Cambridge Interview: Advice from Admissions Tutor and Interviewer
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 21. 07. 2024
- Dr Matthew Harper is one of the Admissions Tutors for Science at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. He interviews Medicine applicants and plays a big role in deciding who gets an offer for most science subjects, which is why what he has to say is very useful to any applicants to Cambridge (and Oxford).
(Apologies for low resolution, this was meant to be filmed in-person but I got coronavirus)
đââïž About me:
I'm a student at the University of Cambridge studying Natural Sciences, and I make videos that can help you with studying and applying to universities such as Oxbridge. I also offer tutoring for subjects including biology, chemistry, and maths (contact via website).
đ Get in touch: ilyacarey.com/contact
đ· Instagram: / ilyacambridge
0:00 Introduction
0:20 Format of 2020 interviews? What to expect?
2:21 How to prepare for interview?
7:31 What if you don't know the answer?
10:24 Can't people Google answers in an online interview?
11:46 Should you bring anything to your interview?
14:29 Does personality matter?
17:29 Will they ask me about my personal statement?
22:10 When do you hear if you have an interview?
24:42 How do you decide who gets an interview?
26:39 What to wear?
28:11 Final remarks?
Book I recommend: amzn.to/3qFGTgW
My shooting gear:
đïž My microphone: amzn.to/2ZNDrDV
đ My tripod: amzn.to/3smlLeW
đ· My camera: amzn.to/3st7gWR
đĄ My lighting: amzn.to/3kqRsAU
My tech:
đ§ My headphones: amzn.to/3aWl6v4
đ» My laptop: amzn.to/2ZNS1vi
đ± My phone: amzn.to/3qWgU3U
𧟠My scientific calculator: amzn.to/3aUivBF
A-level revision books I used (check the examboard):
đ§Ș OCR A Chemistry: amzn.to/3aU2D1U
đ§Ș AQA Chemistry: amzn.to/3qVkk71
𧏠OCR A Biology: amzn.to/3uzcNNd
𧏠AQA Biology: amzn.to/2O5iiT2
Wow the admissions tutor seems so relaxed about it all itâs actually very comforting
Awesome! This is good information for me
i like that he talks about how they are not after polished students. I feel like a lot of people get nervous about looking polished for the interview because they think that the expectation will be there but if they know it is not there, then they will feel better about the interview. Great video Ilya! You asked good questions
Glad you liked it! And yeah I agree, it's not about being polished, it's about what you say and not how you say it!
P
Got my interview on Thursday. This helped so much. Thanks!
Thanks for making this vid, I watched it before my interview and somehow got an offer today so cheers mate
This is by far the most helpful video about oxbridge interviews I have ever seen! Thank you so much - I have mine next week :) (English)
Thank you and good luck!
This is such a helpful video in which explains all the details of the process and questions I got. Appreciate it!
love the prof btw
My interview is next week and this has helped calm me so much from stress of the zoom interviews...
This is a fantastic video. Watched it from start to end. I think a lot of students at Oxbridge make some of the points made in this video, but there is nothing like hearing it directly from the decision makers themselves.
This will help so many students familiarise themselves with the process.
Thank you! This means a lot to me!
This has been so helpful!
This helpful, I tend to get nervous on interviews.
Itâs Dr Harper - what a legend! đ
Enormously helpful Thank you very much for this
This popped up in my recommended and my interview is today!! Very helpful
Good luck!
Thank you for this the questions were spot on
got my interview offer today so this will be helpful :D
Congratulations!
Congratulations!! What college?
Congrats xx which college
@@okok-ee7qv oops sorry for the late reply, i JUST saw this now. selwyn!
@@rosie6 oops sorry for the late reply, i JUST saw this now. selwyn!
Very helpful, thank you!
I can't thank you enough for this đ All your questions are super helpful!!
Glad you liked it! Share it with friends if you think it could help them!
thank you so much!!! interview is on monday!!!!
Good luck!
thanks both of you
I am giving my MPhil in Advanced Computer Science interview on Wednesday. This is super helpful! Thank you Ilya!
Good luck! Not sure this video is that relevant because it's for undergrad but hopefully it can help a bit!
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice Oh thanks for that information. There were some very useful pointers for me nevertheless :)
at 11:40 I was like, hm, it makes sense, and just right after you say it
I explode :D
Very useful video that I will pass to my students, thanks!
oh no!!! seeing this video now after i have just finished my interview, hopefully I will make it
Did you make it?
I hope you did.
Heâs going to interview me in exactly 12 days!đ
I think I have 2% chance getting in đI would never consider myself to be the âbest intellectual studentâ but I am so so in love with my subject and the course specifically at Cambridge. I do however think I am quite a good problem solver and am adaptable. I find it very easy to make links & explain things. I really donât think Iâll be getting in but at-least I enjoyed the experience :))
I am a good student, I got all a*s at GCSE and can likely meet the entrance requirements, but I still donât think Iâm an âexcellentâ student. I do however consider myself an innovative thinker
@@katemorley8147 I think it's great if you do love your subject and your course, because that's what they want, and it's good if you are a problem solver and adaptable. Based on what you're saying I think you'd make a good application to Cambridge so believe in yourself! You don't have to be a prodigy to get into Cambridge.
Yeah, in fact, I can totally resonate with you. Those are the sort of academic skills(i.e. identifying correlations/oratorical skills), that I'd say I'm well-versed at too. However, the notion that only the "best intellectuals are admitted into Cambridge", did make me doubt my chances too. On reflection, I came to realise that my wider reading(newly gained knowledge), application of the aforementioned skills and enthusiasm for my subject could be take me far, and convey my worthiness of an offer.
Fast forward, I've been offered a place at Homerton College, Cambridge. (HOORAY)
How did it go for you Katie?
Super helpful đIf the programm (master in education in oxbridge) one is applying to asks for stronger 2:1 from any background, will a first from education background be a definite advantage for the applicant? Or it does not make that much difference once we pass the application requirement
I'd say having a first would strengthen your application
This was really helpful, thanks! :D
I was wondering, can a good interview compensate for an average BMAT score? I got 5, 6.6, and 3A, with good IGCSEs and a 45/45 predicted. I'm an overseas applicant, and given the quota and EU applicants being considered overseas this year, I'm worried about how competitive I would be. Thank you so much!
A strong interview performance will increase your chances of getting in and could compensate for less strong aspects of your application. Good luck!
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice Thank you!
@@ilikeeggsandwich9274 Your BMAT is more than average
Thank you for this video, it's very helpful! Although I'm still unsure about the final part of the interview where they let me ask questions. Will my question be taken into account of their decision? And if so, what kind of questions should I ask?
Asking a question that is insightful and shows genuine interest would look good for example
â@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice Alright, thank you so much!
my interviews tomorrow!
Good luck!
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice I really enjoyed it đ
@@amberburrows1397
What course? Did you receive an offer
I know that cambridge doesnt have a gcse requirement but can u tell me what is considered good like I have 5 a* 3 A and 2 b in english lang and lit do u think that because of the b I could be ignored and not even looked at as my a level are pretty good at least a*a*aa. Also I have work experience of 2 weeks in pharmacy 1 week clinic and long term care home do u think it's enough to apply for medicine. Lastly what's your advice for year 12. Let me know thank you
Hi! Your GCSEs are fine (I got a B as well). I think it's worth applying but of course I can't tell you if you'll get in. In year 12, try to stay on top of your A-levels and read around stuff you find interesting!
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice you got b in english language too? What were your gcse and a levels grades pls. Thank you!
@@dodojiji4285 I got a B I another GCSE and I'm making a video on my grades in the future!
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice great thanks
I have my interview at Jesus in 25 minutes :0
Wow good luck!
I got 6 A's, 3 A*'s and a B at GCSE. Do you think this is sufficient?
You've still got a chance. Most people who get into Cambridge have mostly A*s at GCSE, but there's many factors you need to consider. If your area or school does has low GCSE results, that increases your chances. A-level results are much more important anyway.
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice epic thanks
Yeah, and the average applicant at Cambridge, has at least 4 A-A* grades at GCSE. Quite frankly, you surpass the average GCSE grades for a Cambridge candidate.
However, this GCSE standard does vary across courses. For instance, I think the average applicant for Medicine at Cambridge has notched up at least 7 A*(or equivalent) grades.
@@craigsamuel7320 That's cool, I was still rejected though
@@AB-ep3yf Were you giving any feedback why your application was rejected please? Your GCSE grades are very good!
I had mine for English 2 days ago. Can I just ask- if an interviewer challenges something in your personal statement, and you try and defend your point for like 15 seconds but eventually admit theyâre right - is that a bad thing? Did the interviewer want more defence?
It really depends on the situation and I can't give a yes or no answer. I don't know what the interviewer's intentions were, but it was possible that they were trying to see if you'd cave in or that they genuinely disagreed with you, or something else. I'm sure that they understand that you're nervous and overall I don't think I can say it's necessarily good or bad. However, it's important to realise the interview is over so there's no point stressing about it. Good luck with the rest of your application!
Me seeing this video after my interview đ„
Oof
Did you receive an offer?
I 've conducted my own on-line assessment of these people, and have decided that they are not fit for purpose.
this year
1:38 1:48
Year, ye..ar, not yeeer.
I only got 8 days notice đđŹ
Offer?
@@craigsamuel7320 nopeđwby :)
@@katemorley8147
Yeah, I got into Cambridge!
@@craigsamuel7320 ah well done! Looking back although it does hurt a teeny bit (Iâve wanted to go since I was 10) I also am thankful that the decision was taken out of my hands because subconsciously I knew Iâd be much happier elsewhere. What course? Xxx
@@katemorley8147
Hey, that's the sort of mindset I truly do admire. I applied for Education, alongside the international Development and Policy track at Cambridge.
10!!!
Were you privately educated? University certainly didn't cross my mind at the age of 10, nevermind Cambridgeđ
Dude is hot. He will get offered a place.
nerd
Ed go away
He sounds like a proper prat with that elitist accent lol. Also naming a college after a crazy cult leader isn't very smart
Jesus college is not the college's real name, it's like 20 words and on Wikipedia. Crazy cult leader is a bit of an insensitive term for someone who is respected by probably billions of people (Christians + others). And having a posh accent doesn't make you a prat, realistically you don't choose your accent. Being a prat makes you a prat.
@@IlyasCambridgeAdvice yep respected by brainwashed delusional people with little sense & most adults that speak with a posh accent adopt it to make themselves feel superior. They werenât speaking like that in their teens. Itâs a conscious choice. Also theology is still big in both Cambridge/ Oxford which demonstrates how those unis are still stuck in the dark ages in some departments
Oh dear, you donât have any idea about Cambridge history, do you? A bit of Wikipedia research would have saved you from this embarrassing remark. Also, I suspect by âelitistâ you actually mean âeducatedâ, in which case youâre right, he does appear to be guilty as charged. You know, different contexts require different stylistic levels of language: this is a pretty formal context because heâs not here as Ilyaâs mate, but as the admissions tutor at a well-respected college at Cambridge, and theyâre not having a chat about life in general, so he needs to sound slightly more formal than in a conversation with his friends back home at a local pub.
He has a posh accent (it's funny how he says "year"), but he comes across as very lovely and sweet đ
Why don't you read some more about the person Jesus and his leadership before calling him a crazy cult leader đ
In the gospels Jesus led people by telling them to love one another, caring for the poor and the sick, and those who were rejected by society. He called out people's BS when they were manipulative and controlling over others.
Whether you believe the stories true or not, those are not the behaviour of a crazy cult leader