By Xinyun Zheng
Hi! I’m Xinyun and I will be studying Computer Science at St Hilda’s College this Michaelmas. I am an international student and did the International Baccalaureate, so my experience can be a bit different.
At first, I was overwhelmed when learning about the application submission, the MAT test, and interviews. However, after I actually started, I found out that the process was not intimidating at all and there was always clear guidance.
The first was UCAS application form. Except for the personal statement, all are standard questions about one’s basic information. I was a bit surprised to find out that there was no section dedicated to listing activities and awards, which should be covered in the PS only.
I had no idea how important the PS is in the Oxford application nor how my PS was rated, but here's what worked for me. First, the PS is not about listing all your activities and awards, so you never need to write an exhaustive list. Pick the most significant experiences and focus on writing them well. Second, make your experience personal and detailed by talking about your own reflection, and unique experiences. For example, you can write about a difficulty you faced and how you solved it, the most fascinating topic of your course, or a paragraph that inspired you. Thirdly, don’t worry about lacking “fancy” experiences. Think about courses taken, books read, school activities, or anything that can be linked to your major.
After submitting my UCAS application, I had the MAT test. Its difficulty is certainly beyond A-level/IB standards, but still manageable. I started practicing in July and regularly did past year papers. All papers can be found online easily with solutions, and you can depend one them for preparation. It is also important to do timed practice and read through the solutions to comprehend every problem. During the test, just stay calm and careful. I want to highlight the importance of MCQs, given their high marks assigned. I still regret that I did the very first MCQ wrong.
The last part is interviews. I had three interviews in total, two with Trinity and one with St Hilda’s, which is my second college. I find questions in Trinity interviews much more difficult, so was unsurprisingly accepted to St Hilda’s. In all three interviews, I was only asked one simple motivational question, and the rest was all mathematical problems to be solved on the spot. Doing mock interviews can help you get used to the process, but what matters more is your ability to work out questions with a clear logic and express your clearly. Also, do not worry about failing to solve the questions or being stuck, as you can always ask for clarity from the interviewers.
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