[xmarilynx]

Originally Posted by elieshout

Maybe it it, maybe it isn't. The problem with the whole process is that nothing is ever certain, so far at least. Some say internationals get their letters two weeks in advance, some say 10 days, others say just with the UK applicants. Well, as long as I get one it's all fine.

Well, in the email Univ sent me it said: "If you are required to come to Oxford in December we will send you a formal invitation, which will be despatched at least seven days before the scheduled date of interviews for the subject which you are applying. Full details of the interview schedules can be found by visiting the University website www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviews/ and clicking on Interview Timetable on the left hand side of the page. If you have not been contacted four days before the interviews are due, please get in touch with the Admissions Administrator as a matter of urgency."
It didn't say anything about it being different for internationals though

[Selenaa]

Originally Posted by xmarilynx

Well, in the email Univ sent me it said: "If you are required to come to Oxford in December we will send you a formal invitation, which will be despatched at least seven days before the scheduled date of interviews for the subject which you are applying. Full details of the interview schedules can be found by visiting the University website www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviews/ and clicking on Interview Timetable on the left hand side of the page. If you have not been contacted four days before the interviews are due, please get in touch with the Admissions Administrator as a matter of urgency."
It didn't say anything about it being different for internationals though

i think internationals just assume they'll hear a bit sooner if they are invited to an interview because flights can be insanely expensive when they are booked a mere one week before

[mitty]

Would it be double the amount of interviews for a joints course?

[Bekaboo]

Not necessarily - it will depend on the course. So for something like History and Politics or English and French then probably yes, but for French and German maybe not.

[Bezzler]

Originally Posted by mitty

Would it be double the amount of interviews for a joints course?

It really does depend on your course. I had three interviews, but that was only because Merton doesn't have a German tutor, so I had an interview with the language tutors at Merton and an interview with my German tutor at Brasenose.

[mitty]

Originally Posted by Bekaboo

Not necessarily - it will depend on the course. So for something like History and Politics or English and French then probably yes, but for French and German maybe not.

Well I've applied for History and Politics so looks like it! cheers

[Saucy_Mentality]

How common is it to be asked to stay for a third day?

[Bekaboo]

Originally Posted by Saucy_Mentality

How common is it to be asked to stay for a third day?

Varies a lot by subject. For some, the number of interviews is entirely predetermined (e.g. biology, the department makes decisions, so there's no need to give third interviews) for others... maybe one in three, or one in four are sent for extra interviews, but where possible these are done on the same day. There are a handful of subjects where maybe a third of the applicants are routinely kept an extra day, but I can't remember which ones I'm afraid - just the hassle the applicants used to give us

[Saucy_Mentality]

Originally Posted by Bekaboo

Varies a lot by subject. For some, the number of interviews is entirely predetermined (e.g. biology, the department makes decisions, so there's no need to give third interviews) for others... maybe one in three, or one in four are sent for extra interviews, but where possible these are done on the same day. There are a handful of subjects where maybe a third of the applicants are routinely kept an extra day, but I can't remember which ones I'm afraid - just the hassle the applicants used to give us

Would you happen to know whether the biochemistry department is similar to the biology department in that respect?

[Bekaboo]

Originally Posted by Saucy_Mentality

Would you happen to know whether the biochemistry department is similar to the biology department in that respect?

Not a clue I'm afraid - they're totally separate departments who have virtually nothing to do with one another at an undergrad level.

[suuuuuuseh]

The interview process will vary from applicant to applicant, depending on factors such as the college, subject, availability of tutors and so on. For French and Linguistics at Jesus, I went up on the Monday night, and came back Saturday afternoon/evening, making it a very different experience from subjects like Biology, who only stayed for 2 days at my college.

On the Monday evening I think they mainly welcomed us in and sorted out the admin like keys, fobs, and general paperwork, and we met the other applicants. Then from Tuesday morning people started to have interviews, and we were told to keep checking the noticeboard in the JCR for sudden changes, even if you weren't expecting to have anything that day. Between Tuesday and Friday I had two tests (French and language aptitude), and two interviews in college (one French, one Linguistics). Some people were called to other colleges, but no-one can ever tell if this is a good or bad sign. During the day people pretty much stayed in the JCR, just in case anything changed, and went to hall for meals (which were paid for by the college). Some evenings we went out to eat, but as a lot of people aren't 18 and you have to be back in coll for a certain time, it's not really worth going out properly. Around midday on Saturday we were told to look for our "release notice" on the noticeboard, which just clarifies whether or not you're allowed to go home. One person from Mod Langs had to stay for at least a few more hours to be interviewed elsewhere when the rest of us received our notices.

It really does vary a lot though; a friend of mine applied for Medicine, and was allocated another college aside from the one she personally chose. She stayed at the second college, and had interviews there as well as at her first choice, and only had to be there from Tuesday to Wednesday evening or perhaps Thursday morning. She ended up receiving an offer from her first choice, so you really can't tell how it's going to work out in advance. The best thing to do is to try and get in touch from someone at least from your subject, but preferably your subject and college, to hear their specific experiences which are more likely to be relevant to you.

Originally Posted by Saucy_Mentality

How common is it to be asked to stay for a third day?

Again, as I found, some subjects/colleges require you to stay for longer than three days as a matter of course, rather than as an exception.