My Oxford STEM Interview

By Mariam (@mariamelantable)

The nerves make me jitter, and every email notification makes me jump. I’m glued to my phone, until the notification comes. ‘Dear Ms. Elantably, we’re happy to announce you’ve been given an interview for our Computer Science course.’ The excitement rushes through me, and I almost bounce out of my seat.

Over the coming weeks, the interviews occupy the forefront of my mind. I am given 3 interviews – 2 with my college of choice, and one with another college. Preparation takes a priority, and I begin researching. What do they do in Computer Science interviews? Should I practice coding? Research reveals the nature of the process – the interview begins with a short discussion of your personal statement, followed by some problem-solving questions to test your skill. I retrieve my personal statement, which feels like it has been written a decade ago, and scrutinize it, examining all my activities and making a list of potential questions. As for the problem-solving sections, I once again take to Google to find difficult problem-solving questions, and attempt to solve them, making my process clear.

Prior to my interviews, my school offers me a mock interview with our head of computer science, where my problem-solving skills are put to the test. This helps put my nerves at ease, as I practice some similar questions while familiarizing myself with the interviews. I also practice with friends, explaining difficult maths or computer science questions using a systemic method to ensure my thought processes are well understood.

The day comes – my first interview is on a Friday, with my chosen college, and I can feel the nerves building with every waking moment. As I log on to the call, wearing my best shirt and my warmest smile, I remind myself to make my thought process clear and to use an analytical, thorough approach to the questions. I remind myself to think outside the box and look for connections in all the questions. The interview structure is standard – we discuss an AI internship I completed (which I mentioned in my personal statement) and move to some problem-solving questions, which were more challenging than I’d thought. Regardless of the challenge, I charged through the questions, doing my best to show an analytical way of thinking and drawing connections from my work in Mathematics. The second interview, also with my chosen college, comes on the following Monday, and I apply a similar approach. After my first interview, I was able to collect my thoughts about what went well and what I felt could’ve been improved, and applying this feedback helped my second interview go as smoothly as possible. I always ensured I was attentive throughout the interview, which allowed me to pick up and focus on all information that was given to me. I maintained this approach for my third interview.

You may be wondering, what were my key takeaways? First, I discovered that it’s okay to not always know all the answers, especially when the questions may be challenging. In STEM interviews, your thought process is the most important thing. It’s fine to get stuck at some point, as long as you continue to persevere and attempt the question to the best of your ability, and that you make it clear how you approach the question. My Interviewers used a whiteboard app, where they would paste any useful diagrams or information, and I was allowed to write on this app too. I utilized this to the best of my ability, taking notes down, making diagrams, and writing all my working. If in doubt, write down any thought that comes to mind. Second, know your personal statement thoroughly. You want to start the interview off on the right foot, so answering the questions about your personal statement with confidence gives you a great image to begin with. Lastly, don’t be afraid to utilize help: ask if your school will set up a mock interview; get your parents or siblings to practice your answers to the personal statement questions; practice trying to explain questions to your friends or classmates; and use the internet to your advantage.

If you’ve been given an interview to Oxford, or even applied to Oxford, you are among some of the world’s most intelligent students, so it’s important to remember that and maintain confidence in your abilities – the tutors are highly experienced, and they wouldn’t have chosen you if they didn’t have faith in your abilities.

That’s my interview process – I hope my experience can assist you out, especially if you are applying for any STEM subject. Feel free to contact me on Instagram @mariamelantable if you have any further questions – I’m always happy to help!