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Oxbridge Interview Prep for Medicine

How do I best prepare for oxbridge interviews (med)? Are online interview tutoring services worth it (e.g Aspiring Medics, 6med, Oxbridge Mind)?
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Megathreads
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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread

Other application years:
Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2025 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application

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Hey 🙂 4th year med student at Oxford here! Best advice I'd give you is
a) Make sure you know your content super well (they don't expect you to know about stuff you haven't covered in schools yet but if for example you say in your interview/ personal statement that you enjoyed learning about how vaccines work, make sure you remember how they work! They're not just looking for someone who gets all the answers right, but if you're sharp on the content then you leave a good impression.

b) This is really key- try and get confident in talking through your thoughts and ideas relating to the parts of biology you study. So if they ask you about a biological process (e.g. clotting cascade which you may cover if you do Edexcel A level bio!) then make sure you're comfortable in talking through it. Also practice talking through experimental results (like graphs, or maps showing incidences of diseases etc) and coming up with theories to explain those results. Essentially, you want to make sure you can clearly communicate your thought process, which doesn't mean you can't back-track and change your mind about something you're saying, but it gives the tutors a really good idea about how you approach problems.

c) Hard one, but try smile, be relaxed and friendly. You could spend six years with these interviewers- convince them that you're someone they want to spend six years with.

I never used online tutoring services and apparently (found this out from my director of studies over wine) was among the top 5 at both colleges I interviewed in. That said, I do tutor myself, and have worked with students who found it very helpful. Nothing wrong with it, but equally may be worth saving the money and trying to see if maybe your bio/chem teachers could do a mock interview with you.
Reply 3
Agree with excellent advice above.Practice questions out loud with parents,siblings basically anyone who has 20 mins to spare.You can find mock interviews on YouTube.Get your questioner to watch those and then put you to the test.Agree nothing wrong with paying for private practice but not necessary.
Original post by glucocorticoid
Hey 🙂 4th year med student at Oxford here! Best advice I'd give you is
a) Make sure you know your content super well (they don't expect you to know about stuff you haven't covered in schools yet but if for example you say in your interview/ personal statement that you enjoyed learning about how vaccines work, make sure you remember how they work! They're not just looking for someone who gets all the answers right, but if you're sharp on the content then you leave a good impression.
b) This is really key- try and get confident in talking through your thoughts and ideas relating to the parts of biology you study. So if they ask you about a biological process (e.g. clotting cascade which you may cover if you do Edexcel A level bio!) then make sure you're comfortable in talking through it. Also practice talking through experimental results (like graphs, or maps showing incidences of diseases etc) and coming up with theories to explain those results. Essentially, you want to make sure you can clearly communicate your thought process, which doesn't mean you can't back-track and change your mind about something you're saying, but it gives the tutors a really good idea about how you approach problems.
c) Hard one, but try smile, be relaxed and friendly. You could spend six years with these interviewers- convince them that you're someone they want to spend six years with.
I never used online tutoring services and apparently (found this out from my director of studies over wine) was among the top 5 at both colleges I interviewed in. That said, I do tutor myself, and have worked with students who found it very helpful. Nothing wrong with it, but equally may be worth saving the money and trying to see if maybe your bio/chem teachers could do a mock interview with you.

Hi

Thanks for your sharing. Do you mind explaining what you meant by top 5?? I got a bit lost there.

"I never used online tutoring services and apparently (found this out from my director of studies over wine) was among the top 5 at both colleges I interviewed in."

Thanks
Reply 5
Original post by Jonjon7
Hi
Thanks for your sharing. Do you mind explaining what you meant by top 5?? I got a bit lost there.
"I never used online tutoring services and apparently (found this out from my director of studies over wine) was among the top 5 at both colleges I interviewed in."
Thanks

It means out of all the people they interviewed he was in their top five selections.Tutors put interviewees in order of how well they are rated for interview and holisticly so they can decide who they want.Most people will never know where they were placed which tbh is just as well!There is enough imposter syndrome as it is.
Original post by Scotney
It means out of all the people they interviewed he was in their top five selections.Tutors put interviewees in order of how well they are rated for interview and holisticly so they can decide who they want.Most people will never know where they were placed which tbh is just as well!There is enough imposter syndrome as it is.

I dont mean to be rude, "out of all the people they interviewed he was in their top five selections" by who is "he" do you mean? People who got private tutoring for interview?

I'm hoping to apply to Oxford, depending on my UCAT, so will be interested to know though I do not think my parent will have the extra money to splash on private interview training. I understand from going to webinars for Cambridge (they tend to have more webinars compared to Oxford), admission tutors can easily catch those who were intensively tutored and I was under the impression admission tutors ain't too impress with such.

Thanks for sharing your experience
(edited 6 months ago)
Reply 7
Original post by Jonjon7
I dont mean to be rude, "out of all the people they interviewed he was in their top five selections" by who is "he" do you mean? People who got private tutoring for interview?
I'm hoping to apply to Oxford, depending on my UCAT, so will be interested to know though I do not think my parent will have the extra money to splash on private interview training. I understand from going to webinars for Cambridge (they tend to have more webinars compared to Oxford), admission tutors can easily catch those who were intensively tutored and I was under the impression admission tutors ain't too impress with such.
Thanks for sharing your experience

Glucocorticoid the poster who relayed the story you quoted,the fourth year med student.
We have both said you do not have to get a tutor.He did not have one and neither did my son.I suggest you try reading our answers again.
Original post by Scotney
Glucocorticoid the poster who relayed the story you quoted,the fourth year med student.
We have both said you do not have to get a tutor.He did not have one and neither did my son.I suggest you try reading our answers again.

Thanks for clearing up. My brain ain't multitasking atm, preparing UCAT while at work placement in hospital. Thanks again.
Reply 9
Original post by Jonjon7
Thanks for clearing up. My brain ain't multitasking atm, preparing UCAT while at work placement in hospital. Thanks again.

No problem have a look at this when you have time
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6616982&page=3
And watch this
https://youtu.be/ecRhRYg2pT8?si=8z3iEaL0mcy_dQyO
Do join the Official Oxford Applicants 2025 thread and we will help steer you through the process.
Hello! Scotney was absolutely right by what I meant by top 5. Sorry, I didn't mean it to seem rude, just wanted to highlight that private tutoring is not something you need to do well, and it absolutely can be apparent if someone has been over-coached. Depending on your situation, there are also a whole bunch of outreach organisations ran by Oxford students that set up practice interviews for people and some awesome Youtubers as well- so if you search Tolu Duckworth (who is amazing and so lovely), she has videos with one of the medicine tutors at Keble going through interview tips.

Good luck with the UCAT!

P.S Am a she :smile:)
Original post by glucocorticoid
Hello! Scotney was absolutely right by what I meant by top 5. Sorry, I didn't mean it to seem rude, just wanted to highlight that private tutoring is not something you need to do well, and it absolutely can be apparent if someone has been over-coached. Depending on your situation, there are also a whole bunch of outreach organisations ran by Oxford students that set up practice interviews for people and some awesome Youtubers as well- so if you search Tolu Duckworth (who is amazing and so lovely), she has videos with one of the medicine tutors at Keble going through interview tips.
Good luck with the UCAT!
P.S Am a she :smile:)

Thank you so much for your info. Ain't going for private tutoring nor have I got the money to, press on!

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