How important is the interview for Oxford?

Decisions are not based on your appearance or background, but on your ability to think independently and to engage with new ideas beyond the scope of your school or college syllabus. Interviews tell us important things about a candidate which are not captured by grades or test scores.

What percentage of Oxford applicants get an interview?

Who Gets Invited? Each year, Oxford receives around 22,000 applications for 3,300 places. Oxford then shortlists around 10,000 candidates for Interviews, which is generally 40-45% of applicants every year. Cambridge, on the other hand, Interview a higher percentage of applicants, around 70%.

Do you need an interview to get into Oxford?

The admissions process for Oxford isn't simply competitive, it's different to most other universities. For example, Oxford considers historic grades, often requires the completion of admissions tests, and interviews 45% of their applicants.

How do you know if an Oxford interview went well?

However, if you've just had your interview, then the best thing to do, if you really want to know, is to talk to someone who has a lot of experience of Oxford and tell them how it went. The thing is, if they are wise, they will not make any predictions, though they almost certainly will know.

How hard is an Oxford interview?

Oxbridge interviews are designed to test your response to things you don't already know about, and this makes them intrinsically difficult to prepare for. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to help boost your confidence and feel prepared.

How to Prepare for an Oxford Interview

How much do Oxford interviews matter?

It is important to remember both that Oxford makes its selection on academic criteria alone, and that interview performance is only one of the elements which tutors take into account when evaluating an application.

What is the rejection rate for Oxford?

How many people reject the Oxbridge offer? Looking at the stats for Oxford , around 10% of applicants don't enrol after getting an offer. However, the Cambridge stats seem to be much, much higher - around 22%.

What not to do in an Oxford interview?

What does it mean if you get a second college interview Oxford?

Everybody will have as a minimum, two interviews. That means you get two chances and to show that you will thrive academically at Oxford. If you are nervous in the first one, or feel you performed less well for any reason, you get to have a break and have a chance at a second interview.

How many PHD applicants get interviews?

While many will be cut based on mediocre essays, lackluster resumes, bad recommendations, or simply a lack of originality, 30 to 50% of applicants will make it to the interview round. Below you can see a breakdown of each “cutting” stage of the admissions process. So what does this tell us about interviews?

How hard is it for an American to get into Oxford?

TLDR: The structure of American high school education is not well suited for preparing students to sit Oxford entrance exams. It is hard for everyone, but it seems to be slightly harder for Americans. On average Oxford has about a 16% admission rate, but for Americans it is just under 9%. Roughly half the average.

How can I increase my chances of getting into Oxford?

Oxford is looking for students who have excelled academically and challenged themselves by taking rigorous courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. It's important to maintain high grades throughout high school and to take advantage of opportunities for academic enrichment.

How likely am I to get into Oxford?

The Overall Success Rate. Before finalising your course and college preferences, taking the potential admissions test, and receiving an interview invitation, the likelihood of receiving an offer from Oxford or Cambridge stands at approximately 17%.

What GPA do u need to get into Oxford?

In general, where the minimum entry requirement for your chosen course is a UK first-class undergraduate degree, this equates to an overall US GPA of at least 3.7 based on the 4.0 system.

Why is Oxford acceptance rate so high?

Oxford has very high academic standards, and grade requirements vary by subject. Generally, successful applicants will have outstanding academic records, with strong grades in relevant subjects. Most subjects require from A*A*A to AAA, though this varies depending on the subject.

Does Oxford have 2 interviews?

Shortlisted applicants may have more than one interview with more than one college. For some courses, all interviews will be arranged in advance. In other courses, there will be an initial block of pre-organised interviews which may then be followed by additional interviews.

Does Cambridge give more interviews than Oxford?

Cambridge interviews around 75% of undergraduate applicants. At Oxford, where applications are around six per place, around half of all applicants are shortlisted for interview. For the most competitive degrees, the applicants who most closely meet the selection criteria may have multiple interviews.

How long does it take for Oxford to offer an interview?

Oxford Interview Timeline

Between the middle of November and early December, you should receive a letter or email indicating whether you have been invited for an interview. The timing may vary depending on the course you applied for. Your notification will generally come from the specific college to which you applied.

What should I wear to an Oxford interview?

Instead, you could wear a pair of smart shoes and trousers, but consider wearing a shirt with the top button undone and no ties, with a smart jacket to match. If you're a girl, consider a smart blouse or jumper, nice trousers, and smart shoes, not a glittery cocktail dress.

Can you ask Oxford why you got rejected?

Feedback on admissions decisions should be requested from the college which considered the application, on or before 15 February in the year after the application was made.

What to do if you get rejected from Oxford?

Start again and reapply

If you got to the interview stage and just didn't perform well on the day then there is the option of reapplying. Being rejected from Oxford or Cambridge doesn't necessarily mean that you're not right for Oxbridge. It can just mean that you were unlucky this time.

What to do after being rejected from Oxford?

Re-Think your Personal Statement

This one is fairly obvious, but you will need to look back at your Personal Statement to see what could be improved. This could be as simple as adding in any additional information about grades or work experience or could involve a full rewrite in order to make it more appealing.

What is the hardest school to get into Oxford?

All Souls College

All Souls is the most elusive Oxford College and it takes no undergraduate students. In order to get in, graduate and postgraduate students apply for examination fellowships through “the hardest exam in the world”.

What is the lowest GPA Oxford will accept?

Undergraduate qualifications

If your graduate course at Oxford requires a 'first-class undergraduate degree with honours' in the UK system, you will usually need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university with an an overall grade of 85% ('A') or 'Excellent', or a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0.

What famous people were rejected from Oxford?