Louise

I applied to Oxford because of the reputation of the theology course, because the city looked beautiful, and probably most honestly, because it would be a good excuse for two or three days off school! I never thought i'd get in, but I thought i'd give it a whirl anyway.

In preparation for my interview I made sure i'd given a bit of extra thought to the two pieces of written work I'd submitted, and also got a whole two and a half pages into a book by Augustine. Whilst any decent amount of preparatory reading had eluded me, I was fairly sure that I knew why I wanted to do theology, what I loved about it, and what my particular subject interests were, and that really helped.

I had two interviews at LMH, one of which was more academically rigorous, during which I was asked about subjects arising from my written work, and also subjects I'd never given any thought to whatsoever! It was a test of thinking on my feet, and being able to apply what I'd learnt in areas of my A-levels to completely new ideas. The two interviewers were really friendly, but as expected, they certainly pushed me to see how my brain worked! At the end of the day, interviews seemed to be there as an opportunity for you to show how you think, rather than what you know! Tutors want to know that you're interested enough in your subject to have read beyond your course, but they don't expect you to have read everything, and lots of the time they seem most interested in accepting someone who is just plain enthusiastic and interested in their subject.

The second interview was a bit more general. The tutor asked me about why I liked theology, and the aspects of it that particularly interested me, and we discussed (quite informally!) various topics that I'd expressed an interest in. We also talked a little bit about my plans for a gap year. I was asked whether if I was offered a place for this year (rather than deferred) whether I'd take it up, and I said no. I was convinced afterwards that because of that I wasn't going to get a place, but I realised later it was probably just to check that I was committed to the gap year plans that I'd made.

Generally the interviews were a lot of fun - it was great to get to experience an Oxford college for a few days, because after all interviews are also about you deciding whether you want to go to Oxford, as well as them deciding if they want you! All the interview helpers were lovely, and there was lots of time to explore Oxford, and hang out with other interviewees. My resounding memory of the interviews was how friendly and normal everyone was, with the exception of the few 'Oxford stereotypes' that I'd expected to be everywhere. But on the first day of Fresher's week, it was funny how they weren't the people who'd got in. Enjoy the interviews, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.