The Interview

The Questions

• What are interviews really like? Answer
• I'm really worried about the interview! What should I do? Answer
• I've heard scary stories about interviewers hiding in cupboards/burning newspapers/smoking cigars in your face/throwing bricks through windows. Are they true? Answer
• Any top secret interview tips? Answer
• I got an offer! What now? Answer
• I've been pooled! What now? Answer

The Answers

What are interviews really like?

Interviews differ between subjects. Forget all the stories you might have heard of interviewers putting you on the spot, asking impossible questions, or the like. They are not true. 100% of all the interviews are conducted in a professional and enjoyable atmosphere between students and staff of the College, and the admissions office receives many letters from interviewees- both successful and unsuccessful- to say how much they enjoyed the experience! Generally, however, take the following points into consideration when preparing for you interview - mind you: past success is not a guarantee for the future!

Most importantly, everybody is terrified. They really are. All of them. Those who do not seem nervous are merely very good at hiding it. What you really need to do before an interview is forget about everybody else and give the best you can. You might do well, and then again, you might do not so well - but at least, you've done your best. Don't mind the rest.

The interview is your chance to sparkle- to show the interviewer why they should choose you over all the other candidates. Therefore go in with everything you've got. Don't hold back. Don't be afraid to express your opinion - especially true in the Social Sciences. If you are asked a question which you don't understand, or on material that you've not yet covered, then say- the interviewer is not trying to catch you out, but they may promt you through to an answer anyway- part of the interview process is to discover how you think and work through problems. Most likely, you will have two interviews - one more or less subject-related, and one more on personal motivation and background. Sometimes a reading text for discussion is presented to you, sometimes you have to sit a test - and there are plans to introduce a general admissions test as well. See College admissions policies here. There is information here about STEP papers (which are usually mandatory for maths applicants), the BMAT (tests for medicine and veterinary medicine) and LNAT (Law test).

Typically, your interviewers - usually Fellows of the College in your subject area - will start off with a bit of personal information on your application, before moving into some of your submitted texts or tests. They use these as a stepping-stone for a discussion that could go anywhere from Marx to Madonna. What they are looking for, is someone who can understand an argument or an opinion, analyse it and to talk about its pros and cons. Then, a student must be able to also form their own opinion on the subject. This is why it is only necessary to be aware of the current affairs in your subject area - the interview is not to test your knowledge, but to take a look inside what's going on in that pretty head of yours.

Applicants will be judged on their intellectual merit alone. There are no other points taken into consideration, but it doesn't all depend on your past performance. Far more importantly, your academic potential will be used as a measure of your capabilities. Of course you need to show good grades throughout school, but active participation in extra-curricular activities is also indicative of talent and enthusiasm.

Based on your potential, the College will decide whether or not to make you an offer, so circumstances such as religion, your personal convictions or your sexuality will not be taken into account. As long as you share the eagerness to learn and the curiosity to study and the enthusiasm to make an active contribution to College life, there will be a place for you on Downing College . And you will look back on your interview as a thrilling yet satisfying experience!

I'm really worried about the interview! What should I do?

See if you can organise a mock interview at your school, or at least discuss some subject related topics with your teacher. Look up the names of your interviwers on the list of fellows - you'll probably be able to see a photo of them so they won't be so scary when you meet them!

I've heard scary stories about interviewers hiding in cupboards/burning newspapers/smoking cigars in your face/throwing bricks through windows. Are they true?

No. Remember, the interviewer wants you to feel relaxed so they can get to know you and assess your potential. It's in no-one's interest if you are terrified! The interview "horror stories" are generally urban myths.

I got an offer! What now?

Hooray! The hard part is over. Now, concentrate on getting those pesky grades.

I've been pooled! What now?

Pooling occurs where you are a strong candidate, but there are too many applicants for your subject at one college and not enough at another. You may be (a) Asked to attend another interview (b) Be offered a place by another college immediately (c) Not secure a place at another college

See the Cambridge prospectus for more details about the pool.

I have not been offered a place.

Cambridge gets an average of three to four applicants per place, so three to four applicants will have to be turned down for every applicant that is successful. Over 4000 applicants with straight A grades at A-level were not offered places in 2002. It is very difficult for admissions tutors to judge candidates on paper if they are all predicted AAB or more, so interviews are opportunities for tutors to meet students to help the decision process. Unfortunately, some students will have to be turned down, and it is not the end of the world. There are plenty of other excellent universities around the country, and you will have just as good a time studying there!!

Based on FAQ originally compiled by Matt Mayer, Revised by Krystyna Larkham
Page last updated 29 Aug 2007 (eaw45)