University interviews
Before
Interview
Try and stay relaxed. OK, so that might be easier said than done, but take your time over your responses. Take a deep breath before you answer to give yourself time to digest what you’ve been asked and get your thoughts straight.
If you didn’t hear the question, or didn’t understand it, don’t be afraid to speak up. And if you really don’t know something, admit it rather than trying to blag it.
Think of ten keywords or phrases that sum up why you deserve a place on the course, and try to drop each of them into your answers. Think achievements (exam results, prizes or the student newspaper you set up at school), charity work, sporting success, or that time you met your favourite biologist.
You could also drop in some of the things you’ve learnt from your preparation – you really like the way the course is taught through small discussion groups than impersonal lectures, for instance.
Push can’t predict your interview questions for you, but you can anticipate some of the main ones by approaching it from your subject:
- Why do you want to study x,y or z?
- Why do you want to study it here?
- What do you think about the latest developments in the field?
- What hobbies and outside interests do you have?
- What’s your favourite book / author, and why?
- Who do you admire, and why?
- When did you realise you wanted to act?
- Tell me more about that time you went to Africa to build an orphanage…?
- What have you learnt from being captain of the football team?
- What do you enjoy or dislike most about school?
- What are your strengths or weaknesses?
- What career plans do you have and how does your work experience relate?
Don’t forget it’s not all one-way, though. This is also your chance to find out if this is somewhere you can live for the next three years (or more), and that the tutors and the course are going to live up to your expectations. And at around ten grand a year, you can see why Push bangs on about finding the right university for you.
From your own prep looking over prospectuses, the Push profile and course outlines, what else do you need to know to decide about studying here?
- Are there strong links to industry?
- Is there help finding a job afterwards, or in arranging work experience?
Last updated on: 12 November 2008