There is one sure-fire way to increase your chances of getting a place at your dream university.
What is this? Super-curricular activities.
My passion for dentistry stems from witnessing my uncle treating emergency patients at his dental clinic while on holiday two years ago. This has led me to pursue dentistry as I observed how dentists have the ability to provide great comfort and care to numerous people. This experience demonstrated to me how it is a career where "no one size fits all" and it is this unique drive that appeals to me the most.
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Natural Sciences have played a key part in my personal and academic life since childhood, from watching programmes with my parents about forensic history or reading books about the development of the universe, such as The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins.
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Choosing to interview demonstrates your interest: Interviewing is a way demonstrate your interest, a factor that many colleges consider in the admissions process.
In February 2019, I attended the AAAS conference in Washington to find out about the way science interacts with global issues. While I was there, I was struck by the breadth of knowledge presented by the attendees.
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Biochemistry fascinates me. It combines the two disciplines I most enjoy to explain important, complex concepts such as cellular communication, metabolism and the functions of enzymes.
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I was introduced to Chemical Engineering aged eleven, during my stay at a hotel in Colombo. The manager explained their sustainability programme and how chlorine is used to neutralise water and inhibit bacteria from reproducing, thus making the water pure and safe.
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When you open that email telling you that you’ve been invited to interview for Modern Languages, you’re probably filled with happiness and dread in equal measure. Hopefully, by the time you’ve finished reading this short guide to Modern Languages interviews, you’ll feel a bit more at ease.
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For Engineering, you will typically have two interviews. Broadly speaking, these will be split into a technical interview and a more general interview. In the technical interview, you will be confronted with problems based on your mathematics and physics syllabi.
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I both fear and admire the power of genetics. While genome editing has the potential to treat currently incurable congenital diseases, the prospect of using this technology for biological enhancement could lead to unforeseen impacts on society.
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Congratulations! You have an Oxbridge interview for Geography. Exciting stuff, but also nerve-racking. The process can be stressful and challenging, but it should also be enjoyable! So, to help you calm your nerves, I have written this article to clarify the process and offer some advice.
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It can be tempting to think that biology interviews require you to know all the facts. You might feel like you’ll be expected to spurt the DNA sequences of every model organism. It can also be tempting by trying to just revise the facts in the textbook. But this isn’t what admission tutors are looking for in an Oxbridge interview.
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Oxford requires you to include a response to an art object, of no more than 750 words, in your application. It’s worth starting this at the earliest opportunity so that you have plenty of time to draft and redraft it. Hopefully, this should be a reasonably pleasant exercise…
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The most important point I want to put across to you is to try and enjoy the interview process, as hard as that is to do. The tutors are not trying to catch you out with the questions and problems you have never seen before, but are instead trying to determine how you think and approach new problems…
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The Oxbridge Interview process is extremely nerve-wracking and demanding for all subjects, and Physical Natural Sciences (Or Phys Nat Sci for short) poses no exception. That being said, the interview process for Phys Nat Sci is far more predictable in form than for many other subjects…
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Oxbridge Medicine interviews are distinct from all other medical schools and require a different approach in terms of preparation. In this article, I hope to dispel any myths about the interview, share some tips to success and give some general advice about the best way to approach the seemingly ‘impossible questions.’
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Challenging as it may be, interview is a hugely rewarding experience. This blog gives you a primer in the main steps for preparation. Everyone has their own style, but these principles should steer you in the right direction. You will never feel fully prepared for your interview. This is where prioritising is key…
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When I started my application to Oxford, I had never heard of PPL. It was introduced to me through a tutor at my college who thought that my combined passion for science and humanities would make me a solid candidate for PPL…
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Prior to starting my application, I distinctly remember being told by a brother of my friend, who had applied for HSPS the year before, that he had been sent out of the interview after failing to answer the first question (‘Explain this glass of water in regard to HSPS’) in a satisfactory manner.
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Practice questions to get you into the Interview mindset. 1) What is the role of myth in history? 2) Should historians seek to achieve objectivity, and can they ever succeed? 3) Is visiting historical sites useful to a historian?..
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Chemistry as the “central science“ appeals to me due to its interdisciplinary reach, and fascinating areas of research: from organic chemistry to quantum mechanics and materials. Attending a chemistry masterclass at Cambridge University inspired me to explore the science further,
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This article will give you a brief introduction to the main subfields of political science that are taught and studied at Oxford, and how to best prepare for each one by taking you through the introductory literature.
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The English interview is, essentially, a couple of hours in which you’re allowed to discuss the entire body of English literature with leading experts in the field. That may sound daunting, but it’s also a very exciting opportunity…
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Hearing about my mother's experiences growing up in Belfast in the 70's made me realise how important an understanding of history is to comprehend today's politics. Bomb scares, curfews, soldiers on the streets were all part of her daily life. Segregated education meant that she never met a Catholic until she was 19.
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You’ll be pleased to know that both Oxford and Cambridge have large international student communities. So, you should in no way feel set back by reason of your nationality…
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By the time you arrive at the interview stage, your application would have passed through many hands, and been reviewed thoroughly by your tutors. They will know already what your grades are like…
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Aged six, I attended a general science exhibition at the Science Museum, where the concept of kinetic energy was introduced, and my interest in Physics was sparked. While studying for my GCSEs, I found that Physics and Mathematics inspired me, so I chose both as my Higher Level IB subjects.
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There is a lot of bad advice given to students about interviews. Some of this comes from the press and speculation on internet forums. However, a lot also comes from well-meaning…
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The interview is typically the most nerve racking part of the entire application process. Sitting down face to face with your potential tutors and being quizzed by world class scholars…
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The interview is typically the most nerve racking part of the entire application process. Sitting down face to face with your potential future tutors and being quizzed by world class…
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Your Philosophy interview is likely to be mentally stimulating, intellectually challenging and often at times downright mind boggling. Either way, it is likely to be a memorable experience…
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Defending one’s argument is essential to performing well in the Oxbridge interview. I had done so passionately; we had started by agreeing that spheroids had a lot in common with flat…
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