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Imperial Interview Experience?

For those who have had interviews at imperial, what was it like, what kind of questions they ask? Was it formal/informal? How long after the interview do you know your in?

thanks

ps am applying this year for computer science(Beng)

Reply 1

swishmasta

OP

am guessing nobody has then

Reply 2

Darkness

The aim is to guage your interest in the course. They will ask you about comments made on your personal statement and especially concentrate on why you want to do computer science. They may (depends on who's interviewing you) also ask you a brief academic question where they will observe how you approach the problem, not necessarily if you get it right or wrong.

As long as you look reasonably interested, you should have no difficulties with the interview. Formality wise I would say the interview leans towards informal. You get a reply within two weeks.

Reply 3

85ah11

I do Maths here, and the interview was closer to a conversation than to the interview I had at Cambridge. It was just an opportunity for both sides to ask questions. A couple of challenging, but not impossible, academic questions were asked, and in total it lasted about 10-15 minutes. It took me 6 weeks after that to get an offer.

Reply 4

Leonux

1

85ah11

I do Maths here, and the interview was closer to a conversation than to the interview I had at Cambridge. It was just an opportunity for both sides to ask questions. A couple of challenging, but not impossible, academic questions were asked, and in total it lasted about 10-15 minutes. It took me 6 weeks after that to get an offer.

Pretty similar to my experience. Started of with a discussion of PS, then him selling the course a bit, and then a academic question, followed up by another sub-question and then a chance to ask questions.

The question was on searching through a unordered/orded list of numbers for a certain number. Other people had different questions; some common logic puzzles and stuff like that.

It was generally very formal with the majority in suits/smart dress and a couple of deviants.

I think it was a couple of weeks after that the offer came through IIRC.

All the best on Wednesday :smile:

It's nothing to worry about.

Reply 5

chats

2

do you remember what kind of question they asked???

Reply 6

xaxa

1

chats

do you remember what kind of question they asked???

Leonux

The question was on searching through a unordered/orded list of numbers for a certain number. Other people had different questions; some common logic puzzles and stuff like that.

Reply 7

chats

2

chaoscomplex

haha thanks. I either missed that, or he changed his post after I posted

Reply 8

Hash

I didn't do too well in my interview today :frown:

Reply 9

swishmasta

OP

Hash

I didn't do too well in my interview today :frown:

oh , how did it go? my friend had his today aswell, hes applying for engineering i think, you might have saw him

Reply 10

Hash

swishmasta

oh , how did it go? my friend had his today aswell, hes applying for engineering i think, you might have saw him

I applied Comp Sci (MEng). Were you there 2day?

Reply 11

hitchhiker_13

11

I've applied for Physics with Theoretical Physics and I had my interview on the 16th Nov. It was quite informal. There was a group of 10 (I was the only girl) and first we had lunch with a couple of undergraduates and they showed us round the college and some of the accommodation and answered some questions, then we were split into two groups and we had a group interview where the lecturer asked us about why we wanted to do physics, and talked to us about what's available on the course and why Imperial is so great. Then he showed us round some of the different research groups. We then had the individual interview, where he talked about a few things on my PS such as my work experience and a few of my extra-curricular activities. Then he asked me about wave-particle duality and we takled about Young's double slit and the photoelectric effect. That was it really.
At the end he said something about the offer being 3 As, and he did say "hopefully see you next year or something" but I still haven't got an offer so I'm not sure whether he will or not!
All in all, not too scary, but after you visit you'll really want to go!

Reply 12

Ipsen

Gonna join the "rejected" list soon T_T

My Imperial interview was horrible!!! The interviewer said I should have chosen Physics rather than Engineering after I gave him the paper I had written T_T

Reply 13

hitchhiker_13

11

You had to give an essay?

Reply 14

chats

2

Hash

I didn't do too well in my interview today :frown:

why do you think that??

Reply 15

Ipsen

hitchhiker_13

You had to give an essay?

Well, he asked me for a coursework, and I gave him the paper I wrote! Then...BUMP! "You are too theoretical to be an Engineer"!

Reply 16

lilbug

Ipsen

Well, he asked me for a coursework, and I gave him the paper I wrote! Then...BUMP! "You are too theoretical to be an Engineer"!

Were you asked to bring your coursework to the interview? I have an engineering interview in December, but they haven't asked me to bring along anything. Do people take exam certificates, etc.?
Oh, and Ipsen, don't worry, I think the straightforwardness of the interviewer is a good sign, he was being more frank, which I doubt he would have done if you were being rejected, so I'd say you still have a good chance.

Reply 17

swishmasta

OP

Hash

I applied Comp Sci (MEng). Were you there 2day?

nope, i havent recieved an invite as of yet. i applied for computing(beng). So yeah, why do you think your interview went wrong? for the academic stuff, did they ask specific field questions, ie stuff about computers or maths and physics type stuff?

Reply 18

Fyska

9

Hash

I didn't do too well in my interview today :frown:

Don't be so negative. My interview was dire, and they let me in :smile:

I mean, I tried to differentiate log 2 ffs! *shakes head in shame*

You never know! :biggrin:

Reply 19

Hash

Well, the interviewer asked me how would I create a program to find out all the square numbers between 1 and a 100. I just about managed that. Then gave me some code of a function that actually carries out this task. I was asked to analyse it. By inputting values I had to also find out one of the strting numbers which was not provided.

I just about managed to do this, but since i don't do computing a-level, nor do i have much programming experience, I felt it was a bit harsh.

Hopefully I will get in because of my gcse and as level results anyway though. It's a great uni.

Imperial Interview Experience?

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