Veterinary Medicine @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2017

Interview format

2 x interviews (panel of 3 interviewers); 30mins each.

Interview content

Motivations for wanting to be a vet; interests; some more specific questions on drugs and bones.

Best preparation

Reading books on how to apply and researching current issues in the field; <issueInsiders>talking to vets and students.</issueInsiders>

Final thoughts

Stay relaxed; don't overthink.

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

I had two panel interviews which each lasted 30mins and with three interviewers on each panel

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

We discussed my reasons for wanting to be a vet, my interests, and some questions about specific drugs. They were not looking for correct answers but wanting to know your thought process.There were also some pathology questions about particular bones. I felt very relaxed through it. It felt more like having a conversation than a proper interview.

How did you prepare?

Reading the book 'applying to vet school' was useful. Also talking to vets on work experience placements and to current vet students. I also found researching current issues in the vet world to be good preparation.

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

Stay relaxed as much as possible and don't overthink your answers.