[chiduong]

(Original post by vanesavu)
Oh, what subjects are you taking? Thats impressive. Im so jealous of you A-level people, I have to do 6 subjects at IB +

I'm doing 5 A-level, so don't be jealous

[chiduong]

I'm applying to Worcester to read Biochemistry, too; but have not heard anything from them :|
Really worried now. Dying to see the reply from the college...

[FallenAngel4988]

Got my interview from Corpus/St. Peter's, absolutely terrified xD

Don't worry if you haven't heard from them yet, they have until the 5th to actually get invitations to you and if you haven't heard they haven't said no. Good luck to everyone =]

[TSRuser1234]

(Original post by TheNabilaQ)
Hi! Omg I'm so glad I've read this I'm applying to Worcester (weirdly with the same predicted grades as you lol) and haven't heard and everyone is getting emails and I'm freaaaaaaaaaaaaking out. So yeah. I'm glad someone else feels my pain! (and that Worcester are genuinely being slow, it's not just me). Let me know when you hear back

Yes! Same, it's horrible! with any luck it's just the particular course/college!
I really hope at least!

[TheNabilaQ]

(Original post by TSRuser1234)
Yes! Same, it's horrible! with any luck it's just the particular course/college!
I really hope at least!

I just got my letter!!!! SO EXCITED Someone told me that it's interview emails and rejection letters, so when I saw my letter I was but turned out twas fine Lol have you heard? (you'll have one if I do!)

[TSRuser1234]

I got mine on Thursday! very very very stressed over the interview. No idea where to begin recapping. Gosh I'm nervous.

[vanesavu]

(Original post by TSRuser1234)
I got mine on Thursday! very very very stressed over the interview. No idea where to begin recapping. Gosh I'm nervous.

Yeah I was very nervous too, now I just dont care anymore. Im exahusted. (loaded with schoolwork.. so not much time for revision... oh man )

[TSRuser1234]

(Original post by vanesavu)
Yeah I was very nervous too, now I just dont care anymore. Im exahusted. (loaded with schoolwork.. so not much time for revision... oh man )

I can respect that!
can't wait for it all to be over.
Revision has made me wonder why I chose a course with so much organic chemistry. Oh well.

[darkfang77]

(Original post by ????????8)
I'm thinking of applying to a top universities like Oxford and I want to do something in medicine.
Do you think I have a chance of getting in? If not is there any other good universities?

GCSE
Maths-B
English lit-A
English Lang-B
Double Science-AB
Religious studies-A*
History-A
French-B
Drama-B
Food Technology-A

AS
Maths-A
Chemistry-A
Biology-A
Religious studies-A

I've also done 25 hours of voluntary work and I've done many extra curricular activities at my school and I've also done other activities.

My GCSEs are slightly better than yours, and AS levels comparable, I also did 100+ hours of voluntary work, as well as xtra-curr. activities.

Now. When a Oxford admissions tutor who was a previous member of my college came to talk to the Oxbridge applicants, I was initially interested in medicine, but the tutor advised me quite strongly NOT to go for it, even under my circumstances (absence, etc), it's just FAR too competitive.

I would advise something along the lines of ICL, KCL, UCL, and maybe Warwick, notts. to your preference.

[natjo4]

Hey everyone, I'm a first year Biochemist at Oxford. Really don't stress too much about the interviews- going down to interview is actually really fun. I'm not going to go so far as to say the interviews themselves are a really enjoyable experience but it's fun staying in college, meeting new people etc. It's honestly something to look forward to.

As to the interviews themselves: they're completely subject based and based on stuff covered in the A level (or presumably whatever the equivalents are) course. Some are more straight forward than others- that partly depends on whether you've already covered that topic at A level- one of my interviews was largely about things I didn't cover until later in the year. This is a bit annoying because I didn't realise that it was stuff they might have expected me to have already covered and some people probably already had (depends on qualification, exam board, how your school teaches it etc.). But I stumbled through it and it obviously wasn't too much of a disaster- just talk through your thought processes and ask for help if you're stuck. As long as you don't just sit there staring blankly at them the WHOLE time it'll be ok. If they're supposed to mimic tutorials (totally unlike mine) then I do spend a large part of my tutorials (particularly organic chemistry) staring in a state of complete bewilderment; so their standards wont be too high

The revision I did wasn't particularly useful but I suppose it made me at least feel more prepared. Make sure you go over all the basic Chem stuff like moles calcs, hydrogen bonding etc.- it might be easy but it'll definitely help to have it fresh in your mind. Apart from that look at proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, enzymes (structure, stuff about regulation in homeostasis/metabolism etc) and anything else molecular biology-ish (a little on antibodies or whatever).

Didn't get quizzed on stuff I'd read- just have a general idea about what the stuff you've read or "read" is about and if you've mentioned science magazines have a recent article or 2 ready to mention if you need to.

And if it doesn't work out just think of it as a lucky escape- you literally cannot comprehend the intensity of the course until you are here....yayyyy.... GOOD LUCK!

[franny75]

Can anyone help me on which college to apply to do any have a reputation for being very good (or bad) at biochemistry?

[oklight48]

Hi guys I'm an international student who looks forward to Biochemistry in Oxford next year. I'm REALLY curious about what are going to be asked in the interview and how the interview is going to be like. Say, Oxford website says that "You do not need written works and tests," and the website wouldn't ever explain then by what criteria is oxford going to accept students like me. What do Oxford ask? For Bonus, especially for any of you who are in Oxford currently, please tell me some nice colleges that have nice Biochemistry courses. Some more information about the atmosphere and circumstances around the respective colleges would do too. You guys are free to tell me everything.

[oklight48]

Thanks By the way, doesn't Biochemistry major require Chemistry interview too?


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[oklight48]

Thank you. Are you a Biochem student in Oxford, Carrotcake?


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[brendan.]

(Original post by oklight48)
Hi guys I'm an international student who looks forward to Biochemistry in Oxford next year. I'm REALLY curious about what are going to be asked in the interview and how the interview is going to be like.

They will ask a mix of Biology and Chemistry questions, however each college will ask different things. You could be asked on DNA, it's chemical structure, and how this is useful to suit its purpose. This is only an example though! You could also be asked organic chemistry questions, and possibly some Mathematics.

(Original post by oklight48)
Say, Oxford website says that "You do not need written works and tests," and the website wouldn't ever explain then by what criteria is oxford going to accept students like me. What do Oxford ask?

This simply means that there are no admission tests or work that needs to be submitted as part of the application process. Some other subjects require tests such as LNAT, BMAT etc. - this isn't the case for Biochemistry.
The actual Department of Biochemistry website does state what they'll be looking for in an applicant. Biochemistry Admissions

(Original post by oklight48)
For Bonus, especially for any of you who are in Oxford currently, please tell me some nice colleges that have nice Biochemistry courses. Some more information about the atmosphere and circumstances around the respective colleges would do too. You guys are free to tell me everything.

The most important thing is to decide what course you want to do, as this is vital. Then you can decide which college you would like to study at. The biochemistry degree is the same for all biochemists, regardless of which college they attend. You only really have tutorials in college, so you have to simply choose which college you like the most. Usually people quote size, atmosphere, decor and location as deciding factors. Remember that you can equally submit an open application, which will not affect your chances of acceptance either.

[oklight48]

Thanks so much Hope to see you in Oxford!


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[oklight48]

By the way, do any of you remember what questions you were asked? I reckon it wouldn't be a simple interview like "Tell me about DNAs and RNAs" stuffs...


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[TheNabilaQ]

(Original post by eleshoos)
I got my Biology remarked and it went up by 4 UMS, so I got my A
Im going to send back some more, so hopefully they will go up too!
The oxbridge teacher at my school today said I wasnt good enough for Oxford Sad times XD
Uhhmm, I havent started yet, have yoou? And I probably will, are you going?

Seriously do not listen to your teachers, if you want to give it a go, give it a go. Both me and one of my friends were told that we couldn't get it (my friend had a b in the subject they were applying for) and we both got in
I only applied last year (hence still getting updated on the thread lol) but I could see that they care a lot about what you have to say, and how you think about things and interact with them. And I think biochem has like a 96% interview rate anyway, so I reckon you're pretty much halfway there anyway!
Sorry for the intrusion lol, I just felt compelled to try to help you ignore some weird teacher at school, cos i got down about it but they realised it didnt matter at all lol Good luck with everything!!

P.s. I have a deferred entry, so hopefully lol I will see you there

[TheNabilaQ]

(Original post by oklight48)
By the way, do any of you remember what questions you were asked? I reckon it wouldn't be a simple interview like "Tell me about DNAs and RNAs" stuffs...
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Erm I don't remember there was nothing as direct as that, they seemed to have some questions prepared in advance, mine was about restriction enzymes (had no freakin clue what they were, I just asked them, it was totally fine then I had to link that to some lab techniques (I think I got this because I mentioned the techniques in my personal statement). I had to draw enzyme graphs as well, which was pretty easy! Lol then there were some questions about linking Maths graphs to biochemical processes (not as complex as it sounds!) ... This was all my 2nd interview, in my first the questions were much more chemistry based. I had to read an article, and then draw the formula for a substance, then was asked about its acidity (again-no clue!) then was asked to calculate the moles of water in water. Which we'd already done in class so I was happy

Also, in my second I got asked why I chose biochem, why I wasn't doing a2 biology (awkward) and in my first I had to talk about the book I mentioned (just general premise and extended questions to kinda lead you in I think) and about my work experience (which i was not expecting! Freaaaaked me out

Ok this is really long. I hope it helped. My interviews at different colleges were different, the first was really scary cos the interviewer was really quiet, and the second was just kinda fun cos the interviewer was really nice and asking more interesting questions lol

So yeah. I'll go now. Sorry it's so long! Ahahahhaa gooooooood luck!!

[TheNabilaQ]

Wow I just realized how rubbish that answer was compared to the concise one above me. Totally didn't see it

I would also say not to worry too much about asking if you don't understand something. If you look confused, they sort of prompt you, and if you don't understand a word (like me with the enzymes) they'll just explain it and you just have to work from there. It honestly isn't as bad as you think it will be if you just relax and enjoy interacting with the tutor, most of them are pretty nice