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Interviews - Aargh!!
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hey everyone,
I've just got a letter from Cambridge who I applied to this year, saying they want me for interview on 11th.
I'm really beginning to panic - I feel inferior to all the other cambridge applicants who seem to know EVERYTHING and have A*s in 20 GCSEs and another 6 A Levels...
I know NOTHING about current affairs and i feel totally unprepared... anyone else in the same situation???
I feel so stressed about it - how do I calm down so I'm not in a wreck by the time I go up there?
I've just got a letter from Cambridge who I applied to this year, saying they want me for interview on 11th.
I'm really beginning to panic - I feel inferior to all the other cambridge applicants who seem to know EVERYTHING and have A*s in 20 GCSEs and another 6 A Levels...
I know NOTHING about current affairs and i feel totally unprepared... anyone else in the same situation???
I feel so stressed about it - how do I calm down so I'm not in a wreck by the time I go up there?
Post edited by JustV on
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They called me and invited me down again, I thought hey I might as well just go. So I went, was chilled, had a chat with the bloke in the interview, I had to do an exam in the morning and he went over my paper.
They ended up making me an unconditional offer, he he.
ANYWAY. DON'T FEEL INFERIOR. They obviously like what they have seen of you. Don't compare yourself to others. You've done well just to be offered an interview.
What subject have you applied for?
I have read some good reviews about going to Oxbridge interviews on this site..here's a link for you:
http://194.162.232.152/servlets/GuideConnector?template=prd_main&sessionID=eTRF7wkNTi%2d%5f&itemID=52612&action=removeSessionID
sorry about the length of the link but there's some good stuff there.
You have enough time. Make sure you read the quality broadsheets and sunday papers.
Good luck.
I know I shouldn't be so worried but I keep seeing people around me and comparing myself, thinking 'how do I stand a chance if this is my competition?!'
Thanks for the link - useful
I'm applying for modern languages... usually not as hard to get into as something like PPE or Law... I'm just hoping they won't look to much at my academic record or my no. of A Levels and will just go for my enthusiasm - cos I reeeally want to do it!
My mind has been on other things following my boyfriend recently breaking up with me and i'm really not ready for this.
Plus my dad and brother both went to oxford which gives it lots of lovely pressure (although not from them but from myself),a nd i do want to go there, but have no chance.
Anyway this isn't really helping...but just what i want to say is, you're not the only one feeling that way and the ones who are really smug about being excellent probably aren't, and are less likely to get in if they annoy the professors by being like that!!
So good luck, you'll be fine, and don't worry. let us know how it goes!!
I ain't stopping panicking but I spose I know I'm not the only one!
Good luck to you too
I had an interview for Natural Science at Christ's College, Cambridge on Saturday. My best advice would be to try to keep calm about it. Arrive about 20 minutes early and walk round the college grounds for a while, working out where your interview's going to be and stuff - this will really help to steady your nerves and let you get used to the surroundings.
The overwhelming majority of interviewers will just be really nice people - mine certainly were. They're not trying to trick you or catch you out with anything, just want to judge if you can think. Thus it's really important not to try to be someone you're not - they'll pick up on it if you're being fake.
As PussyKatty said, try not to think about comparing yourself to the other applicants. I sat waiting to go into one of my interviews and could hear the applicant before me (public school twat type) having a really good laugh with the tutor. I started to get nervous, thinking I could never do that. When I got in there though, I found myself having an involved conversation in exactly the same way. Don't think about the other applicants.
Anyway, best of luck - I'm sure you'll do fine!
Which college and subject are you applying for?
prepare well
the interview
body language
Good Luck
Susie
What languages have you actually applied for? I don't know anyone else who has applied for languages and I don't really know what sort of thing they're going to ask.
It's all very daunting at the moment!
Anyway...I'm going up on the 11th so I probably won't get to hear how it was before I leave! Anyway, good luck again, it really will be fine...don't panic TOO much!
...am calming slightly, thanks for everyone's reassurance
my goddddd.... :nervous:
but... bet you both get in
good luck
Wow, i can't believe it, i've been running round the house screaming...
*ahem* anyway just to say thank u so much to all u lot who gave me tips for the interview and also - xapis and you others, have u heard??? hope u were successful
xx
I didn't get in....
I'm not that bothered anymore though, just have to decide between UCL and Durham. Funnily enough I'm still in contact with most of the people I met and out of about 11 of them, only 2 got in!! Even the most likely, so it's weird, but I wasn't expecting to get in and I didn't, so it's okay!!
I'm really pleased for you!!
I'm at Durham so perhaps
Which college/society did you apply to?
I guess there's always something to do and is it easy to go to other cities..Newcastle?
I have so many questions and things i need to work out! argh! I'm going up to Durham on the 15th to suss it all out!
I've got a place at Trevelyan. BBB offer. Where are you?
It isn't a massive problem being so far away. Trains are pretty good, you just need to make sure that you can either drive yourself up or have kindly parents or brothers/sisters who will drive you and your stuff up and back at the beginning and end of each term. Remember, at a Hill college (and some Bailey properties) you will have to move out during each holiday).
It's very easy to get to Newcastle. You can go on the train about every 30 mins, and they NEVER check to see if you have a ticket so it doesn't cost anything either
When you come up on the 15th, if you are staying in Trev's accomodation, make sure you try the food to make sure you'll be happy eating that 3 times a day. Have a look at the Junior Common Room calendar and see if they have a lot of events going on, too. From what I remember of Trev's the bar is OK (Hexagonal for some reason) and the accomodation is pretty good. If you're going to bring a computer with you, check to see how hard it is to get a computer with networking installed in your room.
Other than that, check out the bars whereever you can, and also check out the Union!
I quite liked the look of the college so I'm not sure about trying to transfer.
I'm definitely going to try and suss out all the sorts of things you mentioned, thanks a lot for the help and advice!!
I was in a college on the Bailey and I hated it, I would much have prefered to have been in the lovely modern hill colleges. Stick to the choice you've made, Durham experience will be much better. Ask BumbleBee, I'm going to email her now and point her in the direction of this thread! (She's at Durham and lives locally)
Judging from this year they don't actually care which college you end up in and don't mind people changing (even half way through the first term or the second term).
It isn't anything to stress about though. You got a place at Durham and that is something to be proud of - it's not easy to get in.
Vox populi, have you managed to get an offer for natsci? (I'm currently in my first year of the course.)
I'll make sure I have a good look around everything when I come up and see how I feel. If I don't like the place I could always go to Manchester, which I know I love!
Anyway, I wouldn't advise you to chage colleges, the hill colleges are way cooler (take this from a Hatfield (*spits*) student - its on the bailey!) I so wish I had been on the hill. Sniffffff.
Yup, I got an AAA offer from Christ's.
Which college are you at, firstfoot?
I am at Trinity. Are a physical or biological natsci?
xapis choose Durham - it's so much nicer! i'm going up on 15th too, i think it's going to be my back-up.