Veterinary Medicine @ Clare, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

2 interviews, and one 1 hour test.

Interview content

Interview 1: personal statement focused, wider interest in the subject. Interview 2: science focused.

Best preparation

Reading around the subject, revision of school work, a mock interview, and talking to other students.

Final thoughts

Give yourself enough time to arrive at college; try and not let your feelings about the first interview influence the second

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

2 interviews, one in the morning before lunch and one after, each with 2 interviewers. I waited in a waiting room beforehand with some drinks and snacks, as well as 2 student reps. I was directed there by 2 different student reps at the porters lodge.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

One was based off my personal statement and one was more science orientated but did initially stem from an EPQ I had completed.

In the former, whilst some scientific topics and questions were broached they also asked briefly about my reasons for applying, wider interests and some veterinary ethics though some scenario based questions. In both interviews graphs were presented and I was asked to explain what they showed.

The interviews were challenging and I certainly didn't felt they I had gone as well as I had hoped given each question or topic took me to a place where I had nothing left to say/couldn't answer anymore questions...but in hindsight that does seem to be the point.

How did you prepare?

I ensured I knew my personal statement off by heart and could answer anything on it, including about books on it.

Revising the topics you will have covered by interview, and others if they relate to something specific about your application e.g I revised DNA profiling techniques as I had completed some work experience in that field even though I hadn't covered it as a topic in school yet.

I had a mock interview with head of each science department, where they essentially test your knowledge in depth (and ability to make educated guesses under pressure) and ensure you can verbally explain topics which you had previously *probably* only been asked to explain on paper.

I made phone calls to current vet students who had at least completed interviews (successful or not) to get a flavour of their experience. Any small piece of advice or information could give you the advantage!

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

Arrive at your college for interviews with plenty of time as this will allow you to just relax (do some last minute reading if this will help calm you but is by no means necessary) and TALK TO CANDIDATES THERE. Be friendly, it will help you both stay calm and ultimately do better in interview - how can you talk confidently to professors 40+ years your senior if you can't talk to people your own age?

Also, if you have more than one interview make sure to not let the first influence the second... they are difficult and designed to be testing and will probably not make you feel wonderful but if you let the first knock your confidence it will certainly impede your performance in the second/subsequent.