Oxbridge Interviews

Having a mock Oxbridge or Medicine interview with an unfamiliar expert in their chosen subject, really helps our partner students prepare their applications.

Aims

Teachers at Dulwich College have plenty of experience preparing students for Oxbridge and medical interviews, for our own pupils, those in our international schools and in the other foundation schools.

We strive to offer the same interview preparation to Oxbridge and Medical applicants from our partner SSLP schools, recognising the benefits that come from interviewing in an unfamiliar location with a subject-expert who can challenge and encourage discussion.

We work with other SSLP independent schools to ensure all applicants get offered a mock interview.

Background

We have offered mock-interview support for many years but over the last two years have been working closer with the other SSLP schools to ensure all students have the same access to a mock interview no matter how many applicants are coming from each school nor how their niche their subject area.

In 2020 eighty-three students accessed mock interviews via the SSLP.

Resources

Rather than schools approaching Dulwich College directly SSLP schools contacted the SSLP coordinator early in the Michaelmas Term with the names and subjects of their Oxbridge applicants. The coordinator then approached other schools to find volunteers to provide a mock interview in early December.

In 2020 we had to switch from face to face mock-interviews to offering them online. For this we mainly used Zoom. After agreeing a time the interviewing teacher(s) shared a unique link with the student, their teacher and the SSLP coordinator.

Impact

Dulwich College completed 45 mock-Oxbridge interviews for SSLP state school students in December 2020.

We also held Mock Multiple-Mini-Interviews for 12 students applying for medicine degrees. Each student received seven 5-minute interviews within an hour. All held via Zoom.

Twenty five SSLP students received offers to study at an Oxbridge College or for medicine following their mock interviews.

Pupil Involvement

These interviews were all for Year 13 students.

Frequency

We will build on this offering year on year.