Oxford English Students and Applicants

Hey! I appreciate this is an old thread but I wonder if you mind me asking - How did your interview at Regent's go? What sort of questions were you asked? And most of all, how did you do?!

I'm applying to Regent's for English this year (I know; shock horror it's a PPH!) and I was wondering if you could help me out about what to expect if I got an interview.

Thanks very much!

Just out of interest, why are you applying to Regent's? I don't know if it's changed since I applied two years ago, but you used to be able to put a PPH on the Oxford form as your second choice...

Yeah, to be honest I never knew about that option, but even if I had known I think I would still apply direct to Regent's. Basically, I really really liked the college when I went. It's small and friendly and kind of understated and hidden. I like the idea of it all being humanities-based and also that English is the second largest subject there. I'm quite interested in philosophy/theology and there's lots of opportunity to study those aspects of literature at Regent's. I don't think it'll affect my chances to apply there direct because of the pooling system... I'm putting my faith in the admissions offers really!

Fair enough! Those are pretty good reasons. I put down Regent's as my PPH choice, but I applied to Keble as my main college and ended up at Harris (which I'm very glad about!) I've had tutes at Regent's though, and it's lovely.

By-the-bye, I applied to all of the universities in your sig except Royal Holloway (and that was in my top 10) - my fifth choice was Warwick instead. Great minds... Which Durham college have you gone for?

Aww how cool! Warwick was in MY top ten Royal Holloway is there as the only AAB offer though. I have applied to St. Chad's in Durham. When I visited I went to St. John's and University (to see the two ends of the spectrum!) and wasn't completely convinced by either to be honest. So I kind of went on a whim and put down St. Chads. I live in Somerset which means Durham is reeeeeeally far away, so even if I get an offer I may have to decline purely on the basis of travel costs and home sickness! Oxford is top, obviously, then Bristol. Just out of interest, what subject are you reading?

Haha, spooky!

Ahh, I applied post A-level, so I didn't have to worry so much about having insurance choices (though both Warwick and Bristol asked for AAB when I applied, as it went - they've obviously increased their entry requirements!) I applied to University College at Durham, purely on the basis that I wanted to live in a castle (haha), but really it was a bit far for my liking too (I'm from Cardiff).

I'm studying English as it goes, just to up the spookiness.

Woah, I can't imagine a world where Bristol and Warwick ask for AAB! Now this IS getting spookily spooky. And we both know what happens now... I'm going to abandon all dignity and beg you for advice on how to prepare for the ELAT and interview! Also, any generalities you care to share about English at Oxford would be really good, if you don't mind Ta!

(And for the record, the prospect of living in a castle is what drew me to University College in the first place! )

warwick was aab when i applied last year, interesting (in a boring ucas application interesting kind of way) if it definitely has changed.

i can actually be useful and talk to you about the elat as well though - the best thing you can do is find past papers, although having said that i can't remember if they are published. there is definitely a practice one available on the internet somewhere... here it is http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/elat/Test+Preparation

i have a bad feeling that that might actually be the only one available. but never mind. do that a week or so before the test - if you did it now i think you'd be slightly less well-practiced come the actual exam. but really with the elat, there's only so much preparation you can do. it tests your close reading, not your knowledge of period, context, or theory so cramming that stuff doesn't really pay off. acquainting yourself with some literary parlance wouldn't go amiss though, particularly poetic stuff about meter and form and whatnot (dactyls and iambs and feet and caesuras blah blah blah).

as for interview (should you get one of course)... read the books you've said you've read! or at least read enough of them so that you can think of things to say and formulate arguments about all of them. read and re-read your submitted work (i was lax on this and it made me a whole lot more nervous when it was brought up in my final interview). and your personal statement as well. think about the subject philosophically - its value, what it actually is, how it differs from other subjects. but like the elat, there's only so much prep you can do. your interview can go in so so many different directions, you just have to be able to think on your feet.

ultimately though, just read and read and think about what you've read and then read some more. it would seem to be pretty good practice for starting a degree in english anywhere.

Woah, I can't imagine a world where Bristol and Warwick ask for AAB! Now this IS getting spookily spooky. And we both know what happens now... I'm going to abandon all dignity and beg you for advice on how to prepare for the ELAT and interview! Also, any generalities you care to share about English at Oxford would be really good, if you don't mind Ta!

(And for the record, the prospect of living in a castle is what drew me to University College in the first place! )

Thanks that's brilliant I have found the practise ELAT papers (there are two available) and had a go at one so far. I have also roped in an English teacher at my college who is an Oxford graduate and is happily supplying me with lots of unseen poetry and prose to practise with.

I have definitely read all the texts that are in my personal statement, but I haven't actually written the work I am planning to submit yet, as they prefer it to be A2 content and we haven't written any of the right sort of essay as of yet. But I'll get there. Thanks for all your advice on the interview, of course it's all dependant on whether I actually get that far!

(there are two available)

Any more questions, feel free to fire away!

I dunno. Any good nerve-calming exercises?!

Okay. The ELAT is on Wednesday, and I am panicking juuuust a tad

'What the hell are you doing on the computer then?!' you might say. Well. Having done six timed practises last week (ones put together to look just like the proper ELAT past papers from a wonderful teacher) and having just got back from an hour-long meeting about the ELAT (general stuff like how to write, with close analysis of the mark scheme), I am having some down time. Unfortunately, in my highly nervous state, 'down time' constitutes searching the net frantically for last minute tips and hints.

This isn't directed at me, but you know, I think you should just try to forget about the ELAT now. You've done as much preparation as you possibly could. Don't try and do any more preparation...maybe just read some poetry and think about it, so you're in a vaguely literary frame of mind, but don't panic and try to do more essays.

Er, maybe even get off TSR? While it's a great resource, it can also make you more stressed out than you need to be, especially when you're reading about everyone else's preparation. Every time you log in here, you'll probably see another panicky post about the ELAT, and that will make you worry unnecessarily, and make you feel like you should be working.

Yeah, that would be my advice. Get off TSR, drink some tea, read some good poetry, and pretend that you don't have an exam to do. I think that would work for me.

i'm so scared of finals guys! i have all this stuff i need to read before finals but i have so much reading anyway and ahhh. also i've taken to visiting the balfour library in the pitt rivers and staring at all their books on magic. just for fun.

so, finalists. what are you doing for paper 8?

I've heard so much about interviewing and its all been very helpful but could anyone actually give me an example of a question and response you gave at interview when applying for english and were successful? I'd love to just see the sort of response that would impress the interviewer.