Hiya Jamie! So I'm just gonna unashamedly post as many questions as I can, which I hope you might be able to shed some light on... if only just to get that TSA out of my head: 1. How well do you need to know your books on your personal statement? I feel like I'm gonna be tested on minute details about Hobbes or Locke covered in an introduction, or the intricate workings of Capital In The 21st Century. If you genuinely can't remember something that gets asked, does this look really bad? 2. With a subject like PPE, keeping up-to-date with current affairs goes with the territory, but what happens if you get asked anything that you genuinely don't know about? 3. Could you be asked specifics? Figures of unemployment, growth, pension reforms, budget details or election results etc...? 4. If arranging mock interviews is proving quite difficult, how best can you about preparing? 5. If I feel that I actually go-on quite a bit when talking, is this a big problem? If I'm sitting there, lavishly (probably waffling on) explaining my answer, is it just better for me to let the interview move on? Would an interviewer cut you off after a while of talking about the same thing. 6. This is quite specific, but I keep seeing this 'basic logic problem' thing turn up for Philosophy interviews. How would you best go about tackling questions and commenting on things like those 'basic logic problems' such as the form 'A is B. B is C. Therefore A is C'. Yeah... I know I've gone on a bit, so sorry about that. Hopefully others find these questions useful too. And of course, I appreciate it will probably be a task to answer all of these, so any help would really be appreciated. Thanks a TON in advance Jamie!!
I know you had a PPE interview, but I'm sure you have many pertinent insights regarding other subjects as well (I'm applying for Japanese studies) :) . Do you think people applying to language-related subjects will have strictly divided interviews, such as one for literature you've read, second one for cultural stuff and what's happening today, third one with a more linguistic approach etc.? I'm just worried that I'm not preparing for interviews the right way..
Glad the philosophy test is done, even if it was completely different to the past paper online! My interview question is how in depth do the tutors expect you to know your wider reading?
I have a really nice time this week with friends and family and now I have a lot to do.i am scared a bit but I hope that I will do well in the next 6 months to have good marks this time because I want to study medicine
Heya Jamie 1. I know it's not a big deal but what do people usually wear to interview? 2. If you find it easier/faster to think in your head without thinking out loud, should you still try to think out loud? ...so they can see your thought processes. Cheeyas 😊
In the Philosophy interview, there have been rumours doing the rounds about questions like 'How do you know that Canada exists if you have not visited it?' How do you recommend answering such wacky questions? :)
What sort of things they usually concentrate on when asking you about the book(s) you mentioned in your personal statement? For example, do they care more about the main ideas expressed throughout the book or about your critical response to it?
When asked a question that asks for an opinion, should you express your view clearly and justify it, or should you try and explore different opinions in your answer to present a balanced argument?
I'm hoping to get an interview for history and politics and was wondering what things set certain candidates above others? I know that's a very broad question but are there any particular things one could say or do that would impress them particularly? Thanks :)
Hi there! Thought I would respond to say that I am applying for History and Politics too!! How did you find the HAT? I'm really curious to find out how other people responded to the questions because I don't know anyone else who took the exam too. What college did you apply to? I'm soo nervous to find out if I'm invited for the interviews..
this is great! I don't know anyone else who's applying for history and politics :) I'm applying to Brasenose and you? I found the HAT quite difficult particularly the first source and I've got quite a bad feeling about it...do you think the HAT is less important for History and Politics than for straight history though? How did it go for you? :) I am so nervous as well, constantly checking my emails :P
I applying to Magdalen! I was actually looking for video tours of the college when I found this video.. I struggled with the essay question on 'winners' and 'losers' because I totally didn't allow myself enough time to complete it. I ended up writing about the Vietnam War. I wish I could say how important the HAT is.. I think a good combination of written work and the HAT will determine who gets the interviews. Because I'm an international student, I had to respond to say that I am available to go to Oxford for interviews. The reminder from my college to confirm that I am able to attend was the last email I received from the college. It seems as though Oxford don't give very long notice before the interviews take place, which worries me because I will have to book flights!
same! I've heard sometimes they only give a weeks notice and since I'm from the EU I also have to book a flight. I've visited Magdalen is beautiful! Almost applied there :) I wrote about the the Cultural Revolution for the essay, but didn't have enough time to write a conclusion...but I'm trying not to worry too much about it since there's nothing I can do about it now!
To what level of detail should I learn/familiarise myself with the content of the books I mentioned in my personal statement? Should I make notes on all the chapters or just the concepts that I mentioned in my personal statement? Also, should I relearn all of my AS/GCSE course to help prepare?
How many days before the interview were you sent an invitation? Also, can you run through the technical details of a Skype interview for international applicants who can't come to Oxford?
How would an interview start off? Do I have to do a brief introduction of myself and what am i expected to say? Are the tutors scary? My friends who got their interviews from Cambridge said their tutors were not friendly and never smiled.
Hi, I am applying for chemistry this year in oxford. May I ask if I do unbelievably badly in interview but the rest of my application is very good will i still get in? Thx much in advance
James Yu They assess your application as a whole, so they may still think you are amazing in spite of a bad interview. As something to bear in mind, every tutor has their own way of assessing ones ability to flourish at Oxford, so the weightings for each component of your application will shift depending on the person assessing it.
klaNDS Because software engineering is cool and PPE gives you the skills to tackle most disciplines. Perhaps I should do a video explaining my decision?
![[Part 4/4] Oxford and Cambridge Interview Q&A](/img/1.gif)
ahhh, love your videos, can't image youtube without them any more :)
mariakoszalin Thanks :D
Okay your next interview video will be of vital importance, because I just received an interview invitation!! So excited I can barely breathe! :D
That's amazing! When is it for?
I'll be in St. John's from 8/12 till 13/12! :)
Amazing! We are planning something extrafor the 5th Dec-ish, so hopefully it'll be super useful :)
Oh congrats and what course was it?
***** Oriental studies- Japanese :) Did you apply to Oxford too?
Hiya Jamie! So I'm just gonna unashamedly post as many questions as I can, which I hope you might be able to shed some light on... if only just to get that TSA out of my head:
1. How well do you need to know your books on your personal statement? I feel like I'm gonna be tested on minute details about Hobbes or Locke covered in an introduction, or the intricate workings of Capital In The 21st Century. If you genuinely can't remember something that gets asked, does this look really bad?
2. With a subject like PPE, keeping up-to-date with current affairs goes with the territory, but what happens if you get asked anything that you genuinely don't know about?
3. Could you be asked specifics? Figures of unemployment, growth, pension reforms, budget details or election results etc...?
4. If arranging mock interviews is proving quite difficult, how best can you about preparing?
5. If I feel that I actually go-on quite a bit when talking, is this a big problem? If I'm sitting there, lavishly (probably waffling on) explaining my answer, is it just better for me to let the interview move on? Would an interviewer cut you off after a while of talking about the same thing.
6. This is quite specific, but I keep seeing this 'basic logic problem' thing turn up for Philosophy interviews. How would you best go about tackling questions and commenting on things like those 'basic logic problems' such as the form 'A is B. B is C. Therefore A is C'.
Yeah... I know I've gone on a bit, so sorry about that. Hopefully others find these questions useful too. And of course, I appreciate it will probably be a task to answer all of these, so any help would really be appreciated. Thanks a TON in advance Jamie!!
I know you had a PPE interview, but I'm sure you have many pertinent insights regarding other subjects as well (I'm applying for Japanese studies) :) . Do you think people applying to language-related subjects will have strictly divided interviews, such as one for literature you've read, second one for cultural stuff and what's happening today, third one with a more linguistic approach etc.? I'm just worried that I'm not preparing for interviews the right way..
Glad the philosophy test is done, even if it was completely different to the past paper online! My interview question is how in depth do the tutors expect you to know your wider reading?
I have a really nice time this week with friends and family and now I have a lot to do.i am scared a bit but I hope that I will do well in the next 6 months to have good marks this time because I want to study medicine
Heya Jamie
1. I know it's not a big deal but what do people usually wear to interview?
2. If you find it easier/faster to think in your head without thinking out loud, should you still try to think out loud? ...so they can see your thought processes.
Cheeyas 😊
In the Philosophy interview, there have been rumours doing the rounds about questions like 'How do you know that Canada exists if you have not visited it?' How do you recommend answering such wacky questions? :)
What sort of things they usually concentrate on when asking you about the book(s) you mentioned in your personal statement? For example, do they care more about the main ideas expressed throughout the book or about your critical response to it?
Miss your videos
I'll be back eventually. When I return I want an update on how things have been going :)
When asked a question that asks for an opinion, should you express your view clearly and justify it, or should you try and explore different opinions in your answer to present a balanced argument?
I'm hoping to get an interview for history and politics and was wondering what things set certain candidates above others? I know that's a very broad question but are there any particular things one could say or do that would impress them particularly?
Thanks :)
Hi there! Thought I would respond to say that I am applying for History and Politics too!! How did you find the HAT? I'm really curious to find out how other people responded to the questions because I don't know anyone else who took the exam too. What college did you apply to? I'm soo nervous to find out if I'm invited for the interviews..
this is great! I don't know anyone else who's applying for history and politics :) I'm applying to Brasenose and you? I found the HAT quite difficult particularly the first source and I've got quite a bad feeling about it...do you think the HAT is less important for History and Politics than for straight history though? How did it go for you? :) I am so nervous as well, constantly checking my emails :P
I applying to Magdalen! I was actually looking for video tours of the college when I found this video.. I struggled with the essay question on 'winners' and 'losers' because I totally didn't allow myself enough time to complete it. I ended up writing about the Vietnam War. I wish I could say how important the HAT is.. I think a good combination of written work and the HAT will determine who gets the interviews. Because I'm an international student, I had to respond to say that I am available to go to Oxford for interviews. The reminder from my college to confirm that I am able to attend was the last email I received from the college. It seems as though Oxford don't give very long notice before the interviews take place, which worries me because I will have to book flights!
same! I've heard sometimes they only give a weeks notice and since I'm from the EU I also have to book a flight. I've visited Magdalen is beautiful! Almost applied there :) I wrote about the the Cultural Revolution for the essay, but didn't have enough time to write a conclusion...but I'm trying not to worry too much about it since there's nothing I can do about it now!
Are you doing A-levels or IB? I only had 30 minutes to write my essay, so it ended up being four paragraphs long.
To what level of detail should I learn/familiarise myself with the content of the books I mentioned in my personal statement? Should I make notes on all the chapters or just the concepts that I mentioned in my personal statement? Also, should I relearn all of my AS/GCSE course to help prepare?
Do you know anything about Economics interviews? What do they ask you then? And what kind of questions are good to ask at the end of your interview?
What sort of questions would be good/nice to ask the tutors at the end of the interview and is it better to ask questions?
How many days before the interview were you sent an invitation?
Also, can you run through the technical details of a Skype interview for international applicants who can't come to Oxford?
If you could go back and change your degree choice to computer science would you? If so would you have still applied to oxford?
What sort of Philosophical questions do they ask you in your Philosophy interview?
Not to gloat but I'm his favourite.
How would an interview start off? Do I have to do a brief introduction of myself and what am i expected to say?
Are the tutors scary? My friends who got their interviews from Cambridge said their tutors were not friendly and never smiled.
Does anyone know any potential biochem qns???
Hi, I am applying for chemistry this year in oxford. May I ask if I do unbelievably badly in interview but the rest of my application is very good will i still get in? Thx much in advance
James Yu They assess your application as a whole, so they may still think you are amazing in spite of a bad interview. As something to bear in mind, every tutor has their own way of assessing ones ability to flourish at Oxford, so the weightings for each component of your application will shift depending on the person assessing it.
Tell me, please, how does one get a mission notebook ?:)
This is your best bet, gumroad.com/l/missionnotebooks ;)
Quick question you read a ppe degree how comes you are applying for a software engineer position?
klaNDS Because software engineering is cool and PPE gives you the skills to tackle most disciplines. Perhaps I should do a video explaining my decision?
sure go for it !
When and why did you learn to program?
iuhhjvhgcfrd I started a few weeks ago and it's because I want to be a software developer :)
oh so it's a very recent thing! That's cool
The like to watch ratio is almost 1:2 :)
***** That's why you guys are so awesome, though I hope you'll tell me if the stuff I'm making isn't helpful or hard to understand.
I will be away for half a year because I have exams to go to the collage so hope to me good luck ,please.
granian chaseb Best of luck in your goal to become a medic :)