I am just taking a break from studying IB Business and I thought I would like to share my interview experience with readers out there who are interested to apply to Oxford.
As mentioned in my previous post, I have applied to Oxford and today was D Day. This is today’s account:
I arrived in PJ Hilton about three hours earlier! My interview was scheduled at 2.00pm. Dad dropped me there at about 11.30am. I made a visit to MABECS (google it – it is an agency that assists students applying to the UK) to collect my UCAS application form. You see, the other time I was trying to access my UCAS account but I was not able to access to my details. So I thought I would prefer MABECS to print my details out for me, until they told me I can print them out from the comfort of my computer screen. Okay, that silliness did not reflect an Oxford potential at all… I thought to myself..
So, I made my way to Hilton’s lobby. It looks really different when the sun is up. Last night, it looked really posh and shiny, with the black marbles and chandeliers. Now, in the daylight, it is just another hotel. I went to the toilet for the first time (I know some of you might think how silly is this) and I was amazed at how high-tech their toilets are. I was in there to check my tie and to unfold my sleeves. After checking, I still had another two hours and more.
I stayed at the lobby because it was quite comfortable. Unfortunate for me, I sat at the ‘Smoking Allowed’ area. My lungs were suffocating, and my eyes were dry after sitting there for about two hours. I also brought along my photocopied Oxford IB Chemistry Study Guide. I will address the ethics of photocopied books bit in another post hopefully. =)
My interview was scheduled at 2pm but I was given a passage to read at 1.30pm. So, I went up there at about 1.15pm and sat there waiting for about fifteen minutes. I did went up earlier at 1pm but they were out for lunch. As I sat there, there were other prospective applicants and most of them are girls. These girls looked really smart and some of them looked really sweet too. Anyway, I was too busy focusing on my interview than the girls.
I was given a passage about Ocean Energy. The passage was about two full-pages long. It took me about 15 minutes just to analyse and to understand the entire content fully. With the provided Hilton pencil and Hilton paper, I wrote my notes and analysis.
It was my turn and I went in with a nice Englishman. Unfortunately, I was not able to ask for his name because I was too focused on my passage. He asked a few questions and made me quite comfortable before proceeding. The conversation went around this:
1) Hi Winson, how are you today? Are you nervous?
I am fine. Yes, I am quite nervous.
2) Okay Winson, tell me why do you want to be an engineer.
I want to be an engineer because I always have this passion to dismantle things from young. When I was a kid, my parents got me LEGO sets, which my mum threw away last month, and that was when I began to experience with small gear, tyres, and small parts.
As I grew up, my passion was very much with aeroplanes and cars. I was feeling a bit evil last month, and I began to read up about missiles!!!! So, that is pretty much got to do with my passion.
However, with my involvement with NGOs, I began to have this burden to bless others. I see Malaysia as being a very fortunate country compared with other developing nations. I would like to use my knowledge to impact people’s lives. It sounds cliche but I really want to apply what I know to make a change in people’s lives. Some people use their knowledge to make tons of money, which is fine for them, but I certainly think there is more to life than money.
3) Alright. It states here that you have applied for the Jardine. I have to tell you that the Jardine is very competitive. What happens if you do not get the Jardine? The cost in Oxford is quite high.
Yes, I have applied for Jardine. If I do not get the Jardine, there are other government agencies which offer scholarships.
4) What happens if these are also unsuccessful?
Well, the PSD (aka JPA) GUARANTEES A SCHOLARSHIP TO ANYONE WHO OBTAINS A PLACE IN OXFORD!!! (I was like man, I hope what Yi Rhu told me was right).
5) Yes, I did heard about that. But you have to work with them for quite a long time, no?
Yes.
6) But, it’s a job anyway.
(……… nothing to say)
7) It also states here that you have applied for Trinity College. Why? Is this related to Jardine?
Well, Jardine was one of the factors…….. (silence…….) yeah, Jardine was the main factor!!!!
Okay, now let us deal with some maths problem. Given y= X^2 / X-1 , what would the shape of the graph be? Engineers do need to locate the maximum, minimum points, turning points, and what happens as x approaches infinity. So alright, I ll leave you with that while I typed out some notes about our conversation.
I was trying really hard. Using Mr Masukor’s first principle method, I managed to deduce some basic shape of the graph. Graphs and curves are my worst topics in the maths textbook ok!!! So, I managed to find some points, and given some hints, I managed to solve it. It has a vertical asymptote at x=1, an oblique asymptote at y= x + 1 after he showed me how the equation can be manipulated. Wow! Felt great.
9) Okay Winson, now let us try some physics question. *Draws two masses, one is travelling with speed of u, and it collides with a stationary mass. * So, after the collision, both masses are stuck and travel together at speed v. Express the speed of v in terms of m and u given both masses have mass m.
Managed to solve this quite easily.
10) So which principle is this, Winson?
Principle of Conservation of Momentum. It states that momentum is conserved where before and after collision the total momentum is the same. There is no net change in momentum.
11) Alright, so does momentum stays constant in real life?
Momentum stays constant because often I am given idealized situations. In practice, momentum might not stay constant (what a silly statement!!!!). yada yada……. Wait, is this a trick question? (then I thought for a while, this is a law wei…. momentum wei) Yes, momentum is constant.
12) Given that this small cap *holds a small bottle cap*, I throw it upwards, and then it slows down before accelerating down towards the earth. Momentum is not conserved isn’t it?
Momentum is conserved because it changes direction. It offsets the momentum before. (I was trying hard.)
13) Hmm…. okay but there is gravity…. are there any effect on this?
(…….. silence…….. )
He gave some hint… …. Winson, gravity exerts force right? ….
Oh yeah…. momentum is only conserved if there is no external force…
14) Alright. Good. Let us now refer to the passage you read just now. What have you learnt about ocean energy?
I talked about ocean energy, summarized the whole first page…. before he cut me off. I didn’t manage to go further.
15) Okay, thank you Winson. I do want you to know that in Oxford there are 3 applicants for each place. Life is full of excitement and also disappointment. I don’t decide whether you make it or not. I will submit my notes to the Trinity College and they will decide whether you are eligible, in competition with the other students in UK. Thank you. All the best for your A-Levels. (wert????)
Thank you.
And, that was our conversation.
Somewhere in the middle before we ended, he also asked me about my expected IB score. I mentioned that I was targeting a 42 with bonus points. All the best for your A-Levels…. okay…. he was just tired.. I forgive him.
And, that was it. I went down to the lobby, waited for dad and went home. Slept for a few hours and I am here typing this out.
Eh Winson, IB exams are two weeks away. Why do you waste time blogging?
Well mate, I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to secure this experience in print. How many get interviewed by Oxford, mate? Not many, and I am one of them. =)
Fun Fact of the Day: A mineral water costs RM11.50 in PJ Hilton. The most expensive mineral water I have ever drunk.
