St Hugh's College (Oxford) Students and Applicants

I'm from Essex (If you've seen The Only Way Is Essex or watched the eviction from Dale Farm unravel then you've got my cultural heritage right there!) How about you?

For those people with Law interviews, there isn't really that much you can do by way of preparation to be honest. You will be given a case judgement to read a few hours before the interview and then you will be asked questions on that for 80% of the interview.

The other stuff is general things about A level subjects, and extra curricular stuff which is mainly just to make you feel more comfortable.

I remember being asked to define some things- 'national security' was one i think.

I think at interview we may have to compete for title of the worst accent?

Thank you I'm quite nervous and excited at the same time! Since I'm applying for PPE - do you know whether I'll have 2 or 3 interviews? I'm hoping all the tutors are nice?!

Anyone here with an interview for English? (I know there are a few people because I've seen the posts, but I couldn't think of a more interesting way to start up a conversation/communal freak-out )

How's prep going?

Erm, not too bad (she says hopefully). I've got my first practice interview tomorrow which I'm slightly terrified about, even though my English teacher is probably the least scary person on the planet. Apart from that I'm just going over my PS really. You?

Hello

I don't know much about who's interviewing you, but the tutors for the college who will definitely be involved are lovely, I had interviews at some other colleges too and they really are much more friendly here (okay I'm a little biased but it still stands)

They change the process every year according to their preferences (it also differs between college). I had 2 last year - one politics and philosophy and a separate economics one. Though it just means one interview is split, not really making too much difference

However when at other colleges it was either paired pol and economics with a separate one for philosophy, or all 3 at once when I was sent to another college. You'll be told when you arrived as everything will be pinned to cork boards

Yeah I've got a mock interview too. I'm trying to frantically read, but to little avail

I hope there's a nice Chelsea boy (or girl!) there that will cringe every time we open our mouths

Some Sloaney... Talk em all to death :P

So what books and stuff are you reading in preparation?

I've re-read my personal statement books, then following law articles in the press. However, I had a mock interview and I got really shot down for "believing what was written in the press." I'm really stuck for ideas cause I don't know what I should be believing in that case! What about you?

Oh right, okay, what was it you wrongly (presumably?) believed?
I'm just researching a bit more on international law because I applied for that too and going to panic endlessly for two days because I really don't know how to prepare! Wish I could've had a mock too, think it would make me feel a little better

Seriously, don't bother researching anything (unless you've written about it in your PS) because they won't ask you just to re-gurgetate (sp?) anything- that isn't what they're looking for. Anyone can do research and learn it by heart. What they're looking for are intellectual the skills required to study law which they assess by asking you about and seeing if you understand the cases which you read beforehand. That is the main part of the interview.

General political and social knowledge is also useful as I said for definitions (anti social behaviour, national security) and I was also asked about current affairs in one interview at St Anne's last year (about wikileaks.) Haven't seen the news in ages though so I don't know what's going on in the world.

Really though, don't get all panicky about researching and preparing. Just read over your PS and think of any general questions they may ask about that. The main advice I would give is to read the cases that you get very carefully and make sure you understand the main points, and in the interview be super-friendly, confident, and ask questions if you don't understand the one's you're asked because if you give an answer to a question they didn't ask or just fudge the answer you look like a fool. Much better to get the answer right even if you needed a bit of help.

Have you arrived yet? When are the interviews?

Thanks a lot, that seems like good advice. I arrive tomorrow evening around half six, as my train leaves about 3ish. So nervous.

Cool, good luck

Also, if you see either the welsh black haired girl or red-haired girl interview helper tell them "drunk Oli says hi"