Geography Interview - Wish I'd Known (Expert Oxford & Cambridge Application Advice)
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.
What’s the format?
The Oxbridge interview process normally consists of two half-hour interviews. Each college will have their respective tutors (you can find out who they are online), with one that is focused on physical geography and the other on human geography. You can expect the interviews to follow the expected type of geography.
The interviews will normally consist of questions that test your ability to problem solve and think outside the box. It should be challenging but fun, letting you explore controversial issues and giving you an opportunity to form your own arguments. Physical interviews will often include having to interpret some graphs or figures. Human interviews will often involve the discussion of a controversy, for example, in my interview it was the controversy surrounding Inuits hunting whales using modern technology. In many of these cases, the actual answer isn’t that important, but rather the thought process behind your answer. So, if you are unfamiliar with the topic, don’t worry! Just do your best to come to a logical conclusion.
You may also have realised that this year, anyone applying for Oxford B.A. Geography this year did not have to sit the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). Due to the university changing to an internal exam, this year’s applicants have gotten lucky with fewer hurdles to jump through!
Finally, you may find that some applicants will be scheduled for four interviews rather than two. Do not worry about it! Some applicants get extra interviews to help the university balance ability between colleges. It has no effect on your probability of getting an offer. In fact, I was a successful candidate and I had two interviews like most of the applicants. You may even find that you end up receiving an offer from a college you didn’t interview at! This balancing is what helps make sure the right applicants get a place!
Some Interview preparation advice
Now we have gotten some of the details out of the way, this section will be focused on what you can do before your interview to prep.
Besides researching the course, the number one, most important preparation you can do is to READ. Geography is half skill, half content. The only way to develop the skills necessary to stand out is to read enough to practice these skills. What are these skills? They are the ability to quickly understand and synthesise the information you get, the ability to communicate this synthesis to another individual, the ability to challenge an opinion or argument and the ability to come up with your own argument AND defend it!
This means that when you read, you should read with the intention of criticising every single point the author makes. Challenge the assumptions, challenge the evidence and challenge the solution. Make up your own mind whether you agree with the author, don’t just readily agree without considering the opposing arguments. A great place to start with this kind of reading is through reading the Geographical Review. Otherwise, browse your local library or bookstore and pick up a book on a topic that you enjoy. Personally, I ended up reading The Spirit Level by Kate Pickett. Additionally, Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond gives a nice summary of the last 13,000 years.
The second most important preparation to complete is to research who will be interviewing you. Each college has its own respective tutors. Search this up online and there will be details on what they specialise in. If what they specialise in aligns well with your interests, then you can be pretty certain you’ll have a fun interview! Otherwise, give their favourite topic a few hours of research. You may find what you learn helpful in the interview!
The final important point to consider is to find someone to practice interviews with. Having lots of practice will help you get more comfortable in interview conditions, which should reduce stress during the real deal! Most schools would be happy to run practice interviews if you ask. Otherwise, try asking any Oxford or Cambridge alumni from your school. If you would like some professional help, the Doxa tutors are available!
What to do on the day?
RELAX!
Being stressed out during interviews is common. As a past Senior Access Ambassador, I have seen my fair share of panicking students. But the key advice I have for the interview period is to do what makes you feel comfortable. Your mind works best and flows most creatively when you are relaxed; which will give you best shot at success! Try not to overthink the process, this is not a life or death situation. Realistically, there is not much you can do you prepare at this point, so just try to enjoy yourself. I spent most of my time socialising with the other applicants, playing board games, table tennis and exploring Oxford. Entering your interviews relaxed will give you a creative edge! How you spend your time is up to you, so do what makes you comfortable!
Clothes?
You don’t have to come in a suit, but also please don’t go in a hoodie. Whether you like it or not, your clothing makes a big part of your first impression. The tutors want you to be comfortable with what you’re wearing, but also want you to remember that this is quite a professional event. Therefore, I recommend that you wear something smart, like a jumper.
Do not try to grade yourself after an interview!
I was told before my interview that you really cannot tell how well you did during your interview. I heard stories that some people who thought they did amazingly well didn’t receive an offer, whilst others who thought they failed did. To be honest, I was sceptical at first, until I became the latter. After my interviews, I was so absolutely certain that I failed that when I got home and my parents asked me how it went, I told them to pretend the whole thing had never happened! There were moments in my interview when I got stuck on a question for what seemed like 5+ minutes, moments when my arguments were broken apart and moments when I was just…. confused. Yet, I got an offer! Remember that the process will be challenging, and they are judging you on more than just your answer. It is pretty much impossible to gauge how you did. So, just see the interview as an experience, believe in yourself, and remember that you should be proud of making it to an Oxbridge interview!
Closing Remarks
I hope this post was useful, whether it helped to clarify the interview process or just calmed your nerves slightly. Remember that this interview will be just one of the many opportunities that you will have in your life. Recognise that it is an important moment, but also not a moment that will define you. Regardless of the result, be proud of what you have achieved. Getting an interview at Oxbridge is not an easy task! Finally, I wish you the best of luck for your interviews!
Practice Questions (and how I would answer)
If I were to visit the area where you live, what would I be interested in?
“In the area where I live, there has been quite a lot of real estate development. What’s interesting about this development is that the new buildings look very different to the existing housing. My area has historically been an area with significant council housing, reflecting the socio-economic conditions present. These new buildings appear to be catered for a wealthier demographic, with higher prices advertised than the local houses. I think that this is particularly interesting because it could become a very clear example of gentrification taking place. In the coming years, we may see increasingly wealthier people moving in, bringing with them more expensive local shops that may oust the local stores out the area. As the area becomes wealthier, it may push out the current residents as it becomes too expensive for them to stay.”
For this question, you could answer in a variety of ways, but I decided to take it down a human geography route. I thought about what geographical concepts I could relate to my local area. Having picked out some significant real estate development, I considered the impacts of the development. The key here is to demonstrate that you can see the world through the ‘eyes of a geographer’. Be prepared by understanding the concepts that you have learned in school and try to apply them to what you see around you.
Why should we conserve?
“I think there are a lot of different reasons for us to conserve. We conserve for cultural reasons, for environmental reasons and for practical reasons. Culturally, conserving monuments, statues or places of heritage protects human history. This kind of conservation allows for the continuation of social debates, historical lessons and even controversies. For example, the Rhodes statues recently ignited debates regarding legacy. Conservation in a more popular stream, like National Parks or Conservation parks, also serve important purposes. Nature offers significant intrinsic and practical value. Whether this means protecting the ideology that all life deserves to exist, or that we can draw information and understanding from the results of millions of years of evolution in nature. In order to genetically modify crops, we often use wild strains of plants in the process. For example, to protect banana crops from the Cavendish disease, wild strains could prove invaluable. If we destroy too much habitat, we could lose these opportunities to protect or even further our way of life. Given these reasons, I believe that conservation efforts are well justified.”
In this question, it is key to back up your arguments with evidence. By using real-world examples, it also demonstrates that you can apply your knowledge of ongoing events to areas of geographical concern. I would advise that you stay up to date with the news for this reason. I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the answer is very clearly structured, stating the reasons and then providing evidence for each reason. You should always aim to have a structured answer. It helps both you and your interviewer understand your thought process.
This article was written by Alvin (Oxford - Geography)
If you find this content useful, please visit Alvin's profile for further information on applying to Oxbridge. Alternatively, book support now with Alvin, using the form below.
Author: Alvin - Oxford
BA Geography
During my time at Oxford, I assisted in 3 open days and 2 interview periods, also giving multiple Q&A sessions for college organised access events. Eventually becoming a senior member of the Christ Church access programme.
