The Cambridge Interview Process

GREETING THE INTERVIEWER

As soon as you go into the room, do you have to offer your hand to the interviewer to be considered for the position? While it's true that the regulations for shaking hands have changed as a result of COVID, note that your interviewer has been taught to make these changes obvious to you as soon as you enter into the room. Cambridge interviewers have specialised training on what to do when a candidate enters through the door in order to relieve the applicants' unnecessary tension throughout the interview process.

FEELING NERVOUS?

Some individuals become silent when they are frightened, while others get very unsteady, while others become excessively chatty, while some project a tremendous sense of tranquilly. It is understood by interviewers that applicants would be apprehensive - after all, who wouldn't be? – and that this will present itself in a variety of ways. Interviewers just try not to let this get in the way of their work. Knowing this, you should keep in mind that you are not being questioned for your confidence; rather, you are being evaluated for your traits and academic abilities. Interviewers are trained to see beyond your nervousness. It is their responsibility to bring out the best in that individual.

THE INTERVIEWER’S PERSPECTIVE

Interviewers are equally as apprehensive as applicants.  Due to the fact that they do about 10-16 interviews every day, they are not apprehensive in the traditional sense, but rather they are enthusiastic to see who walks through the door. To be sure, the whole procedure is tiring. They have 20 to 25 minutes to make a choice that is really significant to them. With such a limited amount of time to attempt to really comprehend someone, the interview process may be taxing for the interviewers, and the days can be quite lengthy.  Candidates should take solace in the notion that all interviewers are committed to get the job right and to perform the job well.

In the immediate aftermath of each interview, interviewers make notes on the applicant. This is an essential must-do, and they must write the notes immediately. They must maintain track of everything at all times, or else everything will get hazy. Despite the significance of the interview, it is not the only factor that determines success or failure. It is just a small element of a much larger application procedure that includes the personal statement, submitted essays (for certain disciplines), and admissions exams as well as other requirements for admission. Although the interview may seem to be a significant event to the student, the interviewer and universities take into consideration a great deal more about each applicant behind the scenes.

ENSURE THE INTERVIEWER REMEMBER YOUR INTERVIEW

Interviewers would interview around 14 individuals in a single day, so you may be curious whether the interviewer will remembered you from their previous interviews. Make sure you leave fond memories for the interviewers. For example he/she seemed to be a bright and joyful individual - just the kind of person we wanted to encounter first thing in the morning. It's possible that interviewers may make you feel uncomfortable at some time, especially if you're having trouble coming up with a response or when they say things like "Come on ..., link the dots..." This does not imply that you will return to your home and that you will never hear from Cambridge ever again.

HERE IS THE SCOOP

Above all, intellectual curiosity is something that interviewers are looking for in candidates. It is not really about whether or not they know the answers. It has everything to do with how people come up with queries. The objective of a university education is to prepare students who are comfortable asking questions and who are knowledgeable about how to respond to such enquiries. You should not be concerned about not understanding what your interviewer is talking about. Simply interact with anything they throw at you and apply critical thinking to it. Interviewers never want to make a snap judgement about someone based on their opinions or beliefs. They are only looking to see if anybody has any queries concerning the planet.

INTERVIEWERS ARE HUMANS TOO

Naturally, your interviewer is a human being – and not a very rude or vicious one at that. Other interviewers are subjected to the same rules. Their job does not require them to be scary; rather, they are just attempting to do their best and make the best judgments possible for the institution and you as a student. The interviewers are aware that these are 17- and 18-year-olds with a diverse range of experiences who are often apprehensive throughout the process. They have no intention of acting as a nasty policeman or asking you with scary trick questions.

THE CAMBRIDGE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ONLINE

The websites that come up when you search for "Cambridge interview questions" on Google are completely unreliable. The only place where you may attempt to learn more about the interview system in a secure manner is on the college and university websites and what they tell you about the process there. Everything else should be approached with extreme caution.  Because there is such a wide range of interviewers and topics, hearing about someone else's experience of a Cambridge interview - whether it is a law tutor or a friend – may be instructive, but it will not be the same as your own experience. Also, we cannot speak on behalf of all interviewees, and your experience may vary from that of those of us who have attended such interviews. 

However, you may still plan ahead of time despite the uncertainties.  In order to be considered for a place to read in law, you must be conscious of your environment throughout the interview. Contrary to common perception, there is no need for you to colour in during the interview. We suggest that you read news articles in preparation for the interview, as this will assist you in making connections between your discussion with the interviewer and current world concerns. For other social science/humanities disciplines, media stories would be a good place to start — and science students can also connect with journals in the same way. This technique has been endorsed by the us. The practise of memorising your answers, on the other hand, is something we strongly discourage. A person who is just regurgitating an answer that they have memorised will almost always be detected by the interviewer. It's not worth it in the end.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, we would say this to everybody who is interviewing this year for Cambridge, it is not always what you know, but rather how interested you are, that counts in an interview. Curiosity is a wonderful attribute to possess, and it is one of the characteristics I look for in potential employees. Inquisitiveness about the world is quite vital, and it is something that anybody who steps through the daunting interview door, regardless of their background, can show about themselves.

OXBRIDGE INTERVIEW TUTOR

If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you should consider getting help from Law Tutor who specialsses in admissions into these prestigious universities to study law. Both Oxford and Cambridge have highly competitive application processes, and seeking guidance from someone who has inside knowledge of what the admissions board is looking for can greatly increase your chances of acceptance. Law Tutor can provide invaluable support, from assisting with personal statements and recommending reading lists to refining interview skills and giving mock interviews. With the help of a tutor, you can better showcase your achievements and demonstrate your potential to the admissions board, giving you the best possible chance of securing a place at Oxford or Cambridge.