University Interviews

big dog · October 27, 2014, 05:13:13 PM

okay so I know you guys are all really good at social interaction so you're the perfect people to ask for this. i've been invited to several visit days to the universities i've applied for and they've all got some sort of group tutorial/informal interview thing that i'll have to do. problem is, i can't actually give a straight reason why i want to do my subject i just really want to do it. have any of you guys had any similar experiences and do you have any wisdom to share?

asking for a friend

Nexus · October 27, 2014, 05:14:14 PM

Just say "I want to do this subject because there is no god." That will work.

Oh · October 27, 2014, 05:14:30 PM

What subject are you doing?

big dog · October 27, 2014, 05:17:01 PM

Quote from: Simseo on October 27, 2014, 05:14:30 PM

What subject are you doing?

Computer Science. Kind of a hard subject to talk about.

rC · October 27, 2014, 05:20:07 PM

Quote from: Fedorekd on October 27, 2014, 05:17:01 PM

Quote from: Simseo on October 27, 2014, 05:14:30 PM
What subject are you doing?
Computer Science. Kind of a hard subject to talk about.

talk about your passion for computers and your dedication to contributing to that field of study

and all that shit

Super Irish · October 27, 2014, 05:22:20 PM

Do you do any coding outside of school, trying to create games, Java shit, that sorta thing. Talk about that.

I dreaded interviews, but thankfully none asked for them. What Uni's are asking for them? I only know Bristol and Ox-Bridge do.

Hahahaha very funny Zonda · October 27, 2014, 05:22:36 PM

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big dog · October 27, 2014, 05:25:32 PM

Quote from: SuperIrish on October 27, 2014, 05:22:20 PM

Do you do any coding outside of school, trying to create games, Java shit, that sorta thing. Talk about that.

I dreaded interviews, but thankfully none asked for them. What Uni's are asking for them? I only know Bristol and Ox-Bridge do.

I've been using Codeacademy to learn Java (course froze though) and Python. The closest other thing that I do is using the scripting language in GameMaker.

Surrey's invited me to a visit day which includes a 1to1 session and potentially a formal interview.
Southampton's visit day includes an informal interview.
Bristol has a group tutorial session, as they feel that it's more suitable for such a course than an interview.

And then you have Bath who gave me an offer within a week without me having to do any of this.

And Kings College who haven't said anything yet.

Oh · October 27, 2014, 05:27:07 PM

Quote from: Fedorekd on October 27, 2014, 05:17:01 PM

Quote from: Simseo on October 27, 2014, 05:14:30 PM
What subject are you doing?
Computer Science. Kind of a hard subject to talk about.

Well I'm doing maths at uni, when I first applied to do maths, I was in the same position. I didn't know where I wanted to take it, but I wanted to do it. I certainly knew I didn't want to do any of my other subjects at uni. So it was either maths or nothing for me, good think I liked it.

I really enjoyed maths at a level, the easy stuff was boring, it was the hard stuff that I enjoyed, that's one reason for doing maths at uni, I know I'm going to like it, I'm motivated to do it, and I want to do well at it.

It's not the generic "I'm doing business/economics/whatever so I can get a high paying job but all I'm going to do throughout uni is complain about how I don't like my course." I'm choosing to do maths because I genuinely enjoy it.

Second maths is used fucking everywhere, I'm not limiting myself to any one specific job.
Same thing applies to computer science. Computers literally run the developed world at the moment, if you can computers, you can probably get a job.

I had another idea but I've forgotten it, I'll add some more if I think of them.

Also, I did computational mathematics last year, and I'm doing numerical analysis. Creating procedures and algorithms to perform specific tasks or solve mathematical problems is really fucking fun with computers and mathematical software, and especially rewarding if you can do the harder stuff. That also contributes to problem solving skills, etc...

big dog · October 27, 2014, 05:32:02 PM

Quote from: Simseo on October 27, 2014, 05:27:07 PM

Quote from: Fedorekd on October 27, 2014, 05:17:01 PM
Quote from: Simseo on October 27, 2014, 05:14:30 PM
What subject are you doing?
Computer Science. Kind of a hard subject to talk about.

Well I'm doing maths at uni, when I first applied to do maths, I was in the same position. I didn't know where I wanted to take it, but I wanted to do it.

I really enjoyed maths at a level, the easy stuff was boring, it was the hard stuff that I enjoyed, that's one reason for doing maths at uni, I know I'm going to like it, I'm motivated to do it, and I want to do well at it.

It's not the generic "I'm doing business/economics/whatever so I can get a high paying job but all I'm going to do throughout uni is complain about how I don't like my course." I'm choosing to do maths because I genuinely enjoy it.

Second maths is used fucking everywhere, I'm not limiting myself to any one specific job.
Same thing applies to computer science. Computers literally run the developed world at the moment, if you can computers, you can probably get a job.

I had another idea but I've forgotten it, I'll add some more if I think of them.

Also, I did computational mathematics last year, and I'm doing numerical analysis. Creating procedures and algorithms to perform specific tasks or solve mathematical problems is really fucking fun with computers and mathematical software, and especially rewarding if you can do the harder stuff. That also contributes to problem solving skills, etc...

Yeah, that last part is kind of similar to something I mentioned in my personal statement about Decision Mathematics. I guess it's the algorithmic approach to solving things that I like.

Oh · October 27, 2014, 05:46:08 PM

Quote from: Fedorekd on October 27, 2014, 05:32:02 PM

Yeah, that last part is kind of similar to something I mentioned in my personal statement about Decision Mathematics. I guess it's the algorithmic approach to solving things that I like.

When you go to visit the universities, after all the generic I like computers and whatever, I would try and get more information on that sort of stuff then, specific courses, talk to teachers that specialise in the that sort of stuff, etc. Then you've got something to talk about, and that will set you apart from the once again generic I want to code games/websites babbies. Also shows you've taken initiative to think about what you want to get from your courses.