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How to do well in Cambridge CS interview

Basically, I just want to know if I have to be super smart to do well in my interview - I know the CS interview is going to be very maths heavy, and while I'm not downright stupid, I wouldn't say that I'm maths genius kind of smart, just pretty average. If I show how much I really care for the subject and that I am teachable etc. do I still stand a chance? Or are they expecting me to be a whizz at maths kind of person
Reply 1
wht college if u dont mind me askin and how was ur tmua score
Reply 2
Homerton, my score was very mid (low 5s) but maybe since my college is less popular I got an interview because of that
Reply 3
mine was lower but still got interview yikes
Reply 4
Ah what college did you apply to, was it for computer science? All the best, hope your interview goes well!!
Reply 5
yh i got an interview frm kings. cheers and gl
Reply 6
Original post by Anonymous
Basically, I just want to know if I have to be super smart to do well in my interview - I know the CS interview is going to be very maths heavy, and while I'm not downright stupid, I wouldn't say that I'm maths genius kind of smart, just pretty average. If I show how much I really care for the subject and that I am teachable etc. do I still stand a chance? Or are they expecting me to be a whizz at maths kind of person

From how I understood it they are testing for how you think, how well you can explain your thoughts and how well they think you'll fit in with the Cambridge style of learning rather than testing for academic prowess. Don't get me wrong, you still need to know the stuff you have already learnt well but in my opinion, being a genius is not what they are testing. Hope this helps!
Do they expect you to know some interesting stuff on computing/things related to computer science or is it sufficient to read a few articles based on computer science that would be fine to mention in the interview? Also how much of the personal statement matter sin the computer science, and in general, STEM interviews?
Reply 8
Original post by Anonymous
Do they expect you to know some interesting stuff on computing/things related to computer science or is it sufficient to read a few articles based on computer science that would be fine to mention in the interview? Also how much of the personal statement matter sin the computer science, and in general, STEM interviews?
I would like to preface this with the fact I am not a CS student but a NatSci one so maybe take this with a grain of salt.
Generally it is nice if you've read about something that isn't in the content you have/will learn in your alevel/equivalent course, and sometimes (depending on your interviewer) they may use it as a jumping off point for the rest of the interview if they find it interesting enough or just a simple introductory question. How much reading you want to do is up to you, but I would say having one topic that you've delved into would be better than a surface level reading of many topics.
On personal statements, I've thought of it as, if there is something interesting that you have wrote about in it, they might bring it up (so make sure you've actually read what you say you have before the interview) otherwise for an interview maybe not so much.
Do beware that I didn't do anything interview for the same course or for the same college, so things might work slightly differently
I would like to preface this with the fact I am not a CS student but a NatSci one so maybe take this with a grain of salt.
Generally it is nice if you've read about something that isn't in the content you have/will learn in your alevel/equivalent course, and sometimes (depending on your interviewer) they may use it as a jumping off point for the rest of the interview if they find it interesting enough or just a simple introductory question. How much reading you want to do is up to you, but I would say having one topic that you've delved into would be better than a surface level reading of many topics.
On personal statements, I've thought of it as, if there is something interesting that you have wrote about in it, they might bring it up (so make sure you've actually read what you say you have before the interview) otherwise for an interview maybe not so much.
Do beware that I didn't do anything interview for the same course or for the same college, so things might work slightly differently

Thanks a lot!

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