Description: Cambridge graduate, Vega shares her experience with helping students ace Oxbridge interviews by perfecting their Personal Statements.
Showcase your Skills
When it comes to Oxbridge applications, especially the personal statement and interview, there is no set formula for achieving a successful application.
Each person has individual skills and achievements.
It is more important to showcase these attributes in the personal statement and in the interview, rather than conform to a standard template of what the ‘ideal’ application is.
You should bear in mind that anything you mention in the personal statement may be brought up in the interview, so consider carefully what you include.
Below are some general, non-subject-specific pointers which may be useful in this regard.
Read Around your Subject
This may initially sound like a daunting task. Where is the right place to begin?
This can especially be the case if you are applying to study a subject you have had limited experience with in school, for example, Law or an ab initio languages course.
One way to combat the ‘where to start?’ question is to read a primary text, for example, a historical work or document.
Or perhaps a work in the language you intend to study, and then complement it with a modern commentary or book on the same topic.
In this way, you can engage in contemporary debates or issues in your subject area that you feel passionate about and confident in discussing at the interview.
Did reading this book, or watching that documentary, change the way you think, and why?
There is no need to go overboard, however, and there is certainly no expectation for you to have read everything.
A thoughtful selection of two or three books which you are able to comment on and engage with originally (not just quote!) will be more effective than simply listing the works that you have read.
Consider Doing an EPQ
In university admissions interviews, particularly for Oxbridge, it is important that you come across as a motivated independent worker.
Universities are looking for an original thinker and one way to demonstrate that is by doing an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification).
This qualification is a great way to engage with your subject academically above and beyond the curriculum, and also helps to build up independent research skills.
The EPQ counts as 28 UCAS points, or half an A-Level (according to the AQA website), so it contributes both academically to the strength of your application, as well as providing you with something original and dynamic to discuss at the interview.
When formulating your research question, you may want to consider any contemporary issues or ongoing debates in your field.
Perhaps suggest a solution to your findings.
The EPQ does not, of course, have to be strictly about the subject you are intending on applying for at university.
You may have other passions and interests outside of your field, but it is an opportunity to produce a piece of well-researched work which you feel strongly about and would be able to discuss effectively at the interview.
Volunteer in a Relevant Field
Aside from the studious elements of the personal statement and your academic achievements, you may want to consider doing some volunteer work.
For example, you may decide to volunteer in your local library, museum, or animal shelter.
Perhaps even go on an archaeological dig if you have the opportunity.
If subject-specific volunteering opportunities are not available to you, it may still be personally rewarding to get involved with your local community in a way that extends beyond university applications.
Think Out Loud and Discuss
At the interview, you may be questioned on a passage of unseen text, asked to solve an unfamiliar problem, or presented with an object or image and asked to discuss it.
In these scenarios, it is essential to think out loud. This is simply so you can more effectively problem-solve in a high-stress environment.
It can also help the interviewer follow your approach to the problem.
One way to practice this is to discuss topics with your peers. Perhaps in a school club or society, or simply informally.
Another way to practice this is to challenge yourself while reading, or solving a problem.
Ask yourself why you have come to that opinion, or why you have chosen a particular method to solve that particular problem.
Being able to ask and answer ‘why’ questions is key not just to the interview.
This applied to the Oxbridge experience in general and helps to present yourself in your application as an independent thinker who is confident in explaining why, as well as what, they think.
This is no means an exhaustive list, but these pointers may provide inspiration for an ongoing or future application to Oxford or Cambridge.
Ultimately, there is also no way to ‘revise’ for an Oxbridge interview. Sitting a few ‘mock’ interviews definitely helps with confidence and knowing generally what to expect.
Supplying information in your personal statement that you feel passionate and confident about is key. It helps you stand out from the crowd, both on paper and in an interview setting.
By tutor Vega
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