Interview advice

Preparation

• Re-read your UCAS form. We’ll probably ask you to expand on some of the things you mentioned on there, so be prepared to talk in more detail about what you wrote.
• Read the University’s Prospectus and website.
• Read up on the subject you’re applied for, either in newspapers and magazines or online. Interviewers often ask about recent developments in your chosen field.
• If your school or college offers you a mock interview, take them up on it. Practice makes perfect!
• If you have friends already at university, ask them about their interview experiences and find out if they have any tips to pass on.
• Think about your answers to the questions which will almost certainly be asked, such as ‘Why do you want to study this particular course?’, or ‘What made you apply to study at Worcester?’.
• Have a few questions ready to ask us. This is not only your big chance to show that you have really thought about studying here, but also your opportunity to clarify anything you are unsure about.
• Plan your journey in advance. If you know where the interview will be taking place then see if you can find it on our campus maps. Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early to allow for traffic delays.

The day before

• Get everything ready that you’re going to need: your invitation or a print out of the email; a copy of your UCAS form; travel tickets; and any notes you want to bring along.
• Read through the interview invitation one more time – you don’t want to realise you’ve missed a crucial detail on the morning of the interview!
• Work out exactly what time you need to leave.
• Try not to worry about the interview and do your best to get a good night’s sleep.

The interview

• Try to relax. It’s only natural to be nervous, but we will do our best to make you feel comfortable.
• Be yourself. We want to find out about you, so don’t just reel off sound-bites that you’ve found on the internet!
• Let your enthusiasm for the course and the University come across.
• Listen to the interviewer and make sure that you answer the question you’ve been asked rather than the question you wish you’d been asked!
• If you don’t understand a question then say so – nobody knows everything and the interviewee will be happy to rephrase a question.
• Think before you answer. It’s often better to wait a few seconds and give a considered answer than to leap in with the first thing that comes into your head.
• Don’t try to bluff it out. If you don’t know the answer to a question then say so – the admissions tutor will know if you make something up.
• However you feel the interview has gone, don’t turn down the opportunity to ask some questions of your own. Refer to your notes if your mind has gone blank on your pre-prepared questions. If you have any questions that have arisen from the interview then even better – it shows that you have been fully involved in the process and are enthusiastic about the course.
• Make notes about the answers to your questions.

What to wear

• You should dress smartly but comfortably. This is your only chance to make an impression in person so avoid looking scruffy, but bear in mind that you could be at the University all day so make sure you will be comfortable.

Afterwards

• Don’t be hard on yourself if you feel the interview didn’t go well. Sometimes the only way to find the limit of someone’s knowledge is to ask a question that goes beyond it, so we don’t necessarily expect you to have an answer for everything. It isn’t the end of the world of you were unable to answer a particular question.
• Go over the interview in your head and consider if you would do anything differently at your next interview.
• Make the most of your time at the University. If your interview is part of a visit day then make the most of the activities on offer, and if not then make sure you take the opportunity to take a look around campus and beyond.