What will happen when I come for my interview?

 If you are called for interview, we will give you as much  notice as possible of the dates and times. We will offer  you one night's accommodation in the College  (depending on the distance you are travelling) and  meals will be provided free of charge while you are with  us.

A team of Corpus undergraduates will be on hand to take you into meals, help you find your way around the College and generally try to put you at your ease.

All applicants will be told what to expect when we acknowledge their applications, and the Admissions Office is always happy to deal with any queries or concerns.

What is the interview like?

Interviews often take the form of mini-supervisions (i.e. college-based teaching sessions) and the interviewers are looking to see how you are likely to respond to this style of teaching. Remember that the interview is less about 'getting the right answer' (there may not even be a 'right answer'), and much more about showing how you are able to work towards an answer or solution to an unfamiliar concept or problem. The interviewers know that you are likely to be nervous, and will try to put you at your ease, but if you don't speak they can't assess you.

Why do we want to interview you?

It enables us to supplement the information we obtain from your application papers. Choosing fairly between applicants on paper can be problematic. Most applicants have, or are predicted to gain, outstanding exam results, and almost all applicants have excellent references and submit very good personal statements. Applicants also come from very different educational backgrounds.

Another reason why we interview applicants is because the work you have been doing so far may not correspond to the kind of work you would be doing at Cambridge. Interviews allow us to explore your aptitude for university study and in particular the course you have selected. This is as important for you as for us. We want to avoid you entering a course that you might find too difficult, or which might turn out to be quite different from your expectations.

We are also concerned with you as an individual and are, of course, interested to see what you do when you are not studying. However, selection is based on academic criteria and we aim to select students who have the potential to study and achieve at Cambridge at the highest level.

What is Corpus looking for in an applicant?

As with any other Cambridge College, there is no particular ‘type’ that we are looking for. We aim to select those applicants who are keen to fulfill their academic potential and who have a genuine enthusiasm for their subject. We want you to enjoy your time at Corpus and thrive in the intellectual and social environment of the University and the College. When we are assessing your application, we are therefore looking for evidence of ability, but also want to be sure that your interests and aptitude will be well served by the course you have chosen and the teaching methods we employ.

Will I be interviewed?

 In 2010 we interviewed about 85% of our 350 or so  applicants. Each applicant’s qualifications are assessed  individually, and we will take into account any  circumstances which may have affected that applicant’s  academic performance. We usually invite all applicants  from the UK who are likely to meet, or have already met,  our entrance requirements. Applicants from outside the UK will be called for interview if, on the basis of their application papers, they are judged to have a strong chance of receiving an offer of a place. For Medicine applicants, where an applicant’s academic profile is weak by comparison with the rest of the field, we may use the results of the BMAT to determine whether to call them for interview. In the past candidates from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, PR China and (for affiliated applicants only) India have been interviewed in their home country by a team that acts for all Cambridge Colleges: for up-to-date information check the University website.

How can I prepare for interview?

Carefully read through your personal statement and any written work you have submitted. Think in detail about your reasons for wanting to study a particular subject at Cambridge, rather than somewhere else. What is it about the content and structure of the course at Cambridge which attracts you and which matches your interests and aptitude? It is important to be clear about these aspects of your application, even if you are not asked these questions.

Expect to be asked focused and challenging questions, typical of teaching and learning at Cambridge, and be prepared to talk about the academic work you have completed in the last year or two. You may also be asked about relevant wider reading or work experience, and issues related to your subject that are very readily visible in the wider world.

Revise the topics you have studied in the subjects most relevant to your application. Inform yourself about your chosen subject by reading beyond the bounds of your curriculum. Get as much practice as you can applying your academic skills and knowledge to unfamiliar problems and concepts.

What shall I wear?

You should wear whatever makes you comfortable. Some people feel happier in suits, but this is by no means the norm. Don't feel that you need to go out to buy clothes specially! Remember that we are interested in you and not your dress sense (and remember that it is December and likely to be cold)!

What happens at the interview?

Interviews last between 20-40 minutes. For some subjects a written test will be set either prior to, or at the time of, the interview. You may also be required to send pieces of written school or college work, marked by your teachers, to the Admissions Office before the interview. For further details check the College and University websites and, if in doubt, seek guidance from your school or college and/or the Admissions Office.

Most applicants will have two interviews, often with two academics in each interview. One of the interviews will be with the Director of Studies for your course and this will be primarily concerned with your potential and suitability. The second interview may also be subject-specific or, if it is conducted by academics who are specialists in other disciplines, it may be concerned with your broader academic interests. The exact format of the interview will vary from subject to subject, but we try to give you as much information about what to expect as possible.

Some subjects set specific tests which are designed to test more formally knowledge and potential; maths problems and language exercises for example.