Admissions Interviews

There are no 'tricks' at interviews. Interviewers know you may be nervous. They are not trying to catch you out, but to challenge you to think for yourself. Often there are no right or wrong answers to the questions, and the way you arrive at an answer may be of greater interest than the answer itself: how you think rather than how much you know. The key thing to remember is to be yourself .

It is interesting to note that some people who thought their interview a complete disaster actually did very well. The best advice to calm nerves is to be as prepared as possible.

Interviews are an essential part of our selection procedure. If you have a good range of GCSE results and a favourable school report, you are almost certain to be invited for interview. Interviews take place in the first three weeks of December so it's best to avoid any unbreakable commitments for this period.

The exact form and length of interviews varies between subjects, but on average you will have two or three interviews of 20-30 minutes. When you apply, we will send you full details, explaining what will be involved and if any written work will be set. You may wish to take the opportunity to stay overnight, accommodation is free of charge. The motorways are notorious at this time of the year; last year applicants that travelled on the same day as their interviews, were stuck on motorways for up to 8 hrs due to fog and accidents – the M11 and M25 were completely snarled up.

You will probably want to prepare for your interview, but it's not a good thing to be 'over-rehearsed': it will be obvious to the interviewers. It can, however, be helpful to have some experience of talking about your work and your interests, and to get some practice in expressing your ideas and opinions as if you are at an interview.

We would also encourage you to read critically about your subject, exploring it beyond the limitations of the GCE A level syllabus. You'll need to know what's going on in your chosen subject, and be able to explain why you want to study it, and why you want to study it at Cambridge. If you are applying for a subject that is new to you, such as Law, you will need to have found out enough about it to know what it will entail, and to be able to demonstrate why you want to study it. Interviewers may also ask about your wider interests.

The best rule to follow is to wear whatever you feel comfortable in. There is no need to dress formally, and it is not necessary to wear a suit. Remember, you are not being assessed on your dress.

Where will you be interviewed?

Most interviews take place in Clare College. However, you may be asked to go to another college or occasionally a University department. This might be your first visit to Cambridge or to that college. Don't let the historic buildings or oak panels make you think you can't succeed. It's you, not your manners or etiquette, that the interview is all about. Take the chance to have a look around the college. You may end up living in a room like the one you are interviewed in; you'll almost certainly be taught in similar surroundings.

You probably mentioned in your personal statement your activities and interests outside your studies. Expect to be asked why you enjoy a particular activity, or what you have learnt from it. Don't put on a performance or pretend to do things you don't actually do; although achievements in extra-curricular activities are impressive, getting an offer of a place doesn't depend on them. What is of interest to the interviewer is how you manage to balance work and play.

Although Admissions Tutors are responsible for who is admitted to the college, selection is heavily dependent on the academic interviews - it is after all the subject specialist who is going to be teaching you. The teaching undergraduates receive in college is on a one-to-one or small group basis, called a "supervision". In some ways this is similar to an interview, and your interviewers - your future teachers - are assessing your teachability.

There is no blueprint for the ideal student, but there are certain qualities which both Directors of Studies and Admissions Tutors look for. You should show self-motivation and enthusiasm for your subject, demonstrating that you have done more than your school syllabus demands. In addition you need to show that you are beginning to think independently and that you have an open-minded willingness to engage with new ideas.