Interview for PhD at Oxford

OP

Is it normal for PhD interviews to be formal? It doesn't say on the letter, but I'm going to wear a suit anyhow. I'm hoping I am not the only one!

Reply 4

arod

5

where did you do your undergrad??

Reply 5

nikk

Is it normal for PhD interviews to be formal?

Probably depends on the faculty. (Yes, I realise this is remarkably unhelpful. :smile:

)

It doesn't say on the letter, but I'm going to wear a suit anyhow. I'm hoping I am not the only one!

I'd say only wear a suit if you think you'll actually feel comfortable in it. Otherwise don't bother. The interviewers would have to be very silly to judge you by your clothes rather than by what you say. If they expected you to wear a suit, they'd have told you so explicitly.

Reply 6

RedDevil25

Hiya!

I had a PhD interview for an advertised PhD and was offered (and I accepted) the position with ESRC Case Studentship.

In general, I was extensively asked questions of my research experience and my role. I discussed my lead position rolein previous positions. Make sure you are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of any previous research experience you may have. I was glad that I prepared and revised my critical and evaluation skills!

I was also grilled on my undergrad performance (2.2), but managed to redemn it by discussing my performance on my two MSc degrees (from UCL) and discussing my publications.

I also made sure that I did plenty of research regarding the PhD and read loads of the supervisors recent publications to discuss my attraction to working with them.

Finally, make sure you ask loads of questions regarding the PhD, ie supervision, conferences, fellow support with other PhD students etc etc.

Oh, and make sure your smartly dressed!

I hope the above helps. Feel free to ask me any further questions, and good luck!

Reply 7

Lexy86

1

Nikk - my father has interviewed quite a few math PhD candidates at Princeton, he's told me he expects them to wear a suit unless it's 35 degrees out, so I'm sure you'll "fit in" just fine. Good luck!

Reply 8

OP

RedDevil - thanks your post was really helpful. I'm so busy trying to get the presentation sorted for the interview as it is on my dissertation, and I wasn't planning on needing the results analysed and sorted so soon! But I am going to spend the weekend reading about the PhD and the research interests of the interviewers.

arod - I am at Plymouth at the moment.

Reply 9

jonnyofthedead

I wouldn't bother with a suit for an interview in an experimental discipline; people are, IME, far more interested in determining your understanding of the subject and ability to think on your feet than in how well you scrub up. I'd suggest wearing something that you'd be happy to wear in the lab but which isn't *too* tatty to wear to an informal social function (I say this only because some of my labwear is shockingly bad - t-shirts full of holes and splashed with bleach...).

In the interview itself, take a moment to think about questions before answering - one thing that has struck me from discussions of recent candidates is that silly mistakes made during interviews *will* be remembered, even if subsequently corrected with a little prodding from the interviewer.

Reply 10

OP

jonnyofthedead

I wouldn't bother with a suit for an interview in an experimental discipline; people are, IME, far more interested in determining your understanding of the subject and ability to think on your feet than in how well you scrub up. I'd suggest wearing something that you'd be happy to wear in the lab but which isn't *too* tatty to wear to an informal social function (I say this only because some of my labwear is shockingly bad - t-shirts full of holes and splashed with bleach...).

In the interview itself, take a moment to think about questions before answering - one thing that has struck me from discussions of recent candidates is that silly mistakes made during interviews *will* be remembered, even if subsequently corrected with a little prodding from the interviewer.

Thanks for your post :smile:

I have just emailed the administrator to ask whether smart casual would be appropriate. I would much prefer not to wear a suit because I feel like a right **** in it, and would be much more comfortable giving a presentation in normal clothes!

I know what you mean about lab dress lol. I'm the same! :biggrin:

Scientists aren't meant to be smart! It goes against tradition :p:

Reply 11

OP

I just heard today that I have been offered the position, and would like to thank those that offered useful advice prior to my interview :smile:

And I suppose it just goes to show that going to a 'top ten' university for your undergraduate degree doesn't decrease your chances of doing equally well following graduation!

Reply 12

Alan Smithee

Well done.

Reply 13

Pretty Boy Floyd

Well done.

Reply 14

The Boosh

17

outstanding! welldone.

Reply 15

shady lane

16

Why do people think you can't get into a good postgrad from a mediocre undergraduate university? It's such a myth. Congrats of course, but you shouldn't have thought you couldn't get in because of where you study now!

Reply 16

Alan Smithee

No one thinks that.

Reply 17

Wasn't the OP actually making a completely different point, i.e. that when you do well for your undergraduate degree at a "good" university and do well, you can still do well afterwards and be accepted on a postgraduate programme at another "good" university? :confused:

nikk

And I suppose it just goes to show that going to a 'top ten' university for your undergraduate degree doesn't decrease your chances of doing equally well following graduation!

Although I don't think I really remember anybody questioning this...

Reply 18

shady lane

16

Someone made a comment in another thread about it.
Also, this person thinks so: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=296498

Reply 19