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My Oxford Interview Experience - PPE

By Jasmine Armstrong


If you’re reading this, you may be waiting on a decision about being invited to interview, or you might already know the outcome. If you’ve received an invite: huge congratulations and enormous luck! If you’re left feeling disappointed: try not to feel too disheartened- things have a way of working themselves out the way they’re supposed to.


I’ll be sharing my own interview experience and the advice I wish I could have given to my nervous year 13 self, 5 minutes before my interview. As a PPE student, some parts of the interview were of course subject-specific but there are insights and advice that could relate to any subject!


Philosophy was my first interview of the three. Seeing my potential subject tutors for the first time was definitely intimidating, but it’s important to remember that they are not trying to trick or test you- they just want to get an insight into your thought process and logic so they can decide if you are someone they could teach for the next three years.


If you do happen to be stuck on a question given to you, talk out loud through your thought process logically. This is exactly what I did when I struggled with a maths problem during my economics interview. Of course, the work at Oxford is challenging, and you won’t immediately know the answer to every question- but don’t give up! An interviewer only wants to see how you would approach a challenging topic.


During my politics interview, we discussed the role of women in politics. I was challenged on my viewpoints and offered alternative perspectives to consider. It is essential to be open to ideas you may not have previously taken into account, but if you are confident in your argument, defend it! Show that you can make strong points, back them up with evidence, and explain them logically.


Finally, and perhaps most importantly, remember to be yourself and showcase your personality as well as your knowledge! Try practising with friends, family or teachers to help you feel more prepared (even though it can feel a bit silly sometimes), and make sure to read lots and keep up with current affairs. And last but not least- good luck!

 

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