#college interviews

[brisingr-sword]

accidentally almost traumadumped to a college interviewer #slay

[eliteprepsat]

🗣 How to Prepare for College Interviews

Now that many college application deadlines have passed, it is time for many of you to prepare for the college admissions interview. The college interview is often met with uncertainty and, occasionally, downright fear. I’ve had my fair share of students express no desire to interview with colleges, yet these fears are almost always unwarranted. Keep in mind, the college interview is an opportunity for the school to get to know you better and vice-versa. Think of it as a supplement to your college application, allowing the admissions office to put a voice to your application.

It is important to note that not all schools conduct interviews (large state schools simply have too many applicants), and not all schools who do will interview every applicant. However, granted the opportunity, you should accept any offer to interview with a school. Doing so is a fantastic way to demonstrate interest and has the potential to add another dimension to your college application. Here are some college interview questions you should be prepared to answer in a competent and compelling manner.

1. "Tell me a bit about yourself."

I remember a couple of my college interviewers asking this question. It’s an excellent way to introduce yourself and open up the conversation on your terms. I spoke about my background and upbringing, but you can discuss anything you’d like, provided that it is a substantive answer addressing key points you want to share. Highlight specific aspects of yourself and try to avoid generalizing or rambling with your response.

2. "Why do you want to attend this school?"

If you wrote a “Why Us” supplement for the school you are interviewing with, this is a prime opportunity to communicate your passion and depth of knowledge on why this school is a perfect fit. You should have at least three distinct reasons that reflect why you want to attend their institution. Show that you have done your homework and are knowledgeable about how the school’s offerings can help you reach your goals.

3. "Why do you want to major in ________?"

College is, first and foremost, an academic experience. Whether you know what you want to major in or not, be prepared to discuss your academic interests and/or ambitions. If you know what you want to major in, talk to the interviewer about that subject with depth and passion. If you are still unsure about your major, consider talking about various academic interests and why they appeal to you.

4. "What do you plan to contribute to this school?"

Here is your opportunity to demonstrate how your unique skills and qualities will manifest themselves on campus. Think about the ways you want to get involved (activities, clubs, community service, sports, etc.) and share how your past experiences will allow you to add to the dynamic of their college community.

5. "Who has influenced you the most?" / "Who is your hero?"

There are a number of different directions in which you could answer this question, but remember to provide a response that reveals more about your character. You could speak about someone close to you: a relative, friend, or teacher. You could also speak about someone you haven’t met, real or fictional, who has had a profound impact on you.

6. "What is your greatest weakness?"

Answering this question can be tricky, especially if you haven’t thought about a response prior to being asked. Self-awareness reveals maturity, and acknowledging your weaknesses can go a long way towards your growth. Try to recall a moment when you experienced failure and then explain how you overcame it or are working to overcome it. Alternatively, you could think about something you want to be better at and use that as your topic.

7. "What do you in your free time?"

Remember, there can be plenty of free time in college. This is the opportunity to talk about your passions outside of the classroom. Identify specific activities or hobbies that you enjoy and explain why. Consider what those activities reflect about your personality, and let that guide you in answering this question.

8. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Generally, this will be the final question of the interview, and it’s a chance to reverse the roles a bit. Have one or two questions prepared to ask your interviewer. Here are a few examples: What was your favorite thing about attending ______? What do you wish were improved about your experience at ______? What advice would you give to an incoming freshman at ______?

Preparation, confidence, and enthusiasm are the keys to a successful college interview. Of course, there are a number of other questions that could be asked, but if you’ve done your homework, you should be equipped to handle any of them. If you don’t have an immediate answer to any question, take a moment to reflect on it and then answer as genuinely as possible. By the end of the interview, it should be clear that you would make an excellent addition to their campus. At the end of the day, the school wants to put a face to the candidate from the application. So relax, be your best self, and showcase all the remarkable experiences that have led you to this point!

[jemar]

The Oxbridge Interview: A Quick Guide

Receiving an invitation to an Oxbridge interview signifies a huge step forward in your admissions journey: you’ve created a compelling profile, and now the tutors want to get to know you more!

While it may seem a bit daunting initially, the Oxbridge Interview is more often just a dynamic, engaging conversation with a college tutor. In this article, we’ll cover some key information you need to know about your upcoming interview.

A Brief Summary

The Oxbridge Interview is the combined term for the renowned interview style of both Oxford and Cambridge University. During the interview, candidates participate in a one-on-one discussion session with a tutor from a certain Oxford/Cambridge college.

This admissions step is designed to simulate Oxford’s ‘tutorial system’ or Cambridge’s ‘supervision’ system. Your interviewer will be gauging how fit you are for this kind of academic environment. They will challenge you with personal and unexpected questions, evaluating your ability to articulate your thoughts properly and work through problems.

When thinking of the Oxbridge interview, consider it less a test of your pure knowledge and more an evaluation of your passion – your academic potential.

Common Questions

Different types of questions may be thrown at you during your Oxbridge interview. Some of these are:

General Questions – You will encounter traditional interview questions along the way, e.g. - Why Oxford? Why Cambridge? - Why this specific course?

Personal Statement Questions – Your interviewer(s) may also ask you to expound on a topic or experience that you’ve covered in your PS. - In your personal statement, you mentioned a particular interest in [specific topic]. Can you tell me more about what specifically fascinates you about this topic? - You discussed your experience with [a specific project or research] in your personal statement. Can you elaborate on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

Subject Questions – You’ll also be asked questions related to your chosen subject in the interview. - How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment? - How do you assess the reliability of primary sources when studying [a particular period or event]?

Problem-solving Questions – These are especially prominent in interviews for STEM programs. You’ll be given sets of problems to work through, which all build up to one main question. - Prove or disprove the following mathematical statement: [specific theorem or conjecture]. - In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous organisms (AaBb), what is the probability of obtaining an offspring with the genotype Aabb?

Reading Questions – You may be asked for your opinion on a book or research article. In some cases, you’ll be tasked to read a short work beforehand. - What does this graph tell us about the relationship between [two economic variables]? - What is the significance of this experiment described in the text for the field of [specific scientific discipline]?

Open-ended Questions – Interviewers may present you with unexpected, open-ended questions, which are meant to evaluate your thought process. - How should we balance individual freedom and social order? - What is the role of the reader in interpreting a text?

Tips for Preparing

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to properly train for your upcoming interview, here are a few suggestions.

Practice with a Friend - Practice with a friend and ask for their constructive criticism. Your peer can provide personal advice on your diction, presentation, and responses.

Read Up on Books - Study a wide variety of subject-related books, ask recommendations from peers and teachers, and explore different essays related to your field.

Explore Sample Questions - Oxford has a few sample questions on its website. You can also try online interview practice apps, where you can practice questions within a specific time frame.

Join Mock Interviews - Ask your peers or teachers to hold mock interviews with you. Many online educational platforms also offer interview preparation sessions, which allow you to personally train with an Oxbridge tutor.

Recap

The key thing to remember for the Oxbridge interview is that it’s an evaluation of your critical thinking and enthusiasm. From general questions to books, to subject topics, to open-ended questions: you must demonstrate your understanding of your chosen program. Before your upcoming interview, be sure to prepare using the techniques we’ve mentioned above.

Good luck! If you’re really looking for rigorous training, there’s no better way to do that than by practicing under the guidance of Oxbridge tutors with the help of education consulting firms. Learning with an experienced tutor can help you enhance your performance and learn the ins and outs of the Oxbridge interview setting.

[laniidae-passerine]

I need Sam Reich’s phone number so I can tell him about The Newsreader. Go stare at Dale Jennings and imagine that threesome my good man

[lesbianfanfictionenthusiast]

i have a tremendously long to do list you know what that means

[batsyheere]

The dynamics between Dan, Danny and Ellie are so funny to consider. Danny is far too used to handling Sam and Tucker at their worst and now he has an additional gremlin duo who picked up whatever madness was in Vlad's system when he decided cloning was a great idea. (Danny is highly aware that it is not a good thing to have more him in the world and has resolved to better avoid clone plots). Meanwhile Dan and Ellie will fight over the most random, inane things, but the minute it's about family they band together into a proper terror and the only beings able to stop them are Jazz in her disappointment if the situation calls for it, and sleep deprived Danny who does not realize his exhausted presence is like a terrifying parental figure catching their kid doing something stupid.

It gets even funnier when Jazz finally breaks out of the mindset that she needs to be in charge and instead enjoys herself, and so the only leash for the three most feral Fentons (honorary and named) is a perpetually tired teen/young adult.

Now drop that in Gotham.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

you want a new kind of guy, fine, i raise you: the lady i was briefly roommates with in college who once smoked a blunt at a party and then spent an hour confessing earnestly to me that she genuinely preferred reading detailed episode recaps over actually watching the tv show in question

[mikami1992]

Bruce's Billionaire Cliche

You know what one of the clichés (real or from movies) about scandals of middle-aged or older millionaires is?

A spouse of the children's age…..

and you know who needs a story like that….

a Bruce Wayne of around 40 years old….

yep, think about it…

at that time Dick (the oldest son) must be between 25 and 30 years old…

but let's not write the classic story of love, action and saving the world of Bruce…

no, let's write about the reaction of the Batkids to discover the secret romance of their father with who they thought would be their new brother/sister…. yep, the chaos that would be if instead of an adoption certificate, they were shown a marriage certificate…

and of course let's not forget the reaction of the media about the new spouse….

[quvnhi]

Its 2 am. Not me imagining Renee clapping for me after a freaking long dayy.

[lil-shiro]

Some Lance lore from an interview he did when he was 18

Full Article here

[summerscaries]

IWTV unholy family fic recs <3 (if you have more please send them to me, I'm desperate!!) (was inspired by @ldpdluvr posting a fic rec list to finally post the one I’ve had in my drafts!)

FAMILY CENTRIC / LOUSTAT CENTRIC / BOTH

montage of lost things by twocutlines 🔒(canon world-not compiant, M, 4/4, 15,360 words)

Maman by Gigi_Sinclair (canon world-not compliant, T, oneshot, 2017 words, Claudeleine centric)

Comme Il Faut by lesfleursrouges (canon world-compliant, E, oneshot, 4,049 words)

Parts of You in Me by Pileas (human!divorcees, T, one shot, 8,370 words)

drop off by prtyfears (human!divorcees, M, one shot, 16,322 words, +Claudeleine)

Fifth Avenue by ohofcourse (human!divorcees, E, 10 chapters, ongoing, +Claudeleine)

youngest, greenest, dearest by icedmango (human!divorcees, G, 3/3, 15,429 words)

In Sickness and in Health by Anonymous 🔒(human!divorcees, M, oneshot, 3,327 words, +Claudeleine)

i should be over all the butterflies by Amiteva3 (human!divorcees, N/A, chaptered, ongoing)

The Bug Collector by Megamarvelousnerd (human, N/A, oneshot, 777 words)

bmw baby. by hcneymooners (human, N/A, oneshot, 4,746 words)

cord of communion by themasterletters (human, M, 50/50, 145,053 words)

[buglaur]

[peixe-art]

Ok you guys, I wanna try taking some drawing requests 😶‍🌫️

i really wanna draw some fanart for IWTV or TRC but i don't have any ideas pls helppp😫

(compelling you with armand's eyes)

If you have an idea that's not from these fandoms, also feel free to ask (i'd totally do fuffy and Black Sails fanart too tbh)

i'd really appreciate any requests <3

[laniidae-passerine]

imagine: there’s guy named Sam Reich and a guy named Sam Reid and fans of both make little jokes about how similar their names are for a couple years. and then the first one goes “I’ve always wanted to fuck him (he looks like my wife snapchat filter gender swapped)”. well now you no longer have to use your imagination. what a world.

[lorephobic]

literally nobody asked for it, but here's my list of saltburn essays that i've slowly been drafting over the course of the last week which WILL be required reading for anybody trying to engage with me about this movie. my very personal saltburn 101 syllabus just dropped

A Wolf in Deer's Clothing: Saltburn's Attempt at Innocence

an examination of party costumes and our character's last attempts to masquerade as something they're not: felix—an angel, all-forgiving and all-knowing, something to be worshiped; and oliver—a prey animal, prey to class-divide, prey to saltburn, prey to felix.

thoughts about oliver specifically are loosely organized in my #bambi tag

A Midsummer Night's Mare: Farleigh Start as the Ultimate Victim of Saltburn

a farleigh character study, about the ways he was mistreated and manipulated at saltburn, about fighting to stay alive and the scars left behind by knowing when to give in

alternatively titled "QuickStart", may be adapted into a conclusive essay specifically focusing on oliver and farleigh's relationship

The Eye of the Beholder: On Saltburn's Voyeurism & Violence [working title]

how wealth and class pushes the catton's toward the volatile reality of being able to look, but not touch. on desire and the lack thereof, and portraying yourself as an object to be desired

may end up as two separate essays on wealth and aestheticism but i'm pushing toward a conclusive essay about the intersection of the two, which i feel is at the heart of saltburn

alternatively titled "Poor Man's Pudding: A Melvillian Approach to Saltburn's Class", again, may be adapted into it's own essay

Gender-Fluid: A Study in Sexuality and Saltburn's Desire to be Dry

a deep dive into the bodily fluids of saltburn and how oliver upsets the standard of men who are just so lovely and dry. on the creative choice to lean into the messy wetness of sex and desire and the audience's instinct toward repulsion

a celebration of the grotesque and an examination of why we would label it as such

least developed of the four, heavily inspired by @charnelpit's lovely post about the fluids in saltburn

if anybody is actually interested in any of these, i can work toward something closer to a finished piece instead of just bullet points and quotes in a google doc, but mostly this is so i can share my very brief takes on a multitude of themes in saltburn that have been haunting me

edit for people seeing this in the future: all posts about my essays are being organized into my #saltburn 101 tag if you’re interested in following these through to development!