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Uni questions - Basic Question
Basic Question
Course
Object Oriented Programming (CS101)
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Students shared 82 documents in this course
University
Air University
Academic year: 2017/2018
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1. Tell me about yourself
A university interview question which is dreaded by so many students: “tell me about yourself.”
Although this can be a fairly difficult question to answer - especially if you hate having to talk
about your interests and hobbies - it’s one most universities love to ask students.
When you apply to university, you only have a short section of your personal statement to talk
about yourself. Even then, you can’t go into detail about your wider interests outside of school,
or explain any interesting background history. Therefore, lots of universities ask this question
to find out more about you and assess whether they think you would thrive there.
How to answer this university interview question
Want to know how to answer tell me about yourself university interview question? Take a look
at some aspects of yourself you can talk about, to ensure you give the interviewer the details
they really want to know about you.
• Don’t just focus on your academic interests - There is plenty of time in the interview
to talk about your academic interests with the interviewer. When asking to find out
more information about yourself, the interviewer really wants to get to know you - not
just the studious version of you that you think will pique their interest.
• Keep it to 3 or 4 sentences - Think about 3 or 4 stand-out points about yourself that
you can share with the interviewer. They don’t have time to get to know your entire
history and interests, so give them the ‘highlights’ that have shaped you into the person
who you are. For example, what are your hobbies? Do you enjoy participating in sports?
Have you ever lived in another country?
• Prepare some examples - Remember, your interviewer will want to gauge as much
about you as possible. So, when you make a point about yourself, be prepared to back
it up with an example - just as you would when writing an academic essay. For example,
if you tell them you enjoy practising a musical instrument outside of school, tell them
more, including, the type of music you play, and any examinations or performances you
have done with that particular instrument.
2. Why do you want to study this course?
Possibly one of the most important and frequently asked university interview questions
revolves around why you chose to study the course you have applied for.
When asking this, universities are looking to see a genuine interest and passion for the subject
you want to study, ensuring that you’ve chosen the right course for all the right reasons.
How to answer this university interview question
You probably already have an idea of how to answer this interview question, especially if
you’ve been dreaming about studying your particular subject or course since you were a young
child.
However, if you’re looking for some further ideas to expand your answer, here are some
suggestions you could include.
• How the course will help you achieve your career goals - Do you have a dream career
laid out ahead of you? Express your ambitions to the interviewer, explaining how that
particular course will help you to achieve your career aspirations.
• Your enjoyment for the subject - Universities will know that students who have a
genuine interest and enjoy the subject they are choosing will be more likely to study
hard and commit the course at university. Use this question as a time to demonstrate
how much you commit to the subject now, talking about; any wider reading you do
outside of school; your engagement in extracurricular activities related to your subject;
and any possible work experience you have carried out in the past.
• How the course can help you achieve wider goals in life - Even if you don’t have a
dream career path laid out in front of you, you can still talk about how the course could
help you achieve other goals in life. For example, if you want to contribute to society
for the better of people, or help those who need it the most - these are all perfectly
acceptable reasons as to why you may want to pursue the course.
3. Why did you choose this university?
Aside from asking about the subject you’re interested in studying, the “why did you choose
this university” interview question is one of the most commonly asked questions admissions
teams include as part of their selection process.
Universities want to know that if they offer you a place on one of their courses, you have a
genuine interest in studying there. Culture plays an important role in student and university
living and they want to know you’re going to become a keen member of their community
before considering your offer.
How to answer this university interview question
There are a few ways you can choose to answer this question, depending on what your reason
for choosing the course is.
University’s reputation - If you’re applying to a high-ranking university, then it would seem
obvious that the reputation of the institution is what has encouraged you to apply there.
Comment on how that university is considered one of the best for the subject you're studying,
placing you in the best place possible for future success.
• The facilities available to you - Depending on your choice of subject, the facilities
available at the university could be used to shape your answer. For example, if you’re
studying Theatre Studies and the university has their own theatre on campus which
allows you to participate in extracurricular public performances, then this could be a
huge factor in your decision to study there. This is true for many STEM subjects too,
where the university may have access to the latest technologies.
• Their approach to teaching your subject - The way a subject is taught at one
university to another will vary, both in the content itself and possibly, the
assessment/teaching. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to talk about how their particular
approach to the subject captured your interest - giving examples to explain your reasons
why.
• State the full course name - If the interviewer is genuinely looking for clarity around
the course you have selected out of the many they have available, then state the full
course name for them. This also means stating whether you are studying for an
undergraduate, masters degree, or another type of qualification. As we mentioned,
universities offer so many different courses and variations, the interviewer will want to
make sure you’re choosing the right one.
• Express your interest in the subject, briefly - If the opportunity seems to arise, then
there’s no harm in expanding your answer slightly to include some reasons why you
want to study that subject. You’ll demonstrate your willingness to engage in
conversation and make the whole interview experience flow easier.
• Ask about other course options - If you have any queries about different course
variations, or are unsure about which type of course you are most interested in, then
now is the time to ask for clarity on the different course options available. For example,
if you've applied for a three-year course but are thinking about the possibility of
extending by a year to do an industry placement, then now is the time to ask a question
back to the interviewer for further clarity about whether the option to transfer is
possible. The answer is usually yes, but seeing your willingness to ask and look at other
ways to help you succeed in the future will show huge dedication on your part.
6. What do you want to do after you graduate?
Asking you about your future prospects allows the interviewer to gauge how far ahead you
have thought about your future and whether you see your degree playing a role in that decision.
Your interviewer will be looking for your understanding of future career prospects and how
much research you have done into the industry that interests you. They’ll also be seeking
affirmation that you’re a motivated and ambitious student.
How to answer this university interview question
Lots of students go into university knowing exactly what they want to do after they graduate.
But for some, they’re still not decided what career they may want to pursue. There are a few
different ways to answer this question, and only you will be able to decide on the option which
is most relevant to your circumstances.
• **Share your dream career goals **- If you haven’t yet said it, now is the time to share
your dream career with your interviewer, linking it back to the degree you have applied
for and how it will play a key role in helping you achieve your career goals.
• Express an interest to contribute to your industry - Even if you have no idea about
what type of career you want in the future, you can still express an interest to contribute
to the industry as a whole. Wording it in a way such as; “Although I am keeping job
opportunities open as I learn more during my course, I know that my passions lie in
helping people for the better.”
• Suggest further academic study - Many students choose to pursue further academic
study after completing their initial undergraduate degree. You can use this question to
demonstrate your motivations as a student, expressing how passionate you are to
learning as much about your field as possible.
7. Why did you choose your A-Levels (or the equivalent)?
By asking about the decisions which led you to applying for that university course, the
interviewer will be able to to assess how much you think about the decisions you make
academically and how they affect your future decisions.
It’s a chance to prove how conscientious you are as a student, as well as a chance to demonstrate
how passionate you are about studying that particular course at university.
How to answer this university interview question
The interviewer will be looking for justifications as to why you’ve made these choices about
education; whether you’ve thought hard about your future and what you may want to pursue
as a career. Be as detailed as possible so they can gauge your motivations and get a grasp of
the way you think.
• Express how your A-Levels are helping prepare you for the course - If you selected
your A-Levels with the intention of using them to help prepare you for your dream
university course, then tell the interviewer this. They’ll be very impressed by the fact
that you have thought carefully about your decision for many years and prove your
commitment to the subject you have applied for.
• Explain your choices based on the skills you wanted to gain - This answer is more
applicable for students who don’t necessarily have A-Levels which are specific to the
subject/course they have applied to study at university. If you can’t explain how your
A-Levels are directly related to your course, then reflecting on the transferable skills
they’ve provided you for the future and relating them to your course will be a great
answer to this question.
• Comment on your enjoyment and motivation to study the subjects - Demonstrating
your motivations to learn more about the things which interest you suggests to the
interviewer that you’ll be committed to study your chosen degree subject too. Anything
you can use to express your enthusiasm for studying and commitment to furthering
yourself will shine greatly in the interview.
8. What are your strengths?
When an interviewer asks this question, they’re trying to determine whether you have the skills
to excel on their course, and the confidence to help you succeed.
How to answer this university interview question
There are a few things to think about when forming your answer to this university interview
question, including what not to say. The key is to strike the right balance between seeming too
overconfident and egotistical, to not compliment yourself enough - preparing one or two
answers will ensure you’re well equipped for the question.
• Pick strengths that are applicable to your course - As mentioned above, this question
is all about determining if you have the skills needed to succeed on their particular
university course. Pick the strengths you think are most important to help you succeed
at the course to prove that you’re the perfect applicant. For example, if you are applying
for a Mathematics course, you might want to comment on how great you are at being
10. Tell me about a book you’ve read that’s had the most profound impact on you.
For students applying to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, prepare to delve into
conversations around wider reading in relation to shaping you as a learner.
This is often rated as one of the most popular questions asked by tutors at these institutions,
but many other universities have also begun asking questions like this to gauge a student’s
critical thinking - especially in subjects which require a lot of creative thinking.
How to answer this university interview question
This university interview question gives you an opportunity to talk about a book you’ve been
inspired by, but in a way which has helped shape you for the better.
• Select a book which is relevant to your skills for the future - A good way to tackle
this question is to include a book which has helped you develop a new way of thinking
or even a skill. Even better, think about whether that book has impacted you in a way
which will change your approach to life, or even make you a better student.
• Prepare to recall a synopsis or quote - Especially if you’re introducing a text your
interviewer has never heard. For a book to have had an impact on you, tutors will expect
you to recall your favourite section or even quote - so always try to have an example
saved up your sleeve.
• Be honest - Even if you’re not a keen reader, never lie on your question. Your
interviewer will want to engage in a detailed conversation with you regarding the
literature you raise - don’t bring up a book you’ve never read or they will see straight
through you. Remember, tutors have read a lot of books and are often aware of many
of the popular titles out there, never try to deceive them as it could backfire on you.
11. What do you enjoy most about school?
It’s not uncommon for university interviewers to ask about your current experiences at school.
This is so they can gauge what motivates you as a student and whether your interests mirror
those which the university prides itself on.
For example, do you enjoy having a range of extracurricular clubs and activities to enjoy? Or
is there a gigantic library of books you can explore during your lunch break? All these offer
great insights into you as a student.
How to answer this university interview question
Like many of the questions on this list, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer to this question.
Instead, the effectiveness depends on how you choose to explain your answer. Follow the tips
below to make the most out of your response.
• Don’t think you have to focus on academia - This question is all about gauging what
motivates you as a student and doesn’t necessarily require an academic response. If
your favourite thing about school is the ability to see your friends each day, then say it
- just remember to word it in a way that makes you sound like a collaborative team
player, rather than someone who procrastinates a lot when they should be studying.
• Be specific - If your favourite thing about school is the gigantic library, then why is
that? Is it because you discovered the incredible collection of Shakespeare works? Or
maybe it’s because you enjoy finding time to concentrate and immerse yourself in your
work fully. Always offer an example for the interviewer.
• Think about how your experience shapes you as a student - Sometimes, the thing
we love most about school doesn’t always make us the best student. For example, if
your favourite thing about school is playing football with your friends at lunchtime, it
doesn’t tell us much about your commitment to learning. Although you can mention
things like these, remember to include traits that could make you seem like a better
student.
12. Why should we offer you a place?
Finally, the university interview question most students have nightmares about: why should we
offer you a place?
Not only is this question incredibly difficult to answer for those who hate to talk about
themselves and their achievements, it’s also dependent on all the other conversations you’ve
had in the interview.
How to answer this university interview question
Usually, this question is asked towards the end of your interview, after you’ve had an
opportunity to talk through your reasons for applying for the course, as well as your strengths
and weaknesses as a student. Therefore, you want your answer to incorporate a combination of
everything you’ve spoken about during the interview.
• Recap everything you have already highlighted - Briefly recount all the great things
you’ve told the interviewer about yourself, including your passion for learning, future
goals, and why you’d love to study at that particular university.
• Ignore any weaknesses - Even if you’ve spoken about your weaknesses in the
interview, don’t remind the interviewer of them here, unless you’re reflecting them as
a strength. You want your interviewer to remember your final remarks as positive ones
- ensure you do that by playing on your strength
Was this document helpful?
Uni questions - Basic Question
Course: Object Oriented Programming (CS101)
82 Documents
Students shared 82 documents in this course
University: Air University
Was this document helpful?
1. Tell me about yourself
A university interview question which is dreaded by so many students: “tell me about yourself.”
Although this can be a fairly difficult question to answer - especially if you hate having to talk
about your interests and hobbies - it’s one most universities love to ask students.
When you apply to university, you only have a short section of your personal statement to talk
about yourself. Even then, you can’t go into detail about your wider interests outside of school,
or explain any interesting background history. Therefore, lots of universities ask this question
to find out more about you and assess whether they think you would thrive there.
How to answer this university interview question
Want to know how to answer tell me about yourself university interview question? Take a look
at some aspects of yourself you can talk about, to ensure you give the interviewer the details
they really want to know about you.
• Don’t just focus on your academic interests - There is plenty of time in the interview
to talk about your academic interests with the interviewer. When asking to find out
more information about yourself, the interviewer really wants to get to know you - not
just the studious version of you that you think will pique their interest.
• Keep it to 3 or 4 sentences - Think about 3 or 4 stand-out points about yourself that
you can share with the interviewer. They don’t have time to get to know your entire
history and interests, so give them the ‘highlights’ that have shaped you into the person
who you are. For example, what are your hobbies? Do you enjoy participating in sports?
Have you ever lived in another country?
• Prepare some examples - Remember, your interviewer will want to gauge as much
about you as possible. So, when you make a point about yourself, be prepared to back
it up with an example - just as you would when writing an academic essay. For example,
if you tell them you enjoy practising a musical instrument outside of school, tell them
more, including, the type of music you play, and any examinations or performances you
have done with that particular instrument.
2. Why do you want to study this course?
Possibly one of the most important and frequently asked university interview questions
revolves around why you chose to study the course you have applied for.
When asking this, universities are looking to see a genuine interest and passion for the subject
you want to study, ensuring that you’ve chosen the right course for all the right reasons.
How to answer this university interview question
You probably already have an idea of how to answer this interview question, especially if
you’ve been dreaming about studying your particular subject or course since you were a young
child.
However, if you’re looking for some further ideas to expand your answer, here are some
suggestions you could include.
Discover more from:
- Discover more from:
