In mid-October, when the University of Oxford released sample questions from tutors who conduct student admission interviews, it explained that most questions would not have simple answers — they were not expecting any.
For instance, biomedical students may be asked why sugar in urine is a good indicator of diabetes, economics students will have to debate whether or not governments must curtail bankers’ bonuses, and aspiring engineers will need to explain exactly why a ruler topples over.
“Tutors simply want to see how students think and respond to new ideas — we are not interested in catching students out,” said Dr Samina Khan, Director of Admissions and Outreach at Oxford, in a media statement. “We want to underscore that every question asked by our tutors has a purpose, and that purpose is to assess how students think about their subject and respond to new information or unfamiliar ideas.”
This year, students may have had to explain why the income per head in the US is between 50 and 100 times larger than in countries such as Burundi and Malawi to ensure a seat at Oxford’s Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree. But elsewhere around the world too, applicants are coming to terms with the fact that college admissions are less about academics, and more about everything else.
Whether in the arts or the sciences, at the undergraduate or graduate levels, prospective students are being asked to talk about their views and values, hobbies and aspirations, and volunteer or community work. With their academic qualifications already on file, what colleges are now seeking is a good gauge of their attitude and approach to life.
For example, when the University of Toronto’s business school conducted webcam interviews with prospective students, they were asked to describe their most important qualities, and their hobbies outside of work.
In India, Karan Sehgal told media that the only question posed to him in his interview with Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephen’s College was, “How is the weather outside?”
As Garima Bharti, another Indian student, wrote on Quora, a question-and-answer website where members of its community seek knowledge on particular topics: “In my XLRI interview, I was asked, ‘We see a lot of places where managers are required; is there any place where mis-managers are required?’” Bharti says that although it was a really unexpected question, she managed to come up with a few answers.
Against the backdrop of greater interest in their personalities — as opposed to only grades — students often find themselves in the quandary of what views to express and in how much detail, how many talents to list, and what parts of their private life to reveal. The answers to these questions, too, is neither straight nor simple.
Martha Allman, Dean of Admissions at Wake Forest University has compiled a helpful list of questions for students on the institution’s website to guide them through admissions. “As a general rule, academic records are much more important than extracurricular activities. However, substantial talent and accomplishment in the fine arts, athletics or other areas sought by a particular college can become significant in the admissions decision. In general, colleges seek depth of involvement rather than breadth; therefore, we advise students to focus time and attention on a few activities in which they excel,” she says.
Rob Franek, chief expert on education at The Princeton Review, a test preparation and college admission services company, also offers advice in his essay, Top College Interview Tips: “You have many sides, so showcase the side of yourself that is professional, mature and poised. Don’t show up looking like you just peeled yourself off the couch — wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
“Smile, and remember your interviewer wants the interview to go well too.”
