can you explain the question you talk about on angles at 3:45 , i don't understand what the question is. it looks like a geometry question to do with angles but you talk about moments. could you please explain the question and how you did it, also it does not look like anything i have done in school except for maybe mechanics in physics. thankyou in advance for the response also did you do further maths?
@melanie zhang Hi Melanie! I would say my personal statement was 100% theory and knowledge. I did not mention my qualifications as there is a separate section of the UCAS form where you state them. Since I applied to a range of physical science/engineering courses, I did not specifically talk about any course. However, talking about why I as fascinated by certain theory and knowledge expressed why I was interested and thus chose the courses I had applied for.
Hey, congrats on the place. I'm currently in the process of writing my personal statement. Course wise, I am drawn between physics and materials science, but leaning toward MatSci. You mention solar cells and non-Newtonian fluids. I want to apply for Materials science and have the grades at the moment, but so far I haven't mentioned anything so specific as I don't know about any of this stuff. It all looks really interesting but I just don't have the knowledge. The questions you were talking about seemed so in depth and I just can't imagine them extracting this out my personal statement. I fear if I mention detailed topics, that they will ask about it at interview, and I will have no clue. The internal deadline for the personal statement is soon, so I can't really read a book about them. Any advice?
Hello! It sounds like I am talking about the topics in real depth in this video as I am talking with hindsight after having reflected on my performance in interview. I would not worry about mentioning specific materials related topics in your PS if you don't have the knowledge about it. The tutors appreciate that materials is a subject that you don't explicitly study at A level, so they don't expect you to have material specific knowledge. Instead during interviews they are testing how you think and deal with new concepts using skills you will have acquired during A level, rather than what you already know.In fact, a few materials interviewees each years are actually physics 2nd choice applicants, highlighting how it's not the specific knowledge they are after in your PS or interview, but evidence that you have the scientific skills to be applied in a materials context. I hope this was of some use and good luck!
The interview experience for my daughter was very similar: they pushed until she was stumped, then guided her thinking to probe the way she reasoned. She enjoyed the interaction, but was scared she had not done well. Also, they spent a lot of time on her essays - she had to submit additional ones on questions they gave her beforehand - and she had to explain them all.
Hi! Congratulations on the acceptance! If you don't mind my asking, how much of your personal statement was based on theory and knowledge, and how much was actually about your qualifications and reasons why you chose the course?
Hi, Rebecca! I have applied to materials science of Trinity in Oxford, too! I am having my interviews on 13th Dec. I have heard that you will be in the university at that time, so I wonder can we meet sometime. Cause your videos have really encouraged and inspired me!
Thanks so much, I found this really informative. My interview is a week today and I'm terrified! I'm a little curious as to the level of diffusion questions, but perhaps you can put my mind at rest by telling me you did AS/A2 Biology? Thanks for the video!
+Jasmin lolzor I ended up choosing Imperial's aerospace materials course, more applied I think, but the interview process was cool, tough, but they were really welcoming!
Hi, I love your videos and I wanted to ask that what did you do for extracurricular activities such as do you get a really good chance if you are academically and, say musically able and have like grade 8 activities are REALLY important?
Hi! I would say for Oxford, they care very little about extracurricular activities. Of course it's great to have them, as it shows that you can manage your time effectively and do other things apart from just study. However, they are absolutely not a necessity.
I was interviewed at specific colleges, but the interview is for being accepted into the university to study a specific degree course. Once you have been accepted into the university, you are automatically assigned/accepted into a specific college - they are not mutually exclusive. :)
Hey Rebecca! Congratulations for getting in! I am an Indian class XII CBSE Science student! And I am really willing to study Engineering sciences at Oxford! As you applied for Materials, you must have given PAT, could you tell me how did you prepare for it? Lastly, Do you know any Indian student studying engineering there? Or could help me find one who could help me through this application process? I really thank you for providing your precious time to read this! Awaiting a reply!
Hi Prathamesh! Unfortunately I dont know any Indian students studying engineering here. In order to practise for the PAT, I just went through A level Physics/maths formulas, and did the past papers. The physics Olympiad past paper questions are also similar. :) I hope this is helpful - if you have any other questions give me a shout!
+Rebecca Wang Hey rebbeca! Thank you so much! This was really helpful! So can you just introduce me with any of the engineering undergrad there in oxford who could help me?
+Olga Tennor What are you interviewing for? I'm a recent Oxford gradute with a long, long list of experience with humanities admissions and the application process. Relevant?
Okay: try to be flexible in the way that you think. The Oxford biology interviews tend to take what you know from A Level and apply it practically or theoretically. (www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34505485) So for example. Imagine I was to hand you a Brazil nut. My question could be: tell me about it? Using your knowledge of adaptation, environmental conditions, and plant biology in general you could tell me: i) where it came from ii) why it is the shape it is iii) Why it is big/small/round/pointy vi) how long the seed could stay dormant Equally you might receive some written information and be expected to give your opinion on it. The process is about lateral thinking, and stretching what you know. Run over your definitions, and make sure you do this back to As level at least. This will help you feel confident. Finally, don't be scared of pausing to answer, and try to enjoy it. You will do better if you do. Sorry I couldn't be more useful :)
Obviously this is an example so it's not worth dwelling on too much, and you know more about biology than me anyway. Beginning with what you know is perfect though: the nut's function! However, there are no right lines. And no answers either. It's a discussion throughout. Think about your thought process out loud. So potential ways to stir your answers up. I.e. ways a tutor could push you: What do you mean by 'design'? Is it design? What else could it be? How do you know it is supposed to be eaten? What evidence do you have of that? What would you say if I said that the outside of the shell was sticky? Would you still think it was supposed to be eaten? How do you know it has come from a rain forest? What makes you think that? Is there something about it that gives you that impression (what would it look like if it came from a desert? Or a cold climate?) Yes. It could stay dormant. But some can stay dormant longer than others. How long do think this seed could survive. Why would it want to? Okay. Just a taste. I'm not expert in biology remember. My degree is English. But the crucial thing here is thinking about how what you know gives you the toolkit to think about what you don't know. You're not there to recite information, but to apply your mind :)
Hi! when you had your interviews I know you had two, which I have too, did both ask you about your personal statement/"why matsci"? or do they structure it in a way so that you only have to answer that once? I know it's okay to have those answers pre-prepared, just curious.
I had it just mentioned once. To me, it felt more like an opening question to help ease you into the real interviewing so I don't think they really cared too much what you said. I think most applicants probably say similar things anyway - (mixture of all the sciences, applied nature of subject etc.etc.)
can you explain the question you talk about on angles at 3:45 , i don't understand what the question is. it looks like a geometry question to do with angles but you talk about moments. could you please explain the question and how you did it, also it does not look like anything i have done in school except for maybe mechanics in physics. thankyou in advance for the response
also did you do further maths?
I did materials at Loughborough. And I have no clue what viscosity is until you reminded me.
Now I work in finance in Hong Kong.
Anything you didn't about the course at Loughborough that other Universities may have or anything about the Uni itself?
Jaw Ji can you send me your personal statement @mo_gedow@icloud.com
@melanie zhang Hi Melanie! I would say my personal statement was 100% theory and knowledge. I did not mention my qualifications as there is a separate section of the UCAS form where you state them. Since I applied to a range of physical science/engineering courses, I did not specifically talk about any course. However, talking about why I as fascinated by certain theory and knowledge expressed why I was interested and thus chose the courses I had applied for.
Hey, congrats on the place. I'm currently in the process of writing my personal statement. Course wise, I am drawn between physics and materials science, but leaning toward MatSci. You mention solar cells and non-Newtonian fluids. I want to apply for Materials science and have the grades at the moment, but so far I haven't mentioned anything so specific as I don't know about any of this stuff. It all looks really interesting but I just don't have the knowledge. The questions you were talking about seemed so in depth and I just can't imagine them extracting this out my personal statement. I fear if I mention detailed topics, that they will ask about it at interview, and I will have no clue. The internal deadline for the personal statement is soon, so I can't really read a book about them. Any advice?
Hello! It sounds like I am talking about the topics in real depth in this video as I am talking with hindsight after having reflected on my performance in interview. I would not worry about mentioning specific materials related topics in your PS if you don't have the knowledge about it. The tutors appreciate that materials is a subject that you don't explicitly study at A level, so they don't expect you to have material specific knowledge. Instead during interviews they are testing how you think and deal with new concepts using skills you will have acquired during A level, rather than what you already know.In fact, a few materials interviewees each years are actually physics 2nd choice applicants, highlighting how it's not the specific knowledge they are after in your PS or interview, but evidence that you have the scientific skills to be applied in a materials context. I hope this was of some use and good luck!
The interview experience for my daughter was very similar: they pushed until she was stumped, then guided her thinking to probe the way she reasoned. She enjoyed the interaction, but was scared she had not done well. Also, they spent a lot of time on her essays - she had to submit additional ones on questions they gave her beforehand - and she had to explain them all.
It makes me so happy that you got in! Especially since you were my favourite oxvlogger ;)
aww that's so kind of you to say that! :)
Hi! Congratulations on the acceptance! If you don't mind my asking, how much of your personal statement was based on theory and knowledge, and how much was actually about your qualifications and reasons why you chose the course?
May I ask if it is for DPhil or Undergrad? :)
What can I write in the personal statement for material science? Are there any recommendations?
Hi, Rebecca! I have applied to materials science of Trinity in Oxford, too! I am having my interviews on 13th Dec. I have heard that you will be in the university at that time, so I wonder can we meet sometime. Cause your videos have really encouraged and inspired me!
Kevin Huang Hey there, I have mine coming up on the 10th.. how did yours go?? have you got any tips?
Thanks so much, I found this really informative. My interview is a week today and I'm terrified! I'm a little curious as to the level of diffusion questions, but perhaps you can put my mind at rest by telling me you did AS/A2 Biology? Thanks for the video!
+Jasmin lolzor I ended up choosing Imperial's aerospace materials course, more applied I think, but the interview process was cool, tough, but they were really welcoming!
Do we need to revise chemistry for the interview or just maths and physics?
did you get in?
?
Matt M so far so good... find out my fate for sure on the 14th!
So? :)
Matt M Yes I got in!
CONGRATS!
Wanted to do material sc here BUT OML GORL YOUR INTERVIEW SOUND SO HARD 😭 is this an interview or a test?
wait a second what measures exactly do they give you in that little math task? I mean You cant just calculate three angles without knowing anything
the didn't want you to calculate the exact value, but instead talk through the process of how you would work it out. :)
Hi, I love your videos and I wanted to ask that what did you do for extracurricular activities such as do you get a really good chance if you are academically and, say musically able and have like grade 8 activities are REALLY important?
pls answer this
Hi! I would say for Oxford, they care very little about extracurricular activities. Of course it's great to have them, as it shows that you can manage your time effectively and do other things apart from just study. However, they are absolutely not a necessity.
So what was this interview for? To get accepted into the university, or just the individual college?
I was interviewed at specific colleges, but the interview is for being accepted into the university to study a specific degree course. Once you have been accepted into the university, you are automatically assigned/accepted into a specific college - they are not mutually exclusive. :)
Very helpful video thank you and well done for getting a place :)
so how long was your interview?
Maybe 30 mins in total :)
Now that it's the 19th, did you get in?
yes I did! :D
Yay! Congratulations :)
+Rebecca Wang You are truly inspirational
Hey Rebecca! Congratulations for getting in! I am an Indian class XII CBSE Science student! And I am really willing to study Engineering sciences at Oxford! As you applied for Materials, you must have given PAT, could you tell me how did you prepare for it? Lastly, Do you know any Indian student studying engineering there? Or could help me find one who could help me through this application process?
I really thank you for providing your precious time to read this!
Awaiting a reply!
Hi Prathamesh! Unfortunately I dont know any Indian students studying engineering here. In order to practise for the PAT, I just went through A level Physics/maths formulas, and did the past papers. The physics Olympiad past paper questions are also similar. :) I hope this is helpful - if you have any other questions give me a shout!
+Rebecca Wang Hey rebbeca! Thank you so much! This was really helpful! So can you just introduce me with any of the engineering undergrad there in oxford who could help me?
I have my Oxford interview in less than 3 weeks! any tips would be welcome...
+Olga Tennor What are you interviewing for? I'm a recent Oxford gradute with a long, long list of experience with humanities admissions and the application process. Relevant?
Hi, I'm applying for biology, so I don't know if you can help me with that, but thanks for replying :)
Okay: try to be flexible in the way that you think. The Oxford biology interviews tend to take what you know from A Level and apply it practically or theoretically. (www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34505485)
So for example. Imagine I was to hand you a Brazil nut. My question could be: tell me about it?
Using your knowledge of adaptation, environmental conditions, and plant biology in general you could tell me:
i) where it came from
ii) why it is the shape it is
iii) Why it is big/small/round/pointy
vi) how long the seed could stay dormant
Equally you might receive some written information and be expected to give your opinion on it.
The process is about lateral thinking, and stretching what you know. Run over your definitions, and make sure you do this back to As level at least. This will help you feel confident.
Finally, don't be scared of pausing to answer, and try to enjoy it. You will do better if you do.
Sorry I couldn't be more useful :)
Obviously this is an example so it's not worth dwelling on too much, and you know more about biology than me anyway. Beginning with what you know is perfect though: the nut's function!
However, there are no right lines. And no answers either. It's a discussion throughout. Think about your thought process out loud.
So potential ways to stir your answers up. I.e. ways a tutor could push you:
What do you mean by 'design'? Is it design? What else could it be?
How do you know it is supposed to be eaten? What evidence do you have of that? What would you say if I said that the outside of the shell was sticky? Would you still think it was supposed to be eaten?
How do you know it has come from a rain forest? What makes you think that? Is there something about it that gives you that impression (what would it look like if it came from a desert? Or a cold climate?)
Yes. It could stay dormant. But some can stay dormant longer than others. How long do think this seed could survive. Why would it want to?
Okay. Just a taste. I'm not expert in biology remember. My degree is English. But the crucial thing here is thinking about how what you know gives you the toolkit to think about what you don't know.
You're not there to recite information, but to apply your mind :)
MasterCacophony again thanks for you very helpful advice,you've given me a better idea of what the interview is like :)
Hi! when you had your interviews I know you had two, which I have too, did both ask you about your personal statement/"why matsci"? or do they structure it in a way so that you only have to answer that once? I know it's okay to have those answers pre-prepared, just curious.
I had it just mentioned once. To me, it felt more like an opening question to help ease you into the real interviewing so I don't think they really cared too much what you said. I think most applicants probably say similar things anyway - (mixture of all the sciences, applied nature of subject etc.etc.)
Thanks for making this video, i found it really helpful
Those pigeons look like they might be sensitive abut their weight.
You are a brain and a beauty. That's a rare find.
Did you get in?
how long was your interview?