Medicine @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

<p>BMAT; 2x interviews</p>

Interview content

Interview 1: interest; Interview 2: personal statement; Interview 3: problem solving; Interview 4: Designing an experiment

Best preparation

Practice papers

Advice in hindsight

-

Final thoughts

Understand personal statement and reading. Remain confident in interview

Remember this advice isn't official. There is no guarantee it will reflect your experience because university applications can change between years. Check the official Cambridge and Oxford websites for more accurate information on this year's application format and the required tests.

Also, someone else's experience may not reflect your own. Most interviews are more like conversations than tests and like, any conversation, they are quite interactive.

Interview Format

Test taken: BMAT

Number of interviews: 4

Skype interview: no

Time between interviews: 2 hours

Length of first interview: 30 minutes; Length of second interview: 30 minutes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

In my first interview at Sidney Sussex I was asked why I want to do my subject and why Cambridge. There was a tense atmosphere but could just be it was the first interview. In my second interview I was asked a specific question about something mentioned in personal statement, then follow up with problem-solving questions regarding that subject, and there was a more relaxed atmosphere.

I was also pooled to Murray Edwards- in the first part of this interview there was a description of a concept and followed up with problem-solving. The second part was solving a genetic pedigree. The fourth interview was designing an experiment.

How did you prepare?

Practice papers and used an online paid programme.

What advice do you have for future applicants?

Looking back, what advice would you give to your past self?

Make sure you understand and know the things you've mentioned in you personal statement. I read science magazines and books to expand on knowledge and develop new interests. I read up on recent Noble prize winners who have contributed to medicine i.e. learn about the new advances in your area. Don't be afraid to speak up in interviews, and explain your thinking behind your mistakes.

Avoid student room at all cost- it stressed me out and dampened my confidence. Don't buy too much into what your fellow applicants are saying about how much they've read and how easy they found the interview; it will distract you. Don't be put off by stern faces of interviewers or think too much about why they're appearing 'mean' to you, some of them don't smile but don't let that stop you from showing them how much potential you have.

The interviewers are looking for a hunger for knowledge and information, a fearless yet careful approach to unseen challenges, (cliche but) real passion for your subject and a malleable mind that quickly assimilates new information and concepts.