Physics Manchester Interview

ok this is going to sound really stupid but i've got an interview at manchester for physics tomorrow and i'm concerned about the type of questions they ask as there isn't much advice on their website. what if i genuinely don't know the answer to whatever question they ask (ik this sounds so so stupid im sorry) because i tend to freeze up under pressure, even if ik the topics. does anyone who has had their interview have any advice?

Reply 1

cord.dut

3

Hi, ive got an interview at manchester in march. How was it, im trying to find more posts on here but theres not a lot.
I know oxbridge style interviews cause a bunch of my friends had them, is it worse better or the same. i really want to go and would appreciate any prep.
also if you ended up there how is it?

Reply 2

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Anonymous

ok this is going to sound really stupid but i've got an interview at manchester for physics tomorrow and i'm concerned about the type of questions they ask as there isn't much advice on their website. what if i genuinely don't know the answer to whatever question they ask (ik this sounds so so stupid im sorry) because i tend to freeze up under pressure, even if ik the topics. does anyone who has had their interview have any advice?

Hiya I also have a Manchester physics interview in march, was yours similar to Oxford and Cambridge interviews? I have no idea what to expect

Reply 3

Anonymous #2

Original post

by cord.dut

Hi, ive got an interview at manchester in march. How was it, im trying to find more posts on here but theres not a lot.
I know oxbridge style interviews cause a bunch of my friends had them, is it worse better or the same. i really want to go and would appreciate any prep.
also if you ended up there how is it?

My interview is march 18th, if yours is before then would you be willing to let me know how it goes and what to expect :smile:

Reply 4

Anonymous #3

Original post

by Anonymous

My interview is march 18th, if yours is before then would you be willing to let me know how it goes and what to expect :smile:

I had my interview on March 4th. It was a very chill day. They basically told us we all will be given offers, the interviews are just in case we don’t meet the offer in the summer. We had campus tours, lab tours, taster lectures. The student ambassadors helping out were extremely helpful. It was a good day to get any questions answered. The interview was 20 minutes and I just had a casual conversation about current physics news that I’m interested in. Other people had very different experiences though, their interviews were more them being asked maths and physics exam questions. Having done Oxford interviews it was nothing like that. Do your best but don’t stress about it

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Anonymous

I had my interview on March 4th. It was a very chill day. They basically told us we all will be given offers, the interviews are just in case we don’t meet the offer in the summer. We had campus tours, lab tours, taster lectures. The student ambassadors helping out were extremely helpful. It was a good day to get any questions answered. The interview was 20 minutes and I just had a casual conversation about current physics news that I’m interested in. Other people had very different experiences though, their interviews were more them being asked maths and physics exam questions. Having done Oxford interviews it was nothing like that. Do your best but don’t stress about it

Okay this was really helpful thanks!

Reply 6

cord.dut

3

Original post

by cord.dut

Hi, ive got an interview at manchester in march. How was it, im trying to find more posts on here but theres not a lot.
I know oxbridge style interviews cause a bunch of my friends had them, is it worse better or the same. i really want to go and would appreciate any prep.
also if you ended up there how is it?

Hey, I thought it may be useful to say how it was in-case anyone comes on here next year.
The interview day started with all of us in a lecture hall and the head of physics admissions did a big hello and told us that everyone there today had an offer regardless of the outcome of the interview. He then explained the interview itself was to be used in the case that we didn't make our offers, then we may still get a place if we interviewed well.
My interview had 3 questions - but of all of the people I spoke to that day I was the only person that had 3 questions most people had 2. My questions were; "How long would it take to reach the first star?"; after this I was asked about complex numbers and how these related to physics, this somehow lead to the conclusion that for non constant forces you have to integrate to find the work done, then finally the classic "How many water molecules in a tablespoon?", partnered with "How many tablespoons of water in the ocean?".
My interviewer lead me though each question, helping me out a lot more than I expected her to. For example I was given the escape velocity of the earth for the star question, but I was expecting I would need to work this out for myself. It was very similar to Oxbridge style interviews I had seen online, slightly easier I would say, but MUCH lower stakes.
The experience was great - it felt more like an offer holder day with a 20 minute interview. I met so many great people and if you're considering Manchester don't let the interview put you off!

Physics Manchester Interview

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated