Oxbridge: Getting into Oxbridge Mode

For hundreds of students the next few days will be an anxious time as they prepare for important university interviews. We wish them all the best! Here are just a few personal thoughts on getting into Oxbridge mode as the interviews come into full view:

1) Avoid textbooks – this is not a test of subject knowledge, much more a chance for your interviewers to see how you think and can cope flexibly with unexpected material. An interview is not an exam and many students will not have taken a specific subject before applying to read it at university.

2) Get the brain working with lots of puzzles – Sudoko is ideal and there are plenty of other puzzles to have a go at. Try to do an hour of these each day - it is like fitness training for the grey matter and it will help sharpen you up! Practice plenty of maths if you are strong at this.

3) Feed your brain with plenty of diverse new material related to your subject but well away from the syllabus – for students aiming for Economics, Management, PPE, PPS etc this can be a fantastically satisfying time to deepen understanding and get a feel for where their chosen subjects might be heading outside of the school course. I have suggested some resources at the bottom of this blog.

4) Keep reading and enjoying comment and analysis pieces in our quality newspapers – avoid tabloids, The Week and other lowest common denominator publications. Think about how authors construct an argument, what is their core argument? How can the argument be challenged?

5) Eat the right foods and completely avoid alcoholic drinks. Get plenty of sleep – this is really important.

6) Take plenty of exercise – a good walk for an hour or two can refresh the mind, especially if you are listening to some great music or comedy.

7) Avoid chatting to people who are applying for the same subject. Focus on your own needs and stay calm and focused

8) Get out and about - take in a favourite new film - go see Moneyball or Contagion or another movie with an economics feel (!!)

9) Stay over: If you can, stay at your college the night before to get a good feel for the place and where you will need to be at certain times. Make sure your mobile is fully charged and that you can be contacted quickly.

10) Be inspired by your family and mates who will be supporting you and hoping that you enjoy the experience.

Here is a small selection of great resources to look at – most of which are connected to your university disciplines but don’t suffer from textbook fatigue

RSA videos
RSA audios
LSE lectures
BBC Global Business Podcasts
BBC All in the Mind
BBC Radio 4 The Moral Maze
TED Talks focused on business
TED Talks focused on innovation
Open University on iTunes
BBC Radio 4 Analysis
From our own correspondent

Above all…..
Be yourself
Be positive
Be flexible and not dogmatic
Be open-minded
Be prepared to think and talk out loud
Be ready to ask questions when unsure
Be happy to be challenged
And
Expect the unexpected!

If you are taking interviews next week - every best wish from the team at Tutor2u.