Before the interview
- Find out what form the interview will take – if you know how many people will be interviewing you, and whether it will be formal or not, you will know what to expect.
- Read the prospectus – have an idea about the course and university to show you're committed to studying there.
- Look over your UCAS form – it’s often the basis for interview questions so make sure you can talk about the things you’ve said on it in detail.
- Read over your A-Level subject notes – you may be asked why you took a particular A-Level or what parts of your A-Levels you enjoy.
- Read a quality newspaper or magazine related to your subject – interviewers may ask for your opinions on current affairs or developments in your field.
- Have a mock interview – get a teacher you’re not familiar with to prepare a formal interview to give you an idea of what it will be like.
- Speak to students who’ve already had an interview – ask them what to expect or if they have any tips.
- Think of points you may want to make in the interview – prepare specific things you want to say or subjects you want to discuss if you get the chance.
- Prepare answers for common questions – for example, why do you want to study this course or at this university?
- Think of some questions to ask in return – how is the course assessed? What teaching methods are used? Although make sure they’re not already answered in the prospectus.
- Plan your journey – take into account rush hour traffic and finding the room/building so you arrive in plenty of time.
On the day
- Arrive early – allow 20 minutes for traffic and finding the place. If you have extra time, take a look round the university or talk to other applicants.
- Contact the university if there’s a problem – if you’re going to be late or unavailable due to circumstances beyond your control you should be able to rearrange the interview.
- Dress smart but comfortably – formal clothing may be uncomfortable if you’re at the university all day, and dressing scruffily may give a bad first impression.
- Turn off your mobile – you don’t want any distractions in the interview and it will not impress the interviewer.
During the interview
- Be aware of your body language – look at the interviewer, make eye contact and try to smile from time to time.
- Be enthusiastic about your course – make sure you get your interest in the course across to the interviewer.
- Take your time with questions – don’t feel pressured to answer immediately, take a little while to develop your answers to avoid saying the first thing that comes into your head.
- Say if you don’t understand a question – interviewers don’t expect you to know everything and will often prompt you or rephrase a question if you ask.
- Give full answers – the interviewer is trying to find out about you, so make sure you tell them something. Don’t waffle just to make your answers longer though.
- Don’t try to bluff questions – admissions tutors will know a lot more about their subject than you will. If you don’t know the answer to a question be honest and admit it.
- Listen to the interviewer – answer the questions asked rather than the ones you’ve prepared for.
- Ask questions – use ones you prepared earlier or new ones you’ve thought of. It shows you’re enthusiastic and will help you get more out of the interview.
- Try to relax – interviewers will expect you to be nervous and will try to make you feel comfortable.
- Be yourself – interviewers want to know about you, not just what tips you’ve read off the internet!
After the interview
- Don’t worry if you found it hard – some interviews are designed to stretch candidates.
- Make the most of being at the university – talk to students, have a look round the city or sample the local pubs.
- Think about what you’ve learned – the interview also allows you to find out more about the university and course. How have your opinions changed?
- Write down your answers to questions – this will come in handy for other interviews you may have.
- Discuss your interview with other people – they can give you feed back on how they think you did and give you advice for other interviews.
- Don’t worry about whether you’ll be offered a place or not – prepare for your next interview or just enjoy yourself, as you can’t do anything to change the result.
My Personal Statement
Since seeing the film Jurassic Park as a child and being blown away by exceptional practical
effects and computer generated graphics I've had an intense interest in visual effects.
Finding a second hand book about the work of the legendary Stan Winston as a young teenager
solidified my interest. I also became a fan of graphic novels and manga around that time.
These mediums, along with animated films by Disney and others, developed into an interest for
visual storytelling, with my preference to create character and emotion driven stories driving
me to explore visual themes and character design. I would love to work in industry creating
characters or effects, either animated or practical, and communicating ideas visually.
I am currently studying Art and Design at Level 3, which has given me valuable experience
working with many different mediums and materials, and has introduced me to a lot of art
history and movements. Many of my modules allowed to work in 3D, which I really enjoyed. So
far I have created a high heeled shoe inspired by Louise Bourgeois' 'Maman', and a dolls house
living room with a self-portrait string puppet. This course has given me a great start on the
path of art and design, and I look forward to continuing.
Living so close to London I enjoy visiting galleries and museums whenever I can, one of my
favourites is the Victoria and Albert museum. I also took a recent holiday to Amsterdam in
August last year and visited the Rijks Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. In the Rijks Museum I
got the opportunity to view and learn a great deal about one of Rembrant's most famous works,
The Night's Watch. The Van Gogh museum was my favourite of the trip, it was fascinating but
somber moving around the museum viewing Van Gogh's works in chronological order, as if viewing
his life from start to finish.
I worked in a photographic shop before I returned to education, and a large part of my work
was taking portrait photographs of children or families. I learned a lot about photography
there, but I also learned other valuable skills such as managing responsibilities.
I like to connect with art through my love of dolls. I love customising dolls to create new
characters, and browsing the internet to see what other people have created.
I am constantly working on and starting new projects at home, including making costumes to
wear to conventions and experimenting with toy customisation.
I hope to be able to apply my artistic interests to industry, learning from more experienced
people and experimenting with and sharing what I learn with others. I'm excited to see what my
peers can create and to be inspired by them. I am also looking forward to be able to solidify
my skills and work on bigger projects.
Universities And Courses I'm Interested In
At the University of Hertfordshire:
- Model Design (Character and Technical Effects) (W452)
- 2D Animation and Character for Digital Media
At the London Metropolitan University:
At Staffordshire University:
- Games Concepts Design (G613)
At Teesside University:
At the University of the Arts London:
- Graphic Communication Design (W215)
