[tadz]

I have taken a gap year in order to reapply to Oxford for Biological Sciences.

I have lined up this year an internship at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The dates have not yet been confirmed however it is highly likely I will be in the States during the december interview period.

Magdalen is the only college I found offering the possibility of early interviews, and only for biology - which is lucky for me.

Today I got a letter saying my interview is on the 15th of October.


If anyone has been interviewed at Magdalen for Biology, or is studying there, I would greatly appreciate any accounts of how that experience with the tutors went.

cheersalot!


ps: haven't checked if there is a super-thread for this kind of Q, I figured not many people are being interviewed now so...

[Bekaboo]

Well I wasn't interviewed at Magdalen, but one of the two tutors there, Angus Buckling, was my tutor at Jesus in my first year and he's really lovely. Andrew Smith is the other one (who is by no means a less pleasant person, but who is less likely to try to make you feel at home!). The interviews vary a lot by college, but across the board tips are:
* if anything big hits the news between now and then (e.g. something like MRSA, SARS, H5N1, Foot and Mouth, Blue tongue, environmental stuff etc) then read up on it
* reread any books mentioned in your PS especially if you've mentioned the Selfish Gene
* make sure you have stock answers for Why do you want to study Biology? and What field of biology interests you most?
* practice reading info from graphs and interpreting data.

[tadz]

cheers, yeah im going over my PS now

funny thing the three magdalen bio tutors all have names beginning with A..

[Bekaboo]

Ah well Andrew Smith's doesn't actually He's JACS - but known by his first middle name. Intrigued as to who the third is though.

[tadz]

Andrea Russ apparently

[Calumcalum]

They're giving out interviews already? I thought Oxbridge waited until they had all the applications in? Or is that just for medicine? Or do they even do that at all?! Ah well, good luck!

[k8_06]

I was interveiwed there last Christmas and found the tutors really friendly and welcoming.

[tadz]

Originally Posted by Calumcalum

They're giving out interviews already? I thought Oxbridge waited until they had all the applications in? Or is that just for medicine? Or do they even do that at all?! Ah well, good luck!

just for me lol, I emailed the admissions tutor saying id be away in december and had taken a gap year with the expres intention of reapplying, so they said to copy everything from the UCAS form and send it to them, i did it as a PDF. they had better take me this year or Ill steal a tiger form the zoo and let it into the deer park ..maybe

[Athena]

Originally Posted by tadz

Andrea Russ apparently

He interviews a lot of the Human Scientists.

Take a look here: http://www.oxbridge-admissions.info/...t.php?w=course

Keep scrolling down until you got the biology profiles.

[Bekaboo]

Originally Posted by tadz

just for me lol, I emailed the admissions tutor saying id be away in december and had taken a gap year with the expres intention of reapplying,

I'm surprised that they didn't turn around and call you an idiot tbh. I know you need to do something constructive with your gap year - but what would you have done if they'd said no? Bearing in mind the interviews are always at the same time I think it was a little foolish to plan to be away then.

[tadz]

Originally Posted by Bekaboo

I'm surprised that they didn't turn around and call you an idiot tbh. I know you need to do something constructive with your gap year - but what would you have done if they'd said no? Bearing in mind the interviews are always at the same time I think it was a little foolish to plan to be away then.

i could always have altered my plans if december was the only option. getting that internship is amazing opportunity that i wouldn't have missed out on lightly. i was slightly worried I got the letter it but hey, it worked out, im actually surprised how relaxed the whole 'outside of UCAS' procedure has been.

"He interviews a lot of the Human Scientists.

Take a look here: http://www.oxbridge-admissions.info/...t.php?w=course

Keep scrolling down until you got the biology profiles."

that site is great thanks!