Southampton interview - what to expect?

[avenueq]

Does anybody have any insight? This is for a humanities subject.

I have had a very quick look on the Southampton web site and I cannot see any mention of interviews at all in the selection process. They don’t outline why they would interview so this seems a bit unfair to me. I wondered if it was a “tie breaker” for an oversubscribed course or that they might offer an unconditional place subject to interview. Do you know why they wish to interview when they don’t interview normally? What does the notification say? Do you have standard entry qualifications? If not, is it to check yours are ok? (Clutching at straws here!)

I think, whatever the reason, I would know the details of the Personal Statement, and Southampton say what they want to see on this, be prepared to discuss what was written and go unto greater depth about the subject if asked.

Quite a lot of info on the Oxbridge interview threads might be useful but obviously Southampton doesn’t teach in the same way so the tutorial relationship won’t be the same. Showing enthusiasm for the subject would be important as well as being able to discuss what interests you about the course. One assumes they are looking at suitability for the course in greater depth than they can elicit from qualifications, predictions and the ps.

However if you don’t know why they are interviewing, it’s difficult to prepare.

Interviews at unis other than Oxbridge tend to be more of a recruitment drive on behalf of the uni. So they will be selling themselves to your DC.

Interviews at unis other than Oxbridge tend to be more of a recruitment drive on behalf of the uni.

This is often true, but there are certainly oversubscribed courses outside of Oxbridge. And interview performance can be taken into account when deciding whether to accept students who missed their offers.

I wouldn't think Southampton humanities are particularly oversubscribed, but maybe this is a niche course with a small number of places. Southampton is probably genuinely selective for subjects such as computer science, engineering.

lots of courses at Southampton interview now - but ime from the position that the offer is yours to lose rather than you are competing for one (medicine etc excluded). Admissions told dd that the interview starting point would be her personal statement then more general questions about the course - they said they'd like to hear her opinions/interest on/in a couple of the big issues within her subject.

Laniakea: did you ask why they don’t explain about the need for interviews on their web site? Why should potential students have to phone up when the need for an interview arrives out of the blue? That’s hardly a transparent or fair admission process and some might not wish to go ahead as they are not confident and don’t have the money to go to the interview. Does everyone get interviewed or just a few borderline ones? Or just the best on paper so they offer them unconditionals?

Surely no one gets invited to an interview so the university can market itself? I would hope cost and time out of school
for the young person should prevent that? That’s what offer days are about.

Presumably the op (or op’s DC) hasn’t yet missed their offer. I am assuming this is a current application. I think there is a certain amount of unfairness if interviews are not mentioned in the application process by the university and they don’t say why there is a need for an interview, who is interviewed or what format it will take.

Huh? Why would I ask them anything? I'm not applying!

For dd's course it is mentioned on the website that they interview. I don't know about any other courses specifically because I have no reason to check but dd's friends who have also applied there are expecting interviews (com sci, conservation, various engineering & chemistry from what I can recall) - they are currently all moaning to one another about how slow they are. I haven't heard of Southampton giving unconditionals but who knows.

Not sure what else you're getting at tbh.

I'm sure most applicants are capable of contacting the course admissions office to clarify anything they are unsure about.

“Selection is normally based on actual or predicted grades plus the reference and personal statement on your UCAS application. Applicants will be interviewed before an offer is made.”

Is what it says on the Southampton BA modern languages webpage... I don’t know about other subjects but DD’s friend last year had a languages interview and felt he presented awfully but still got the offer. However he also said this about his Oxford interview so I’d probably ignore his judgement...

I imagine it’s partly to verify that they understand/have read texts mentioned in their personal statement? Sorry I can’t be of more help but hopefully someone with more insight will be along soon!

Ds is also applying for Southampton & his subject area clearly states on their part of webite that they interview. So it's quite transparent. Though in ds's case they made him an offer without interviewing.

I looked at humanities subjects, not science. MFL is slightly different and they undoubtedly would need to recruit to these courses. Nearly every university does.

I should have said your DD, lanaikea. Apologies. I just wondered if she had gleaned information when she phoned.

Interviews at unis other than Oxbridge tend to be more of a recruitment drive on behalf of the uni.

Unless you are doing a medical/vet/health professions degree.

Interviews at unis other than Oxbridge tend to be more of a recruitment drive on behalf of the uni.

Unless you are doing a medical/vet/health professions degree.

Plus the various engineering courses at Imperial, English at UCL, arts (visual - like fine art etc) courses! All quite competitive. Humanities at Southampton is however probably (hopefully, for the OP’s case!) not too risky - as long as they come across competent.