UCL BA English

[Howmercurialislife]

So DD had an interview today, and it wasn't what she was expecting.

She had a mock interview with her English teacher before hand and had been told by email the sort of things that would be covered in the interview, personal statement, texts read outside of A level required, some personal questions.

Another teacher who studied English at UCL not long ago went through her personal statement and said it was great. We thought she was well prepared.

It was a 20 minute interview by two members of staff. One asked her what texts they had covered for A level and from the texts she answered with he focused on one and then asked questions on that text for ten minutes.

The second interviewer then asked questions for ten minutes on another text she mentioned, at least this one was on her personal statement and that was it. No questions on other texts, no personal questions, nothing additional.

Just wondering if anyone else's DC have had English interviews this year and how they found them?

Bump, anyone?

Have to be honest, what your DD had sounds easier than what she prepped for?

Donkey's years ago , I had an interview where I was asked about books outside of school study. It was pretty obvious they viewed my choice with derision. I would have been really happy chatting about Tess of the d'Urbervilles and the poetry of Robert Burns, however!

Did you DD not have to submit any essays? Any students I teach who have had Eng interviews have discussed a submitted essay.

Hope your DD gets in!

Thanks @Piggywaspushed I think it was just so far removed from what she had been told and expected she found it all quite odd.

There was a written task, to write a commentary on a piece of prose, no more than 600 words. She has submitted that this morning and I thought it was well written but I am of course no expert.

It has kind of taken the shine off of UCL for her I think. She wants to stay at home so has offers from King's, Queen Mary, Goldsmiths and Sussex so UCL is not the be all and end all

Why has it taken the shine off? Lots of unis won't ask questions about outside reading etc in case they get accused of bias towards middle class students. It's no reflection on the rigour of the degree course.

I didn't know that @titchy thanks.

I'm not sure, she is an emotional 17 year old. I think she just left the interview feeling like there was a complete lack of interest in her.

Is it maybe just a sort of adrenalin thing? It's that post excitement deflated feeling? maybe if she gets an offer she can/will reassess.

Completely objectively, all the unis you mention are fab but UCL is the one I think of as English-y.

Lots of unis won't ask questions about outside reading etc in case they get accused of bias towards middle class students

This.

Why shouldn't they ask her about stuff she's studying? Or about a book she'd mentioned in her personal statement? How is that not showing an interest in her ?

UCL English is excellent - some wonderful colleagues teach there.

@QueenoftheAir of course they should, I haven't said otherwise. And I was unaware of the bias issue as I already said.

It was just that was all they asked, when the email sent from UCL said much more would be covered.

I'm not implying anything about the standard of teaching I was simply asking if anyone else had a similar experience.

@Piggywaspushed I think you may be right and just a reaction to the stress of it. It was the first interview she has ever had.

Oh, bless her. Interviews are coming back in fashion now the unis don't have to pay so much as they can be online and they are very stressful. I think some unis (not all) don't really acknowledge how intimidating the whole thing is for young people. But it honestly sounds like they were perhaps trying to help by sticking to what they knew she knew.

I assume she likes reading so she could just go and stick her head in a good book for a while and relax!

@Piggywaspushed She has done just that and has started to enjoy what is left of half term. She should have a decision either way within the next couple of weeks.

Good Luck to her, however it pans out.