Oxbridge Applications Interview Prep. Weekend

my school (state) are sending the 6 of us applying to oxbridge to the day course.... its expensive (school are paying) but for many people the only help they'll get....

Reply 4

Nathan_Ley3

The price of the thing threw me off straight away when It came through the post.

I don't see how they can help you anyway really to be honest.

It all seems a bit crooked if you ask me to be honest. They train you how to socially interact with an interviewer. If you need this training, what does this say about you as a person?

To the OP, not you specifically. Just anyone who seriously considers it.

Surely you could say the same thing about public schools? They have specific Oxbridge preparation but no says thats crooked.... Far more expensive too!

Reply 5

Robob

It's ludicrous to send you to that!

I doubt very much it'll actually help, there aren't any 'tricks', just look on the cambridge website and read their advice...

Reply 6

Robob

sebbie

Surely you could say the same thing about public schools? They have specific Oxbridge preparation but no says thats crooked.... Far more expensive too!

Your school hardly sounds like they don't have the resources for such preparation...

My school gave me mock interviews if I asked my teachers for them, why not just try that.

However my interviewa were nothing like any of my mock ones...

Reply 7

Exactly, your mock interviews were nothing like the actual ones...

What makes you think my school has the resources?

Reply 8

username68316

3

sebbie

Surely you could say the same thing about public schools? They have specific Oxbridge preparation but no says thats crooked.... Far more expensive too!

I do incidentally go to a state school, but i saw no reason to bring the issue up :wink:

Anyway, to be fair although private/public school students get oxbridge preparation, they do suffer because of this in the admissions process as it is known what type of school they go to. So it's all factored in really.

Reply 9

Helenia

20

--monty---

I'm going to an extra english class every week, but thats for everyone doing english at uni, not just oxbridge people -- although, technically it is just for Oxbridge people, because I'm the only one applying for English this year! Really scary 1 on 1 tutorials with the head of English aargh!

If you get in, those are called supervisions :p:

Get used to it.

I wouldn't shell out that much money - a reasonably amount of common sense and general preparation will go a long way. And of course TSR isn't exactly a bad resource!

Reply 10

thats_my_poison

1

--monty---

Lol

Main reason I'm applying to Cambridge! I'm not very good at thinking on my feet though, so it's good to get some practice in. I suddenly realised after my first one that it's really easy to be lazy in class, I quite often just listen to the other people and think about stuff rather than participating loads. Making more of an effort now!

same here. that's why i dread english cos he always asks us loads of questions and im like 'lemme think!'

Reply 11

a_t

16

Should always participate loads, I always tried in 6th form

I was thinking of doing this weekend, but its pointless since my school has loads of experience with Oxbridge and I'll get like 3 mock interviews of them anyways.

If your school was useless with this stuff though, it may be worth your money. Try getting used to interview situations and having what you say come under scrutiny too if you can.

Reply 12

Robob

sebbie

Exactly, your mock interviews were nothing like the actual ones...

What makes you think my school has the resources?

I was at a private school..... it gave me no advantage, at least in that respect.

Oh, I dunno, the fact that they have the funds to shell out stupid amounts of money for pointless things like that rather than spend it on something else more worthwhile.

Reply 13

WokSz

I think it's pathetic to spend 850£ for interview prep. as many tutors are aware of these weekends. Also, each tutor uses a different method to test the candidate, and I doubt these weekends will grasp the method of every tutor.

Reply 14

emsy88

10

hmmm tempting and I might consider it if a)it was a bit cheaper and b) I was convinced it would actually help. I think at the end of the day if you are bright enough you will get in. In short I think courses like these work probably more because they boost confidence than actually massively improve interview technique.

Reply 15

jumpshiftbite

Athena

I personally think Oxbridge Applications are crooks, as they prey on the fears of parents that Oxbridge is all about some secret handshake their beloved enfant has to learn to have any chance of getting in.

I was going to post pretty much this! It's all about playing on your fears - I read their brochure for a laugh and noticed hardly any of the staff have any actual experience of Oxbridge. And of course the price is beyond insane. Really takes the piss out of insecure students. Chances are, if you're good enough to get in, you'll get in. If you're not, you won't. No £850 will honestly change that.

Reply 16