradutate studies in America, so my career councillor in high school was no use.

When I went up to the interview I had almost no information about what was going to happen, all I knew was that I had to show up half an hour early. Turns out this was to read a passage that I would spend most of my interview discussing. As intimidated as I was about the whole process, the actual interview was very relaxed. I was told the moment I entered that the tutor new as much about law as I did, and that he’d had all the questions he was supposed to ask sent to him. We ended up discussing the work I was given from more of a classics view point, I recognised the author from studies in my English class, but eventually we did get back around to law. We talked about the differences between America and England, and why I wanted to get my degree there. It seemed he was most interested in why I had applied, and what my story was. The interview itself lasted no more than 30 minutes, because they had packed the number of interviews that there was that day.

Looking back it seems I got off a lot lighter than my friends at college on my course, who all had to endure several interviews. I left the interview unsure of just how well it had gone, but feeling that if I didn’t get accepted after trekking all the way to Vancouver I was going to be very upset.

About a week after the interview I got an email from college telling me that I had to sit an exam for them the next day, which was similar to the LNAT. I must admit I panicked an exam on less that 24 hours notice is harsh! I took the day off school and spent it researching everything I could find on the internet about the LNAT. Again I felt lost, because I didn’t know what the test was going to be like, and I was worried because I wasn’t prepared. My councillor at school, who was my invigilator was lovely, she told me not to worry and made me a cup of tea before the exam started. Once it had started I relaxed a bit, it wasn’t stuff revision could have helped with, it came down to logic and reasoning. I still don’t know how I did on the exam, well enough I suppose since I’m here.

The one great thing about being an international student was an unconditional offer, just before Chirstmas, the best present ever. When I arrived, though, I did feel slightly left out, the others knew and remembered each other from interviews, and I was the odd one out. I’ll never forget my memorable first tutorial where the first thing my tutor said was “I met all of you at interviews, except you, who are you?”  It was a fair enough question, but didn’t do anything to put me at ease. I felt like I was left out in the dark for most of the interview and application process, stumbling from one hurdle to the next. I would advise any international students to get in touch with the international office before interviews to find out what they can expect. Most of all though I’d tell you not to worry, because nothing is as bad as you think it’ll be, be yourself in interviews, do a little research on you topic before heading up for them, and just don’t panic. Good luck!