Guide for Interviewees

December 2016

From: Dr Simon Smith, Senior Tutor and Tutor for Admissions

Congratulations on being selected for interview at Brasenose.

This booklet aims to answer some frequently asked questions and to provide useful information about the interview process.

The Central University timetable for interviews, together with some multimedia guidance and the University’s “Interviews at Oxford” guide can be found at the following url:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/interviews

If you haven’t already done so, please confirm that you wish to attend your interview and inform of us when you intend to arrive using the following online form:

https://surveyhero.com/c/e91ff99

You can also let us know of any particular dietary requirements and/or accommodation requirements (related to disabilities, health etc.).

You will also be asked to email a photograph of yourself to: photos@bnc.ox.ac.uk –so please ensure you have one to hand. This does not have to be a formal portrait - a “selfie” taken on your phone will be fine. Please note however that the selectors will be provided with a copy of the photograph to help with interview organisation.

While in Oxford it is essential that you regularly check your mobile phone for admissions messages and also the noticeboards in the Brasenose JCR (Junior Common Room). It is also important that you arrive at the JCR in good time for interviews, or to collect extracts prior to interviews.

I will write to you again on January 6th to inform you of the result of your application. In the meantime, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Officer, Ian Maconnachie: admissions@bnc.ox.ac.uk.

I look forward to seeing you in December.

Domestic Arrangements

Board and lodging is provided free of charge for the duration of your stay. If you live a long distance from Oxford and need to travel the day before your interview, please tell us that you need accommodation for the night before your interview when you complete the online reply survey at:

https://surveyhero.com/c/e91ff99

-you don’t need to ask our permission. If you wish to make your own arrangements for accommodation outside the College, please contact the Admissions Officer about this. You are expected to be in Oxford for the duration of the interview period for your subject (as specified on the university website), however if for any reason it is necessary for you to leave before this time, please let the Admissions Officer know so that we know your whereabouts and we can account for you in an emergency. While resident in College, bear in mind there will be other candidates who will be preparing for their interviews. We ask that you treat these candidates with the same consideration which you would wish for yourself. When you arrive at Brasenose for interview, please report to the Porters’ Lodge in the first instance to collect your room key. You will then be taken to the JCR (Junior Common Room) where you will be introduced to your undergraduate hosts. Their role is to help you during your stay: they will also show you to your room and answer any questions you may have. Check with the hosts if you are unsure about anything. Since accommodation is in short supply during the interview period, you must pack your belongings by 9am on the day of departure so that the room can be cleaned in time for the next person. Your belongings may be left securely in the JCR (or another designated room) until you leave. When you leave, please return your room key to the Porters’ Lodge. You should not leave until a notice has been posted in the JCR saying that you may do so.

What is provided: College will provide you with towels, bedding and all meals for the duration of your stay.

Meals

Meal times during the week are as follows: Breakfast: 8.00 am – 9.00 am Lunch: 12.30 pm – 1.45 pm (packed lunch) Dinner: 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm (hot meal) *note that the hot meal will be earlier on Monday 12 December, at 12.30, as the hall is being used in the evening for another event. A pizza supper will be provided which applicants are welcome to eat in the bar/JCR. Weekend meals: At the weekends, brunches will be provided from 11 am – 11.30 am Dinners will be from 6.00 – 6.30 pm The kitchen staff are happy to cater for those with dietary restrictions by prior arrangement. If you have any special dietary requirements (other than vegetarian) please ensure that you tell us about this in the appropriate section of the survey. There is no dress code for eating in Hall (or indeed any other part of the interview experience). It is a cafeteria style service, rather than a formal meal!

Getting to Oxford From London Coaches run between London and Oxford very frequently, as often as every 10 minutes during peak hours. The following is a guide for those of you who will be coming to Oxford via Gatwick or Heathrow Airports. “Airline” is a very efficient coach service which stops outside the Arrival Terminals at each airport and takes you directly to Gloucester Green Coach Station in the centre of Oxford (the final stop). Further information is available on the website: http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/ Tickets can be purchased on-line.

From Heathrow (The Airline) From Gatwick (The Airline)

Central Bus Station: South Terminal Lower Forecourt:

● Coach leaves from Stand 15. Travel time about 90 mins. Timetable is available at: http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timetables/airline-heathrow

● Coaches leave from Stands 1 & 2. Travel time is between 120 and 150 minutes. Timetable available at: http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timetables/airline-gatwick

Terminal 5: North Terminal Bus Station:

● Coaches leave from Stand 10 at the arrivals concourse. Travel time about 80 minutes. A timetable is available at http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timetables/airline-heathrow

● Coaches leave from Stands 4 & 5. Travel time is about 120-150 mins. Timetable is available at http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timetables/airline-gatwick

● one way: £23.00 ● one way £28.00

● period return (within 3 months) £29.00 ● period return (within 3 months) £37.00

Oxford boarding point: Gloucester Green Bus Station, George Street (Bay 7)

Oxford boarding point: Gloucester Green Bus Station, George Street (Bay 6)

Other Services:

Coach Services (London to Oxford)

1. X90 (http://x90.oxfordbus.co.uk/): There is a daily 24 hour express service from London Victoria Coach Station (Gate 10) to Oxford Gloucester Green Bus Station (Bay 5). It runs daytime every 15-20 minutes. The journey time is about 100 minutes, but you should allow extra time during rush hours. Student and young person’s fares: £11 single or £15 for 3-month return ticket.

2. The Oxford Tube (http://www.oxfordtube.com/): From London Victoria,

Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate and Shepherds Bush to Oxford. Journey time is about 100 minutes, but allow extra time during rush hours. Student and young person’s fares* £11.00 day single or £15.00 return up to 3 months later.

* with a young person’s railcard or young person’s coach card.

Rail:

A frequent direct service operates between Oxford and London Paddington (approximately every 30 minutes and takes one hour). Please be aware that there are ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ trains which often leave within minutes of each other. There are also services between Oxford and Birmingham, New St. via Banbury and via Reading; and from the west via Didcot or Reading. For information contact the National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950 web: www.nationalrail.co.uk

Car:

There is no parking at Brasenose and very limited (and expensive) parking in Oxford. We would therefore advise using one of the city’s 5 Park and Rides. For details of Park & Ride services, please see http://www.parkandride.net/oxford/html/oxford_parkandride.html

London-Oxford: A49/M40/A40 Birmingham-Oxford: M40/A34 Alternatively, you may use nearby Catte Street for dropping off and picking up only.

Preparing for your interview Interviewers are not looking for candidates who have been drilled in the ‘right answers’ or whose school or college has coached them how to behave or what to say. We are looking for people who are genuinely interested in the subject they wish to study. Top Tips

1) Read back over the paperwork you have sent us – UCAS form personal statement, written work if any – and think about what questions arise from it. You might not be asked about them, but it is better to be prepared!

2) Think over obvious questions such as: “Why do you want to study this subject?”

3) Show that you have made an informed decision about the course you are applying for

4) Be prepared to think hard during the interview. It is designed to distinguish between well-qualified candidates so it won’t be a cosy chat, but interviewers are aware that you may be nervous and will take this into account.

5) Be prepared to rethink your opinions, if challenged, but don’t necessarily feel you have to agree with the interviewer.

There may be two or three people in the interview room. It may be that one is there to take notes of the interview, so don’t feel disconcerted if not everyone asks any questions. You’ll probably be asked if you have any questions which you would like to ask – it’s perfectly fine to say no, if you don’t – there’s no need to make up a question in order to seem interested. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in and whatever will help you focus on the interview in a professional manner. There’s no need to buy anything new, or to dress in a very formal way. You will not be judged on your fashion sense! Please be aware that December in Oxford can be very cold – so do dress appropriately. Details of interview times will be posted on the Notice Board in the JCR. Please go to the JCR 20 minutes before your interview (or before the scheduled start of any reading time prior to your interview), so that you can be contacted quickly in case of delays or changes in timetable. Most importantly make sure you consult the Notice Board regularly during your stay, and if you do go out into Oxford, please check your mobile

phone regularly and respond to calls from the College as interviews (particularly those at other colleges) may be arranged at short notice.

Please see the online booklet for more useful tips: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Interviews%20guide%202016.pdf

Safety

If you are required to attend interview at another college then an Admissions Host from the JCR will be able to escort you, they will wait at the college for you and escort you back afterwards if you are unsure or it is dark.

Some candidates will be housed in the college’s Frewin Annexe, this is a short walk from the main college site. Hosts will be available to escort interview candidates back to Frewin after dark and there will be a Porter on duty for added security. Candidates should take care with pavements and road crossing. Suitable footwear and appropriate clothing should be worn.

Oxford is no more dangerous than any other city, but you should exercise the usual care that you would anywhere else if you decide to go out of college during the day. You should not go out alone at night. The Head Porter has prepared a “Security Message”, which you will find a copy of in your room. You should take the time to read this document carefully.

Smoking is prohibited in all College rooms and in all common areas save the designated smoking areas on the main College and Frewin sites. Candidates are also advised that they are not to enter licensed premises whilst attending the College for interview.

Useful Things to Bring

Alarm clock

Written Work (if you have been asked to submit written work it may useful to re-read this prior to interview)

Although you will have interview commitments, you will also have a lot of free time, so it might be sensible to bring something to read, or some school work to get on with, although our student hosts will try to keep you entertained!

Warm clothing (including a coat) as noted above Oxford can be very cold in December

Your phone and charger! –ensuring that you have adequate credit.

Let Us Know If You Are Having Any Problems! We’ve all had the experience of coming out of an interview or test and only then realising lots of impressive or important things we know we should have said. It’s easy to get caught up in going over the interview and feeling that you should have done it differently. All our interviewers are aware of this syndrome. They will make allowances for your nerves and for the strangeness of the interview situation – so don’t worry about that. If, however, you feel that your application has not been treated with due respect, or that there has been something unfair about the procedure, please do let us know so that we can try to put things right. You should speak to the Admissions Officer immediately, and he will log your comments and may refer you to the Tutor for Admissions or the tutors who interviewed you. The most effective way for us to resolve any difficulties you may be having is while you are actually still in College. If you wait until you return to your school or college, it may be too late. Domestic problems should be referred to the Porters’ Lodge. The Porter may be contacted at any time in the case of an emergency.

To Parents and Family Members We appreciate that parental and family encouragement is an important factor in motivating and supporting applications to university, and we welcome your interest in the college. You may wish to transport applicants to Brasenose by car. Please be aware that there is no on-site parking available and that parking in the centre of Oxford is very difficult. You can drop off on Catte Street but there is no waiting. Please see the “Getting to Oxford” page for more information about travel. The applicants will be welcomed in the lodge by student hosts. We provide all meals and accommodation for the duration of their stay. We cannot, however, offer any accommodation or meals for accompanying family members, unless there is a genuine need (such as a medical need) for someone to accompany the applicant. We also have a team of undergraduate volunteers on duty from 8am-10pm to answer any questions and make sure that interviewees are in the right place at the right time. These volunteers also arrange evening entertainment including film showings, quizzes and

other ways for candidates to relax. It is their job to make sure that candidates do not feel isolated during their stay with us, and the feedback we have had about the experience of staying at Brasenose for interviews suggests that they are very good at it! We also have staff at the Porters’ Lodge (telephone number 01865 277830) who can be contacted 24 hours a day so that any emergency can be dealt with quickly. If candidates need to attend interviews at other colleges, student hosts are available to escort them. Candidates are advised not to go out of the college alone after dark. Some candidates will be accommodated in our Frewin Annexe; hosts will be available to escort candidates back there in the evenings. A Porter is in attendance 24 hours a day at Frewin during the interview period. When applicants arrive, they will be given initial instructions about any scheduled meetings or interviews. It is not possible for you to attend these meetings, and, similarly, we ask that you do not accompany candidates to their interviews. The University has published a guide for parents and carers, this contains some information on interviews and is downloadable from the following webpage – http://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/Parents%27%20and%20carers%27%20guide%202016.pdf Please do not hesitate to contact us if there are any questions that we have not answered in this booklet.

Contact Details

Admissions Officer

Mr Ian Maconnachie Admissions Officer Brasenose College Oxford OX1 4AJ Tel: (01865) 277510 Alternative Tel: (01865) 277537 Email: admissions@bnc.ox.ac.uk

Porters’ Lodge

Tel: (01865) 277830 JCR Helpers

Tel: (01865) 287448 (This number will not be active until interviews commence in December)